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Modernising a classic Newtown terrace interior

This classic Newtown terrace house received an injection of modernity in a joint project between Studio aem and Studio Gestalt. We were engaged to consult on decoration, furniture and feature lighting, to maximise the small spaces and traditional layout and unify the home as a stylish retreat from bustling Sydney life.

The neutral base of oak floors and black and white joinery formed the ideal canvas to build on, through the use of texture, layering and pops of colour. Versatile large pieces were paired with daring and unique soft furnishings and decorative objects to evoke personality, fun and contrast in the home.

Throughout the property aesthetic practicality dominates, with clean, minimalist lines allowing feature lighting, provocative artworks and intriguing sculptures to take centre stage. Contrast is achieved through the delicate balance of colour and texture, functional and beautiful, and old and new, as evidenced in the living room, where a cool stone coffee table is juxtaposed against the luxurious, plush sofa.

With plenty of talking points to enliven both homeowner and guest, including a custom timber entertainment unit and bold smaller pieces, the result is a modern, working home which retains its classical charm while still challenging and delighting through intelligent design.

Photography: Brigid Arnott

Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace
Juxtapose Terrace

Professionals used in
Juxtapose Terrace

About the
Professional

Studio aem is a Sydney-based interior design studio, offering a full suite of design services from architectural review, joinery design as well as finish and material specification through to lighting design, window treatment design, furniture and fitting specification, styling and art curation.

With sixteen years’ experience, Director Alexandra Mason has worked on design projects of all shapes, sizes and styles, including high-end residential interior design, boutique multi-residential developments, renovations, furniture design, retail and commercial projects.

She has an innate sense of style and a passion for architecture, interiors, design and art, and sees her role as a spiritual calling rather than merely a career. Through the consultation process Alex gets to know her clients on an intimate level, enabling her to create designs which tell their story and express their personality.

Alex believes our homes allow us to bare our souls to the world through the careful curation of interiors, in a way we might not feel free to do in other areas of our lives. Through her brave and playful approach, tempered with carefully-considered nuance, Alex creates provocative and whimsical, yet refined, designs, and helps her clients weave their hearts into the very fabric of their homes.