For more than half a century, the decor of this Gold Coast apartment presented in a decidedly beige and banal light. But a world without colour is surely a characterless one. And so it was that the owner, a woman in her seventies with a passion for decorative hues, pattern and texture, knew the time had come for a major overhaul of the abode. A one-of-a-kind reimagination that would elevate the three bedroom apartment to style heights befitting its spectacular perch above the coastline.
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Awash with aqua blue hues, this Gold Coast holiday apartment is an undeniably special getaway. Presenting a breathtaking view of the sea, the living domain resolutely places the spotlight on the owner’s favourite colour. The walls and wavy pelmets are drenched in Resene Aqua and partnered with sheers in Designers Guild ‘Bellavista’ and curtains in Designers Guild ‘Arolla’, both from The Fabric Editors. Arte ‘Uno’ wallpaper from The Fabric Editors clads the ceiling (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)
A pair of Kun Design ‘Clogs’ lounge chairs supplied by Domo invites time out on the balcony overlooking the water where the existing glass balustrade ensures that the views are uninterrupted. The Kun Design ‘Mooncake’ end table is also from Domo. Beneath this are the neutral-coloured ‘Port 3 Verona’ matt tiles from Three Balls Red. (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)
For interior designer Marina Hirst, fully entrusted by the owner to mastermind the renewal, it will forever be a project unlike any other. “The owner is based in Melbourne, so this is her holiday apartment,” explains Marina. “The apartment had never been renovated since it was built in the ’60s, and everything was bland and more bland. The owner wanted to revamp it entirely to reflect her love of colour. I worked with both her and her daughter to transform the apartment into her absolute happy place – one that she now visits often with family and friends.”
INSIDE STORY A pattern-loving lady’s holiday home
Who holidays here? The Melbourne-based owner, with her family and friends. Is it possible to have too much colour or pattern in a home? Interior designer Marina Hirst: “No, so long as it’s complementary and works together, whether it’s through tone or texture.” Is an apartment renovation more difficult than a house? “It can be, due to the logistics. In this case, we were also dealing with an older building, which meant access points were smaller, making it trickier to move furniture in and out.”
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Colour and pattern join forces to create moments of delight in the core relaxation domain, thoughtfully furnished with new and repurposed pieces. These include the sofa, custom designed by Marina Hirst and Homme Upholstery Studio, and covered in Schumacher ‘Cannonbury’ fabric in Rose Multi from The Fabric Editors. Made of rope woven into the shape of a palm tree, Laura Kirar’s playful ‘Mar’ floor lamp from Arteriors supplied by Boyd Blue salutes the seaside setting. (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)“I took my inspiration from this existing arch in designing the other curves I introduced in the apartment,” says Marina of the entry. Ace Stone + Tiles ‘Pixel’ tiles in Frog, Strawberry, Bordeaux and Marine ground the space (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke / Artwork: Steve Rosendale)A duo of Ligne Roset ‘Togo’ lounges from Domo in the living area (top) has extra splashes of colour courtesy of custom cushions by Marina Hirst and Homme Upholstery Studio. A bespoke storage unit – by Marina Hirst, Tomkins Constructions and Kyson Cabinetry – has two-pack joinery in Resene Kaitoke Green. The Schumacher ‘Daisy Chain’ wallpaper is from The Fabric Editors (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)
Having met the owner at her inner-Melbourne home, Marina could easily appreciate her client’s penchant for ornamental hues, most of all a particularly beguiling shade of aquamarine. “Aqua is definitely her favourite colour,” says Marina, “and she wanted to embrace that in the Gold Coast apartment, which is very appropriate, as aqua reflects the colour of the ocean. The views of the sea are spectacular, particularly from the living room, and the aqua brings the outside in. The owner is a lady of refined taste,” the designer continues. “She is very well connected in the art world and has an intrinsic knowledge of art and culture. She is also a really happy person who simply believes life should be grabbed with both hands. She’s pure sunshine – and just the unicorn client.”
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Another standout is the bar, featuring joinery in Resene Kaitoke Green under an arch encased in glossy green ‘Punto Up’ tiles from Ace Stone + Tiles. A Rose quartzite benchtop from Finestone completes the chic drinks zone. On the wall is a Seletti ‘Liberty Mirror Woman’ sourced from Farfetch. (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke / Artwork: ‘Amenia’ by Rose Gennaro)
“The owner wanted the old with the new, so we reconditioned some of her pieces, while others were custom-made”
MARINA HIRST, INTERIOR DESIGNER
Looking beyond the existing interiors, Marina drew on what she fondly calls a “Hollywood Regency meets Palm Springs and Miami Beach vibe”. Every detail was carefully considered. “I chose the best builder, and we worked very closely together on every aspect of the apartment,” says Marina.
