Light, curves and confidence in Darlinghurst.

From the street, its heritage proportions remain intact, part of a quietly handsome row within walking distance of Oxford Street’s electric pulse. Inside, however, the narrative shifts. Walls dissolve into gentle transitions. Skylights pull daylight deep into the plan. French doors extend living to a private roof terrace, while below, a stone courtyard performs double duty as entertaining zone and secure rear parking - a rare commodity in these parts.

“We were drawn to the location first and foremost,” owners Julia and Peter say. “Taylor Street sits in one of the most walkable, connected pockets of Darlinghurst - moments from Oxford Street, Crown Street and the CBD, yet still wonderfully quiet and residential.”

The terrace had what they describe as “beautiful proportions and strong bones,” but the ambition was far greater than restoration. The brief to GSB Architecture was clear: “Create a calm, architectural retreat in the heart of the city - a space that feels open, fluid and filled with natural light.”

Light was non-negotiable. So too were intelligent storage solutions, a dedicated work-from-home study and bathroom that felt indulgent rather than incidental. “Underfloor heating in the bathroom was something we felt strongly about - it adds that subtle layer of comfort that elevates everyday living,” Julia says.

The result is a home where the geometry is quietly radical. Curved architectural elements move from kitchen joinery to transitional thresholds, dissolving the hard edges typical of narrow terraces. “We’re most proud of the way the curved architectural elements move through the home,” Peter explains. “The softened edges - particularly in the kitchen joinery and transitions between spaces - create a sense of cohesion and calm.”

The kitchen itself reads almost sculptural, with curved cabinetry, integrated appliances and a wine fridge discreetly concealed within bespoke joinery. A built-in banquette anchors the dining space, inviting long evenings that stretch easily onto the entertaining deck. “The design avoids hard lines and instead creates flow, which makes the house feel far more expansive than its footprint suggests.”

Across three levels, the layout balances versatility and intimacy - a considered mix of bedrooms and offices that responds to contemporary life without sacrificing atmosphere. Timber floors warm the palette; skylights choreograph the passage of sun from morning to dusk; air conditioning and refined material choices ensure year-round comfort.

Every square metre works. The open-plan living connects seamlessly to the entertaining deck, which captures northern light and frames city glimpses. The patio below has been cleverly engineered with an integrated freestanding BBQ and the flexibility to function as a car space - a dual-access block that elevates the home from beautiful to genuinely practical. “That flexibility is invaluable in the inner city,” the owner says.

Yet for all its technical refinement, the home’s true success lies in how it feels. “Some of our favourite moments have been hosting friends - long dinners that flow from the kitchen to the deck, music playing, doors open, the city lights in the background. It’s a home that’s incredibly social.”

Darlinghurst, with its creative energy and evolving hospitality scene, forms an equally compelling backdrop. The nearby Oxford & Foley precinct and the arrival of 25hours Hotel at The Olympia signal a neighbourhood in ascendance, though its character remains intact. “It feels like you’re living in the centre of Sydney’s cultural heartbeat,” Julia says.

Here lies a terrace that reconciles heritage with high-spec modernity - a private, architectural retreat that understands both the romance and the rigour of inner-city living. A home designed not simply to be admired, but to be opened, inhabited and shared.

View the listing: 17 Taylor Street, Darlinghurst