Cassandra Karinsky
Homes
22nd May, 2013
The Sydney apartment of Cassandra Karinsky of Kulchi. Artwork on wall - 'The Prayer' by Chicago-based artist Lora Fosberg, 1995 - a friend of Cassie's. Fritz Hansen dining chairs from Corporate Culture. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
The Sydney apartment of Cassandra Karinsky. Beautiful 'Marmoucha' rug in the loungeroom - one of Cassie's from Kulchi of course! Painting on shelf by Peter Atkins; Fritz Hansen chairs from Corporate Culture, couch from Arte Sofa. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Marmoucha rug from Kulchi. Sculpture by Alexander Karinsky - 'Nebuchadnezzar with a rusty halo', on shelf left to right - Egon Schiele portrait by Lora Fosberg, African sculptures, Egon Schiele prints. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Apartment entry - Kulchi African stool in yellow fibre glass, Amassi leather & kilim souk boots sourced by Cassie, Marmoucha rug on floor, painting 'O Camino' by Spanish artist Mora, 2004, selection of Kulchi rugs & blankets. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Cassie Karinsky at home. Kulchi Hassira palm & wool floor mats leaning against wall, Kulchi Handira Wedding Blanket on Moroccan street stool. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Ohhh this apartment. It's truly such a beauty. When Sean and I photographed this supremely pretty little one bedroom home in Sydney's Bellevue Hill recently, we really were smitten. Though modest in size, it's just such a wonderfully light, photogenic space, which really made for such an effortless shoot! Every shot was so easily composed, and so consistent. I guess this is why supermodels get paid the big bucks.
This elegantly styled space belongs to Cassandra Karinsky, whose career has spanned hospitality, styling and writing for international interiors titles, but whose main occupation at present involves regular travel to Morocco, where she sources and imports a beautiful range of rugs and homewares for her wholesale business - Kulchi.
Cassie has held onto her Sydney apartment for the past 13 years, though she currently divides her time between Sydney and Marrakech. 'I always love coming home here, as I can slot right back in to my Sydney life' she says. The apartment also serves as a meeting space and small showroom to showcase some of Cassie's products from Morocco.
With its generous proportions, art deco details and bucketloads of natural light, Cassie hasn't needed to do too much to improve this supremely pretty home. Besides a good coat of white paint, and the obligatory carpet removal / floorboard polishing in the living room and bedroom, very little has been updated since Cassie first moved in. The only structural change was the creation a sunroom (previously a balcony) which now doubles as a small office and guest bedroom. 'I love working here overlooking the large tortured willow outside my window - it is like sitting in a little tree house, and the light is always perfect!' says Cassie of this sun-drenched space.
Of course, the appeal of this home extends far beyond it's good bones. With a flair for interior styling, and an endless supply of the most stylish design pieces from Morocco and beyond, it's no surprise Cassie's pad is so perfectly pulled together! Favourite pieces include the strap leather chair, recently purchased from the The Design Hunter, and Cassie's new Tuareg Mat from Mauritania. 'They both add a slightly more masculine vibe to my bedroom' she says. And of course, then there's the impressive collection of rugs from Morocco, which are always on high rotation. 'I move them around all the time, they can totally transform a room in a matter of minutes - I could never live without them!' says Cassie of her treasured rug collection.
Cassie's sweet apartment really proves that size isn't everything. Even a one bedroom home can be so stylish and functional given the right treatment, and a thoughtful edit of classic furniture, artwork and soft furnishings. In this case, the combination of a monochrome palette, with simple, understated furniture, a smattering of rustic details, and soft handcrafted rugs underfoot really makes this space sing!
If you love the look of Cassie's beautiful rugs and other design pieces from Morocco, you'll be pleased to know she is having a sale of new Kulchi stock in Sydney very soon! The sale will include rugs, tables, homewares and ceramics, and runs Friday 31st May, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June, from 10.00am to 6.00pm at the old Jones The Grocer space at 68 Moncur St, Woollahra, NSW.
Bedroom. Hanging bedside lamp and Mauritanian Tuareg mat both from Kulchi, Bemboka cotton blanket from The Design Hunter, Greg Hatton stool from Koskela beside bed, painting by Alexander Karinsky. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Bedroom details. Mauritanian Tuareg mat from Kulchi, strap leather chair in chocolate also from The Design Hunter. African basket from Garden Life. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Bedroom wider shot. Mauritanian Tuareg mat from Kulchi (under bed), Bemboka cotton blanket from The Design Hunter, Kulchi vintage Moroccan print on Ikea cabinets - 'Porte des Portugais' Tanger 1880, African plant basket from Garden Life, strap leather chair in chocolate also from The Design Hunter. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Kulchi vintage Moroccan print on Ikea cabinet - 'Porte des Portugais' Tanger, 1880, Indian Milk Pot from The Design Hunter. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Kitchen detail - Beldi wooden utensil holders and utensils sourced by Cassie for Kulchi. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Just gorgeous! It is a peaceful and individual apartment! It looks like Cassandra surrounds herself with things she truly loves! Love it! Definitely pinning it all!
Wow, stunning apartment, refreshingly different from recent posts.
Oooh, I’m in love with the rugs!
NEAT! Actually, Lucy, it will be great to see a post on YOUR house!
Love these rugs.
Cant wait to get one!
Gorgeous apartment.
