“Rethink and rezone”
the Panel’s advice
Andrew Architect Bennand director, Benn + Penna Architecture, bennandpenna.com
Evangeline and Ray have permission to put a shade ‘ceiling’ on the balcony. This is great news, as strata rules tend to be pretty strict about anything that can be seen from the outside. It gives them the chance to make better use of the outdoor space, which is large in the context of the floorplan. Internal walls tend to be lightweight in new developments like this one, so moving them isn’t generally a concern for strata as it doesn’t impact on neighbouring apartments – we could empty out the flat to create a better floorplan. If we put in stackable doors to connect to the outside, the apartment would seem twice as big. In the kitchen, I’d take out the dividing wall to the hallway and replace it with a counter. Wayd Munro Builder, Focusbuild, focusbuild.com.au
Ceiling height here is an issue. It’s not as low as some places I’ve seen but if Evangeline wants the place to feel more spacious, I’d suggest foregoing the extra 100mm that’s there for the downlights and raising the ceiling. She could then put in LED lighting around the perimeter and have pendant lamps for ambient lighting. The area that now serves as a playroom/spare bedroom when the grandparents stay has really wide doors that swing inwards, rendering most of the floor space unusable. I’d suggest putting in a sliding door that would immediately free up more space. Or we could reduce the size of the doorway to fit a standard door with frosted safety glass to let in the light, which would give the room privacy when required. Lisa Koehler ISCD educator, stylist and interior decorator
Evangeline is keen to get rid of the carpet and unifying the flooring will definitely make for a better flow throughout the apartment, adding to the illusion of space in a small home. It’s important to zone each area so it does not feel like one room; for example grounding the sofa with a rug to show where the living room is, and placing a pendant light over the dining table. At the moment, the kitchen morphs into the living space because the dining table leaves no negative space, creating a feeling of clutter. I’d suggest a round or oval table that can extend when needed. And it’s a small thing but floor-toceiling block-out curtains take up way too much floor space! Blinds would be visually neater as they disappear when not in use.