Kia Ora
This renovation is of an Art Deco apartment in a blok by Architect Levy c. 1936 in Melbourne Australia.
The feel of the interior renovation is of a new layer against the original features and dark timberwork. The new layer has the feel of Art Deco, but is also contemporary, revealing the original interior. New joinery is a muted green, new tables and benches white Carrara marble. New light fittings are white glass spheres and the wall finish is a light grey. The joinery curves where it meets the existing, playing with spatial depth and also separating itself from the existing. In this small apartment, a lot of attention is paid to the domestic details of handles, light switches, shelves, texture and materiality, light and lighting and places to sit.
The entry contains a new cantilevered shelf with a drawer under, and coat hooks to the wall beside. The kitchen is comprised of floor to ceiling cupboards (with library ladder access) on the South wall incorporating pocket doors that open onto a cooktop bench. The fridge, wine fridge and dishwasher are integrated behind the joinery. The north wall is kept free for art.
A new large oval shape marble table forms a large 'kitchen bench' and a place to sit.
Frameless glass panels sit in front of the existing window creating privacy and soft morning (east) light while keeping the fabric of the existing.
In the main bedroom a new robe spans the rear wall and a bedhead shelf extends beyond the bed with drawers under. A double layer curtain (heavy noise and light blockout and a sheer layer) extends across the whole window wall. A round floor rug softens the timber floor.
The second bedroom operates as a study and guest room. A day bed/spare bed is built in at the east end of the room (storage in its base). It is surrounded by a shelf that becomes a desk. Bookshelves are positioned above and return on the northern wall over and around the door. A small shelf, open rail and hooks are on the west wall.
In this small bathroom, the space has been unified using a curved tile system. A single frameless obscure glass screen sits over the existing window to create privacy and a unified simple geometry.
In the Living room, a marble hearth, raised off the floor, ‘floats’ across the width of the room uniting the living area. A custom designed sofa with a rear desk/shelf component is the main element in the room.
The balcony spaces are connected by a narrow marble shelf along the west of the balcony for plant pots and widens to become a seat servicing a small round table.
