FUTURE FORM

Dividing his time between two cities, Melbourne interior designer David Hicks has created a luxurious second home and inner-city sanctuary in Sydney that evokes creativity and calm

WHAT APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT YOUR HOME?

It was the double-height void and expansive glazing. It’s rare to find such scale, especially in a small apartment. The proportions make it feel more spacious, and you don’t get that confined feeling you get in spaces with standard-height ceilings. Located on a corner, the apartment also has original timber sash windows that allow light into the stair void, and views to the street below. Located within an old part of the building, the existing arched windows have been retained and opened up to allow light into the patio area. The appeal of this is that it feels like a room, but it’s outside; it extends the internal living spaces outwards.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE INTERIOR? 

Compact and streamlined. I reduced the material palette down to only a few finishes. The existing basalt stone floor was restored and used as a dark grounding base for a more serene layering of tones. I introduced a textured render to the walls in a double strength natural white to give the space a more natural, organic feel. White Corian was used in the kitchen with a seamlessly integrated sink, and was continued into the laundry/powder room. This was teamed with satin lacquered cabinetry in Dulux ‘Russian Toffee’ and a splash of more glamorous Arabescato marble. A feature vintage Murano glass wall light was added as an embellishment alongside a mirrored wall. This simplicity is carried upstairs to the loft-style bedroom, with nude-coloured silk carpet and tonal furniture. The bathroom is covered in microcement for a seamless and effortless feel, again with a touch of marble and mirror for some elegance and another vintage Murano wall light to add sparkle. I wanted this apartment to be a simple, yet warm and tactile space; one of rest and contemplation.