Project Of The Week
Renovating
A Tired Inner-City Apartment Gets a Green and Serene Makeover
Poor storage, an awkward kitchen and too much beige... the designer behind this transformation faced challenges aplenty
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or extension each week. Here, interior designer Dana Goldberg of Nido Studio Interior Design reveals how she transformed a dull, awkwardly arranged, two-bedroom, one-bathroom Melbourne apartment into an entertainer’s home that oozes sophistication and personality.
Why a green kitchen?
The client loves colour and made it clear that she didn’t want a white kitchen. She was looking for a colour that was warm, sophisticated and made a statement, plus it needed to complement her art collection. This Laminex Bayleaf green was perfect.
The client loves colour and made it clear that she didn’t want a white kitchen. She was looking for a colour that was warm, sophisticated and made a statement, plus it needed to complement her art collection. This Laminex Bayleaf green was perfect.
The kitchen before works
What was the home like originally?
A tired two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in an inner-city ’90s building.
Live in an apartment? Check out these 13 tips on how to maximise space in a small unit
What was the home like originally?
A tired two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in an inner-city ’90s building.
Live in an apartment? Check out these 13 tips on how to maximise space in a small unit
What wasn’t working for your client?
The client loves entertaining, but the kitchen was quite small and didn’t function well, which she felt was limiting. The bathroom was also small and poorly laid out. In addition, the apartment didn’t have enough storage.
Decor-wise, the home was tired, dark and had lots of beige, which didn’t reflect her vivacious personality.
The client loves entertaining, but the kitchen was quite small and didn’t function well, which she felt was limiting. The bathroom was also small and poorly laid out. In addition, the apartment didn’t have enough storage.
Decor-wise, the home was tired, dark and had lots of beige, which didn’t reflect her vivacious personality.
The new floor plan after works
What was your brief?
To create a home that reflected the client’s warmth, personality and love of colour. She also wanted us to showcase her eclectic and extensive art collection.
Thinking of buying some art? Here’s what you need to know
What was your brief?
To create a home that reflected the client’s warmth, personality and love of colour. She also wanted us to showcase her eclectic and extensive art collection.
Thinking of buying some art? Here’s what you need to know
Mood board for the new kitchen
What were the client’s must-haves?
What were the client’s must-haves?
- A new kitchen and bathroom.
- New built-in wardrobes in the bedrooms.
- More storage throughout the apartment.
- A light-filled, colourful and warm look and feel in the home.
Mood board for the renovated sitting room/study at the apartment’s entrance
What exactly did you do?
What exactly did you do?
- Put in a new kitchen.
- Enlarged the two bedrooms and bathroom by moving the hallway walls (it was quite wide so we were able to encroach on it without making the hallway too narrow).
- Put in new built-in wardrobes in the bedrooms.
- Added a new laundry.
- Installed a new linen cupboard.
- Added new built-in storage to the sitting room/study and kitchen.
- Redecorated and upgraded the apartment’s interior with new flooring, paint, wallpaper and soft furnishings.
Mood board for the renovated master bedroom
What was your thinking behind the colours and layout?
Our approach was to select a new palette that was rich in colour, texture and warmth to complement the client’s art collection.
We then created a new layout that maximises the kitchen and entertaining space and includes plenty of storage throughout the home.
Read stories with smart and stylish storage ideas here
What was your thinking behind the colours and layout?
Our approach was to select a new palette that was rich in colour, texture and warmth to complement the client’s art collection.
We then created a new layout that maximises the kitchen and entertaining space and includes plenty of storage throughout the home.
Read stories with smart and stylish storage ideas here
What was the budget?
$100,000.
Where did most of it go?
On the bespoke joinery.
$100,000.
Where did most of it go?
On the bespoke joinery.
The original hallway
What problems did this project address?
Our challenges were to create a home that reflected our client’s warmth and love of colour and that respectfully showcased her extensive and eclectic art collection.
What problems did this project address?
Our challenges were to create a home that reflected our client’s warmth and love of colour and that respectfully showcased her extensive and eclectic art collection.
The hallway after works
How does the new work address these issues?
The bespoke cabinetry, timber flooring, lighting and special touches, such as the custom wallpaper, combine to create a unique and welcoming environment with plenty of personality. The sophisticated yet playful use of materials and colours complements our client’s art collection.
The home is thoroughly contemporary, yet also manages to feel like a calm, welcoming retreat.
How does the new work address these issues?
The bespoke cabinetry, timber flooring, lighting and special touches, such as the custom wallpaper, combine to create a unique and welcoming environment with plenty of personality. The sophisticated yet playful use of materials and colours complements our client’s art collection.
The home is thoroughly contemporary, yet also manages to feel like a calm, welcoming retreat.
The original bedroom
The new layout maximises the kitchen and entertaining area, and there is now plenty of storage throughout.
The new layout maximises the kitchen and entertaining area, and there is now plenty of storage throughout.
