Inside a Florida car condo, which includes a ground floor area that can hold five of the owner’s 20 cars at a time
2 min
Suzanne Lovell, a Chicago-based designer, had already worked with her clients—who are in their late 50s and work in the boating industry—on a condo in Chicago and a 15,000-square-foot penthouse in Naples, Fla., when the husband called with a special request. “He had just purchased a car condo about 5 miles from their Naples residence,” Lovell says. “And he asked me to design the coolest man cave ever.”
The car condo is in a gated community, but instead of front doors, there are garage doors. The units don’t have bedrooms. Instead, there is generous space for cars and for entertaining—complete with bathrooms and wet bars—making a car condo the perfect place to host a Formula One viewing party. The double unit, which the couple bought in 2021 and would cost about $3 million in today’s market, is about 3,400 square feet. The second-floor entertaining space overlooks the ground floor, which has space for five of the owner’s 20 cars, including a 1957 Porsche Speedster, a 1962 Ferrari 250GT and a 1961 Facel Vega. Along with multiple seating areas, the entertainment floor also has a race simulator and a room for the owner’s custom slot car track. The couple spent about $1.2 million to outfit the space. Cars not included!
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Three completed developments bring a quieter, more thoughtful style of luxury living to Mosman, Neutral Bay and Crows Nest.
From the shacks of yesterday to the sculptural sanctuaries of today, Australia’s coastal architecture has matured into a global benchmark for design.
Three completed developments bring a quieter, more thoughtful style of luxury living to Mosman, Neutral Bay and Crows Nest.
5 min
Luxury means different things to different people. On the Lower North Shore, it often means the everyday things are well considered and exceptionally executed.
House-like proportions. An abundance of natural light. Security and privacy. Materials crafted with care.
Homes built for the way people truly live, shaped by industry expert and Lower North Shore local resident at the helm, Justin Brown, whose attention to detail is constant and uncompromising.
This is the space Abadeen has occupied for more than 25 years.
The developer has delivered premium residential, commercial and mixed-use projects across Australia, but the Lower North Shore has become the clearest expression of its philosophy.
A recent example is Cremorne Point Estate, completed in 2020.
Its craftsmanship is so enduring that the penthouse is now reselling for almost twice its original price in only four years. Smaller buildings. Real liveability. Design that retains its elegance over time.
Abadeen’s current portfolio also includes The Villas, Mosman Residences, Park Residences, Northcote Collective and the newly announced Burran Residences in Balmoral. But three completed buildings now take centre stage: The Hampden in Mosman, ENSO in Neutral Bay and KOYO in Crows Nest.
All are complete, move-in ready, and only a limited number of residences remain. At The Hampden, only one whole-floor residence remains available.
Meticulously crafted by acclaimed Mathieson Architects and delivered by Abadeen, The Hampden offers a rare level of refinement within an exclusive collection of only three residences.
The final available home is a brand-new, whole-floor residence capturing sweeping Middle Harbour views over Chinamans and Clontarf Beaches from a prized northerly aspect. It delivers a house-like ambience with floor-to-ceiling glass that draws in natural light, paired with exquisite finishes in natural stone and warm timber.
Expansive open plan living and dining areas are anchored by a premium fireplace and flow out to a generous north-facing entertainers’ terrace overlooking boat-studded waters. The high-spec kitchen includes a full butler’s pantry, WOLF appliances, an integrated Sub-Zero fridge and freezer, a wine fridge and a Taj Mahal Quartzite island.
With only nine residences, ENSO is a boutique collection where Koichi Takada’s architecture focuses on calm, contemporary living.
Natural stone, timber and soft curves create a sense of warmth, while generous glazing and landscaped outlooks bring light and greenery into the heart of each home. Rooms are designed for real daily use, with integrated joinery, considered storage and floor plans that prioritise ease and comfort. The result is a series of homes that feel composed, tactile and effortless to live in every day.
Designed by Koichi Takada, KOYO is a boutique collection of 27 residences shaped by natural textures, soft curves and a refined sense of luxury.
Its low-rise form sits within a leafy cul-de-sac, offering privacy only moments from Crows Nest village and the new Victoria Cross Metro station.
Inside, every space is crafted for daily ease. Timber, stone and sculptural details create a warm, tactile palette, while full-height glazing draws light into the heart of each home.
Integrated joinery, intuitive circulation and thoughtful storage keep rooms open, calm and effortless to live in.
KOYO reflects Abadeen’s approach to modern living: refined, confident and beautifully functional. KOYO is modern, confident and created for daily life without unnecessary embellishment.
Abadeen’s philosophy is shaped by Executive Chairman & Founder Justin Brown, whose three decades in the industry have defined a distinct approach to residential development on the Lower North Shore and beyond.
Justin believes luxury should feel effortless. A home should work beautifully every day, with planning that makes sense, materials that age gracefully and detailing that supports calm, comfortable living long after the first inspection.
This philosophy is embedded early in the design process. Acoustic comfort, natural shading, solar orientation and circulation are resolved from the outset.
Landscapes are designed to welcome residents rather than simply frame buildings. Interiors prioritise clarity and ease, with joinery, storage and spatial proportions refined to deliver homes that feel composed, tactile and intuitive to live in.
Justin’s values-led approach unifies Abadeen’s Lower North Shore projects. Each reflects the same commitment to certainty, longevity and quiet architectural excellence. These are homes built to be lived in, not performed, shaped around the daily rituals, warmth and comfort that define enduring residential design.
This part of Sydney reflects Abadeen’s values. Established neighbourhoods. Walkable villages. Tree-lined streets. Natural light and natural rhythm. It is a quieter style of luxury that holds its value and relevance over time.
Abadeen is a leading Australian property developer with premium residential and mixed-use projects across NSW, VIC, QLD and WA. Limited residences remain at The Hampden in Mosman, ENSO in Neutral Bay and KOYO in Crows Nest. Private appointments and viewings are now available. Call Jay Carter on 0417 248 117.
