Before & After: An Apartment With Just the Right Amount of Kitsch
A little mid-century, a tad Jonathan Adler – step inside an apartment where bold colour and pattern steal the show
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or makeover each week. Here, Monique Sartor, principal designer at Sartorial Interiors, shares the journey of transforming a dark and dated apartment into a riot of colour and fun for a book-loving couple with a taste for kitsch.
The living space before works.
What was the apartment like originally?
It could best be described as a visual car crash. The apartment felt heavy, drab and depressingly dark. Everything was squashed together; there were no clearly designed zones and storage was inefficient.
The fridge was housed in the laundry because the kitchen layout was so bad.
The owners have really fun personalities and their home didn’t reflect that.
When was it last renovated?
The early 1980s.
What was the apartment like originally?
It could best be described as a visual car crash. The apartment felt heavy, drab and depressingly dark. Everything was squashed together; there were no clearly designed zones and storage was inefficient.
The fridge was housed in the laundry because the kitchen layout was so bad.
The owners have really fun personalities and their home didn’t reflect that.
When was it last renovated?
The early 1980s.
The living space before works.
What was your brief?
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What was your brief?
- To make the kitchen more functional and attractive.
- Update the bathroom.
- Bring light into the living spaces.
- Improve storage.
- Resolve the laundry challenges.
- Create a style that reflected the owners’ personalities.
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Rose Quartz vinyl flooring: Polyflor; walls painted in Lexicon Quarter: Dulux.
What were the client’s must-haves?
What was the entire project budget?
Around AU$150,000.
Where did most of it go?
On the kitchen, bathroom, flooring and paint.
What were the client’s must-haves?
- More kitchen bench space.
- To curate their art collection.
- Bring in natural light.
- Make their home look fun and inviting.
What was the entire project budget?
Around AU$150,000.
Where did most of it go?
On the kitchen, bathroom, flooring and paint.
The living space before works.
How did you want the apartment to look and feel?
A marriage of their appreciation for kitsch collectables, their bubbly personalities and their love of mid-century design.
It had to feel inviting as soon as you opened the door and draw you into a happy and really interesting space.
How did the owners want to use their home?
They wanted a more spacious bedroom, a reading space, room for an office so they could work from home, a make-up area, and to give the bathroom a more spa-like feel.
How did you want the apartment to look and feel?
A marriage of their appreciation for kitsch collectables, their bubbly personalities and their love of mid-century design.
It had to feel inviting as soon as you opened the door and draw you into a happy and really interesting space.
How did the owners want to use their home?
They wanted a more spacious bedroom, a reading space, room for an office so they could work from home, a make-up area, and to give the bathroom a more spa-like feel.
The living space before works.
What was the living room like originally?
It had a dark brick wall that was sucking the life out of this space.
I decided to paint the wall rather than render it, because I felt the texture would add visual interest while giving the space a lift.
They had collected some really fun pieces of art, but they weren’t being shown off to their full potential.
What did you do?
We painted the brick wall white and changed the flooring from dark carpet to a light pink terrazzo-style vinyl (Polyflor Rose Quartz vinyl). These two changes alone transformed the space.
What was the living room like originally?
It had a dark brick wall that was sucking the life out of this space.
I decided to paint the wall rather than render it, because I felt the texture would add visual interest while giving the space a lift.
They had collected some really fun pieces of art, but they weren’t being shown off to their full potential.
What did you do?
We painted the brick wall white and changed the flooring from dark carpet to a light pink terrazzo-style vinyl (Polyflor Rose Quartz vinyl). These two changes alone transformed the space.
Wallpaper: Elitis. Rug: Orla Kiely.
I created a library at one end and a TV space at the other, giving the living room two distinct zones.
The owners love reading and didn’t have anywhere to store their collection of books properly. We added a large bookshelf with a funky rug for their favourite armchair to sit on. This bookcase gave all the books in the apartment a home, which meant there was a lot less clutter in every room.
We culled and curated their quirky and fun art collection, introduced new furniture and gave sentimental pieces a new life.
Tell us about the wallpaper
It is from Elitis and has a real mid-century feel. Its bold patteren and colourway were perfect for this project. It became the focal point of the space.
I created a library at one end and a TV space at the other, giving the living room two distinct zones.
The owners love reading and didn’t have anywhere to store their collection of books properly. We added a large bookshelf with a funky rug for their favourite armchair to sit on. This bookcase gave all the books in the apartment a home, which meant there was a lot less clutter in every room.
We culled and curated their quirky and fun art collection, introduced new furniture and gave sentimental pieces a new life.
Tell us about the wallpaper
It is from Elitis and has a real mid-century feel. Its bold patteren and colourway were perfect for this project. It became the focal point of the space.
Green sofa: client’s own; rug: from a wholesaler.
Why did you choose to make a feature of the arches?
Arches were making a comeback, so I decided to celebrate them within the new design.
By giving them a ‘racing stripe’ we added a little fun while helping delineate the dining, living and office spaces.
Browse more images of lush living rooms on Houzz
Why did you choose to make a feature of the arches?
Arches were making a comeback, so I decided to celebrate them within the new design.
By giving them a ‘racing stripe’ we added a little fun while helping delineate the dining, living and office spaces.
Browse more images of lush living rooms on Houzz
Table and chairs: LaForma.
What are your top tips for making bold colour work?
