I recently met a client who was going through some big life changes. I met with her to help style her apartment for sale. She was moving into a rental apartment to start her life afresh and wanted to invest in decorating this new space. After that property was sold, we moved our focus to her new apartment.

The Brief

Her brief to me was to have a joyful, somewhat colourful space that made her happy within the limitations of a rental property. Wanting to start completely afresh, we purchased every item for her new space with this in mind.  She liked colour but was mindful of not going too crazy or wanting maximalism.

Living room and dining space

Starting with the living room and dining space, we sourced some fun, colourful artwork as a starting point. Taking direction from these artworks, I put together a sophisticated, elegant concept with pops of colour here and there. Because entertaining friends and family was a priority for her, we kept in mind not to clutter the space too much and to have furniture pieces that could be moved around easily if necessary. With downlights as the only source of lighting, it was essential to add some lamps and pendants to create cosiness in the space. Adding the striped pendant to the bar cart area worked using a light fitting that plugs into a power point on the wall and a small hook in the ceiling to hang it from.

The floor cushions add a casualness to the space while also keeping Max the greyhound happy. The space isn’t large, so we decided to forgo the usual coffee table. With the armchair and dining chairs being colourful, I chose a more neutral base for the sofa and floor rug. Then, adding colourful cushions and decor to help tie it all together.

Home office and spare bedroom

The 2nd bedroom is a more practical area, needing a sofa bed for when friends come to visit, while doubling up as a home office.  The standout piece is the metal bookcase with ribbed glass doors. By incorporating smaller artworks here and there, this space can be easily embellished in the future. I’m a big believer in spaces having the flexibility to be built upon over time; they don’t have to be finished immediately, which doesn’t allow for spontaneous additions.

Main bedroom

The bedroom was a much darker space with limited natural light, as it only had a window down a hallway. We kept the bed frame neutral, but went to town with the bedding and bedside tables. When adding three different-sized artworks to the space, we took cues from the bedding and bedside for colour inspiration. The addition of the floor-standing mirror reflects natural light into the room.