Lush multi-million dollar penthouse hits the market in Adelaide – but there’s one creepy detail you have to see to believe
If you’ve ever feared seeing your own reflection in the bathroom mirror, imagine being surrounded by dozens of versions of your own face staring back at you from every wall.
That’s the reality for author Gary N. Lines, whose face is plastered across the wallpaper of his own custom-designed powder room in a jaw-dropping penthouse now for sale in Adelaide.
Listed with a $6million price tag, the apartment sits atop The Adelaidean, the city’s tallest residential tower, and it’s quite unlike anything else on the market.
However, it’s not the panoramic views, marble finishes or mirrored ceilings that have people talking.
It’s the wallpaper.
And more specifically, owner Gary’s face wallpapering the bathroom in an unsettling art installation that is either fabulously quirky or downright creepy, depending on who you ask.
The idea however, came from his partner, interior designer and former fashion creative Maggie Miles, who told property website Domain: ‘I wanted [the bathroom] to be quirky. I wanted it to be fun. I wanted it to be controversial … something unique.’
‘I just slapped this wallpaper on, and it reflected everywhere,’ she said, noting that the effect ‘made it hilarious.’
This multimillion-dollar Adelaide penthouse is an ode to art and New York City’s cutting-edge design, but perhaps it’s most intriguing feature is the bathroom, which features the face of one of its owners, Gary N. Lines
While Gary admitted to The Advertiser he was ‘pretty lukewarm on it’ when first pitched the idea, he now apparently barely notices the grinning images of himself in various expressions when popping in.
‘It was Maggi’s idea, and I’m glad I can say that and that it’s actually true – I would look a little narcissistic if it was my idea,’ he joked in the interview.
‘When guests use the rest room they come out laughing and that’s when I remember it’s there.’
As if the visuals weren’t enough, the powder room also features an ‘audio trigger’ that activates the moment the door closes, playing famous scenes from Casablanca and Pulp Fiction.
A neon sign glows with the words ‘What will happen?’ – a nod to Gary’s second novel – inviting visitors to, quite literally, ponder life’s big questions while on the toilet.
‘There’s a philosophical moment when you are sitting on the toilet,’ he said. ‘It’s actually asking you what will happen.’
The multi-million dollar property spans the entire width of the building, the result of two penthouses being merged into one sprawling sky-home by the creative couple.
Inside, it’s a mashup of New York glam, gallery-like features and unexpected elements that elevate it far beyond a standard luxury listing.
The powder room also features an ‘audio trigger’ that activates the moment the door closes, playing famous scenes from Casablanca and Pulp Fiction
There’s a mirrored vaulted ceiling in the entry, bespoke wallpaper, and a five and a half metre marble and brass kitchen island that forms the centrepiece of the open-plan living area.
The king-size master suite comes with an enormous walk-in robe, while a home gym features moody bronze mirrored walls.
The 35th-floor apartment offers uninterrupted 270-degree views over Adelaide’s city skyline, Botanic Gardens and coastline, with four bedrooms and a sweeping living-dining space built for entertaining.
Maggie, who co-founded the globally successful Byron Bay Cookie Company with Gary, said she designed the space to reflect their playful personalities rather than follow traditional interior rules.
The 35th-floor penthouse boasts uninterrupted 270-degree views of Adelaide from its four bedrooms and the living and dining areas. The creative interiors came from Gary’s partner, interior designer and former fashion creative Maggie Miles
Maggi wanted her home to be a true expression of her creativity, describing the décor as ‘a bit of fun’
‘I tried to balance [elegance] with something unusual or contrasting,’ she told Domain. ‘I like to shake it up a little bit.’
Lines echoed that sentiment to The Advertiser, describing the décor as ‘a bit of fun’.
‘Prospective buyers will likely find it all amusing,’ he said. ‘However, they won’t really want to live with my face.’
But he added that it can be easily removed or painted over, should new owners prefer a more subtle aesthetic.
The couple, both long-time creatives and former PR consultants, said they are ready to swap city views for seaside serenity and are planning to replicate the home’s ‘fabulousness’ in one of Adelaide’s beachside suburbs.
Selling agent of Toop & Toop’s Jordan Begley, Grace Allan said interest has already been strong, with local and overseas buyers intrigued by the apartment’s uniqueness.
‘It is just such a unique property, so a lot of people are curious,’ Ms Allan told Domain.
Creepy bathroom included.
