Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Sydney with white walls, plywood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

This three bedroom apartment was in need of a large scale renovation. Set in a small, boutique complex by the water in Sydney's North Shore, the dated residence originally had a layout that was ineffective and did not give the view justice. The brief asked to open the rear of the apartment showcasing the view, add a luxury ensuite to the master and provide a large, functional kitchen. One of the biggest challenges was adhering to the strict strata regulations and Class Two Building codes requiring fire rated gyprock, conversion of the electrical fittings to be fire rated and raising the floor to case insulation for sound proofing. Despite the difficulties, Milson Residence presents a contemporary update that accommodates a range of lifestyles. The interior design was thoughtfully considered reflecting the Art Deco heritage of the complex, featuring tall skirtings and herringbone floorboards. The design worked around existing windows which highlighted the unsightly neighbouring apartment. We were able to utilise one window to our advantage by designing the joinery around the window to provide a window splashback to the kitchen. The kitchen houses a bar / coffee nook and a European laundry, as well as a large pantry. The spacious island bench provides extensive storage and seats four comfortably for entertaining. The finishes & fixtures throughout were specified to the clients brief, illustrating an overall sense of calm and sophistication.

Modern kitchen, with dark timber grain joinery, large kitchen island, with walk in pantry that has a barn door. Two sinks and fridges one integrated to service the outdoor BBQ area, lots of bench space plus 3 ovens and a warming drawer

Design ideas for an expansive contemporary master bathroom in Sydney with dark wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, a double shower, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, stone tile, grey walls, marble floors, a vessel sink, marble benchtops, grey floor, an open shower, grey benchtops, a shower seat, a double vanity, a floating vanity and flat-panel cabinets.

Enjoying the benefits of privacy with a soak in the stone bath with views through the large window, or connect directly with nature with a soak on the bath deck. The open double shower provides an easy to clean and contemporary space.

Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

Master bedroom with French doors opening onto verandah. Timber wall panelling creates a more intimate scale in this tall space.
Design ideas for a large transitional master bedroom in Perth with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and decorative wall panelling.

Within the lush acres of Chirnside Park, lies the Woorarra house overlooking the views of the surrounding hills and greenery. With a timeless yet contemporary design, the existing farmhouse was transformed into a spacious home featuring an open plan to allow breath taking views.

Contemporary living room
Large transitional enclosed living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and wallpaper.

Photo of a large beach style open concept family room in Geelong with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Adding oak timber veneer cabinetry against a neutral palette made the bathroom very inviting and day spa esk especially with the warm feature light under the shower bench seat. The triple mirrored cabinet provides an abundance of eye level storage.

Large contemporary master bathroom in Perth with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a freestanding tub, an open shower, a wall-mount toilet, gray tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, a drop-in sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, an open shower, white benchtops, an enclosed toilet, a double vanity and a floating vanity.

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Sydney with brown floor, beige walls and medium hardwood floors.

Contemporary living room
Inspiration for a large transitional open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

Hood House is a playful protector that respects the heritage character of Carlton North whilst celebrating purposeful change. It is a luxurious yet compact and hyper-functional home defined by an exploration of contrast: it is ornamental and restrained, subdued and lively, stately and casual, compartmental and open. For us, it is also a project with an unusual history. This dual-natured renovation evolved through the ownership of two separate clients. Originally intended to accommodate the needs of a young family of four, we shifted gears at the eleventh hour and adapted a thoroughly resolved design solution to the needs of only two. From a young, nuclear family to a blended adult one, our design solution was put to a test of flexibility. The result is a subtle renovation almost invisible from the street yet dramatic in its expressive qualities. An oblique view from the northwest reveals the playful zigzag of the new roof, the rippling metal hood. This is a form-making exercise that connects old to new as well as establishing spatial drama in what might otherwise have been utilitarian rooms upstairs. A simple palette of Australian hardwood timbers and white surfaces are complimented by tactile splashes of brass and rich moments of colour that reveal themselves from behind closed doors. Our internal joke is that Hood House is like Lazarus, risen from the ashes. We’re grateful that almost six years of hard work have culminated in this beautiful, protective and playful house, and so pleased that Glenda and Alistair get to call it home.

Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept family room in Melbourne with a home bar, brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and wood walls.

Tivoli Road is a period home in South Yarra. Fortem Projects was engaged to remove and reinstate existing period features of the historic building at the front of the house, and to create a modern refurbishment which would seamlessly integrate new architectural elements informed by the architectural vision of Bayley Ward. A complete transformation of external areas also needed to be carried out, including a pool. Clear communication between Fortem Projects, architects Bayley Ward and our client ensured all potential issues were resolved early in the process. A use of natural materials including timber and stone provided a sense of balance to the project which helped to both contrast and highlight the home’s existing period features.

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary 3/4 bathroom in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, a freestanding tub, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, a vessel sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, white benchtops, a double vanity, a floating vanity, a corner shower and a hinged shower door.

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary bathroom in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a drop-in tub, green tile, ceramic tile, ceramic floors, a vessel sink, marble benchtops, grey floor, green benchtops, a single vanity and a floating vanity.