Dark hues are paired with decadent materials in this Sydney apartment, designed by local studio Amber Road to suit a sociable, well-travelled owner.
The 1906 apartment is located in Potts Point suburb, within a high-rise residential tower that overlooks the waters of Sydney Harbour.
Amber Road opted for a dark colour palette to suit the lifestyle of its owner, who is often away for work, but who likes to entertain friends when home.
His brief for the 80 square-metre home, which was as an empty shell when he bought it, was for a versatile space where he could easily host visiting friends from overseas, large gatherings, or more intimate dinner parties. He also wanted rooms to display his growing collection of artworks.
“Rather than, as is often the case, focusing solely on the spectacular views outside, we quickly determined that the interior experience would be equally rich and layered,” explained the design team.
“So with space at a premium, maximising the storage capacity and multi-functionality of every element in the apartment was essential.”
In the living area, a full-height storage unit is integrated into the rear wall. Its central panel can be pulled down to reveal a fold-out bed for overnight guests.
Privacy is provided by a slatted timber screen, which can be drawn across to conceal the room from the adjacent dining area.
Here, a horizontal pendant lamp made from stripy vintage fabric is suspended from the centre of the ceiling. It can be raised up on a pulley to give an uninterrupted view of a painting that has been hung directly behind.
Bulky joinery that previously hid part of the apartment’s plumbing system is removed to open up the entryway. Three metal pipes are now exposed, one of which is wrapped in leather boot laces to appear more like a decorative feature.
While a majority of the existing concrete surfaces remain in their found state, others are painted pale grey or navy blue. Slate-coloured terrazzo covers surfaces in the master bathroom.
Warmer colours are offered in the kitchen, which has an ochre marble splashback and plum-hued blinds over the windows. The main block of cabinetry is stained black. Its curved form allows for an inset side table in the bedroom, which sits on the other side of the wall.
Amber Road is lead by Yasmine Ghoniem and Katy Svalbe. The studio recently took part in the Rigg Design Prize exhibition, which saw 10 of Australia’s best interior designers create a room within the National Gallery of Victoria.
Their verandah-inspired entry featured rust coloured walls and a star-print ceiling.
Photography is by Felix Forest. Styling is by Alicia Sciberras.
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