LIVING LITTLE

What this compact 38-square-metre home lacks in size, it makes up for in style — everything has a place and a purpose

Who lives here Michael O’Brien and his partner, Kerry Fyfe, both architects. Style of home A one-bedroom apartment in a 1970s concrete block designed by Harry Seidler, close to the water at Sydney’s Potts Point. Six weeks in total for the demolition and rebuild. $40,000 for the project, not including loose furniture.

Many couples downsize when their children leave home, but partners Michael O’Brien and Kerry Fyfe have taken the idea of simplifying their home to an extreme. When their respective children left the nest, the couple decided to look for a small Sydney apartment. “We both had family houses, but I think you need less as you get older,” says Michael. “It’s ‘unencumbering’ to have fewer things around you.”

Although the pair still owns another property, three years ago they discovered this tiny 38-square-metre space. They were drawn to its provenance as a Harry Seidler design as well as its convenience – in a quiet part of Potts Point from which they could walk to work and enjoy the perks of the area’s busy social scene without a car. The apartment was “only just liveable”, but the challenge of turning it into a functional and beautiful place to live was too great to resist.

“The bedroom was oversized, which meant the living/dining room was way too small, so we decided to gut the whole apartment,” says Michael. “All the partitions were non-structural and we ended up with a concrete shell, which has meant we can make the space work more efficiently.” The main issue was making the space feel bigger while allowing for flexibility. “We came up with the idea of a moveable wardrobe and bed, as well as fold-up bedside tables,” says Michael. “When there’s only one of us there, we push the wardrobe back against the bed, so the room is the size of the bed only. When we’re both there, we move the wall and the bed out so we can circulate easily. We’ve had 15 people over at one time, too – then we just push the wall back, jam the bed in the corner and it’s a party space.”

Bespoke plywood joinery by James Lee-Warner is a strong element of the apartment. “Plywood has a simple aesthetic that lends itself to pared-back spaces,” says Kerry. “The beauty and warmth of the timber provides a softness to rooms that are otherwise concrete, white and minimal. It’s a delicate yet robust material.” And as the apartment is so small, keeping it light was essential. “The wall between the kitchen and living area would have given us more storage space if it was solid, but we deliberately kept it open to let the light through,” she says.

The kitchen itself is just 1.8m x 2.1m. “We used every bit of space,” says Michael. “There’s a hot-water unit under the sink, rubbish and recycling bins in a cupboard, and a combination oven and fridge under the bench, which means there are no cupboards or appliances blocking light from overhead. We used every bit of volume we could; the side cupboard is only 100ml deep, but just enough for glassware.”

Lack of space meant lighting was another important consideration. “There are LED strips behind the panelling in the living room and behind the kitchen splashback. These stay hidden and don’t clutter up the room.” The pendant light over the dining table is an original 1970s lamp. “For six months I saw it sitting in the foreman’s office at a job I was working on, until one day I figured it was going to be thrown away so I might as well bring it home,” says Michael. “It fits perfectly.”

The colour scheme was also carefully considered. “We were careful to make the palette timeless, so it doesn’t shout at us and we don’t tire of it,” says Kerry. They decided on warmer colours around the kitchen, which becomes more relaxed and low-key as you get to the bedroom, with the bathroom door a striking plum colour (as it was renovated 10 years earlier, this was the only room that wasn’t gutted).

After just six weeks of hands-on hard work, the apartment is everything Michael and Kerry wanted it to be. “It has flexibility, and suits our lifestyle,” says Kerry. “Living in a small space means you need order. We have order and balance in a space that is totally relaxed.”

James Lee-Warner Furniture can be contacted on 0413 143 281.

“I love the finishes and materials but living here is about experiences. At the end of the day we pour a glass of wine and meet in the kitchen to prepare dinner. The small hob is enough for us”

KERRY FYFE, HOMEOWNER

“In the mornings the sun streams in across the concrete floor. This room has a quietness we love”

MICHAEL O’BRIEN, HOMEOWNER

KITCHEN (this page and opposite) “This is my favourite room,” says Kerry. The cabinetry is MDF with a satin finish and the benchtop is a white laminate. Seed vase, Jardan. Bowls, The Potter x The Clay. Rhom trivet, Hay. Bowls and highball glasses on shelf (next to Michael), Country Road.

LIVING/DINING “The sofa is 2m long but doesn’t feel too big,” says Michael. “I made the dining and coffee tables. They are deliberately asymmetrical as everything else in the apartment has 90-degree angles. I’d planned to make round ones, but because there’s usually only two of us sitting at them, this shape means we can sit on the two long sides.” Bobby throw, Jardan.

bright idea Michael and Kerry’s apartment features a fold-up beside table and moving wardrobe and bed so they can reduce the size of the bedroom to create more room in the adjacent living area. Both pieces of furniture are on sliders and can be rolled 90o with a gentle push. That sort of flexibility is gold.

1 Entry 2 Bedroom 3 Bathroom 4 Living area 5 Dining area 6 Kitchen