Maddison Apartment by Studio Johnston

Nestled within a 1980s complex in Sydney’s Redfern, Maddison Apartment by Studio Johnston sheds its past for a luminous, modern transformation. Designed by the studio’s project director and head of interiors, Stefania Reynolds, for her own family, the ground-floor home reflects a delicate balance between nostalgia and practicality, drawing inspiration from her Greek childhood while catering to the everyday needs of her husband and their two young children.

For Reynolds, an architect and artist, the point of departure was maximising function and crafting a contemporary interior that reflected her family’s way of living. The renovation aimed to enhance fluidity between zones through open-plan layouts, uncluttered environments and discreet storage to keep toys, books and everyday essentials neatly tucked away. “The goal was to create a space that works hard without feeling cluttered, using smart storage solutions, multi-functional furniture and thoughtful layouts. Zoning the apartment into flexible areas ensures that spaces can adapt to different needs, such as playtime, work or relaxation, while overlapping these zones allows for seamless transitions,” says Reynolds, who chose to reconfigure the layout with a gut remodel.

Having grown up on the Greek island of Corfu, Reynolds was keen to incorporate elements that harked back to her colourful upbringing.

In a bid to visually expand the home, Reynolds removed what she deemed unnecessary, including a column and double entry in the kitchen, and introduced thoughtful additions, such as built-in joinery for enhanced efficiency and overlapping zones “akin to a Venn diagram.” Another strategic move saw the dining area transformed into a study, while the ceilings in both the study and kitchen were lowered and accented with a brass trim. Finished in Venetian plaster, they take on a delicate eggshell appearance when observed from below.

Having grown up on the Greek island of Corfu, Reynolds was keen to incorporate elements that harked back to her colourful upbringing. These included Tiberio marble treatments, calming coastal hues and radial architectural joinery that softens the apartment’s harsh 1980s sightlines. She paid equal attention to the furnishings, upholstering the dining banquette in saddle tan leather with mustard corduroy velvet cushions and layering the sliding glass doors to the courtyard with soft linen curtains in dual terracotta tones.

“Peach was the colour of my childhood bedroom [in Corfu]. The family house featured plenty of terracotta, textured walls, and brass details, with a light, airy feel. We had a huge daybed piled with cushions – this was my inspiration for the dining room. For me, nostalgia is a beautiful thing to bring into daily life,” Reynolds concludes.

Architecture and interior design by Studio Johnston. Build by Dotkom Carpentry. Styling by Kirsten Bookallil. Landscape design by Wetscape Design.