Bold and bright thinking for a creative client in Birchgrove

Bold colour. Designer details. Practical touches.

Alex found a place he loved in Birchgrove: incredible spot close to the ferry and Birchgrove Park, spectacular north-facing views of the water, a home spread over three levels to embrace its waterfront locale. Renovated in the late '80s by a well-respected local architect, the bones were there, but over the years, the home had been neglected and fallen into disrepair; the definition of a renovators dream.

Alex wanted to give the old place a polish for his son, Beau, who is a musician with an eclectic style. The aim would be to create a home that wasn't just comfortable, practical and a joy to live in, taking full advantage of its assets, but also a place that reflected his personality and creative side. Anyone can have an ordinary house, Alex and Beau wanted something extraordinary.

They came to the right place, of course. There's nothing Fluid Studio loves more than infusing a project with personality and flair without losing sight of what makes a home practical and livable. Alex went with our ‘Best’ package which meant we could not just come up with a unique and creativity-inspired design which flows effortlessly from room to room (and onto the harbour-hugging balconies), incorporates plenty of storage and feels full of light and space. It also meant we could dive into the details and spend time adding bespoke designer touches to every room, helping to express Alex's creative spirit and tell a story about his life and passions.  

From the fire-engine-red steel and frosted glass door, you know you've arrived somewhere special. Entering on the main living level, the kitchen, living and dining are opened up to work in concert as one open-plan space. Thin steel columns support the upper levels, while also creating a feature when painted a bold red to frame the fireplace. Huge bi-fold drops open onto a travertine terrace drawing you towards the views, while the outdoor spaces cascade like an amphitheatre down to the water. 

In the kitchen, the overhead cabinets angle up to let as much light and views into the home as possible from an openable picture-frame window. Rather than a design compromise, angling up to create space for the window becomes a feature of the kitchen, with a bold orange stripe injecting colour and movement into this important living space and helping the kitchen to feel more spacious while also allowing some clever storage solutions. A marbled natural stone splashback brings a natural texture to the space and echoes the rippling water beyond.

Upstairs, the main bedroom capitalises on the views with steel bi-fold doors which tuck away to open fully onto the deck. Built-in wardrobe space either side of the doors provide plenty of storage space and allow the length of the room to double as a dressing space. Strips of red detail on the robes direct the eye outwards, where a dramatic red shade cloth protects the deck for the perfect outdoor relaxation space. 

The ensuite bathroom also enjoys a view, with a huge clawfoot bath, offering a majestic place to lay back and soak it all in. The timber, wave-form ceiling, bath and pedestal basic create a sculptural space, while the stone floor, crisp sky blue acrylic walls and chrome accessories provide a textural and colour contrast as well as low-maintenance surfaces.

Two additional bedrooms and the main bathroom occupy this level and, while they don't enjoy a harbour view, they feel light-filled and airy. Stunning turquoise tiles in the bathroom are a reminder of blue waters while a corner mirrored cabinet bounces light and deceives the eye into thinking the bathroom is much larger than it is in reality. Underfoot, marble tiles in a hexagonal mosaic pattern are both luxurious and textural. The combination of tiles hinting at hidden sandy coves and crystal waters.

A study, lounge or fourth bedroom is tucked under the rafters; the literal pinnacle of the home. With its own balcony, built-in desk and bathroom, it is a flexible, multi-functional space. Those signature splashes of red return, highlighting the desk space and the pitch of the cathedral ceiling, again creating a forced perspective that sends the eye out towards the contrasting blue of the Parramatta River. The bathroom is another statement space in contrasting black and white with a flaming red toilet seat and another punchy surprise hidden behind the mirrored cabinet.

Beau's love of art is no longer confined to hanging on the walls: it bursts into 3D space in his home, inspiring sculptural light fittings and bathroom details, bold pops of colour and high-quality materials which bring their own unique colours and textures to the home. Because why can't a home also be a work of art?

The package Alex selected for his home renovation is the gold standard of service. It means we manage every aspect of the renovation design and build, from drafting a unique design which maximises the potential of the site and fulfils the client's brief, wrangling design and building approval with council, preparing comprehensive building documents for tender and construction, even supervising the build and administering the contract with the builder to ensure there are no disputes or misunderstandings and you get what you pay for. This suited Alex perfectly, meaning he could focus on what he does best while trusting his renovation would be completed hassle-free by the experts at Fluid Studio.

In keeping with our aim to maximise our time on-site, we actually moved into the building while the works were being completed. Setting up a studio space amidst the construction site so we could direct the building works on the ground allowed us to work with the builder to develop design solutions on the fly: finessing the details, building a relationship with the builder and trades, and ensuring everything was built with quality and longevity in mind. While the builders were initially bemused at having an on-site architect, a far cry from the stereotype of an out-of-touch office dweller who dictates, with a few scribbles, an impractical and costly solution, they soon came to respect our hands-on approach and practical know-how. As a result, the job was completed with the holy trifecta of speed, quality and cost-efficiency. Alex and Beau were delighted with the results.