In the covetable Sydney suburb of Rushcutter’s Bay, this apartment in the heritage-listed ‘The Mark’ building combines art deco charms with a distinctly Parisian feel. Designed by local studio Arnold Lane, the apartment reflects both the owners’ commitment to the art deco foundations of the space and a sympathetic modern renovation – a perfect marriage of client desires and project outcomes.

DESIGN Arnold Lane PHOTOGRAPHY Nicole England

Having searched for three years to find a classic New York style art deco apartment, the owners were understandably taken with The Mark’s high ceilings and grand proportions. True to its elegant beginnings, the building has continued to maintain a heritage sensibility, so the design brief was to retain the apartment’s original character in the renovation, while better linking the spaces and maximising natural light.

To repurpose the apartment for modern-day living, Arnold Lane reconfigured the original layout of the apartment, amalgamating two smaller rooms to create the light-filled, large kitchen area, while windows were reconfigured to better fit the open living spaces and glass french doors added to segment the dining and kitchen spaces. Along with the all-white interiors, these elements lay the foundation for a sophisticated art deco aesthetic.

The monochrome palette was requested to act as a backdrop for the client’s collection of antique and midcentury modern furniture, while the palette itself is designed to evolve with future art or furniture acquisitions to add colour. Rather than simply rely on plain white walls, Arnold Lane have leaned in to the classic style of the apartment by adding new architectural panelling, plaster moulding and traditional details such as a fireplace to add dynamic and texture throughout the formal areas of the living and dining room. Meanwhile, the kitchen and bathroom take on a more contemporary interpretation of the art deco aesthetic, characterised by crisp white subway tiles and polished countertops and modern appliances.

Uniting an art deco heart with the amenities and natural light of a modern home, this is an apartment that is sure to evoke Parisian sophistication even in the middle of a hot Sydney summer.