Resale condo

Brownstone

A 1,000 sqft resale condo in black and rose gold: a full-height black lacquered storage wall with a backlit display niche, marble-panelled kitchen millwork and a walk-in wardrobe built to display the owner's collection.

Location: Brownstone, Canberra
Property: Resale condominium
Size: 3-bedroom, about 1,000 sqft
Completed: 2023
Timeline: 10 weeks, handed over 5 days early
Style: Modern glam

The brief

A full fit-out covering the entry and living area, the dining, the master bedroom and a walk-in wardrobe with a dedicated display for designer accessories.

The challenge

The owners wanted a strong black-and-gold identity that could carry across very different rooms (a compact entry corridor, an open living and dining space and a moodier bedroom) without the black cabinetry and dark walls closing the unit in. The wardrobe also had to hold genuinely valuable pieces, so it needed a finish closer to a retail display than ordinary storage.

Scope of works

Entry corridor: full-height black lacquered wardrobe and storage wall with a rose-gold-trimmed backlit display niche built into the door run. Kitchen and display millwork: black cabinetry with rose-gold edge trims, marble backsplash panels and a lit open display shelf. Dining: a bar-height marble-top counter lit by three copper-wire cage pendants. Master bedroom: charcoal feature wall behind a channel-tufted headboard, flanked by textured wallpaper columns with black cone reading lights and blackout curtains.

Design decisions

What we decided, and why

01
Texture saved for the bedroom
The boldest surface, a crocodile-embossed designer wallcovering, is used only either side of the headboard. The entry and living areas stay flat and matte, so the bedroom feels like a step up in intimacy.
02
A wardrobe built like a display
Instead of hiding the owner's accessories, the walk-in wardrobe has a lit glass display case built into it, treating the collection as part of the interior.