Character & connection

Designed by Carmen Hansberry-Kennedy, Carmen Hansberry Design

From the interior designer:

Imagine stepping into a luxurious apartment perched on the 20th floor of the exclusive One Subiaco Apartment Development, just below the penthouse. 

That's where our journey began with an owner when furnishing and designing their new space. 

The owners didn't just want a place to live; they wanted an apartment that would mirror their individual personality and style.

Our mission was  to create a living environment that seamlessly blended functionality and comfort with a touch of elegance. 

In initial discussions, we explored the owner's vision for an open, airy ambience adorned with neutral hues and the warmth of natural textures. 

We dived deep into the world of furniture, selecting pieces that not only served a purpose but also elevated the aesthetics of the interior. 

Bespoke furniture was considered – tailored to the owner's exacting standards.

Yet, our considerations didn't stop at furniture. 

We discussed bespoke cabinetry – crafting storage solutions that were as functional as they were visually arresting. 

And because every great interior deserves a personal touch, we explored the inclusion of art and personalised elements that would showcase the apartment owner's style and individuality.

The result was a meticulously planned and executed space that exceeded the owner's expectations – a place where form met function in complete harmony.

The following are just some of the elements that came together to create the interior.

Furniture

I was able, through a series of shopping trips with my apartment owner, to see some of my wholesaler suppliers to source and buy a variety of furniture pieces for the apartment. 

These included:

• Both beds and associated mattresses within the master bedroom and guest room.
• Both sets of bedside tables and tallboys.
• Home office freestanding desk and chair.
• Dining room chairs (10) and a large dining table.
• Living room - large leather sofa with chaise, two occasional armchairs and coffee and side tables
• Kitchen stools (3)

Soft furnishings

After the larger furniture pieces had been confirmed, I further suggested the following to ensure that the colour scheme/overall modern contemporary feel was consistent and flowed cohesively throughout the apartment.

Throw cushions to both beds and the living room sofa

With careful consideration, a choice was made to enhance the colour palette of rust and tan tones, reinforcing the overall aesthetic of the One Subiaco Residences apartment building. 

The incorporation of a patterned geometrical design further accentuated the Art Deco style that characterised the building.

To establish a sense of interior coherence, the selections of cushions in various sizes were repeated. 

This design idea was applied to both the beds in the master and guest bedrooms, as well as the sofa in the living room area – creating a harmonious connection throughout the space.

Master and guest bedroom bedding outer quilt covers and matching throws

Selected Greg Natale accent throws (2) were chosen to adorn the foot of each bed, in a geometric/ art deco pattern, to further add a touch of the apartment building style – though these were selected in a soft hue of cream/ tan so as not to overcomplicate the space.

Floor rugs for the living, dining, and office spaces

To establish a seamless connection between the living and dining room areas, I arranged custom-selected and sized rugs. 

These rugs were made from the same material and pattern, serving as an anchor between the spaces. 

Since they needed to be ordered before gaining site access, I had to refer to the architectural plans to determine the appropriate sizing. 

However, the curved windows on the side of the dining room posed a challenge in achieving identical rug sizes. 

Despite this, I ensured that the dining room table and sofa were centrally placed, allowing for sufficient walk-through space.

A smaller-sized rug for the desk space in the nearby home office was ordered in the same fabric, to further ensure the apartment's cohesive feel.

Motorised window treatments throughout 

Throughout the space, we incorporated motorised window treatments, including block-out roller blinds and soft sheer curtains that extend from floor to ceiling. 

For the sheer curtains, we opted for a delicate fabric that adds a touch of softness and texture to the room. 

The griege-toned fabric was chosen to create a subtle, elegant look – its transparency allows for uninterrupted views of the Perth City skyline and Kings Park throughout the day.

To provide the practical function of blocking out light, we installed crisp white block-out roller blinds behind the sheer curtains. 

By using white fabric for the roller blinds, we ensured that they seamlessly blended with the white-painted walls, avoiding any visual distraction or statement.

Bespoke cabinetwork 

As the kitchen and main cabinetwork were included as part of his apartment purchase, these are the areas where I provided additional design input.

Hallway console

I had trouble finding a piece of furniture that would fit the narrow dimensions of my 1200mm hallway – so, I decided to create a custom console instead. 

My primary objective was to make it a practical storage space for everyday essentials like wallets and keys.

Even though the prominent artwork above would catch anyone's attention, I wanted to make sure that the console didn't overshadow it. 

To achieve this, I included a leg in the console's design and the leg serves a couple of purposes. 

Firstly, it helps maintain a balanced elevation and provides enough support for installation, especially since there's a cavity unit door behind the framed wall. 

Secondly, it acts as a connecting element with the angled feature of the dining table.

I also added curved edges, so sharp corners wouldn't be a problem when walking through the hallway. 

Additionally, I included a mitred end panel to showcase true craftsmanship to visitors entering the apartment.

The console is finished in a Black Woodmatt timber, which creates a visual connection with the black-toned appliances in the space. 

This choice not only provided a strong coloured base for the artwork above but also added to the overall cohesion of the design.

Study – built-in unit

The main objective was to create a visually striking feature that could be appreciated from any vantage point in the main living and dining areas. 

For a flowing connection, I customised the feature using materials that matched the entry hallway console, including the use of mitred edge detailing.

A prominent element of this design is the Nordic oak backing used for the open shelving and the recessed area for displaying artwork.

This harmoniously integrates with the kitchen and built-in living room unit which is in the same material and toned wood.

Consideration was given to the layout of the base unit to accommodate the printer, as well as to provide functional drop drawers for filing and additional storage. 

To add a touch of sophistication, ambient strip lighting was incorporated, enhancing the overall appeal of the feature by illuminating the central artwork piece.

Master bedroom bedhead

Designed to infuse a sense of cosiness and dimension into a previously monotonous and unadorned wall, this custom element serves as a focal point, guaranteeing that the charcoal shades of the Bonaldo bedhead and black bedside tables on either side stand out.

The bedhead also establishes a visual link between the kitchen and living room areas, employing the same striking timber backing and profile throughout the space.

Introduced lighting

It was necessary to add additional light fixtures beyond what came with the apartment specification. 

This would provide both a style element and, most importantly, function. 

The light fixtures had to emit a warm tone to complement the existing kitchen strip lighting feature and ceiling LEDs. 

The following elements were included.

Ralph Lauren pendant above the dining table

This was selected as a feature statement piece over the large 10-seater dining table. 

Custom-sized rods were ordered to ensure the height was at an optimum level over the dining room table, though not low enough to impede the views of the Perth skyline.

Living room tall floor lamp

This was chosen to create a cosy atmosphere reminiscent of night-time – attention was given to the placement of elements to achieve a harmonious balance with the built-in television unit. 

Sheer curtains were installed on the opposite side to enhance the overall effect.

Master bedroom and guest bedroom table lamps

Double bedside table lamps are placed in both the master bedroom and guest bedroom. 

These lamps not only provide bedside table lighting but also contribute to the overall character of the spaces. 

In the master bedroom, the height of the lamp was considered to create a striking contrast with the custom-designed timber bedhead wall backing. 

The bedhead wall backing was designed to be taller than the combined height of the bedside table and lamp, ensuring that they stand out and achieve visual impact.

Ambient strip lighting in study and master bedroom cabinetry

Strip lighting was discreetly added/designed into the custom cabinet units, to ensure interior cohesion throughout and add a sense of warmth and connection in terms of the same warm light tone.

Story by: Trendsideas