Gold standard: Freemans Bay Apartment
Downsizing has by no means equated to downgrading for the owners of this on-point Freemans Bay apartment.
The vintage 1970s’ coffee table in the living area is a centrepiece for the space.
A few Hare Interiors designs can be seen in the living room like the Wing chair; an onyx stone leaner floats above the working bench of the kitchen. The rich tones in the onyx provide the palette for the living room and kitchen.
A Douglas & Bec Line Collection pendant hangs above the dining-room table; the candleholders are Minimalux U by Simon James.
The living space features a custom-designed console, ottomans and bamboo rug.
The bedroom is lined in terracotta-coloured silk wall panels, which give it a sense of warmth and fit with the art deco theme of the apartment; the bathroom tiles are gold mosaic from Artedomus.
A custom-designed screen consisting of brass loops of different lengths provides some separation between the living room and the home office.
It makes sense to live in the suburbs when you have children at home. There is space to spread out and family-friendly amenities abound. However, when the nest empties, the possibility of being closer to the city presents itself, along with a need to downsize.
This was the thought process behind the purchase of this apartment for its owners, whose children had moved out and bought their own homes. Just a short stroll to Ponsonby Road and with wide-spanning views to the north, the building was in an ideal location for them.
To take full advantage of the spaces within the apartment and make it their own, they called on Lauren Hare from Hare Interiors, who began with a palette of luxurious and refined finishes in muted, warm metallics and unassuming, yet rich, tones.
“They really wanted to maximise the shell of the apartment by creating specialist features to enhance their living,” says Hare. “In the kitchen, we selected a caramel onyx on the island, then we added a variety of brass accents and softened it with combed limestone, so there is a lovely blend of high-end refinement and understated finishes.”
The kitchen cabinetry is clad in crown-cut oak veneer, custom-stained in a dusky brown that allows the onyx to take the starring role. Sprayed brass cabinets with a fabric-like appearance adorn the living-room walls. As well as being a key visual feature of the living room, these house the AV requirements for the home.
They continue through to the home office. “The owners work from home and that’s the reason the office area was to be integrated into the living environment,” says Hare. “Whilst being tucked away, it needed to be a beautiful workspace, which was separated with the brass screening.”
Custom-made and inspired by art deco designs from the 1950s, the screen is a three-dimensional sculptural piece made from brass loops suspended from the ceiling. It adds lightness to the otherwise solid forms of the living space and office.
An electronic fire is positioned below the cabinets in the living room. “The fireplace is based around the stone hearth and back plate, which is combed. We worked with the client to source the electronic fire, which sits beautifully on the hearth; that meant we could meet code for the apartment as there was no gas,” says Hare. When the fire is not being used, this also serves as a bench-seating area.
Hare-designed Wing occasional chairs are another key feature of the living space, tying in with the soft, metallic glow of the cabinetry. A vintage 1970s’ coffee table takes centre stage in this space, along with custom-designed ottomans and a console that lines the back of the sofa, which was an existing piece in the homeowner’s collection. A 100 per cent bamboo rug, another custom design by Hare, adds softness and neutrality to the floor.
The dining area is lit with a Douglas & Bec Line Collection pendant, which adds some angles and shine to the understated tones and solid forms of the Poliform table and chairs. “The apartment has 180-degree northern views so, while we have a few key features of the design, the neutral palette we developed supports this,” says Hare.
In the master bedroom, terracotta-coloured silk wall panels have been applied to the walls. Custom-designed bedside tables with faceted edges and a Lee Broom bedside lamp, like an aged streetlight, complete this picture of warmth and art deco elegance. Similarly, in the bathroom, gold mosaic Artedomus tiling brings light and glamour. Two of the walls are finished in bevelled bronze mirror, which extends the sense of space.
Each square metre of the apartment has been well considered, making this a calm and measured space close to the urban action where the homeowners can enjoy their post-children years.
