Sophisticated 1906 Apartment Done In Rich Dark Hues

This 1906 apartment is located in Potts Point suburb, within a high-rise residential tower that overlooks the waters of Sydney Harbor. To redesign it for a sociable, well-travelled owner, local studio Amber Road paired dark hues with decadent materials.

The owner is often away for work but likes to entertain friends when home. His brief for the 80 square-meter 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 focusing solely on the spectacular views outside, the design team determined that the interior experience would be equally rich and layered.

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. 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-colored terrazzo covers surfaces in the master bathroom. Warmer colors are offered in the kitchen, which has an ochre marble splash back 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.