Sydney Apartment | Conscious Living

Blending sustainable, vegan design principles with luxury elements, this apartment epitomises ethical residential interior design. A mixed palette of warm and cool finishes creates a gentle complexity, elevating the experience from an off-the-plan apartment into a personalised retreat. This carefully curated space marked a new beginning for our client and continues to delight.

“I want to feel like I’m living in a hotel” was a clear brief from our client who was downsizing from a larger family home. Our approach to the decoration was twofold: retain the strong geometry of the base build and then layer texture, tone and detail to create a refined, lived-in luxury. Wallpapers, decorative lighting and soft furnishings introduce both warm and cool notes; artwork and styling elements personalise the rooms without overwhelming the architecture.

The resulting scheme is pared-back yet richly considered. Natural, sustainably sourced materials and vegan finishes provide tactile warmth—soft, durable upholstery, engineered timbers and recycled-metal fixtures—while cooler surfaces and subtle colour accents bring balance and modernity. Thoughtful editing of the client’s existing pieces allowed meaningful possessions to remain, while surplus items were gently removed, reshaping her story to suit this new life phase.

Every decision prioritised longevity and low environmental impact: durable finishes for reduced future waste, ethically produced textiles, and energy-efficient lighting selected for both performance and ambience. The overall effect is a calm, hotel-like sanctuary that feels curated rather than staged.

Client Testimonial “Looking around and sighing at how beautiful my home is! Thank you for doing such a beautiful job!”

Sydney Apartment is situated on Gadigal Land
Interior Design: Alena Smith Interior Design
Architecture: Smart Design Studio
Photography: Prue Ruscoe
Styling: Alexandra Gordon