DICHOTOMY OF CONTRASTS APARTMENT

Blue Fruit design Kitchen with beige cabinets, black countertops, a window with a view of a palm tree and rooftops, pink tulips in a white vase, white backsplash tiles, open shelf with dishes, and a stainless steel refrigerator.
Logo design for Blue Fruit interior architecture and design

1960s APARTMENT
WINDSOR

SCOPE OF WORKS:
Renovation, alteration.
BUILDER: STUART GREIG
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THE LEGACY:
An inner city location apartment in Melbourne, of classic 1960s cream brick construction, with original block parquetry floors, breeze-block screening on the balconies and a north-facing aspect. 


THE BRIEF:
The apartment had poky, difficult to use amenities - including an ugly, dated, laundry/bathroom and a kitchen which was tired and inefficient in its layout, The whole apartment required a re-think to make it a welcoming and calming home for the busy owner. A space sensitive design was required to maximise storage and liveability. The client requested a gentle palette of luxurious finishes, and wanted quality fittings and appliances that would be reliable as well as elegant. 


THE DESIGN RESPONSE:
The kitchen and bathroom were both gutted, allowing for a better layout that incorporated a lot of storage, as well as creating beautiful spaces that are a pleasure to use. Glamorous yet simple materials are the cornerstone of the design style. A concealed laundry was incorporated into the new joinery of the bathroom, and previously exposed plumbing was hidden in a new part-height wall - creating an elegant black granite shelf that runs through the full width of the room, including in the shower for handy display of shampoo, etc. Storage was increased in the living area through a new custom-made full height media/bookshelf. An existing cupboard between the living and kitchen areas was transformed into a sleek new in-built bar, creating a welcome point at the entry.  

New window treatments, in textured linen, and a gentle colour scheme of soft, moody lavender-greys was dusted over the entire apartment - which brought the original parquetry (which was repaired where required) flooring back to life.  

The design for the renovation was guided by the notion of contrasting elements : contrasting luxe & familiar, rough & smooth, black & white, shiny and matt - inspired by the original architectural characteristics of the 1960s solid cream brick and breeze block construction.
A modern bathroom with white tiled walls, a small black countertop, and a concrete rectangular sink. There are green plants and a large mirror. A walk-in shower with black fixtures and a glass partition is visible, along with a window and towel rack.
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Living room with wooden flooring, a black sofa with pillows, a white armchair with a blanket, a wooden dining table with four chairs near large windows, and a white shelving unit with decorative items. There are also curtains, a potted plant, and an artwork on the wall.
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MUTED TONES, SUBTLE PATTERN
The new kitchen and bathroom/laundry feature Spanish porcelain hexagon tiles, New Age Veneer cabinetry and honed black Indian granite benchtops. Matching tiles were carried out to the balcony, to make the flat feel as spacious as possible.
Black and white photograph of a cozy balcony with a wicker chair, a pillow, potted plants, and a decorative rug, surrounded by trees and a metal railing. 
SOFTEST VELVET ON A CUSTOM-MADE OTTOMAN
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Designed to be a double duty piece, we had an ottoman custom made to suit the apartment, with luxuriously deeply buttoned French cotton velvet in the softest oyster grey. 
It can either be a dining bench, pulled up to the rustic table, or it can swing around to the centre of the room and become a coffee table or foot rest, or even used as a bench seat in the bedroom - however the mood strikes. 

BEFORE

AFTER

Living room with white walls, parquet wood floor, and a large abstract painting on the wall. Contains a black sofa with pink and yellow pillows, a white armchair, a white built-in shelving unit, and a view into the kitchen with white cabinets and a door leading outside.
Living room with hardwood floors, gray walls, a dark gray sofa with decorative pillows, a small side table with a flower vase, large window with gray curtains, a wooden dining table with four chairs, and a large abstract painting on the wall.
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CONTRAST OF TEXTURE

A hand made concrete basin contrasts with the perfectly smooth Indian Granite bench on which it sits.
Handles of randomly cut agate contrast with the intricate hexagon tiled floor.
A bedroom with a bed dressed in pink linens, multiple pillows, and a window with sheer curtains. There is a small nightstand with a plant and lamp on the right side of the bed. A black metal and wood shelf with decorative items and a plant is on the left against a plain white wall. The floor is hardwood with a parquet pattern.
A bedroom with a large bed, dark tufted headboard, light-colored bedding, and decorative pillows. There are two bedside lamps with exposed bulbs. A window with a purple valance shows a balcony and trees outside. The floor is wood, and the walls are painted white.
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