Beautifully detailed, the kitchen joinery is expressively brought to life in Resene Aqua for the lighter cabinetry and Resene Awash for the darker, the latter paint colour also wrapping the walls next to the bar zone. Splashback tiles in ‘Punto Up’ from Ace Stone + Tiles deliver a juxtaposing bank of burgundy in the cooking zone. Matilda Goad & Co. knobs in Cherry on a brass clover backplate add flair. The benchtops are in pretty-in-pink Rose quartzite. (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)
Above the Rose quartzite benchtop in this kitchen corner , a shelf in two-pack Resene Aqua provides display space for favourite pieces. (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)
WE LOVE… contrasting hues
“It is unusual to have a two-toned kitchen where the lower cabinetry is a different shade to the upper,” notes Marina, adding with a smile, “It’s also rare to have such a courageous client.” Going out on a limb, however, has delivered a captivating outcome. A boundarypushing space it may well be, but the apartment’s epicentre is a triumph in Resene paint colours Aqua and Awash. Visit resene.com.au.
The dining zone has a banquette featuring fluted joinery in Resene Awash and custom seating covered by Homme Upholstery Studio in Barbara Osorio Fabrics ‘Portobello’ from The Fabric Editors. The dining table was a “true work of love” by builder Luke Tomkins of Tomkins Constructions, says Marina. Suspended above the trio of Bros on the Road candelabra is an Arteriors ‘Cadance’ chandelier from Boyd Blue. (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)
“The only structural change was reducing the walk-in-robe off the main bedroom to enlarge the ensuite.” Exuberant accents of pink and green, and nuanced shades of aqua rise to the fore in everything from decorative paintwork to wallcoverings, tiles and furniture.
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Decked in layers of colour and pattern, it’s hard to imagine a more inviting bedroom. There’s the headboard in Designers Guild ‘Brocart Decoratif’ and custom Letto Bello bedlinen with scatter cushions in Etamine ‘Coco’ fabric. Dressing the windows are sheers in Designers Guild ‘Bellavista Ombre’ and curtains in Carlucci ‘Gold Dust’. The Arteriors ‘Birmingham’ table lamp is from Boyd Blue. Custom bench in Zimmer + Rohde ‘Infinity Crush’. (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)A Rose quartzite benchtop teamed with ‘Punto Down’ wall tiles in Vert from Ace Stone + Tiles, Nood & Co ‘Bowl’ basins in Blush Pink and Faucet Strommen ‘Pegasi’ tapware signal a luxe pamper zone in the ensuite. Other artisanal elements in the space include the vintage Italian Ponti-style brass mirrors, Rakumba ‘Petal’ wall lights and the Matilda Goad & Co lacquered pink cabinetry knobs with brass backplate in Clover. (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)
“I layered aqua throughout the apartment, with the pinks and greens relayed across the rooms,” says Marina. “As aqua is such a strong colour, the other base colours had to be fairly strong, too. And I wanted the colour to be complementary and continuous.” Meanwhile, the repetitive use of curves in archways, shapely bedheads and scalloped pelmets enhances the feeling of harmony and intention.
The scene-stealing star of this guest zone is the wall clad in decorative ‘Paper 41 Pro’ tiles from Ace Stone + Tiles. “Everyone thinks it’s wallpaper, but it’s actually polished tiles,” says Marina. A retro poster from Etsy hangs in the hallway. (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)
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Atop the bronze laminate benchtop below is a hand-blown ‘Lucia’ Bohemian crystal basin from London Basin Company, with the Murano glass Rostrato wall light from Secondi also casting a glow. The mirror is from Secondi. (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)This sleep sanctuary stars a custom headboard in Etamine ‘Sous le Soleil’ offset by Coordonné ‘Sumba’ wallpaper. The bed is dressed in custom Etamine ‘Flocon d’ete’ linen accented with a cushion in Schumacher ‘Gracie Solid Strié’. (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)
“The client accepted everything on day dot and then just sat back and let me run with my vision,” says Marina, adding with a smile, “And she was blown away by the result. She was overwhelmed with happiness when she saw the completed apartment. It was just a joyous project from start to finish.”
“I love pattern as much as I do colour,” says Marina, adding, “Everything is intentional.” In the laundry, ‘Punto Down’ splashback tiles in Rose from Ace Stone + Tiles share the style limelight with a Rose quartzite benchtop and match the ceiling painted in Resene Just Right (Credit: Photography: Mindi Cooke)
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Photography: Mindi Cooke
