When asked to update and modernise a two bedroom Art Deco apartment which had been in the client’s family for 30 years, it was immediately clear that this place was special beyond just being an investment property and our celebratory approach to the renovation reflects this.
       The existing space had ample access to natural light and lovely internal details and trims. A light touch was adopted so as not to detract from the existing features.
       A longing for ceremony underpins the design approach to this petite space. A considered finishes palette has been used to denote this, where colour is used sparingly but in a considered way to create a sense of occasion to each specific zone.
       The kitchen design references a traditional European kitchen—tight but packed with function and a space for everyone. The kitchen joinery is simple and proportionate in scale. Since the kitchen and dining zones were incorporated into a very small area, integrated appliances were utilised to ensure the utilitarian aspects of the kitchen did not visually overwhelm the space. Bespoke built-in seating is cozy yet moreover achieves efficiency in floor plan, and a central island bench which serves a dual function of providing additional kitchen prep space as well as a place to gather, a place for ritual and ceremony even within the confines of a small kitchen.
       Custom metal shelving references the Art Deco steel plate balustrading to the apartment’s exterior and provides a home for all the daily items that need not be hidden away—such as TV, books, record player and objects—items which form part of the tapestry of the interior and of the owners' daily life.