The new living room in the open-plan area
Pieces from the client’s art collection in the renovated open-plan area
The renovated study nook in the combined study/sitting room
We love the dramatic wallpapers you’ve used – tell us about them
We chose these striking wallpapers as they really reflected the client’s personality and aesthetic.
The palm-pattern wallpaper (Tropicana design at Seneca Textiles) in the study nook is fun, sophisticated and complements the artwork that hangs here.
The wallpaper in the bedroom was custom-made – we worked closely with the client to get the colours and pattern right.
We love the dramatic wallpapers you’ve used – tell us about them
We chose these striking wallpapers as they really reflected the client’s personality and aesthetic.
The palm-pattern wallpaper (Tropicana design at Seneca Textiles) in the study nook is fun, sophisticated and complements the artwork that hangs here.
The wallpaper in the bedroom was custom-made – we worked closely with the client to get the colours and pattern right.
And we adore the floor-to-ceiling kitchen cabinetry – what was your thinking behind it?
Our aim was to create a bigger kitchen with adequate workspace and loads of storage by ‘stretching’ the kitchen cupboards into the entertaining/living/dining area.
We ran the cabinets the full length of the wall to maximise the kitchen’s storage potential. The floor-to-ceiling cabinets conceal a fridge, dishwasher, cooking appliances and storage. They also contain a double pantry with an appliances bench and a broom cupboard, plus open shelves for cookbooks and decorative pieces.
We then created a long island bench with storage drawers for crockery, glassware, cutlery, utensils, and pots and pans so it’s easy to keep the kitchen clean and uncluttered.
Our aim was to create a bigger kitchen with adequate workspace and loads of storage by ‘stretching’ the kitchen cupboards into the entertaining/living/dining area.
We ran the cabinets the full length of the wall to maximise the kitchen’s storage potential. The floor-to-ceiling cabinets conceal a fridge, dishwasher, cooking appliances and storage. They also contain a double pantry with an appliances bench and a broom cupboard, plus open shelves for cookbooks and decorative pieces.
We then created a long island bench with storage drawers for crockery, glassware, cutlery, utensils, and pots and pans so it’s easy to keep the kitchen clean and uncluttered.
The original study/sitting room
The study/sitting room after works
Why do you think this project works so well?
A dream client! Our easy-going and design-savvy client was involved and invested from the start of the process right to the very end. She provided us with a great brief and this resulted in a fantastic outcome.
We were also lucky to work with the builder C&S Renovate. Steve and Con are great communicators and listeners, and real perfectionists. They also coordinated a fantastic team of tradespeople. This A-team’s work resulted in a positive and satisfying outcome all around.
Find a great builder near you
Why do you think this project works so well?
A dream client! Our easy-going and design-savvy client was involved and invested from the start of the process right to the very end. She provided us with a great brief and this resulted in a fantastic outcome.
We were also lucky to work with the builder C&S Renovate. Steve and Con are great communicators and listeners, and real perfectionists. They also coordinated a fantastic team of tradespeople. This A-team’s work resulted in a positive and satisfying outcome all around.
Find a great builder near you
The original bathroom
The new bathroom
Key features
Key features
- A statement kitchen with oodles of concealed storage.
- An open-plan kitchen/living/dining space that’s perfect for entertaining.
- A unique colour palette that complements the owner’s eclectic art collection.
- Special touches such as custom wallpaper and joinery.
- A home with a light, warm and inviting feel.
The new bathroom
Materials palette
Materials palette
- Laminex Bayleaf kitchen cabinetry.
- Tongue n Groove pre-finished engineered European oak flooring.
- Carrara marble benchtops in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Byzantine Design terrazzo tiles on the bathroom floor.
- Byzantine Design matt-white subway tiles in the shower.
- Classic Ceramics matt-white ceramic 100-millimetre square wall tiles.
- Seneca Textiles Tropicana wallpaper in the study nook.
- Custom wallpaper from Quercus & Co in the master bedroom.
- Throws and scatter cushions from Figgoscope Curates.
- Dulux Natural White paint to all interior walls, ceilings and doors.
The new bathroom
Tell us
What do you love about this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Looking for more small-space renovation ideas? Don’t miss last week’s Project of the Week: A Tiny Terrace Transformed With Space, Light and Luxe Detailing
Tell us
What do you love about this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Looking for more small-space renovation ideas? Don’t miss last week’s Project of the Week: A Tiny Terrace Transformed With Space, Light and Luxe Detailing
Answers by Dana Goldberg, interior designer and director at Nido Studio Interior Design
Who lives here: A lady who collects art and loves colour
Location: Brunswick, Victoria
Size: 110 square metres
Interior designer and stylist: Dana Goldberg at Nido Studio Interior Design
Builder: Steve Cella and Con Moran at C&S Renovate
Joinery: Slater Cabinets
Gained: A larger and better functioning kitchen and bathroom, bigger bedrooms with new built-in wardrobes, a new laundry and a new linen cupboard, plus a full decorative overhaul.