Princeton, the late Leslie Walford's Double Bay penthouse sells at $3.25 million
The Princeton, Double Bay penthouse of the late interior design doyen Leslie Walford, has been sold a year after its listing.
The $3.25 million sale occurred four months after being passed in without bid at auction which sought bids of around $4 million.
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It had a most recent asking price of $3.695 million. Limited access to the penthouse for its inevitable renovation proved a major price constraint.
Its was listed through Christies International agent Ken Jacobs in conjunction with Paul Biller and Brad Caldwell-Eyles at 1st City-Hasemer+Caldwell.Eyles.
It was listed by Walford's partner, Colin Davies.
The penthouse with 279 square metre garden terracing sits atop the 1939 Art Deco Double Bay complex with northerly views across the harbour to Manly.
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The Princeton interiors showcased the tastes of Walford, who retired seven years ago after an international career spanning five decades.
The bones of the apartment remained with polished timber floorboards, high vaulted ceilings, ornate cornices, curved bay windows and french doors.
The funeral of the doyen of Sydney interior decorators Leslie Walford was held at St Marks, Darling Point in February 2012.
The Society of Interior Designers suggests Walford was one of the best-known figures in Australia in interior design having worked at the top levels of design for several decades, not only in Australia but also in Europe, Asia and the UK.
His business, Walford and Horgan Interiors – regarded by many as a byword for excellence in design – had many wealthy clients that included the media tycoons Reg Grundy and the Fairfax, Murdoch and Packer families.
The initial Double Bay purchase cost $125,000 in 1975 with the space expanded to 500 square metres after another purchase in 1978 costing around $40,000.