Kurrajong by Edge Interior Design

A carefully composed apartment in a prized Art Deco building in Sydney brings together a curated eye for mid-century modern design teamed with a contemporary aesthetic.

Originality is a virtue of design that is protected, enhanced and brought to the fore in the realisation of a home. Creative thinking is required for projects that throw a few curveballs into the mix, and a smaller residence presents an interesting design proposition full of them. Having long coveted an apartment in a carefully preserved Art Deco building in inner Sydney, David Meagher, managing editor of The Local Project, knew the residence would come with its own set of quirks, but having renovated his previous place, felt well versed to manage this process for his new home. He turned to friend and designer Megan Roberts of Edge Interior Design with the prospect of a complete internal transformation of the space that would suit his lifestyle and aesthetic without losing any of its signature character. “He wanted something simple, elegant and beautifully refined,” says Roberts. “It was all about opening up the apartment.”

“He wanted something simple, elegant and beautifully refined,” says Roberts. “It was all about opening up the apartment.”

While a small footprint does determine a limited scope to some degree, the possibilities within that envelope are there for the taking when it comes to pushing the boundaries. It’s the mentality Roberts took when she came on board, and Meagher had, unsurprisingly, already done his homework and started interviewing tradespeople. “David had already started the process – he knows a thousand people, friends that are all designers or architects,” says Roberts. “He knew someone in the building and found out that all the walls were not structural, which was amazing. It meant once we got a good builder on board, we could work out certain limitations beforehand.”

A poky, outdated bathroom in the heart of the original two-bedroom layout was perhaps the biggest point of contention, taking up valuable central-position real estate. By undertaking wholesale changes to the floor plan, what might be considered controversial – losing a second bedroom – makes sense once you encounter the open kitchen and dining area with its study nook, ideal for an editor and author, that perfectly captures the natural light filtering through. “What we opted to do was put the bedroom in the room with the balcony and moved the bathroom to the back, so it has a north-facing window,” says Roberts. “And in that room we concealed the laundry within the wall. It’s a small space, but it’s just been really carefully managed.”

Detail in a small space becomes even more heightened and Kurrajong revels in considered touches in every nook and cranny.

And while Kurrajong may be seen as diminutive in proportions, it has some serious measures in its favour. “It has three-metre- high ceilings and this beautiful seamless profile that curves up from the wall into the ceiling – all of this was restored,” says Roberts. A picture rail was added as a nod to the heritage of the building but to also draw in further detail, and a bank of kitchen joinery – that has the added benefit of concealing plumbing pipes – echoes the gentle undulation of the ceiling, with its curved corner profile a subtle element for the eye to enjoy.

Detail in a small space becomes even more heightened and Kurrajong revels in considered touches in every nook and cranny. The new bathroom, awash in green from a painted ceiling to earthy tiles, features beautifully realised door hardware and towel hooks from Studio Henry Wilson for a heightened level of polish. “It really does just take it up to that level,” says Roberts. “But it’s very David, too. It’s certainly not showy; it’s elegant and refined and what his style is.” Going with this much colour in one space results in an unexpected sanctuary with a character of its own that still showcases the dedication to elevated quality found throughout the home.

“There are pops of colour within each space as much as it’s refined and pared back to a degree,” says Roberts.

The newly established main open-plan zone was a major undertaking, but the experience of it is an easy delight, punctuated by vibrant moments of hue, whether it’s the veined green marble bench in the kitchen, the butterscotch leather of the banquette seat or the rich claret desktop in the study. “There are pops of colour within each space as much as it’s refined and pared back to a degree,” says Roberts. This vibrancy works well with Meagher’s enviable collection of mid-century pieces, from the mustard yellow Flowerpot pendant light by Verner Panton in the hallway, and the Series 7 dining chairs by Arne Jacobsen to a few Charles and Ray Eames treasures, including a plywood lounge chair and an original multi-coloured Hang-It-All. “There’s still some elements of fun – it doesn’t take itself that seriously,” says Roberts. “And because David has such a mid-century design aesthetic, all of those pieces, while timeless, still have an innate sense of play about them as well.”

The renovation of Kurrajong took only three months, roughly a year after Meagher first got the keys, a testament to a “lovely collaboration” between client, designer and a team of skilled and dedicated tradespeople. It’s also testament to a steadfast commitment to intelligent thinking and an instinctual understanding of one’s personal style and freely expressing it. The definition of a true original.

Interior design by Edge Interior Design. Build by Equipe Projects. Floral styling by Fjura. Artwork by Leo Greenfield, Fred Jourda, Louise Olsen and Louise Tuckwell.