What are your top tips for making bold colour work?
- Trust your gut – if you love something, trust that it will work.
- Be bold and take a risk – that’s often when the magic happens, and is usually what will make your home more unique.
- Life’s too short for everything to be beige – live a little!
The kitchen before works.
What was the kitchen like originally?
It had shallow benchtops, there was no proper pantry and the fridge had to live in the laundry because there wasn’t enough room. The client also wanted a dishwasher.
What was the kitchen like originally?
It had shallow benchtops, there was no proper pantry and the fridge had to live in the laundry because there wasn’t enough room. The client also wanted a dishwasher.
The kitchen before works.
What did you do?
Honestly my team and I performed a veritable miracle in this space: we managed to deliver everything the client wanted.
What did you do?
Honestly my team and I performed a veritable miracle in this space: we managed to deliver everything the client wanted.
Joinery in Soft Walnut Ravine: Polytec; splashback tiles: Amber Tiles.
We replaced the dated tiles and yellow benchtops with a fresh white benchtop, pink penny-round splashback tiles and timber doors.
We replaced the dated tiles and yellow benchtops with a fresh white benchtop, pink penny-round splashback tiles and timber doors.
What was your starting point for the new home design?
The pink terrazzo-look vinyl floor. One of the first things the client told me was that she’d love a pink terrazzo floor. The budget wouldn’t allow for real terrazzo, but I found a beautiful vinyl look-a-like that was also extremely practical (easy to clean with the cat fur).
Then we needed a statement piece, which ended up being the Elitis wallpaper. From there, everything else fell naturally into place.
The pink terrazzo-look vinyl floor. One of the first things the client told me was that she’d love a pink terrazzo floor. The budget wouldn’t allow for real terrazzo, but I found a beautiful vinyl look-a-like that was also extremely practical (easy to clean with the cat fur).
Then we needed a statement piece, which ended up being the Elitis wallpaper. From there, everything else fell naturally into place.
The bathroom before works.
What was the bathroom like originally?
It was tired and dated, with tiles that were practically falling off the walls.
What was the bathroom like originally?
It was tired and dated, with tiles that were practically falling off the walls.
Wall tiles: Tiles by Kate; wall paint in Avocado Cream: Dulux.
What did you do?
We kept the layout the same to keep costs down and because it worked.
We added a storage shelf along the wall from the shower to the bath, which was practical and attractive.
We chose green tiles that the client loved and that fitted the home’s retro feel.
What did you do?
We kept the layout the same to keep costs down and because it worked.
We added a storage shelf along the wall from the shower to the bath, which was practical and attractive.
We chose green tiles that the client loved and that fitted the home’s retro feel.
The laundry before works.
What was the laundry like originally?
Dismal at best. We managed to get storage and a decent work bench, and improved the layout enormously.
What was the laundry like originally?
Dismal at best. We managed to get storage and a decent work bench, and improved the layout enormously.
Tiles: Tile Factory Outlet.
What did you do?
I moved the door to the laundry to maximise the available bench space in the kitchen, and to bring the fridge into the kitchen from the laundry and make it more functional.
What did you do?
I moved the door to the laundry to maximise the available bench space in the kitchen, and to bring the fridge into the kitchen from the laundry and make it more functional.
What are the main elements of the home’s colour palette?
Pastel pink, blue, avocado and mustard. These colours were in the wallpaper and we carried them through to the rest of the apartment.
Pastel pink, blue, avocado and mustard. These colours were in the wallpaper and we carried them through to the rest of the apartment.
Did you incorporate any of the owners’ existing furniture into the new design?
Yes – their sofa, reading chair, coffee table and sideboard.
Yes – their sofa, reading chair, coffee table and sideboard.
The bedroom before works.
Did you make any structural changes to the house?
Only one small structural change – moving the laundry door. Plus, we swapped the bedrooms around so we could fit a queen-size bed in the main bedroom (up from a double) and maximise storage.
What did the client think of the changes?
Her comment was that I’d captured her style and elevated it in a way that she loved, but would never have achieved without my help.
Did you make any structural changes to the house?
Only one small structural change – moving the laundry door. Plus, we swapped the bedrooms around so we could fit a queen-size bed in the main bedroom (up from a double) and maximise storage.
What did the client think of the changes?
Her comment was that I’d captured her style and elevated it in a way that she loved, but would never have achieved without my help.
Bedspread: Adairs.
Your turn
What do you love most about this fun and vibrant makeover? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see more homes with colour? Check out this story: A Colourful, Top-to-Toe Renovation of a Run-Down Sydney Terrace
Your turn
What do you love most about this fun and vibrant makeover? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see more homes with colour? Check out this story: A Colourful, Top-to-Toe Renovation of a Run-Down Sydney Terrace
Answers by Monique Sartor, principal designer at Sartorial Interiors.
Who lives here: A couple and their two cats
Location: Harris Park, NSW
Home style: An apartment
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Size of the apartment: Around 90 square metres
Budget: AU$150,000
Interior designer: Monique Sartor of Sartorial Interiors
Builder: Terraform Projects
Joinery: Joinery Gallery
How did you use Houzz with this project?
To show my credibility and develop a relationship to the point my client was ready to engage Sartorial Interiors.
What were the most useful features on Houzz Pro?
Using the Lead stages to keep up with where the owners were in their design journey, the Clipper tool and the Mood Boards.