Sound waves
Belle Magazine Australia|October 2020
A glamorous renovation by Brendan Wong has ”restored the soul of this apartment in a P&O-style building on Sydney Harbour dreamed up by a 1930s radio producer.
CHRIS PEARSON
Sound waves

Basking in the serene spectacle of Sydney Harbour, this elegant P&O-style apartment is reliving a glamorous past. After an inspired renovation by interior designer Brendan Wong, it celebrates its origins while embracing the present.

Behind the curves of its ocean-liner facade, which soars above a sandy beach, the four-bedroom apartment has enjoyed a voyage of its own over the years. Occupying an entire floor, it is one of three in a building commissioned in 1937 by radio producer George Edwards who hired prominent architect Samuel Lipson to create a waterfront tribute to modernism, then considered avant-garde in Australia.

When the owners, lured by its art deco aesthetic and beach location, set eyes on it in 2018, the apartment had been marooned in mediocrity, thanks to a 1970s renovation that had stripped away the original detailing. Green flock wallpaper and mismatched light fittings met them when they arrived. Yet its soul remained. “The commanding curved living room windows suggested poise, grace and distinction,” says Brendan. “The apartment was tired and needed enhancement but the bones were there.” Less desirable was a labyrinthine layout with poor flow that divorced rooms from the soothing water setting. “It was important to capitalise on the views and increase natural light, to create vistas throughout and to the panorama beyond,” he says.

This story is from the October 2020 edition of Belle Magazine Australia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 2020 edition of Belle Magazine Australia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BELLE MAGAZINE AUSTRALIAView All
Highly prized
Belle Magazine Australia

Highly prized

A move into a light-dappled Victorian Italianate building with purposebuilt interiors allowed Criteria and sister company C.Gallery to showcase atelier-based furniture, lighting, objects and art in a unique design gallery.

time-read
2 mins  |
August/September 2024
The gold and the beautiful
Belle Magazine Australia

The gold and the beautiful

An interior designer daringly pushes the boundaries in her own home in Sydney's eastern suburbs - with glittering results.

time-read
4 mins  |
August/September 2024
Poetic aesthetic
Belle Magazine Australia

Poetic aesthetic

There's rhyme and reason in the artful assemblage of European antiques and decorative objets in this gently refreshed Sydney home.

time-read
4 mins  |
August/September 2024
STATE OF MIND
Belle Magazine Australia

STATE OF MIND

ON NEW YORK’S UPPER EAST SIDE Melbourne-based designer Tali Roth has crafted an apartment that is both classy and comfortable, where modernist icons and contemporary finds sit side-by-side.

time-read
2 mins  |
August/September 2024
PLUM JOB
Belle Magazine Australia

PLUM JOB

REWORKING THE COMPLEX BURROWS of an inner-city terrace has resulted in an expansive home for two, with rich hues and pared-back furnishings, all imbued with meaningful custom finishes.

time-read
4 mins  |
August/September 2024
ABSTRACT IMPRESSIONS
Belle Magazine Australia

ABSTRACT IMPRESSIONS

SERVING AS A GALLERY for the owners' growing art collection, this opulent yet tricky-shaped apartment in Sydney's eastern suburbs emulates the eclecticism of New York's jewel box apartments.

time-read
2 mins  |
August/September 2024
SMART SPACES
Belle Magazine Australia

SMART SPACES

An alchemical mix of luxury furnishings fused with superior surfaces has transformed and elevated these properties.

time-read
2 mins  |
August/September 2024
House PROUD
Belle Magazine Australia

House PROUD

In a collaboration between Belle and Fanuli, three leading interior designers transform the most intimate rooms of a home into chic sanctuaries.

time-read
1 min  |
August/September 2024
MUSE WORTHY
Belle Magazine Australia

MUSE WORTHY

The interiors of the Sydney home of arts advisor and advocate Kym Elphinstone are a fitting tribute to her passion for Australian artists and creators.

time-read
3 mins  |
August/September 2024
ENJOY YOUR STAY
Belle Magazine Australia

ENJOY YOUR STAY

Forget the journey, for the Lancemore Hotel Group, it's all about the destination and showcasing high-end Australian design.

time-read
2 mins  |
August/September 2024