Mirror Image

An ongoing relationship between interior designer and developer has the power to open a creative dialogue built on trust that allows something truly special to blossom. The Mirror Image residence in Sydney’s Dover Heights is a case in point. The fourth collaboration between Shona McElroy, founder of SMAC Studio, and a pair of Sydney-based developers, the interior is an intriguing play of complex spaces, colour and detail that takes cues from hospitality design. Our brief was something timeless, but not traditional,” says McElroy. “We wanted to create a home that was unique and designer, with hotel-esque and New York threads, whilst still sitting in the Australian market – and materials are one of the most important elements in changing our experience of a space.” To this end, the team at SMAC Studio embraced a palette of soft neutrals, seafoam blue, bold turquoise quartzite, bronze details, and rich brown timbers. This palette was underpinned by Tongue & Groove solid European oak boards in Otta, which were set out in a contemporary chevron pattern with a straight 90mm border. “This layout gave a beautifully polished look to the overall space,” says McEroy. Mirrors are used across the two-storey home to reflect natural light – an important consideration as the home is one half of a duplex – and visually maximise the feeling of space. The luxurious colourway of the Tongue & Groove boards combines dark pewter and rich brown undertones that work to ground the visually lighter elements and imbue the interior with a sense of warmth. “Slightly classic in tone and format the Otto Chevron was the perfect balance for the project,” explains McElroy. “It gives a real solidity and high-end aesthetic to the interior and the timber has a depth of colour and richness. It’s such a beautiful material.”