Laura Sharrad’s Henley Beach home has sold, ending a four-year chapter for the MasterChef Australia winner and her family. The sale is now unconditional and out of the cooling-off period, Laura has exclusively confirmed to Home Beautiful.
“As soon as we signed the papers, the emotions really hit me,” she said. “Knowing this has been Florence’s home and that she probably won’t remember this beautiful home, made me quite emotional.”
The house that became a family’s first home
The Sharrads purchased the circa-1915 character villa in 2020, attracted by its proximity to Henley Beach and its classic facade. Over the past four years, they transformed it into a relaxed family home where original charm meets contemporary spaces designed for cooking, gathering and entertaining.
The hardest parts to leave aren’t just the physical features. Sharrad listed the proximity to the beach, their wonderful neighbours, and the white picket fence as what she’ll miss most. The house also holds deeper significance: it became their first family home with Florence.
“Celebrating Florence’s first birthday and second birthday here, as well as a large family Christmas, was truly special,” she says. “It’s been such a beautiful place to call home and we are so excited for the next family who bought this to make it their own forever home.”
Florence, now two, may not recall the villa, but her parents will always associate it with early memories. The sitting room, where wine bottles labelled with special memories form their own kind of family time capsule, and Florence’s nursery—one of Sharrad’s favourite spaces—carry the most sentimental value.
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A kitchen built for chefs—and content
The kitchen and outdoor entertaining area have regularly appeared in Laura’s cooking content. With a focus on functionality, it served as both a family hub and a backdrop for her culinary projects.
Her culinary background is rooted in tradition. Raised in a big Italian family, Sharrad’s cooking habits were shaped by her upbringing. When asked about the best tinned tomatoes in Australia, she named Annalisa and Mutti.
The couple’s next move is to a property in the Adelaide Hills. There, they plan a lifestyle focused on homegrown food and a larger outdoor space. Sharrad has mentioned ambitions beyond cooking, including a space for future projects.
For Sharrad, the move represents more than a change of address. It means trading sand for soil, beachside walks for garden rows, and a house filled with first memories for one that will shape their next ones. Florence may not recall the white picket fence or the sound of waves, but her parents will remember the moments that made it special.
Their new home will need expert design choices to match the warmth of the old one.
