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Stickybeak of the Week: A Small Apartment With Big Storage
Dual-purpose furniture was the key to making this compact living space a success for its busy professional owner
Set within a beautiful historical building in Melbourne, this stunning new apartment was the dream space for busy professional Christie Tan. As a doctor doing shift work at a hospital, Christie desired a no-fuss, practical home that she could retreat to at the end of a long day. However, there was one drawback to this pristine and glossy apartment – it had very little built-in storage. Enter interior expert Michelle Hart from Bask Interiors. She was tasked with sourcing furniture that would bring aesthetic charm and appeal to the open-plan living space, while keeping clutter at bay with plenty of hidden storage and display areas.
With no built-in storage other than in the kitchen, Christie needed furniture and a layout that would clearly define the different zones in the open space without feeling cluttered. Michelle’s placement of furniture creates a separate spot for relaxing and eating, while colourful prints also help to distinguish the different areas. “Christie loves the colourful prints that she’s collected from her travels, and these have helped to set the tone for the bold colours around the rest of the room,” says Michelle.
Taking inspiration from the apartment’s timber flooring and battened entry area, Michelle sourced plenty of warm wood pieces to create a cohesive and balanced feel throughout the open-plan space.
Side table, West Elm
Side table, West Elm
With a peninsula island unit separating the cooking area from the sitting zone, Michelle was able to position the sofa in the middle of room to create a cosy and intimate seating spot. “We found a rug from West Elm that was cosy underfoot and further anchored the seating area,” says Michelle.
Michelle ensured each item of furniture she chose had either hidden storage or display space. For example, the coffee table in the seating zone has a lift-up lid so it’s possible to clear away clutter in one easy swoop, while the cabinet between the windows has sliding doors that provide more concealed storage spots.
Coffee table, West Elm.
Coffee table, West Elm.
“We added the leather and timber shelves on the wall first, purely for decorative display items such as plants and pictures. Then I sourced the perfect storage console to sit neatly below,” says Michelle.
Shelving, Lightly Design. Zeus cabinet, Mubu Home.
Shelving, Lightly Design. Zeus cabinet, Mubu Home.
Christie was keen to introduce as much greenery as possible, not only to add colour and shape, but to encourage a sense of rejuvenation and wellbeing. “Open display areas for Christie’s quirky treasures and finds were key in evoking the eclectic vibe she was after,” says Michelle.
The eclectic look is continued into the eating area, where a distinctive Scandinavian dining setting is teamed with an ornate one-off Chinese cabinet. “Although very different in style, we felt that the blonde timber of the cabinet sat perfectly with the pale Danish table, and helped to bring a touch of vintage charm to the clean lines,” says Michelle.
Requinn dining chairs and dining table, Mubu Home. Antique Asian Cabinet, Orient Express.
Requinn dining chairs and dining table, Mubu Home. Antique Asian Cabinet, Orient Express.
One of the main reasons Christie chose the apartment was for its clean, modern finishes, which are easy to live with and maintain. On her kitchen bench top, Christie wanted a chic bottle rack that would display her wine collection, so Michelle sourced a smart design (see image four, above) that sits neatly on the work surface. “Its quite hard to find a design that fits well and looks good too,” she says.
Wine rack, Top 3 By Design.
Wine rack, Top 3 By Design.
Now the apartment is finished, how does it complement Christie’s lifestyle? “Perfectly,” says Michelle. “The comfy Danish dining chairs create the ideal working area when she needs to use her laptop, and the rejig has also freed up space for her bike in the entrance way. Overall, the compact living space now feels larger, lighter and more welcoming thanks to the smart functional pieces that keep everything in its place.”
Tell us
If your home is spatially challenged, we’d love to hear how you’ve kept clutter under control. Share your ideas and tips in the comments below.
Tell us
If your home is spatially challenged, we’d love to hear how you’ve kept clutter under control. Share your ideas and tips in the comments below.
Who lives here: Christie Tan, a doctor
Location: Glen Huntley, Melbourne
Size: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space, plus a balcony
Design and Decoration: Bask Interiors
When Christie bought her apartment in March 2016 she was delighted with the slick finishes and easy-to-maintain surfaces…however she was at a loss with how to make the open- plan space work for her lifestyle.
After spotting Michelle Hart’s professional profile on Houzz, she sought her help and advice. Michelle explains the main challenge. “As we didn’t have much space to play with we had to select the furniture wisely.
Each piece had to provide storage and display, as well as look fabulous.”At the entry there is a clear of example of this dual-purpose ethos at work. A modern ladder shelf makes practical use of vertical space, while providing an ideal spot for essential items such as keys and a lovely display area for personal trinkets. It also sets the tone for the rest of the space.
Wall dots, Muuto. Sketch Ladder shelf, Mubu Home.