2013 Australian Interior Design Awards: Residential Decoration

Jury comment

This interior demonstrates a highly sophisticated use of colour, with a brave and masterful control of the opposite palettes of purple and yellow. The spaces are fun and relaxed but executed with sophistication and restraint. Furniture items are perfectly scaled to suit the proportions of the spaces in which they are placed. This loft features decoration that is more than just surface and texture – it achieves sculptural, three-dimensional spaces through thoughtful furniture placement.

Design statement

Inspired by a colour palette based on the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, this vast New York City loft apartment provides an oasis for our clients from their hectic professional lives. The open-plan loft space was cleverly designed and divided into three distinct areas that provide multiple living, dining and library zones. The loft’s vast shell provided a neutral space in which we were able to create areas of intimacy and flexibility according to the client’s brief for a contemporary space. Multiple furniture plans were presented to ensure that the loft could cater for both “everyday living” and “party” modes. The previous owner had been daunted by the space and had lived with small clusters of under-scaled furniture, dotted across the loft. By creating three distinct living areas with appropriately proportioned furniture we successfully delivered the client’s brief. The iconic cast-iron columns typical of the Soho and Tribeca areas of New York were retained, providing a sense of character and history that is evident in the living space. A diverse mix of classic and modern designer furniture pieces sourced from Europe is complemented by an equally impressive artwork collection. The palette of dusky blue/purple upholstery reminiscent of the Blue Mountains is contrasted with punches of yellow, which creates a sense of playfulness.

The Australian Interior Design Awards are presented by the Design Institute of Australia, DesignEX and Artichoke magazine.