Setting a new standard

When someone has paid a premium to purchase an apartment which has both water and city views, it is expected that it will be built and finished to the highest standards possible.

From the outset, the One Macquarie apartment complex at Brisbane's New Farm aimed to provide penthouse-style living to architecturally aware buyers. As a result, this project, designed by Arkhefield, was a finalist in the multi-level development category in the UDIA Queensland Awards.

Angela Layton, interior designer at Arkhefield, collaborated with Revy Bryce-Browning of Design Vision to achieve a cohesive and detailed finish.

Layton says the Arkhefield team kept the exterior design of the building in mind when designing the fittings in the interior.

"We wanted to create spaces that were neutral so the homeowners could inject their own personality," says Layton.

Buyers were able to choose from one of three interior finishes which could be customised with Boffi kitchens and Parisi, Kaldewei and Gessi bathroom fittings.

"A minimalist interior was selected for the clients who own this apartment. To live in a space like this, you need to understand and appreciate modernist, streamlined design. And with such an expansive layout, we wanted the apartment to be able to speak for itself."

The outdoor area is designed as an extension of the living room, with a barbecue situated close to the kitchen. A sense of intimacy was created by adding a wooden ceiling fixture.

Limestone and natural stone floor tiling keep the apartment cool in the strong Brisbane sun.

"The emphasis throughout was on quality and style," says Layton.

When decorating the apartment, Bryce-Browning drew inspiration from the owners' baby grand piano and passion for fast sports. She chose a monochromatic palette and an Art Deco style to complement the existing bold art and furniture pieces. The overall aesthetic references the rich material palette and streamlined design typical of classic cars.

"Our aim was to use the design to thread all these disparate themes together," says the designer.

Bryce-Browning says that although the look is minimal, the design needed to be masculine and polished.

"The furniture should appear to be part of the floor, and not draw attention away from the art. But at the same time, the design needed to be confident enough to respond to the strength of the existing pieces in the space," she says.

Story by: Trendsideas