Urban Warehouse | In Design International

The one bedroom, one bathroom apartment was well situated within an amazing warehouse development, however, the previous owners had not appointed the property with any style whatsoever & there was very little storage.  “Aside the necessity for a practical outcome to service the couples’ changing lifestyle, my observations were that there was a severe lack of continuity between exterior & interior and a severe lack of aesthetic direction.” The apartment did not ‘feel” like it was part of a warehouse conversion.  

Our aim was to convert a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment into a 2 bedroom apartment, create more storage and if possible, add an extra bathroom & a more practical separate laundry! The most important process and outcome was to provide for potential future “family” (children seemed to be a pipe dream for years to come when we started the design process) and potential to increase financial gain when selling. We were mindful of not over capitalising.

To improve longer term family living, we intentionally documented more storage opportunities than immediately required, knowing that some of those joinery units could be added at a future date.

 The dining banquette seat was one unit that made the first round and generated a huge amount of drawer storage along with providing luxurious seating in what would have otherwise been a tight space.

 One unexpected discovery made during the demolition phase was the branded numbers on the dining room wall. Previously covered in layers of 1990’s “magnolia white” paint, I was stoked when the sandblaster revealed the “artwork” to me. We spent quite some time negotiating the exact amount of “blasting to do” of the red bricks around that area!

 We chose glass walls with sheer & blackout curtains for both bedrooms to maintain as much natural light as possible. This solution also allows the rooms’ purpose to remain fluid.

We love the chalk board in the kitchen.

During several afterhours appointments, it was apparent that our clients had a great love of wine! We were inspired to keep an open plan kitchen which provided a perfect platform to create them an ambient wine bar experience to gather with friends around the raised island bench (suitable for up to 8 people) at the same time the Cote d’Azur natural stone benchtop offers a practical solution as preparation area and coincidentally a 2nd home office space during Covid Lockdown!

I love to honour projects both “great and small!” This is one that represents the Australian modern movement to inner city family living.  Using clever spatial planning within a limited footprint we have made better use of the natural light to penetrate other areas of the property and massively improve the residents’ liveability.