DARLINGHURST APARTMENT in Sydney by Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

Article source: Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

Situated in the icon and imposing Harry Seidler43 storeybuilding ‘the Horizon’, this inner-city apartment with views of bustling Sydney harbour and the CBD, was not short on wow factor.

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

• Architects: Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture
• Project: DARLINGHURST APARTMENT
• Location: Darlinghurst, Sydney | 1.0 km from CBD
• Awards: Featured in coffee table book ‘Apartment Living’ by Jenna Reed Burns, a Sydney-based journalist with an interest in design and architecture.  She has written for all the major Australian design publications including Vogue Living, Belle and INSIDEout, and is the author of Australian Beach Houses and Private Sydney.
• Additional: In late 2000, the owner bought the apartment for $685,000.
• Information: The refurbishment was completed in late 2002 and was later sold for $1,495,000.
• Internal Area: 100 sqm
• Total Area: 125sqm
• Budget: $100,000-$120,000
• Cost: $100,000
• Completed: August 2002

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

The acoustic properties of the common wall in the living/dining area and entry hall were upgraded by attaching acoustic matting to the existing Gyprock wall, then clipping panels of V-jointed wenge veneer over the top. The timber paneling not only guaranteed acoustic privacy but also added a sophisticated backdrop to the space.

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

To achieve the ‘wow’ effect on arrival, a custom-made bold lipstick pink/magenta colour was created to showcase the clients’ art, resulting in a wholly reverential approach to the living area and the stunning Sydney panoramic iconographic view.
The clients specified a desire for hardwood parquetry flooring throughout and bespoke joinery. They also specified showcasing their contemporary paintings and byzantine paintings, helping to add an edge to the overall ambience.

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

A classic B&B Italia ‘Charles’ modular sofa in a textured chocolate brown fabric with matching ottoman in a cream textured woven material made from recycled paper set the tone for the colour cue, look and feel. To complement the sofa and dark stain Jarrah parquetry flooring, a Maxalto credenza in rich Wenge veneer was chosen.

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

The clients, a professional couple, set out to convert this sterile, all-white 1990s apartment into a welcoming home that was ‘warm and elegant’ with a timeless quality. Of utmost importance was to ensure the spectacular view took centre stage. Their brief: something beautiful and simple, sophisticated with an understated elegance and free of clutter in keeping with Seidler’s post-modern ethos.

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

To reflect the contemporary architecture of the building and the clients’ brief and allow the space to flow seamlessly, ‘Reindeer’ from the Dulux Master Palette in Wash & Wear Flat was used throughout the apartment. Its dark base and natural hue complemented the natural timber floor and rich chocolate brown Wenge clad bespoke joinery, making it extremely versatile and ever changing creating different effects according to the light conditions.

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

In the master bedroom, I used my own designed free-standing bedhead also clad in Wenge veneer.Warm-white tungsten tubes on the rear perimeter added drama to the master bedroom by creating a warm halo effect around the bedhead. A ‘2 Grid’ Deltalight spotlight was set at angles away from the centre of the bedhead as reading lamps to enable one partner could read in bed without disturbing the other.

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

Wenge veneer was used for the bespoke joinery throughout the apartment, except for the kitchen and bathrooms, which where predominantly Dulux White On White.

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

Image Courtesy © Charles Alexiou Interior Design & Architecture

Tags: Darlinghurst, Sydney

Category: Apartments

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