The Sophisticated Sydney Apartment Of Furniture Designers

Following several years of apartment dwelling abroad, Koala merchandise designers Alexandra Owen and James Whitta ended up seeking a well-made condominium to settle in Sydney. They came across a medium-density development in Alexandria in 2021 that was nearing completion, and rapidly scooped up one of the remaining residences. 

‘There are so several compromised and improperly put collectively condominium complexes in Sydney, and this build is surely an antidote to the soulless large-rise development,’ claims Alexandra. ‘After residing in Europe, we definitely adore apartment living and figured out that you can happily exist in these spaces if they are effectively intended with human beings in intellect.’

The constructing has 18 residences, and was made by SJB to give notice to element, indoor-outdoor living, and generous proportions. ‘I like to say they are household-like measurements that rejoice condominium living—showing you don’t require a giant piece of land to reside spaciously with a great out of doors place,’ suggests Alexandra. 

Comprehensive-top doorways disappear into the wall cavity to expose the out of doors house off the living place, with terrazzo floors underneath that seamlessly prolong from the interiors. 

Alexandra and James put their individual stamp on the condominium by portray the living spaces in Porter’s Paint Rubble, and the major bedroom in Porter’s Paints Frozen, which mirror the apartment’s statement marble accents. In addition to the kitchen island bench and bathroom vainness, this marble functions in a tiny nook place where by Alexandra starts off every early morning. ‘With fluted glass and all-natural light-weight, it is the fantastic area to get all set in the early morning although acquiring a coffee,’ she says.

The couple’s furniture and decor has been sourced from all more than the world—from Denmark, to Poland, France, and China—to reflect the a variety of stages of their doing the job and personal lives. An Ikea ‘Randig Banana’ print (developed in the ‘80s by  Alexandra’s former mentor) reminds the pair of their time functioning for Ikea in Sweden items by New Zealand artists reference their heritage the Akari Noguchi lamps were obtained from the original showroom in Tokyo when travelling and the couple’s first Koala designs—the Getaway Couch and the Shear Bliss Rug— are proudly on screen. These latter items characterize the deliberately ‘Australian’ aesthetic and technique the pair have worked to set up at Koala over the past two years.

Alexandra clarifies, ‘We were always pissed off in the past performing for Australian providers that revered European/worldwide tradition a lot more than our have. A decade back, Australians were being a small ashamed of their culture and design, and I could never ever recognize why no a single would embrace how gorgeous Australia’s landscape, way of living and people today have been.’

Each at perform and home, Alexandra and James have embraced Australia’s uniqueness in their assortment of colors, supplies and finishes. ‘This has absolutely proven up in our apartment with the Australian palette: sunshine-kissed tones, earthy naturals, and bright color pops,’ says Alexandra. 

Entirely, the apartment is a sophisticated, personalised home in the coronary heart of Alexandria. ‘I love sitting on the couch in the dwelling room with the doorways open up and tunes on,’ James says. ‘It is unquestionably my pleased location.’