Facebook Tweet Help Stories Interiors Modern classic Share Tweet Help Rich black furnishings contrast glittering, reflective surfaces to make a dramatic statement in this remodelled penthouse image of the kitchen island with timber veneer drawers. It's a common assumption that you can't readily change the layout of an apartment. But, as this project illustrates, sometimes it is possible to transform a penthouse interior to better suit modern lifestyles and tastes.Interior designer Katharine Burgess of Trapezoid Interior Design says the original apartment was rather dated and did not have an easy flow between rooms. The new owners wanted a much more spacious, open-plan layout that would maximise the view."They also wanted the interior to be a grand space that would be reminiscent of a luxury hotel," she says.To bring the interior up to the required standard, almost every internal masonry wall was removed and replaced."We needed to change the proportions of several rooms," says Burgess. "The original entrance, for example, was a narrow corridor. It needed to be spacious and welcoming."To create the desired entry, the corridor was removed and the space opened up to the living area. The light and sense of space were also improved by a large, mirrored panel. view of master bedroom which features bedroom linen, bedroom furnishings, lighting, carpeted flooring, mirror and accessories. The living area was opened up to provide one large space, part of which was originally the master suite. This features clearly defined seating areas."The owners didn't want to feel as though they were living in one cramped, single room," says Burgess. "Large, mirrored walls were introduced to enhance the sense of space. The glittering reflections also provide a touch of luxury."The mirrors are positioned between Laminex dark timber veneer panels mounted on a black substrate, which creates dramatic shadow lines."Originally, we considered a strong black-and-white theme," says Burgess. "This evolved to a more off-black and off-white palette that has a warmer look one that is better suited to a home interior."Black still features, however. Lacquered reproduction chairs feature black velvet with silver stitching and nickel-coloured rivets. And a black leather sofa has black-and-silver cushions. The dining chairs are a very dark brown leather, chosen to complement the dark wood of a Martha Stewart dining table.A light cream-toned marble flooring was specified as a hard-wearing alternative to limestone. It was also chosen to reinforce the sense of luxury. Most of the walls are painted a similar shade of cream. Legend of floor plans. "We didn't want these surfaces to be too white and crisp," says Burgess. "The cream has a much softer look."To further enhance the interior space, the ceiling throughout the penthouse was raised. As the roof has a slight pitch, this posed a challenge, says Burgess."To avoid a crooked look, we added narrow bulkheads at pelmet height around the tops of the walls. These help to ground the space, providing a solid, square-edged feature."Transparent elements were also introduced to enhance the spaciousness. These include glass and acrylic coffee and side tables."This is a contemporary interior, but it does have strong classical links that lift it out of the ordinary," says Burgess. Credit list Builder Buildwise Building Services Sofa King Furniture Concerto in black leather Armchairs Casa Mia Fine Furniture, upholstered in Berlin Collection fabric from Reidel Imports Floor and wall tiles Crema Sand marble from Intastone Wall lights Magins Lighting Kitchen cabinets Laminex Milkwood and Espresso; drawers in Laminex Luxe Ebony sandblasted timber veneer Ovens and ventilation Bosch Vanity drawers Dulux Fair Bianca polyurethane Kitchen manufacturer Coffee table Custom-made acrylic with glass top Dining table East Hampton by Martha Stewart from Coco Republic Carpet Cavalier Bremworth St Germain in the colour Pont Paints Dulux Benchtops and splashback Crema Sand marble supplied and installed by Architectural Collections Vanity top and shower enclosure Crema Sand marble Basins Caroma Liano undermounted basins Story by: Colleen Hawkes 25 Nov, 2008 Interiors Trendsideas Home kitchen bathroom commercial design Latest Post Light-filled and harmonious 14 Apr, 2024 Homely, inviting – and lived in 14 Apr, 2024 Nature infused 14 Apr, 2024 We know the Specialists Related Book More Books > AU2416 AU2416 Read More Similar Stories