In the past I have sometimes been called the ‘Storage Queen’. I love being called that, as one of my greatest passions is creating perfect storage solutions for my clients.
I’ll let you in on a secret about storage. It all comes down to space. Space is absolutely paramount. Not just for storage, but for all areas of a home.
Over the years I have had many jobs where my primary task has been to reinvent the space, because the original property had been designed so inefficiently.
I thought I would take a moment to share with you some of my success stories, about properties I have transformed by reinventing their space.
Bellevue Hill house
The spaces in this house in Bellevue Hill were under-utilised. This meant that the areas the client spent the most time in felt isolated and soulless. The downstairs was substantially redesigned to provide lots of light, cross-ventilation and space to entertain.
The kitchen was relocated, and the storage space in and around it maximised. The client was very happy with the end result!
Coogee unit
Maximising space and storage facilities in this Coogee unit was essential. The key challenge involved finding storage in unsuspecting spaces, to make the place more enjoyable and personalised to live in.
Sometimes this was a matter of making small touches that have a world of difference on a day-to-day basis. For example, the table in the kitchen was designed so the chairs fit comfortably between the legs, and a glass-fronted cabinet broke down the scale of the room.
Roseville house
My work on this property in Roseville was all about renovating the back of the house. The clients were very fond of polished concrete, so this of course became a feature.
A traditional triangular pitched roof was created, manipulating the space so the clients could get as much north light into the house as possible. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to have spaces filled with natural light!
North Bondi house
The clients had purchased this property from somebody who hadn’t renovated the house, and the logic of its layout was problematic. Therefore I got busy working and set out to improve it!
I designed a skillion roof that went at the high point over the stairwell, and a flat roof to capture north light. The stairs became an essential element, allowing for easy circulation and light captured from the upper level, which flows through and down to the ground.