Project: Clontarf House

Mar 30, 2026

This complete reinvention of a three-storey home, located in Clontarf on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, is a masterclass in verticality and light. For homeowners Yvette and James, the project was a two-year journey of transformation - a complete reinvention of a three-storey home designed to celebrate its elevated harbour views and connection to the surrounding landscape.

Built by DNA Building and designed by architect U + I Building Studio, the project reimagines both form and function - from a reconfigured internal layout and newly introduced lift, to a redesigned front garden and a transformed rear outdoor area centred around a contemporary pool.

At its core, the home embraces a neutral, warm and natural palette. Layers of stone and timber are paired with a considered lighting approach, where indirect illumination and sculptural fixtures bring depth, softness and a sense of quiet luxury.

In this new build, lighting is not treated as an afterthought. It is integrated into the architecture - shaping how each space is experienced from morning through to evening.

Builder: DNA Building

Architect: U+ I Building Studio

Photographer: Toby Peet

Clontarf House

Moments of Light

What defines the Clontarf House is its ability to turn functional zones into immersive experiences. The stairwell becomes a moment of quiet drama. The Kelly Cluster Pendant descends through the vertical void, their filtered light shifting as you move between levels. What is often a transitional space becomes immersive - a moment of pause within the home.

In the bathroom, a sculptural pendant introduces balance between function and atmosphere, casting a soft, diffused glow across stone and tile. In the second bathroom, the Coral Travertine Frosted Wall Light takes on a more architectural role - pairing natural stone with gentle illumination to enhance the tactile quality of the space.

Externally, the Pasdedeux Wall Light provides a soft, indirect glow. Its dark bronze finish sits comfortably against the architecture, creating a seamless transition between indoors and out.

Built by DNA Building

Material and Warmth

In the dining space, the Organic White Pendant Light introduces a sculptural focal point. Its mouth-blown glass form, with subtle variations in thickness, captures and diffuses light in a way that feels organic and expressive - adding depth without overwhelming the simplicity of the interior.

Within more intimate spaces, such as the wine room, the IVY I Pendant Light brings precision and restraint. Suspended like a delicate piece of jewellery, it delivers a soft, even glow while maintaining a refined architectural presence.

Lighting as Atmosphere

Here, lighting moves beyond function. It shapes how the home feels - guiding movement, softening transitions and creating a sense of calm throughout.

In the bedrooms, lighting remains understated - layered to support rest and calm, complementing timber, textiles and soft natural finishes. It is this intentional integration of lighting within the new build that transforms the architecture into a lived experience.

01

Coral Trio Pendant Light

The Coral Trio Pendant is a masterclass in balance, using architectural lines to frame the delicate nature of blown glass.

The three handblown glass shades provide a soft, organic quality of light that creates a focal point without cluttering the visual field.
With a rotatable design, the shades can be adjusted to direct light precisely where needed, offering a bespoke lighting experience for dining or living areas.
The contrast between the fluid glass and the structured metal rod (available in Black, Brass or White) allows it to transition effortlessly between classic and modern interiors.

View the Coral Trio Pendant

02

Kelly Cluster Pendant Light

Captivating in its intricate detail, the Kelly Cluster Pendant Light is designed to transform light into a decorative pattern that dances across a room. Featuring the iconic Kelly signature laser-pattern shade housing an LED module that when aglow, the filters light through a glass diffuser, enveloping your space in a gentle, ambient glow.

The iconic laser-cut shade creates a sophisticated play of light and shadow, softening the intensity of the LED module.
The iconic laser-cut shade creates a sophisticated play of light and shadow, softening the intensity of the LED module.
As a smaller, more refined variation of the original Kelly, it offers the same high-end impact in a size suited for more delicate installations.

View the Kelly Cluster Pendant Light

03

Terra 00 Pendant Light

The Terra 00 Pendant Light is a celebration of contrasting elements, bringing a grounded, earthy sophistication to contemporary walls.

