BONDI BEACH
Small spaces journey
This light-filled coastal home in Sydney’s Bondi Beach captures the essence and freedom of beachside living through stripped-back interiors by Studio George. With interior design and architecture devised by Sara Horvath from local outfit Studio George, this. home of a young professional couple is a lesson in calm restraint.
Another standout feature of the space is the central staircase—a particularly rare feature in a unit, but one that makes a huge difference. “The elegant, curved and sculptural form of the staircase is quite literally the spine of the home and the project,” says Horvath. It gives the home impact and imparts “a sense of the extraordinary, [since] the scale, volume and elevation is not a common feature in a small apartment.” In keeping with the haven theme, the soft curve of the railing and rattan-lined stairs give the staircase a modern, yet tactile appeal.
Horvath worked closely with her clients to deliver “an exclusive sanctuary with a sun-bleached palette that will weather beautifully.” Choosing a mostly all-white palette, Horvath created texture by adding bold tilework in the kitchen and bathroom to draw the eye. The project took around six months to complete.
Horvath also holds a special regard for the guest bathroom, with its terrazzo-patterned tiles that feature on the floor, recessed shower niche and splashback. “It’s simplicity and materiality straddle the ideal balance between calm and impactful,” she explains.
With timeless features and a clean palette that makes ample use of the space’s natural light, the home was a welcome breath of fresh air for the young couple. “[They were] blown away with the difference in energy and atmosphere,” she says of their response. “It’s a newly invigorated sanctuary that they can escape into when taken away from the busy streets of Bondi Beach.”