Contemporary classic

Creating a sense of arrival for a luxury apartment can be a challenge, given that the entry is invariably via a lobby.

The solution for residences in the new Beverly West condominium building was to provide a private, wood-paneled lobby for each residence.

Architect Jon Krueger of Robert Hidey Architects, the firm responsible for the design of the tower's shared amenities and the model interiors, says the design team also ensured the entry doors were positioned on a direct axis with large windows on the opposite side of the building.

"The immediate exposure to the view was a critical element of the interior design," Krueger says. "We didn't want to screen this in any way it needed to be instantly evident when you came in from the foyer."

Opening up the entry to the great room and the view beyond also highlights the spacious, light-filled interior. Similarly, large-format limestone floor tiles and neutral walls keep the look light and airy.

"To further emphasize the drama of the great room, we have varied the ceiling height," the architect says. "We were restricted by the 8ft height of the windows, so we introduced lower ceilings and cove lighting around the perimeter of the large, open-plan living, dining and kitchen area. The ceiling then rises to 10ft above the main part of the great room. This adds considerable volume and is in keeping with the scale of the building's large structural columns."

Visual continuity is provided by the repetition of the 8ft bulkhead line. For example, the kitchen cabinet soffits and a long mahogany-paneled wall by the entry are at the same height.

The wood-paneled wall appears as a continuation of the walls in the lobby the wood and panel design is similar. As well as defining the gallery a key circulation route and visually anchoring the interior wall of the apartment, the mahogany paneling conceals doors to storage and maintenance rooms.

Wood also features in the kitchen and bathroom cabinets, which feature multiple coats of high-gloss clear lacquer. In the kitchen, sapele wood is paired with Amarillo Pearl granite countertops. The bar top is raised 6in above the main countertop, which ensures the sink area is concealed from the dining table.

Krueger says materials were chosen to create a refined, classic contemporary look. Contrasting light and dark tones are repeated throughout the interior, in both surfaces and furnishings.

"We went for an understated look," he says. "The focus needed to be on the view, rather than the furniture, although we added accent pieces to keep the look lively. And the dark woods really pop against the white and cream tones."

In keeping with the high-end fit-out, there are his-and-hers bathrooms for the master suite. These bathrooms are lined with marble slabs, with floor tiles laid on the diagonal to break up the orthogonal lines of the central tub and cabinetry.

Throughout the interior, there are automated blockout and sheer blinds hidden within tracks above the windows.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes