Touch of luxury

Creating a unified interior design theme for your home usually means choosing a contemporary or a classic look but not both. But, as with all design rules, if you know what you're doing, you can create pleasing results by playing with the expected norms.

The transformation of this penthouse apartment is a case in point. Interior designers Leigh Caughey and Geoff Burton of The Look were asked to re-design the interior of this Auckland home. Architecturally, the harbourside apartment was contemporary, but the owner wanted to incorporate his grand piano and antique-style dining room furniture. As the owner was planning to sell the property, he also wanted an opulent, luxurious look that would attract international buyers. At the same time, the apartment needed to be comfortable and reflect his tastes.

The solution, says Caughey, was to fuse traditional and contemporary into a classic modern style, starting with a limited modern palette of black and taupe.

"We selected natural materials, such as timber flooring, and motifs, like stripes and leaves, that could complement either style. To achieve a luxurious look within budget, we selected a few expensive items, such as the table lamps."

Careful planning was needed for the main living space, pictured on the previous pages, to take advantage of the fine views, large windows and a floor plan that bowed like a boat at one end.

First, the beige carpets were replaced with floorboards to reflect the natural light from the windows. Then the design team moved the grand piano into the main area and created three separate seating areas to make the large room more homely. Soft furnishings, some striped to suggest a nautical theme, and furniture in contemporary styles were selected to temper the room's formality and create a comfortable feel, says Caughey.

In the more informal family room, pictured above, the contemporary styling was softened by choosing neutral rather than primary colours and using natural materials.

"For this project, Geoff and I worked together," she says. "Between us, we've property-staged more than 500 homes, which gives us a huge amount of experience and contacts to draw on we can look at a space and know exactly what's needed."

For more information, contact The Look, phone (09) 302 2400, fax (09) 302 2404. Email: the look@xtra.co.nz. Website: www.thelook.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas