THE OPPORTUNITY to create the interiors for a Barangaroo apartment was a dream assignment for Fiona Lyda, managing director of Spence & Lyda.
Further to completing a display apartment for Crown Residences’ One Barangaroo, Spence & Lyda was approached by clients in the same development to appoint their new interior decor. The clients were a huge drawcard – our viewpoints were extremely simpatico, all parties Primarily an investment piece in a wider portfolio, our clients were also keen to make use of the space as a city bolthole for family, and in the longer term, to be executive leased. So to some extent a pragmatic and multipurpose lens needed to be applied to both budget and material functionality. One of the building’s most seductive features is, of course, its views which are afforded by the building height. Sizeable structural columns punctuate the interior and their polished finish also offered opportunities to reflect light and add depth and intrigue. With buildings of this height, subtle shifts also occur in the structure during strong winds. Pendant lighting needs to be hung from structural rods and we partnered with Alex Fitzpatrick from A Design Studio to ensure our statement pieces were hung both discreetly and securely. The client loved the ‘Broche’ pendant light (also a favourite of mine and hanging over my own dining table) and we were committed to delivering this beautiful piece with custom rods that supported but did not detract from Éric de Dormaël’s original design. Urban, elegant and timeless – and above all personal. This stylish family bolthole is filled with one-of-a-kind pieces to elevate the everyday and bring joy. So many luxury apartments are treated and designed like hotel rooms and our design started from the exact opposite position. Life is too short to live long with impersonal spaces. While luxurious, the footprint is compact. Choosing furniture that was not monumental yet allowed ease of circulation was key, especially in our living room layout where the sofa could have dominated. There are not many sofas that could handle the spatial challenges in this project but Lucy Kurrein’s ‘Otto’ design for Molinari was a perfect match.