The union of high-quality timber and premium ceramic half-domes creates a tactile interplay that feels more like an art piece than a fixture.
With ceramic options ranging from Olive to Chartreuse to Vanilla Bean and timber finishes like Walnut or Bleached Ash, it allows for a highly personalised design statement.
Its biophilic design language evokes a sense of calm, making it a perfect selection for transitional spaces or modern hallways.

View the Terra 00 Pendant Light

04

Skybell Pendant Light

The Skybell Pendant Light features a sleek, minimalist design perfect for modern and Minimalist and poetic, the Skybell Pendant is defined by its slender silhouette and the symbolic emergence of light from shadow.

Its modest profile allows it to perform beautifully as a singular bedside light or as part of a rhythmic, linear cluster over a benchtop.
The black bell shape serves as a striking graphic element, providing a focused, functional beam that cuts through the dark with elegance.
Designed for modern interiors, its clean lines ensure it provides high functionality without interrupting the architectural flow.

View the Skybell Pendant Light

05

Pasdedeux Wall Light

Finished in a rich dark bronze, the Pasdedeux is a refined choice for those seeking warmth and subtle architectural detail.

The dark bronze finish over copper construction lends a timeless, weighty quality to the fixture that matures beautifully over time.
Built-in louvres and multiple diffusing options allow for a soft, indirect light that warms a room without the harshness of a direct bulb.
Its versatile form makes it a staple for contemporary interiors that require a touch of understated luxury.

View the Pasdedeux

06

Organic White Pendant Light

The Organic White Pendant is a tribute to the "perfectly imperfect" nature of mouth-blown glass.

Each shade is uniquely shaped by "poking" the glass during the blowing process, ensuring no two pendants are ever identical.
The varying thickness of the glass creates a beautiful distortion of light, adding a layer of allure and complexity to kitchen or dining lighting.
The Old Brass fixture provides a warm, metallic anchor that elevates the artisanal glass to a true standout feature.

View the Organic White Pendant

07

Coral Travertine Frosted Wall Light

Merging organic beauty with modern simplicity, the Coral Travertine Frosted Wall Light highlights the raw, prehistoric elegance of natural stone.

The stunning travertine backplate serves as a textured canvas for the sleek, circular frosted glass diffuser.
With an IP65 rating, this artisanal piece brings high-end interior styling to bathrooms, wet areas and outdoor alfresco spaces.
The frosted glass ensures a glare-free, ambient glow that highlights the unique pits and patterns of the Australian-designed stone.

View the Coral Travertine Frosted Wall Light

08

Ivy I Pendant Light

Inspired by the delicate drape of a necklace, the Ivy I Pendant Light is an exercise in minimalist elegance and architectural flexibility.

The die-cast zinc alloy ring hangs with a grace that mimics a fine pendant, adding a feminine, sophisticated touch to a room.
A curved methacrylate diffuser hides the light source, casting an exceptionally even and ethereal beam.
Available in Matte Black, Champagne, or Terra, it responds to the need for creative installations that require both beauty and flexibility.

View the Ivy I Pendant Light

01

Coral Trio Pendant Light

The Coral Trio Pendant is a masterclass in balance, using architectural lines to frame the delicate nature of blown glass.

The three handblown glass shades provide a soft, organic quality of light that creates a focal point without cluttering the visual field.
With a rotatable design, the shades can be adjusted to direct light precisely where needed, offering a bespoke lighting experience for dining or living areas.
The contrast between the fluid glass and the structured metal rod (available in Black, Brass or White) allows it to transition effortlessly between classic and modern interiors.

View the Coral Trio Pendant

02

Kelly Cluster Pendant Light

Captivating in its intricate detail, the Kelly Cluster Pendant Light is designed to transform light into a decorative pattern that dances across a room. Featuring the iconic Kelly signature laser-pattern shade housing an LED module that when aglow, the filters light through a glass diffuser, enveloping your space in a gentle, ambient glow.

The iconic laser-cut shade creates a sophisticated play of light and shadow, softening the intensity of the LED module.
The iconic laser-cut shade creates a sophisticated play of light and shadow, softening the intensity of the LED module.
As a smaller, more refined variation of the original Kelly, it offers the same high-end impact in a size suited for more delicate installations.