Love the clean white purity of this house and I agree with Nesting Ground above!
Just LOVELY Lucy/Cassie. Waking up to such easy relaxed style is a daily joy. x
I have a wonderful carpet, bought from Cassandra last year, LOVE it!!!
Oh I LOVE this home! It really shows how simple yet interesting an interior can be. Every item in this home is gorgeous. I want it all!
Beautiful !… I love small spaces and adore deco. I rent in Elwood and have been procrastinating about what to buy , a shiny new apartment or a deco with character. Thank you, I’ve just been convinced that a lovely little deco place is for me .
May I ask what colour is on the walls? Lovely shade of white!
I cannot wait to get home to slowly devour the images. My sneaky “in office” skim is just not enough to absorb the gorgeous, yet simple, details!
Big fan of this one
What a gorgeous space.. I am truly inspired! Big call but I think this is my favourite TDF featured home ever! Thankyou Cassie and Lucy for sharing.
Beautiful. Really serene.
I would love to see more apartment posts on house tours
Love it – beautiful serene and nothing over the top
The ceiling in the lounge/dining is lovely
Its my kind of place – just the right amount of decoration – so perfect!
Fresh!
Beautiful under stated home Cassie, love it, and your gorgeous rugs.
Beautifully elegant, I love the mix of Moroccan against the crisp white walls.
Elegant and inspiring. I now live in a small space . I love it and love yours. Beverley
Elegant and inspiring. I now live in a small space and I love it, and I love yours.
I think I’ve pinned nearly every image in this post. This apartment is just beautiful! Can you please share where the dining chairs are from?
stunning apartment – very inspiring.
Hi Lucy,
Desperate to know what the plant is in the bedroom in the African basket on the floor??
Thanks
Jennifer
To Jennifer,
The plant is a Fiddle Leaf Fig
xx
Pin Pin Pin…What a gorgeous home. I loved every detail.
Basket on floor in bedroom? Wondering if it is a recent purchase, just what I’ve been looking for. Also loved the lamp in bedroom but couldn’t find it available on Cassandra’s website “kulchi”.
Thank you for sharing Cassandra. Thank you for sharing Lucy.
Love this space! Just pinned a ton of images of course! :)
Lovely apartment, interested in floors on spare guest room? We are thinking of painting existing how by coloured polished timber floorboards white and wondering about options. Cassandra, yours look darker than line wash, is it just paint or another treatement? Thank you
absolutely stunning! may i ask what that plant is that is on top of the white cabinets in the bedroom? looks sortof like a succulent / palm of some sort
As a fellow apartment-dweller, this was a real treat to read. We too have picture rails however I love Cassie’s shelves, adorned at eye level.
I wonder if anyone knows where those round black wall hooks come from?
And the paint? Antique white?
Alex – the plant on top of the white cabinet is an ‘Agave’, Sarah – the wall hooks ‘Dots Coat Hooks’ by Muuto
Oh my goodness … I am so sorry for not replying to all these amazing comments! Thank you to everyone!
Natalie, you are correct, they are the Dots from Muuto and the plant in my bedroom is an Agave!
Tania, you have a very good eye, I did indeed use Antique White on my walls – perfect! Love paint!
Sarah – my floors in my living room were pretty bad. I pulled up the carpet in the room and discovered it had been stuck down with Black Japan. It was impossible to remove so I decided to brush it on my floorboards to give a light chocolate stain – it has worn down quite a lot but looks nicely aged.
Sandy – the dining chairs are from Corporate Culture in Sydney, the best shop!
Thank you all again.. Cassandra
wow! love the organic shapes and textures! Especially love the ikea cabinet – it never goes out of style.
Everything about this apt., this space is elegant and truthful. I love that Ms. Karinsky promotes and exports the beauty and culture of Morocco. I wish her all the success. Thank you, Design Files for featuring such an inspirational person and amazing design.
So simply beautiful.
the furnitures along with the walls give off a serene ambiance! perfect for a home, well done! :)
So beautiful, I love the red mats leaning against the wall. I can picture them laid out on a nice timber floor and would look amazing. I also really like the black and white diamond rug in the loungroom.
I love everything about this home. It’s my style down to a tee. Simply stunning!
Nice collection of Moroccan rugs thanks for post it
How do the agave cuttings survive in water? I’d love to try it here in Bxl.
What is the plant in the jar of water on the dresser in the bedroom?
Were the agave recently transplanted to the vases for photos, or do they actually thrive in water? I ask only because agave tends to be a desert plant. Thank you!
What a gorgeous space .. Beautifully elegant. Best carpet in the dining room :)
Hi!
What are the plants in the bedroom (not the fiddle leaf fig) and the kitchen? They’re so cool!
Thanks!
Hi there
My wife recently purchased the most amazing indoor fiddle leaf fig plant from a lady in randwick Sydney, who has a lot of stock of them. Heaps of different shapes and sizes.
Her ph number is 0425328076.
That Indian milk pot is fantastic!
Where can I get that wool rug leaning against the wall also (The red and gold one)
Absolutely beautiful!
Jane
Everything goes so well I’m in LOVE, it looks so fresh too, like I could actually smell nature in that house flowing.. so much positive energy going on.
This is a gorgeous post! I love the Kulchi Moroccan print (on top of the Ikea metal cabinet). Do you know what size it is? Does it come framed already?
Thx,
Missy