Solid Air
Meticulously detailed and curated, Solid Air delivers on the brief to be serene, cosmopolitan and evocative. Situated amongst the trees on a busy corner in Elizabeth Bay this apartment cultivates contemplation and discovery inside and out in every room. A timeless home nobody wants to leave.
This is the designers own home and was created to retreat to in the third act of life. A place to surrender in, watch the trees and listen to music. The art-deco apartments magnificent arched windows and window seats were highlighted by removing all window treatments and seamlessly integrating them into the rooms with tone on tone seats and cushions. To heal, restore and reveal was more important than to add and hide. The rooms were crying out to be seen - where they previously had been hiding behind heavy curtains, carpets and misplaced joinery they were opened up to breath and see the light. The neutral material palette grew from a handful of natural objects collected on a special memorable trip to the coast.
This project whispers to a slow melody and allows the spaces that was revealed to breath. The trees and the sky are the heroes and everything that was added was done so with the intent to support and engage the spaces.
Starting out with with a few existing pieces by Josef Frank, which have followed the designer for 30 years, the additional pieces were chosen with flexibility and longevity in mind. Vintage Cassina chairs, a FB Marketplace dining table added history and personality without imposing or competing with the J39 dining chairs. The USM Haller module used in both living room and bedroom fits the brief and offers flexibility and practicality. Recycling and reusing was of importance demonstrated in the bar stools by Mater where the seats are made from discarded beer bottle crates. Anchoring the living room is a Kasthall rug where a custom coffee table manufactured from the left over kitchen quartzite slabs take centre stage.
Photographer: Justin Alexander
This is the designers own home and was created to retreat to in the third act of life. A place to surrender in, watch the trees and listen to music. The art-deco apartments magnificent arched windows and window seats were highlighted by removing all window treatments and seamlessly integrating them into the rooms with tone on tone seats and cushions. To heal, restore and reveal was more important than to add and hide. The rooms were crying out to be seen - where they previously had been hiding behind heavy curtains, carpets and misplaced joinery they were opened up to breath and see the light. The neutral material palette grew from a handful of natural objects collected on a special memorable trip to the coast.
This project whispers to a slow melody and allows the spaces that was revealed to breath. The trees and the sky are the heroes and everything that was added was done so with the intent to support and engage the spaces.
Starting out with with a few existing pieces by Josef Frank, which have followed the designer for 30 years, the additional pieces were chosen with flexibility and longevity in mind. Vintage Cassina chairs, a FB Marketplace dining table added history and personality without imposing or competing with the J39 dining chairs. The USM Haller module used in both living room and bedroom fits the brief and offers flexibility and practicality. Recycling and reusing was of importance demonstrated in the bar stools by Mater where the seats are made from discarded beer bottle crates. Anchoring the living room is a Kasthall rug where a custom coffee table manufactured from the left over kitchen quartzite slabs take centre stage.
Photographer: Justin Alexander
Project Year: 2023
Project Cost: $500,001 AUD - $750,000 AUD
Country: Australia
Postcode: 2011
