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The family home of interior stylist Samantha Brown is a generous Coogee apartment in a circa 1940s Spanish Mission building.
Samantha and her husband Conrad purchased the Sydney apartment after searching for larger space with better natural light than their current one-bedroom unit. This apartment met those requirements, with the added bonus of ocean views from the kitchen sink!
‘We are both ocean lovers and the fact it was tucked away on the top floor of a small unit block which gave you a sense of calmness from the busy street made it really appealing,’ says Samantha.
The view was enough for Conrad to trust Samantha’s judgement. He didn’t actually see the property himself until auction day, but he instantly agreed that this apartment was ‘the one.’
After purchasing the property, the couple immediately set out on a renovation. The timing was perfect, as Samantha and Conrad’s neighbours (now friends) were about to go on holidays, so they generously offered their own home to stay in during the renovation.
Samantha has design industry experience as a former design assistant at Atelier Alwill and owner of interior styling and furniture sourcing business, The Other Edit. However, was her first solo project, which she amazingly executed in just eight weeks!
‘From working on homes with very generous budgets, I had to get creative as to what would work within our budget,’ Samantha says.
‘It’s always harder choosing finishes for your own home of course. but I also think it’s important to stay true to what you are drawn to. I also think it’s really important to focus on what features the home has and lean into that.’
This renovation did just that, working to enhance the apartment’s original Spanish Mission features, while optimising the floor plan to suit a growing young family.
In just eight weeks, the couple reconfigured the space to allow for an additional bedroom and bathroom, installed new joinery, sanded back the floors, and cosmetically updated the kitchen. All the bedroom walls were also re-rendered, and new carpet added.
The styling is an extension of the mostly light and neutral palette, with the occasional blue striped accent. Subtle texture has been introduced through linen sofas, glossy kitchen ceramic tiles, bamboo chairs, tongue and groove panelling, jute rugs, and stone bathroom tiles.
‘I loved the idea of a neutral base palette I could layer upon in time,’ says Samantha. ‘The aim was to create a home that feels laid back, with a sense of warmth to it, so I hope I have resembled this.’
The completed home is a reflection of the family and their lifestyle, which includes heading down to the beach at every spare moment!
