Anna Carin’s evocative c1920 apartment that honours its original period features

10/05/2024

Searching for a city apartment for the “third act” of her life interior designer Anna-Carin, principal of Anna.Carin, was focused on the desire for a space that would be serene, evocative and cosmopolitan. On first entering this 1920s corner apartment in Sydney’s Elizabeth Bay she was captivated by the vaulted windows and high ceilings and knew immediately that this was it.

Moving on after selling her family home, Anna-Carin could see how she could transform the apartment for herself and her partner Lance, a commercial film director and photographer, and their visiting adult children. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom space had undergone several renovations over the years “that didn’t enhance or emphasise the light and space. I pretty much knew what had to be done to heal it,” she says.

Anna-Carin likes to ascribe a theme song to each design project and for her own apartment it was Solid Air by John Martyn that represents grounding and solidity as well as the lightness of mood she wished to create in her home.

anna carin’s evocative c1920 apartment that honours its original period features

Walls throughout painted in custom Wattyl ‘Kelburn Grey’. Original leadlights have been preserved, acting as a counterpoint for the contemporary fit-out. In the corridor, Japanese vase from 506070. Rick Carlino artwork from M.Contemporary. ((Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin)|(Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin))

From the entry, a long corridor has doors to the main bedroom and second bedroom/study on the left with two bathrooms on the right. At the end of the corridor the wonderfully light and spacious sitting, dining and kitchen area is revealed.

In the living room, a Källemo sofa upholstered in Kvadrat ‘Pebble Wool’ is attended by a pair of vintage Cassina ‘LC1’ chairs from Hartley Antiques. USM ‘Haller’ cabinet from Anibou. ‘Loop Melange’ rug from Kasthall. Roman blinds by Fybre Furnishing Solutions in fabric from Unique Fabrics. Artwork by Michael Muir from Eva Breuer Gallery. Fireplace from Vauni Sweden. ((Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin)|(Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin))

With the leaves of the trees outside brushing against the windowpanes there is a sense of being surrounded by nature despite the urban bustle of the densely populated suburb. “I wanted a homogeneous tranquil space that would become a place for music, dinners, rest and play,” she says.

Kitchen cabinets by Polytec with a benchtop in Omega Black quartzite and island bench in Sareva quartzite both from Avant Stone by Galleria Pietra. Mirror front on island bench from Outlines Mirrors. Matiazzi timber stools from District. Pitt gas burner and Liebherr fridge/freezer, all from Winning Appliances. Pendant light over kitchen bench from Inlite. Black-and-white canvas by Suzanna Vangelov from M.Contemporary ((Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin)|(Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin))

Removing some walls gave her the openness she wished for, though she retained all the windows and solid timber internal doors (some with leadlights), the skirting boards and architraves. “I wanted to heal the spaces and leave as much as possible that was original, yet instil a sense of today.”

The living room has a Källemo sofa upholstered in Kvadrat ‘Pebble Wool’. Mattiazzi timber stool from District. &Tradition ‘Flowerpot’ table lamp from Cult. ((Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin)|(Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin))

To further personalise the space Anna-Carin designed a custom colour with Wattyl ‘Kelburn Grey’ that was used throughout for walls, ceilings and joinery and provides a monochromatic background that nevertheless has a chameleon quality, changing with the light and time of day. “It’s sometimes blue, sometimes green and always warm and soothing,” she says.

In the bathroom, Aren Bianco wall and floor tiles from Onsite. Custom vanity by Polytec with benchtop in Sareva quartzite from Avant Stone by Galleria Pietra. Vola tapware from Candana. ((Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin)|(Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin))

The limestone in the bathrooms and the quartzite in the kitchen are in the same tonal family, as are the floorboards. Anna-Carin’s inspiration for the shade was the Vola grey tapware designed by Arne Jacobsen for the Bank of Denmark in 1968, and speaks to her Scandinavian heritage.

I n the entry, artworks include And now you can … by LARC from Anna.Carin (over door) and black-and-white portrait Self by David McNamara. (Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin)

While the rooms are already generously sized Anna-Carin used handmade mirrors from Outlines Mirrors in Melbourne to amplify the sense of space in strategic spots such as around the base of the kitchen island and at the end of a wall in the living room “to confuse an awkward corner”.

Vola tapware from Candana. V-Zug appliances. USM Haller system cabinet from Anibou in the living room under a photograph, Pedder 2 by Lance Kelleher from Anna-Carin. Vintage Cassina ‘LC1’ chair (one of a pair) from Hartley Antiques. Coffee table is a custom design using surplus quartzite from the kitchen bench. ((Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin)|(Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin))

Her furniture is a mix of pieces she already owned, including some brought from Sweden over 30 years ago, repurposed items found at vintage and antique stores and on Facebook Marketplace, and iconic designs such as the USM ‘Haller’ system cabinets.

The open-plan kitchen and dining area has a table found on Facebook Marketplace and vintage ‘J39’ chairs by Børge Mogensen under a LYFA ‘Peanut’ pendant light from Fred International. Mirror front on island bench from Outlines Mirrors. Window seat in a custom fabric from Arthur G. Mater counter stools from Cult. Kitchen cabinetry is by Polytec with a benchtop in Omega Black quartzite and island bench in Sareva quartzite both from Avant Stone and made by Galleria Pietra. Freestanding cabinet from Ikea. Flooring throughout is Cloud oak boards from Made by Storey. ((Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin)|(Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin))

Her favourite area of the home is the dining nook beside the kitchen. Furnished with a round table found on Facebook Marketplace and vintage Børge Mogensen chairs, the window seat set into an alcove offers space for extra guests. “I love a round table that can seat six to eight people comfortably, where one conversation can be had and everyone around the table feels safe and included,” she says.

“I love sitting there in the morning and looking at people walking their dogs, and I love it in the evening, seeing all the apartment windows and imagining what everyone is doing, and I love having family and friends around that table sharing food and stories.”

The main bedroom has a custom bedhead by Heatherly Design in fabric from The Textile Company. Oluce ‘Atollo’ table lamp from Euroluce. Custom ‘Envy’ rug from Fyber. ((Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin)|(Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin))

Svenskt Tenn ‘Stool 647’ by Josef Frank. Fritz Hansen ‘Swan’ chair and Cappellini ‘Flexi’ credenza from Cult. Sydney Ball print from Michelle Perry in the bedroom. ((Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin)|(Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin))

While the sizeable second bedroom has been given over to a study, furnished with a Svenskt Tenn table and a Systemtronic bookcase, the space is large enough to also be used as a music room where Anna-Carin and Lance can indulge their passion for playing and listening to music.

The study has a Systemtronic bookcase from Mobilia, a Svenskt Tenn ‘947’ table by Josef Frank used as a desk and vintage ‘J39’ chair by Børge Mogensen. ‘Pike’ rug from the Forsa collection by Anna-Carin for Designer Rugs. Flos ‘Chiara’ floor lamp and Oluce ‘Atollo’ table lamp, both from Euroluce. Pedder 1 by Lance Kelleher from Anna.Carin. ((Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin)|(Photography: Justin Alexander | Styling: Anna Carin))

An elegant selection of accessories including slender candlesticks and shapely vessels adorns shelves and surfaces in the apartment while on the walls, moody photographic works by Lance are a great counterpoint.

While an apartment renovation can often be fraught, Anna-Carin says the process was smooth – thanks to an efficient builder and understanding neighbours. The five months of planning was an important investment. “Spend time to sharpen the axe before you chop the tree,” she says.