Finished and considered
As an interior team leader at Smart Design Studio, Alena Smith creates beautiful, inviting spaces for living.
When interior architect Alena Smith was working in London, she realised that limitations of architecture often arise when designing spaces in historical buildings. Moving back to Australia, she was pleasantly surprised by the level of flexibility a designer could have. Coupled with an unmatched climate and plenty of design savvy clients, she believes that Australia offers a great opportunity for architecture and interiors to unite in design.
Completing a degree in architecture before honing in on interiors, Alena advocates that interior design should not be approached as a secondary factor. “For me, the interiors are a continuation of the architecture,” she says.
As an interior team lead, Alena aligns herself with Smart Design Studio’s unique approach to interior design. Collectively, the studio works to get the planning perfect, revising frequently to ensure a strong foundation before fine-tuning the details. “Whilst this approach takes time, it means that when projects are built, they feel finished, dressed, and have a sense of longevity.”
When working on kitchen and bathroom spaces, Alena is determined to make it the best experience it can be. “Both kitchens and bathrooms have evolved over many years from being utilitarian spaces, where the emphasis is on ergonomics. Now we have arrived at a cross path between luxury and intuitive spaces,” says Alena.
“Once you get the fundamentals right like an excellent plan, quality materials and good lighting, design can expand to accommodate for different personalities.”
In the years to come, Alena explains that she looks forward to designing beautiful spaces that seamlessly integrate sustainable practices and the latest technology.
Differing from kitchens in the western world, Asian kitchens often feature a classic charm with simple lines and a soft elegance that works to preserve cultural traditions that have been passed on from generations.
Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, architecture practice rear studio harnesses design in a way that maintains privacy in the kitchen, but conveys the spirit of a modern user. Opening up to more than one common area within the house, the spatial configuration of the kitchen also caters for connectivity and conversation between family members.
Subtly juxtaposing with the rectangular form of the houses’ four walls and floor plan, rear studio designs the formal entryway within YT House as a circular structure, repeating. The circular block that houses the kitchen and the bathroom also works as a central core of the residence and frees up the common spaces to reveal a light, open-plan design. Framing the kitchen are curved solid walls, but carving out a rectangular doorway in the centre creates a sense of symmetry, similar to the timber batten screens that frame the exterior of the house.
In YT House, the kitchen really is the heart of the home – as it creates an important link with other functional spaces.