Beechside Apartment in Freshwater, Sydney by Olivia Bossy.

Sydney designer Olivia Bossy has applied a minimalist but tactical approach to the renovation of a tiny 51 square metre apartment in Freshwater. One of the most obvious challenges in reconfiguring a small space is how to make it feel larger by paring it back, but at the same time, not being so ultra-minimalist that the space lacks soul.

“The Freshwater project was an exercise in streamlining existence, living small but not at the cost of a beautiful and functional space,” said Bossy.

With an emphasis on materials and their repetition, Bossy has created tactile dimensions by using natural materials, layered to deliver a soft, calming interior. In order to create a sense of flow and a feeling of space she went about the process of knocking down walls, reconfiguring rooms and redesigning the layout of the kitchen and bathroom, resplendent with its bent reeded glass shower. A unifying floor finish of neutral toned tiles runs throughout the apartment, giving the rooms a continuous flow.

It is often the details that make a small space, or any space for that matter, sing. Here, it is the built-in Marrakesh plaster seating within an integrated planter. This creates an unusually strong presence and functionality within a tiny footprint.

Bossy designs all her own pieces and has them made by master artisans – this approach is evident throughout the Freshwater apartment. The Roll on Bed and Stump Desk are both designed by Olivia, as is the custom rattan and oak joinery.

“A playful, sometimes awkward aesthetic runs through each piece. They sit in the room as functional installations,” says Bossy.

It can be difficult to achieve a layered result in a small space. But Bossy’s natural proclivity to experiment with processes and materials has made it seem effortless. Her work is layered and tactile with a clear and timeless aesthetic. Her found objects or ones handcrafted for this interior are functional, durable and sculptural and sit within the room almost as functional art installations.

[Images courtesy of Olivia Bossy. Photography by Tom Ross.]