Bonner - Smart Design Studio

The transformation of this Manly apartment was led by the design principles of the overall building, a 1970’s modernist block with knockout views. The layout was reinterpreted to be as streamlined as possible. Living spaces and bedrooms, for example, are arranged along the beachfront façade, while the wet rooms form a single block accessed by a corridor. The synthesis of detailed interior architecture with simple soft furnishings makes a serene apartment where the view is hero.

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Disciplined planning is juxtaposed with accents of decoration in the flamed myrtle veneer cladding the joinery in the kitchen and primary bedroom. White ceilings provide a counterpoint to this heavily patterned material, while strips of black and terracotta carpet add interest to the grey travertine tiles and carpet.

Curves and tucks weave their way around the apartment. The Corian bench, for example, bends up to become a shelf in the kitchen, while the television is outlined by a sinuous steel frame. Rounded lines cleverly conceal lighting in the bleached cedar-clad guest bathroom and the panelling behind the bed.

The primary ensuite is seamlessly integrated into the bedroom. Internal walls were replaced with a white batten screen, allowing filtered light and water views to permeate the whole space. The custom Corian basin and sculptural bath contrast with the charcoal glass walls, reinforcing the theme of luxurious modernism that runs throughout.