Project briefs come in many shapes and sizes. For some of our clients it’s clippings from a magazine, a favourite holiday destination they want to recreate at home or simply a love of a particular fabric or pattern. For the top-to-toe transformation at Macleay Street’s ‘Ikon’ building, our client’s inspirational reference was ‘more Meghan Markle than Kate Middleton’s wedding dress’.
The creative brief was music to our ears. In a bid to channel the feminine yet pared-back royal gown, we opted for an elegant aesthetic with timeless finishes. Our client parted ways with her old furniture and started afresh with simplicity and modernity in mind.
The inner-city apartment presented some challenges, namely, it’s long, narrow shape and awkward loft bedroom. To counteract the small footprint, we emphasized the double height of the living level with full-height silver leaf columns that divide the different zones. Up-down lighting on the columns and opposite walls further lengthen the vertical features and create a mirror image, offering the illusion of space in the compact home.
Recurring circular motifs, apparent in the curvaceous lounge and curved tables, enhance the flow of the narrow living space and contribute to the home’s fluid layout.
Translating fashion to interiors, we selected a soft, nuanced palette of pale gold, creams and silver and dressed the apartment in an exciting blend of textures, textiles and custom details. Brass accents play nicely against the kitchen’s Calacatta gold marble and soft metallic wallpaper, and a statement gold pendant floats above the living space, the crowning jewel of the home.
The wedding dress brief called for luxury, which was achieved through consideration for quality materials and craftsmanship. Bespoke laser-cut metal detailing, inspired by Moroccan screens, and custom timber joinery with bronze handles speak to a handmade quality.
Upstairs, a lush silver carpet sets the backdrop for the Brochier royal blue bedhead (a fitting regal touch). Other than matching bedside tables and a curved ottoman at the foot of the bed, the bedroom remains decidedly uncluttered, subtly changing the mood from public space to tranquil retreat.
While the embellished space encompasses a royal elegance, it remains fresh and modern, owing largely to clever, built-in storage and minimal furnishings selected for their feminine and unfussy shapes.
Lifting cues from an inspired brief, we have created a home where the feminine meets the contemporary; where each delicate and considered detail combines for a visual feast on a small, but beautiful, scale.
Photography: Brigid Arnott
All images © Alexandra Kidd Design