Homes

A Characterful Art Deco Apartment For Furniture Makers

2019 was a big year for Sarah and Tim Ford, who started their Australian-made furniture and homeware brand TS Makers, and bought an apartment in Sydney’s Dulwich Hill in the same year!

Luckily, the apartment had recently been renovated, leaving nothing for Sarah and Tim to do but move in, style the space, and enjoy.

Discover how they personalised the home to showcase their passions: skating, design, and art!

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
|
Photography
by
|
Editorial styling
by
Supported by Dulux

Small artwork by Michael Sieben. Large artwork by Sarah Cristoph. Candleholder and candles by TS Makers. Ceramic sculpture by Life Interiors. Skateboards by Tired Skateboards. Armchair by GlobeWest. Cushion by Middle of Nowhere. Side table by TS Makers. Vintage vase. Vessel on dining table by H.A.W. Rug by Tribe Home.

TS Makers co-founders Sarah and Tim Ford with their dog Ned at their Dulwich Hill apartment.

Skateboards by Michael Leon for Element Skateboards. Figurine by Krooked Skateboards. Ceramic vessel by Scott Duncan. Locker by Mustard Made.

Artwork by Stephen Powers. Table lamp and wall unit by TS Makers.

Small artwork by Michael Sieben. Large artwork by Sarah Cristoph. Candleholder and candles by TS Makers. Skateboards by Tired Skateboards. Armchair by GlobeWest. Cushion by Middle of Nowhere. Side table by TS Makers. Vessel on side table by H.A.W. Rug by Tribe Home. Wooden car by Candylab Toys.

Artwork on left by Stephen Powers. Artwork on right from The Poster Club. Handpainted skateboard numbers by Goodsir Sign Co. Coffee table by TS Makers. Trolley by Normann Copenhagen. Ceramic vase by Kitsch Kitchen. Vintage glass vase. Candle by Boy Smells. Wooden car by Candylab Toys. Rug by Tribe Home. Sofa by Life Interiors. Patterned cushion by Cold Picnic. Black cushion by Weave Home.

The TS Makers Squiggle Side Table features a Victorian ash top and handturned solid pine legs painted Dulux Blue Lobelia. Skateboards by Thomas Campbell for Atlas Skateboarding. Front-on artwork: Stephen Powers. Artwork in centre by Stephen Powers. Artworks on left and right from The Poster Club. Handpainted skateboard numbers by Goodsir Sign Co. Coffee table by TS Makers. Trolley by Normann Copenhagen. Ceramic vase by Kitsch Kitchen. Vintage glass vase. Candle by Boy Smells. Wooden car by Candylab Toys. Rug by Tribe Home. Sofa by Life Interiors. Patterned cushion by Cold Picnic. Black cushion by Weave Home. Floor lamp by Milk and Sugar

Artworks by Stephen Powers. Table lamp and wall unit by TS Makers. Vessel on dining table by H.A.W. Vintage vessel on wall unit.

Left hand side picture frame by Clash City Wood. Artworks by Stephen Powers. Cushions by Cold Picnic. Sheets by Bed Threads. Vintage blanket.

Skateboards (from left to right) by Powell Peralta; The Quiet Life; Mark Gonzales for Klein Industries; and Jason Lee for Prime Skateboards. Picture frame by Clash City Wood. Table lamp by TS Makers. Pot by Evergreen Collective. Candleholder and bowl by Clash City Wood. Vase by Life Interiors. Vintage desk. Chair by ELLISON Studios. Rug by Tribe Home.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
Photography
Editorial styling
3rd of September 2024

When priced out of buying a house in Sydney’s inner south, TS Makers co-founders Sarah and Tim Ford turned to the inner-west apartment market.

They found the best of both worlds in this art deco unit — which has the proportions of a two-bedroom house — but with a lower price tag.

Located in Dulwich Hill, the apartment had also recently undergone a simple renovation, ensuring Sarah and Tim could move in right away.

Sarah recalls, ‘When we found this place, it was perfect. A great living space, a recently renovated kitchen, both bedrooms with good built-in storage, two shared gardens, and a separate laundry and garage.

‘Being on the end of the block, it has incredible light with windows on three sides and so many of its original features.’

In an added bonus for Tim (who is an avid skater and handcrafts furniture from reclaimed skateboards for his other business Clash City Wood), the apartment was also very close to a skate park, ‘which I think Tim might have secretly plotted!’ jokes Sarah.

Sarah and Tim’s apartment is one of six in a near-original 1920s building. ‘Its design is quite unique in that each apartment has its own front and back entrance, meaning there are no shared corridors or stairways, and no common walls between the apartments,’ Sarah says.

Even if they wanted to renovate, Sarah says there’s simply no room for improvement. ‘It’s so cleverly built and the features are gorgeous. Personally, we wouldn’t change a thing!’

Thoughtfully arranged furniture makes the apartment feel even larger. A sofa occupies a living room nook, creating space for a dining table at the centre, and a sideboard for records.

‘This really opened the space up and made it more liveable and easier to entertain, which we love to do,’ says Sarah.

The couple’s personalities come through in the painted skateboards displayed on the wall; multiple artworks by Stephen ‘Espo’ Powers; and of course, plenty of their handcrafted TS Makers pieces!

Sarah and Tim’s apartment is the perfect representation of their life, their work and their shared passion for music, photography, art and design.

Sarah says, ‘Putting it all together is a real reflection of us.’

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