Fireplace Converted to a Lift and Shaft

Refined Engineering in Mosman: A Lift Where the Fireplace Once Stood

When the owner of this Mosman residence set out to upgrade his multi-level home, he saw not just the necessity of better access, but an opportunity for transformation. Instead of a conventional lift install, he envisioned something elegant, integrated, and architecturally unique — and he found that opportunity in the most unexpected place: the chimney stack and former fireplace. What had once been the heart of the living room became the vertical core of a contemporary access solution — made possible with a custom 3-stop ElfoLift from Lift Shop.

The placement alone made this one of our most intriguing Sydney projects. The chimney void offered the perfect central axis for vertical movement, while the basement, formerly underutilised, was transformed into a premium wine cellar — a true showcase of lifestyle design. From basement to upper level, the lift needed to feel cohesive with the home’s aesthetic — and elevate it at the same time.

The solution was a single-entry 3-level ElfoLift featuring two panoramic glass walls to preserve openness and light, balanced with Italian Similinox skinplate on the remaining surfaces. This combination created a modern, sleek cabin interior with enough transparency to keep the visual flow through each level. Finishes included brushed stainless steel profiles, a premium Touch 2402 black stone floor, a slimline vertical operating panel, and our signature flush-mount telephone, which adds both safety and minimalist appeal.

The lift was completed with white powder-coated panoramic glass doors, selected to tie in with the surrounding interior palette and to visually lighten the cabin’s appearance. It was a bold yet restrained look — one that echoed the home’s timeless architecture while introducing a new layer of technology and luxury.