Room Of The Week
Before & After
Before & After: An Angular Apartment Updated With Modern Storage
The owners identified every opportunity to add built-in joinery to this ’70s apartment in Sydney
This early ’70s two-bedroom apartment suffered from little storage. Its owners decided to find every conceivable opportunity to create integrated storage so they could live a tidy life. Dave Gerson of Forest Joinery takes us through how he helped achieve their brief.
The mirror in the new entrance bounces light around the space and prevents the corridor from feeling confined
Tell us about the screen that divides the entrance from the living area
Part of the brief was to create a divide between the entrance area and the living room. We constructed it out of Tasmanian oak finished with a clear oil. This slatted divide also creates privacy so people can’t see into the apartment from the hallway.
Tell us about the screen that divides the entrance from the living area
Part of the brief was to create a divide between the entrance area and the living room. We constructed it out of Tasmanian oak finished with a clear oil. This slatted divide also creates privacy so people can’t see into the apartment from the hallway.
The shelves that faced the front door before works were removed; this wall is now clear of cabinetry and displays artwork instead
Tell us about the wall of joinery in front of the sofa. What does it contain?
The V-groove joinery runs along the wall, from the entrance into the kitchen, and provides ample storage for the television and AV equipment. There is also an ethanol-burning Eco fireplace. Previously there was nothing along the wall and the cabinets started in the kitchen.
The V-groove joinery runs along the wall, from the entrance into the kitchen, and provides ample storage for the television and AV equipment. There is also an ethanol-burning Eco fireplace. Previously there was nothing along the wall and the cabinets started in the kitchen.
Why were open shelves integrated into the joinery here?
This was part of the initial design. The brief was floor-to-ceiling joinery with shadow-line bulkheads and open shelves where possible. The original cove cornice had to be removed and square set in order to achieve that.
This area was going to be in made in Polytec Woodmatt in Tasmanian oak, but due to the potential heat from the fireplace we changed it to polyurethane.
This was part of the initial design. The brief was floor-to-ceiling joinery with shadow-line bulkheads and open shelves where possible. The original cove cornice had to be removed and square set in order to achieve that.
This area was going to be in made in Polytec Woodmatt in Tasmanian oak, but due to the potential heat from the fireplace we changed it to polyurethane.
Polytec Woodmatt in Tasmanian oak was used for the internal joinery in the TV cabinet
How did you balance the aesthetics with the need to create maximum storage space in the kitchen?
The client provided a strong brief of what they wanted in the kitchen. They showed us a mood board with all their preferred colours, the layout and board specifications.
The polyurethane doors and panels in the kitchen and living area are painted in Chintz Grey by Porter’s Paints. The benchtop is Caesarstone. And the handles throughout are custom-made.
The client provided a strong brief of what they wanted in the kitchen. They showed us a mood board with all their preferred colours, the layout and board specifications.
The polyurethane doors and panels in the kitchen and living area are painted in Chintz Grey by Porter’s Paints. The benchtop is Caesarstone. And the handles throughout are custom-made.
The kitchen before works
The kitchen before works
The laundry cupboard in the kitchen corner before works
There are hidden magnetic pushes to open the cupboards along the right-hand side of the island. The cupboards are not very deep but are suitable for glassware storage as they are near the bar cupboard.
The bar cupboard is integrated into the storage to the right of the island bench
There is an integrated double dish drawer, and storage for pots and pans at the rear
Drawers were built into the island bench
We built and designed the island bench and angled it to allow for the best access possible around the kitchen. The island houses the main storage drawers for the kitchen, holding cutlery, utensils, crockery and other kitchen items. The drawers are located near the sink and dishwasher. They’re made using the same V-groove fronts with custom handles.
We built and designed the island bench and angled it to allow for the best access possible around the kitchen. The island houses the main storage drawers for the kitchen, holding cutlery, utensils, crockery and other kitchen items. The drawers are located near the sink and dishwasher. They’re made using the same V-groove fronts with custom handles.
To the right of the island bench is a pocket kitchen/pantry, as the client requested that the joinery enable everything to be hidden away when not in use. This part of the kitchen was an alcove that went back further than the rest of the joinery along that wall. We were able to maximise the space and make it like a walk-in pantry of sorts.
A recirculating range hood vents back into the kitchen as we could not vent it externally. The vent is painted to match the rest of the kitchen.
To the left is an integrated fridge and freezer. On the side there is narrow storage for trays and cutting boards that’s about 150 millimetres wide.
To the left is an integrated fridge and freezer. On the side there is narrow storage for trays and cutting boards that’s about 150 millimetres wide.
The undermounted range hood is hidden from view
Tell us about the joinery you added in the main bedroom
The main bedroom has a massive amount of storage. The middle cupboard opens to reveal a TV that is hidden away when closed. The polyurethane doors are in Blue Spruce by Porter’s Paints with handles from Made Measure.
The main bedroom has a massive amount of storage. The middle cupboard opens to reveal a TV that is hidden away when closed. The polyurethane doors are in Blue Spruce by Porter’s Paints with handles from Made Measure.
The main bedroom before works
How did you deal with the unusual shape of the second bedroom?
This room was tiny and oddly shaped; this was the best solution I could come up with for the bed and integrated storage (without taking up extra space for bedside tables). This second bedroom has an integrated bedhead with open storage for books, smartphones, an alarm clock and more. The cupboard above holds shoe storage.
This room was tiny and oddly shaped; this was the best solution I could come up with for the bed and integrated storage (without taking up extra space for bedside tables). This second bedroom has an integrated bedhead with open storage for books, smartphones, an alarm clock and more. The cupboard above holds shoe storage.
The second bedroom’s cupboards are polyurethane sprayed in Himalayan Salt by Porter’s Paints. The handles are Made Measure brass pulls.
The second bedroom before works
Why the unusual shape of the desk in the study?
The desk in the study is made with Polytec Woodmatt in Tasmanian oak, with matching drawer fronts. The triangle shape is due to the shape of the room.
The desk in the study is made with Polytec Woodmatt in Tasmanian oak, with matching drawer fronts. The triangle shape is due to the shape of the room.
The study’s cabinets are in Equinox by Porter’s Paints with handles from Made Measure.
The study before works
A floor plan of the apartment
Your turn
What do you think of the approach to storage in this apartment? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Do you love before and after transformations? Don’t miss this Before & After: A French Manor House Inspired by Houzz
Your turn
What do you think of the approach to storage in this apartment? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Do you love before and after transformations? Don’t miss this Before & After: A French Manor House Inspired by Houzz
Location: Sydney, NSW
Apartment configuration: Two bedrooms, two bathrooms and one study, plus an open-plan living/dining/kitchen area
Joinery designer: Dave Gerson, owner/director of Forest Joinery
What was your part in this project? It’s all about the joinery and the storage – a cupboard was put wherever there was space to maximise storage so everything was out of sight
How long did the job take? One month for two to three people to complete
Joinery budget: $80,000 to $90,000