Homes

A Serene and Stylish 1940s Apartment For A Young Family

Samantha Brown wakes up every day to ocean views from her circa 1940s Coogee apartment, where she lives with her husband Conrad and two children Cali (2.5) & Oli (six months).

The calming interiors — designed by Samantha and executed in a mere eight week renovation (!) — are the perfect serene extension of this dreamy coastal location.

See inside this beautifully refined Sydney home, fit for a stylish young family.

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

MCM House armchairs. Cushions on armchairs from Watertiger. Jardan Sunny Sofa in custom Mokum Eternal linen fabric in Oyster. Vintage unfilled travertine coffee table. Lamp from Tow and Line. ‘Market Flowers’ painting by Nick Herd. Custom mirror by Joinery Masters.

Jardan Sunny Sofa in custom Mokum Eternal linen fabric in Oyster. Vintage unfilled travertine coffee table. ‘Market Flowers’ painting by Nick Herd. Pot from Watertiger. Amazon II Jute Rug with self edging from International Floor Coverings. Fan from Beacon Lighting.

Interior stylist Samantha Brown in her Coogee family apartment. ‘Market Flowers’ painting by Nick Herd. Upholstered beach seat in Loro Piana Dehors Beaulieu Malachite fabric from South Pacific Fabrics.

Upholstered beach seat in Loro Piana Dehors Beaulieu Malachite fabric from South Pacific Fabrics. Vintage French stripped oak dining table. Dining chairs from The Vault. Jo Norton Ceramics vase. Dinosaur Designs Rock Jug.

Upholstered beach seat in Loro Piana Dehors Beaulieu Malachite fabric from South Pacific Fabrics. Vintage French stripped oak dining table. Dining chairs from The Vault. Jo Norton Ceramics vase. Dinosaur Designs Rock Jug. Jardan Sunny Sofa in custom Mokum Eternal linen fabric in Oyster.

Upholstered beach seat in Loro Piana Dehors Beaulieu Malachite fabric from South Pacific Fabrics. Vintage French stripped oak dining table. Dining chairs from The Vault. Jo Norton Ceramics vase. Dinosaur Designs Rock Jug.

Vintage bamboo dining chairs with custom upholstered stripe cushions in Kravet Basics fabric. Shell print by Petri Prints. Mud Australia bowl. Murano glass vase. Glasses with rattan from The Bay Tree. Clear glasses from Watertiger. Georg Jenson pepper grinder. Bamboo blinds by House of Bamboo.

Sculptural braided totem chair from The Vault. Jardan Sunny Sofa in custom Mokum Eternal linen fabric in Oyster. Vintage bamboo dining chairs with custom upholstered stripe cushions in Kravet Basics fabric. Shell print by Petri Prints. Mud Australia bowl. Murano glass vase. Glasses with rattan from The Bay Tree. Clear glasses from Watertiger. Georg Jenson pepper grinder. Bamboo blinds by House of Bamboo.

Sculptural braided totem chair from The VaultMud Australia bowl. Murano glass vase. Glasses with rattan from The Bay Tree. Clear glasses from Watertiger. Georg Jenson pepper grinder. Vintage spotty bowls. Gabrielle Penfold artwork. Bamboo blinds by House of Bamboo.

Murano Scavo Sconces. Custom bed frame in Lino Naturale fabric from Westbury. Custom bench seat in Loro Piana Devondale fabric. Gubi floor lamp. Helen Kaminski hat. Murano glass vase. In Bed Oversized Heavy Linen Bed Cover in WhiteOriental Sisal flooring from Artisanweave.

Towel and bath mat by Loom Towels. Murano sconce. Oval Egg Knob by Noble Elements. Tumbled stone tiles from Di Lorenzo. Custom curtains. Navona travertine by Granite & Marble WorksPerrin & Rowe Wall Mounted Low Bath Spout from The English Tapware Company.

Custom bedhead by Bonne Nuit in Lizzo Linnet 14 fabric. Custom cushion on bed and upholstered bench seat in Loro Piana fabric from South Pacific Fabrics. In Bed Oversized Heavy Linen Bed Cover in White. Antique rustic circular side table from The Vault. Lamp by Sophie Davies.

Stool from The Vault. Upholstered bench seat in Loro Piana fabric from South Pacific Fabrics. Vintage print and custom frame by ACME Framing.

The ocean views from the apartment.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
Photography
Editorial styling
28th of November 2023

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!

Latest stories

Recent Homes