Located in the bayside suburb of Elwood, this Art Deco apartment renovation was a thoughtful reworking of a character-filled home, balancing modern functionality with the charm and integrity of its original architecture.
Eclectic Creative was engaged to oversee the interior renovation and detailing throughout the home, including the kitchen, bathroom, laundry, flooring selections, paint specification, custom joinery, lighting, fittings, fixtures, upholstery and window furnishings. The result is a layered and highly resolved interior that feels both refined and deeply personal, honouring the apartment’s heritage bones while introducing warmth, texture and contemporary liveability
The kitchen renovation focused on improving functionality within the apartment’s existing footprint while remaining sympathetic to the Art Deco architecture. Custom joinery was designed to maximise storage and create visual cohesion throughout the home, with carefully considered material selections and integrated detailing elevating the overall finish. Our clients were wanting a Costwold’s green kitchen, and we delivered the most beautiful perfect green tone for the brief, finished with brushed brass fittings.
An integrated hidden euro laundry is concealed behind the custom joinery featuring a washer dryer stack and ample porcelain trough creating a perfect wash zone.
The bathroom palette balanced durability with softness, pairing tactile finishes, warm lighting and thoughtfully selected fittings and fixtures to create spaces that felt calm, timeless and connected to the rest of the home. A restrained neutral palette was intentionally selected to create longevity and allow the interiors to evolve gradually over time. Decorative wallpaper above the dado detailing was explored within the design direction as a subtle nod to the apartment’s Art Deco character.
While the completed palette leans soft, neutral and understated, the broader design direction explored opportunities for additional colour, decorative wallpaper and layered detailing inspired by the apartment’s Art Deco character. The resulting interior instead embraces a quieter and more restrained interpretation and client preference, allowing the original architecture and custom detailing to remain the focus.
Throughout the renovation, Eclectic Creative curated a holistic interior scheme encompassing full home flooring selections, paint colours, custom upholstery, window furnishings and decorative lighting. Each element was selected to complement the apartment’s original proportions and detailing, creating a home that feels collected, comfortable and enduring rather than trend-driven.
The kitchen redesign required a considered response to both the apartment’s heritage constraints and the practical needs of modern living. Early concepts explored removing the wall between the kitchen and dining area entirely, however following further review of the building’s original structure and architectural character, the design direction was carefully refined to work more sympathetically within the existing footprint.
Through detailed space planning and multiple layout revisions, Eclectic Creative developed a solution that balanced functionality, aesthetics and everyday practicality without compromising the integrity of the home. The resulting design introduced a substantial curved island featuring custom lambs tongue detailing, shaker-style cabinetry and soft sculptural forms that echoed the apartment’s original plaster archways and Art Deco detailing. By continuing the existing curvature through the joinery and architectural elements, the final outcome feels cohesive, intentional and deeply connected to the character of the home while significantly improving flow, storage and usability.
A custom banquette was designed as a key feature within the dining and living zone, helping to anchor the space while maximising seating capacity and improving circulation within the apartment’s compact footprint. Carefully tailored and built specifically for dining, the seating dimensions were ergonomically considered to support everyday functionality, posture and comfort during extended meals and entertaining.
The upholstery design featured a durable houndstooth fabric selected for both practicality and visual texture, complemented by refined self-edged piping details that introduced subtle definition and craftsmanship. High-density foam cushioning was specified to provide long-term structural support and durability appropriate for dedicated dining seating, ensuring the banquette maintained its form and performance over time. Nothing worse that a sagging, sad banquette!
The resulting design balances function, comfort and detailing, creating a highly resolved joinery and upholstery feature that feels integrated within the broader architectural language of the apartment.
The interior palette was carefully developed to create a home that felt light, inviting and relaxed while still retaining the depth and character of the apartment’s original architectural features. While the brief leaned toward a lighter and brighter aesthetic, the design approach focused on balancing softness with contrast to ensure the interiors still felt grounded, layered and connected to the home’s Art Deco origins.
Original elements including the dark window frames, exposed ceiling beams and existing fireplace brickwork were intentionally retained and celebrated, allowing the apartment’s heritage bones to remain a defining feature within the overall scheme. Trim and detailing were finished in Porter’s Paints Rubble, introducing warmth and subtle depth against walls painted in Natural White, creating a tonal palette that felt calm, cohesive and timeless.
This restrained foundation allowed texture, pattern and personality to emerge more naturally through the custom upholstery, furnishings and layered decorative elements inspired by the relaxed, collected charm of a Cotswolds aesthetic. The resulting interior feels effortless and lived-in, balancing softness and practicality with a sense of warmth and enduring character.
