Duplex Suite

What makes this suite work is vertical rather than horizontal: a black iron spiral staircase turning up out of the middle of the living room, with a study, a long cream sofa and two blue-cushioned chairs arranged around its foot. Spread over two floors, 1,270 square feet feels like a good deal more than the same number on one.

Off the living room there is an open-air plunge pool. Upstairs the master bedroom looks across the water at the City Palace and the heritage buildings along the far shore, with a chaise drawn up beside the bed and a deep square window holding the whole of it. The bath has a walk-in shower and a tub, 'His' and 'Hers' vanity counters with separate water closets, and the suite has its own powder room. There are 2 of these. Two guests, with one child of 6 to 12 on an extra bed.