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Phillip Bay Residence, Sydney

A Coastal Sanctuary in Stone

Located in Phillip Bay, Sydney, this contemporary coastal residence highlights the timeless appeal of natural stone across outdoor living and landscaping design. The project combines clean architectural lines with a calm, neutral material palette, creating a relaxed environment centred around a resort-style pool and alfresco entertaining area. 

Luna Chiaro Limestone forms the foundation of the outdoor design, bringing softness, texture and durability to the space. Its subtle tonal variation enhances the coastal setting while maintaining a refined, modern aesthetic that connects paving, pool surrounds and garden areas into a cohesive landscape. 

Through a careful balance of structured paving and natural textures, the material selection allows the architecture, planting and water elements to stand out. The result is a tranquil residential retreat that captures the essence of contemporary coastal living in Sydney.

 

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Project by Design Native
Photography Focus Pools
Place Phillip Bay
Project Type Residential
Pool Focus Pools
Category Residential

Design Vision

Clean Lines, Coastal Calm

Design Native envisioned a space with clean lines, subtle texture and a soft, neutral palette. Luna Chiaro Limestone brought this vision to life, offering timeless beauty and everyday practicality. Its light grey tone helps keep surfaces cool by reflecting heat, while the Alfresco finish provides safe slip resistance around the pool and other wet areas.

 

Material Story

A Seamless Balance of Structure and Texture

Cool and contemporary, Luna Chiaro’s gentle tonal variations bring quiet sophistication to outdoor spaces. The stone features an Alfresco finish for pavers and coping, paired with Luna Chiaro Crazy Paving in garden and transition areas to create a perfect balance between architectural structure and natural texture.

Custom formats were selected to suit the site’s scale, including 800 × 400 mm pavers, 1000 × 1000 mm slabs, pool coping, and free-form Crazy Paving that softens edges and adds natural flow throughout the landscape.

Design Outcome

Textural Simplicity

The design’s success lies in its simplicity, using a cohesive palette where texture adds character. The mix of linear paving and natural Crazy Paving creates gentle variation while keeping the calm, coastal feel.

Glass fencing keeps the views open, and the consistent stone surface unites the outdoor spaces, allowing the sculptural plants and clear pool water to stand out beautifully.

Project Highlights

Natural Stone Pool Surrounds in Phillip Bay Sydney

At the heart of the design is Luna Chiaro Limestone, selected for its elegant appearance and practical performance in outdoor environments. The stone’s Alfresco finish provides slip resistance around the pool and entertaining areas, while its light grey tones reflect heat and keep surfaces comfortable underfoot. 

To introduce contrast and organic movement, Luna Chiaro Crazy Paving was incorporated throughout garden and transition zones. The combination of structured paving formats and free-form stone surfaces creates visual interest while maintaining the calm, cohesive atmosphere that defines the project. 

 

Products Used

Luna Chiaro Limestone tiles with soft grey tones used in modern interiors

Luna Chiaro Limestone

Luna Chiaro Limestone Crazy Paving installed in outdoor pool area

Luna Chiaro Limestone Crazy Paving

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TAKE US THROUGH THE INITIAL STAGES WHEN YOU WERE DESIGNING THE HOME.

We were very fortunate to work with the noted Southern Highlands Architect, Martin McGrane, on the creative design and layout of our home. Together with Martin, we created a beautiful, contemporary open plan home to enjoy with our family and friends.  This is our forever home.

Through a friend of ours, we came across an interior designer, and a beautiful outdoor material, the Cathedral Limestone, which we just fell in love with. We worked closely with Peta Daniel, Interior Designer from Daniel Baker Design, based in Sydney.  Which was wonderful, Peta just got us and what we were wanting to achieve in our home and helped us to make it a reality, in the selection of materials and finishes.

 

WERE THERE CERTAIN PEOPLE/PLACES THAT YOU TOOK INSPIRATION FROM WHEN DESIGNING/BUILDING THE HOME?

We were looking for a contemporary design, however, I didn’t want it to be too modern.  Inspired by a property in LA, that my husband came across, which we took some concepts from and added our ideas, and made it our own.

The LA contemporary look and detail leading into the house from the front door was something that we just loved.  Along with having one row of tiles that runs along the inside of the glass sliding doors leading into the living/dining room from the alfresco space was also a unique detail we wanted to include.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING PROCESS?

The build started in February 2020, and with all the delays throughout COVID, material delays, supplier issues, constant rain, mud pools, you name it, we had it!  Encountering all the possible elements, it felt like we were living in gumboots most of the time during the build.  It took 3 years to build the property, and 8 months just to get the roof on!

We had a deadline for our home to be finished by, which was our daughters’ wedding, being held in March 2023.

There were delays happening everywhere, including issues and delays with the quarry who were providing the Limestone that was to be used in all the outdoor areas surrounding the property.  We had chosen Cathedral Limestone in an alfresco finish with a lovely organic distressed finish on the edge, that we knew would complement the other natural materials we were using.  Time was of the essence, and it came to crunch time and the quarry could not provide a guaranteed time of delivery.  We thought what a disaster!

 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH SAREEN STONE.. AND HOW THE TEAM HELPED TO OVERCOME THE SUPPLY ISSUE WITH THE CATHEDRAL LIMESTONE.

Working closely with Michael Mastro, from Sareen Stone, he had been in constant contact updating me as best he could.  Then an alternative solution was presented, another Limestone of the same size and finish, with similar tones, which I hoped would work and arrive in time.  Sareen Stone had been behind the scenes working closely with another quarry, to create a new product ‘Lavarosa Anticato’, just for our project, so that we had a solution and were able to finish our home in time for our daughter’s wedding.

When the material arrived, we couldn’t have been happier.  We just loved the Lavarosa Anticato, and it worked so well with our colour palette, and love it even more than our previous selection.  We were over the moon!

 

DESIGNER COMMENTS:

Working with Kate and Eugene on this project was wonderful. They were passionate about the overall design but also the finer details and the interplay of the natural materials with the surrounding landscape.

It was very important that the natural material palette was harmonious, and that each element was both complementary and warm.

I’ve worked with Michael from Sareen Stone on a number of projects and have always been impressed with his professional advice and clear communication. The magnificent home warmly wrapped with the “Lavarosa Anticato” is simply stunning.   A beautiful project!

Peta Daniel, Daniel Baker Design

 

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

Interior Designer:  Daniel Baker Design, 0414 341 778
Architecture:  Martin McGrane Architects, 0412 242 253
Photography and short film:  Bolt Media, 0426 607 040