View the Kelly Cluster Pendant Light

03

Terra 00 Pendant Light

The Terra 00 Pendant Light is a celebration of contrasting elements, bringing a grounded, earthy sophistication to contemporary walls.

The union of high-quality timber and premium ceramic half-domes creates a tactile interplay that feels more like an art piece than a fixture.
With ceramic options ranging from Olive to Chartreuse to Vanilla Bean and timber finishes like Walnut or Bleached Ash, it allows for a highly personalised design statement.
Its biophilic design language evokes a sense of calm, making it a perfect selection for transitional spaces or modern hallways.

View the Terra 00 Pendant Light

04

Skybell Pendant Light

The Skybell Pendant Light features a sleek, minimalist design perfect for modern and Minimalist and poetic, the Skybell Pendant is defined by its slender silhouette and the symbolic emergence of light from shadow.

Its modest profile allows it to perform beautifully as a singular bedside light or as part of a rhythmic, linear cluster over a benchtop.
The black bell shape serves as a striking graphic element, providing a focused, functional beam that cuts through the dark with elegance.
Designed for modern interiors, its clean lines ensure it provides high functionality without interrupting the architectural flow.

View the Skybell Pendant Light

05

Pasdedeux Wall Light

Finished in a rich dark bronze, the Pasdedeux is a refined choice for those seeking warmth and subtle architectural detail.

The dark bronze finish over copper construction lends a timeless, weighty quality to the fixture that matures beautifully over time.
Built-in louvres and multiple diffusing options allow for a soft, indirect light that warms a room without the harshness of a direct bulb.
Its versatile form makes it a staple for contemporary interiors that require a touch of understated luxury.

View the Pasdedeux

06

Organic White Pendant Light

The Organic White Pendant is a tribute to the "perfectly imperfect" nature of mouth-blown glass.

Each shade is uniquely shaped by "poking" the glass during the blowing process, ensuring no two pendants are ever identical.
The varying thickness of the glass creates a beautiful distortion of light, adding a layer of allure and complexity to kitchen or dining lighting.
The Old Brass fixture provides a warm, metallic anchor that elevates the artisanal glass to a true standout feature.

View the Organic White Pendant

07

Coral Travertine Frosted Wall Light

Merging organic beauty with modern simplicity, the Coral Travertine Frosted Wall Light highlights the raw, prehistoric elegance of natural stone.

The stunning travertine backplate serves as a textured canvas for the sleek, circular frosted glass diffuser.
With an IP65 rating, this artisanal piece brings high-end interior styling to bathrooms, wet areas and outdoor alfresco spaces.
The frosted glass ensures a glare-free, ambient glow that highlights the unique pits and patterns of the Australian-designed stone.

View the Coral Travertine Frosted Wall Light

08

Ivy I Pendant Light

Inspired by the delicate drape of a necklace, the Ivy I Pendant Light is an exercise in minimalist elegance and architectural flexibility.

The die-cast zinc alloy ring hangs with a grace that mimics a fine pendant, adding a feminine, sophisticated touch to a room.
A curved methacrylate diffuser hides the light source, casting an exceptionally even and ethereal beam.
Available in Matte Black, Champagne, or Terra, it responds to the need for creative installations that require both beauty and flexibility.

View the Ivy I Pendant Light

Need help with your selection?

Designing and building a new home can often feel overwhelming. With so many decisions to make - from layout and materials to finishes and timelines - lighting is sometimes left until later, adding unnecessary stress to an already complex process.

Yet lighting plays a crucial role in how a home is experienced. It influences mood, functionality and the overall atmosphere of each space.

We work closely with homeowners, architects and designers to simplify this process. Whether you’re early in planning or refining final selections, our team can help guide your lighting choices - ensuring each piece feels considered, cohesive and aligned with your home.

Get in touch with our lighting consultants today.

Book a Design Consultation

Project: Clontarf House

Moments of Light

Material and Warmth

Lighting as Atmosphere

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