Gold Coast Apartment by SJB

It takes a bold designer to cast out the rulebook and find glory in the colour wheel, as Andrew Parr from SJB has done with this poppy, party-ready Gold Coast apartment.

Set over two floors in an apartment tower overlooking the beach, this holiday home puts entertainment at the forefront of the design. Previously compartmentalised with a number of built-in furniture pieces, the dwelling was stripped back to create a better sense of flow and allow for a fresh new style to take hold. The lower floor is dedicated to play, with Tufty Time sofas in multiple shades positioned to invite large groups to sit back with ease and various artworks positioned to excite the mind and soul, including a celebrated Bill Henson work of a girl floating above city lights.

Previously compartmentalised with a number of built-in furniture pieces, the dwelling was stripped back to create a better sense of flow and allow for a fresh new style to take hold.

While the palette may appear to include the full colour spectrum at first glance, there is restraint in the choices, with varied shades of salmon, ochre and blue used across the living room flooring, couches, walls and cabinetry. Some of these choices relate to the beach beyond the windows, such as the pale sand tones, sea greens and blues picked out in the striped rug. Others are straight out of Miami Vice, with candy pink walls and neon aqua art pieces reminiscent of coloured zinc sunscreen and other 90s fashion tropes.

Glossy salmon pink brightens the kitchen, encasing the cabinetry and elevator shaft. A custom Art Deco-style liquor cabinet curves around this central wall in a rich shade of aubergine, while a stainless steel bar table provides further options for entertaining. A sunny yellow wall frames the dining area, a colour that is repeated throughout the apartment in glimpses and pockets, such as the office nook in the kitchen, the base of the Tom Swivel bar stools and the luminous mosaic tiled bathroom.

 While the palette may appear to include the full colour spectrum at first glance, there is restraint in the choices, with varied shades of salmon, ochre and blue used across the living room flooring, couches, walls and cabinetry.

Upstairs, the palette is stripped back to more subdued tones, but still includes pops of colour that connect with those seen downstairs. A bold aquamarine passageway features a porthole window visible from the lower level, in a tone that relates to the custom curved cabinet in the living room. The bedrooms are a haven of pale greys and white, with softer shades of the downstairs palette brought in via feature walls and upholstery, including headboards in stripes of primary colours.

Double height in many areas and injected with sunlight, this is an apartment that calls for the addition of friends, anecdotes and laughter.

Interior design by SJB. Artwork by Bill Henson and Coen Young.