High on Sydney’s Bellevue Hill, a rejuvenated Spanish Mission residence commands fabulous views of the city and harbour. The house is one of many built in Sydney in the 1920s and 1930s that were inspired by the glamorous mansions of Hollywood’s rich and famous. Seen from the street, its facade has hefty yet simple proportions, combined with a sequence of ground level arches and a modestly ornate parapet.

The south-eastern facade’s balcony is now framed in zinc, its fenestration cleaned up, and a new ‘gatehouse’ has been added. Besides this, and the dazzling white of its painted masonry, nothing much else about this street address suggests what lies beyond.

Moving through the front door, however, you are transported a century forward in time to a world of lightweight steel construction, fluid spaces and sunshine, thanks to wraparound glazing that runs the length of the building’s north-eastern side and across the its north-western rear. Tasked with the job of transforming this old family home into two light-filled contemporary apartments, DKO has balanced the need to look out and look in – to capture the site’s stunning views while providing privacy, intimacy and a safe haven from the busy city beyond.

DKO has taken a minimalist approach to the interiors, which are generously proportioned spaces of pared back simplicity, richly appointed in stone, timber, steel and glass. A swimming pool on the ground floor is matched by a 16m lap pool on the second floor, which bounces a watery reflection into adjacent rooms. The result is a home that is discreet yet luxurious, simple yet refined. DKO has breathed new life into the fading elegance of this stately residence.

Shortlisted in this year’s Interior Design Excellence Awards and voted Room #17 in Australian House and Garden’s Top 50 Rooms for 2011.