St Kilda Apartment
by Dan Gayfer Design

The St Kilda Apartment by Dan Gayfer Design is the studio’s most distinctive project to date as they renovate the first floor interiors of an old Victorian Home located in the iconic Melbourne suburb.
The design brief provided to Dan Gayfer and his team was to design new interiors throughout the apartment including a kitchen, bathroom, laundry, bedroom living room. In addition to this, the client requested a second living space to be created whilst a bedroom was to be converted into a more flexible space that could be used as a study or dining room. Being a first-floor apartment, the project parameters were well defined and this assisted with the overall design process.
Dan Gayfer and his team faced several key design challenges throughout the design and construction of the St Kilda Apartment. Challenges faced mainly revolved around the location of existing structural elements. These ultimately decided which walls could be removed and where new walls or other components could be implemented. Unfortunately, no historical documentation could be obtained therefore a decision was made to proceed with caution and utilise the existing footprint as best as possible. These challenges were overcome through a combination of ingenious architecture and complex engineering.
Being a first-floor apartment, the project parameters for the St Kilda Apartment by Dan Gayfer Design were well defined and this assisted with the overall design process.
The main bedroom, kitchen and bathroom/laundry were completely reimagined ensuring that a myriad of design concepts were able to be tested and the most effective ultimately implemented. A clean, minimal yet chic and luxurious style was adopted where the cabinetry design was integral in maintaining this style whilst maximising storage and amenity. Elba stone by Artedmous is prominent in both the bathroom and sunroom.
The design challenges faced by Dan Gayfer and his team were overcome through a combination of ingenious architecture and complex engineering.
The original second bedroom was converted into a study or dining room space that can be adapted depending on the residents lifestyle requirments. The existing wall was removed and replaced with custom steel sliding screens with textured glazing. When closed, a private study receives filtered natural light through the screens whilst when open the space merges with the kitchen creating on larger open plan space consisting of the kitchen and now dining room.
Elba stone by Artedmous is prominent in both the bathroom and sunroom.
The St Kilda Apartment project is truly unique and it demonstrates this individuality in numerous ways. The sunroom addition, that now rises from the existing car port, separates this project from similar spaces located in inner-city Melbourne. Having access to such a space is a luxury not often afforded to St Kilda residents and it is an element that Dan Gayfer and his team are extremely proud of.
The original second bedroom was converted into a study or dining room space that can be adapted depending on the residents lifestyle requirments.
The overall mix of materials and their application is also somewhat unconventional; Elba stone, porcelain and blackbutt timber are all primary examples. The use of Elba stone by Artedomus is prominent; in the bathroom it is used at different thicknesses and finishes for the vanity bench top and edging, walls and flooring. In the sunroom, it is used in a number of unexpected applications including drawer fronts, lift up lids for a console and the fascia of the custom lounge.
The overall mix of materials and their application by Dan Gayfer and his team throughout the St Kilda Apartment is also somewhat unconventional.
Ultimatley the St Kilda Apartment by Dan Gayfer Design is the story of overcoming the challenges presented by Victorian Heritage architecture through the use of contemporary architectural solutions. All new interiors share a luxurious, sophisticated and chic palette that, whilst respecting the original characteristics of the building, demonstrates innovative and unique uses of material, form and composition.