Lap of Luxury

How Australian interior design studio Infinite Design gave a 1980s penthouse a modern revamp

A stunning piece of architecture does not always make for a beautiful home. In the case of this 1980s penthouse in Sydney, the property may have offered a prime location surrounded by greenery, but its interior design left much to be desired. The space was split up into small rooms and offered very little in the manner of natural light. In order to transform the penthouse into a comfortable place to live, the homeowners — a couple who spend part of their time traveling abroad for both business and pleasure — brought Australian boutique interior design studio Infinite Design on board. 

Lead interior designer Michelle Macarounas' prioritised natural light and the surrounding views when redesigning the home. In order to open up the space and grant better interconnectivity between rooms, she removed a number of walls and rejigged the layout. She then filled the home with textured veneers and fine details to evoke the feeling of a luxury boutique hotel. 

The entryway is dark and moody, leading you on a journey through to the rest of the rooms, which in contrast are open and light-filled. Warm woods and neutral tones pervade the home, with metallic accents, sculptural accessories and lighting pieces, and statement artworks adding interest. Lines are clean and modern, with Macarounas taking ample inspiration from Japanese designs as well as the surrounding lush landscape.

Since the concept of having a small living space in Australia is an uncommon one, Macarounas ensured that the home would be clutter-free with a carefully planned layout and ingenious concealed storage spaces throughout. Design touches such as a smoked mirror grants the illusion of space. The end result is a compact yet comfortable base for when the couple is home in Sydney — a far cry from the penthouse's beginnings.

Text / Leanne Mirandilla
Images / Prue Ruscoe