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It was love at first sight when interior designer Claudia Werner visited this ’70s apartment building, Mandalay, in Sydney’s inner-west.
‘One of the open homes was at dusk, and we were immediately captivated by the sunset over the bay,’ she explains.
‘The view was the main selling point for us, and of course the vintage of the block. We knew we wanted a smaller block with good bones.’
When Claudia launched her own studio, MEM Atelier, it was only natural that her first project was this Drummoyne apartment she shares with her husband, Hamish, and their two-year-old son, Billy.
‘We wanted to create a welcoming space that pays respect to the mid-century history of the block. The vision was something fun, unique and fit for a small family,’ she says.
Claudia sought to pay homage to the building’s 1970s history by using the decade as inspiration for her apartment’s interior.
‘Every time I was making a decision, I would imagine the apartment when it was built,’ she explains.
‘I think it’s really sad when you walk into a place that lacks personality, especially when the building has so much history. I was considerate of materials that would have been used back then, whilst mixing them with some more modern choices to make it practical for today.’
Living in an apartment often comes with the challenge of limited storage, but Claudia embraced the opportunity to make the most of every square metre in her 120-square-metre home.
Cabinets reach the ceiling, cupboards are hidden, and an integrated desk and storage unit were installed, so storage is no longer an issue. Plus, she added a (much-needed) second bathroom.
With the rest of the house in sound condition, Claudia applied her designer’s touch to inject contemporary character into the space, rejuvenating the dated bedroom carpet and laminate flooring.
‘I wanted to honour the late ’60s and ’70s in our renovation as that’s when Mandalay was built. Green tiles, timber veneer, stainless steel, chrome, bamboo roman blinds, glazed Japanese mosaic tiles that look like they could belong in your grandmother’s bathroom,’ she says.
‘Green was such a popular choice for bathrooms in the ’70s, so I wanted to give a nod to the era of the building through this choice… I also love our dining area, the big green marble table from the ’70s gets a lot of attention!’
This subtle retro aesthetic running through the home means no two rooms are the same, yet opposing elements still blend seamlessly: ‘None of it matches, but it just works,’ she says.
The calming bay views from the floor-to-ceiling glass doors not only enhance this harmonious oasis, but they also connect personally to Claudia’s studio.
‘MEM Atelier is named after my mum, who passed away in 2017. MEM is her initials,’ she explains.
‘She loved sailing, and it feels very apt that our apartment is where it is, looking out onto a beautiful bay with so many sailboats.’
Claudia’s apartment is now a cohesive, comfortable space for her growing family, which also serves as a sentimental reminder of her mother.
