Crane in the Sky Sydney Penthouse by YSG Studio

The long corridor leading to rooms from the foyer crowded with decorative timber columns was opened to permit waterfront views from the now integrated.

The original kitchen was fully enclosed. A stacked emerald marble counter now demarcates its boundary enabling views of the harbour and immediacy with people in the living area. A splash of vibrant candy pinks via Vola kitchen tapware ads an unexpected touch.

Tangy living area shades – predominantly salmon, plum and tangerine dotted with varying depths of marine blue – are anchored by stronger tones in the adjoining rooms.

Candy-striped glass ‘beach balls’ by Established & Sons levitate above the B&B Italia Tobi Ishi dining table, their vertical stripes enabling tonal absorption within the Aboriginal painting hanging behind.

B&B Italia Tobi Ishi dining table and cartoon-like chairs by Poltrona Frau, plus the amoebic Capellini Orla lounge in the living room define zones with ease, avoiding the jarring and spatial dividing effects of angular forms.

Crane in the Sky, a single level penthouse apartment located on the Finger Wharves of Sydney’s Walsh Bay has undergone a complete refurbishment led by YSG Studio. A tired, corporate atmosphere of the original 90s Mirvac apartment has been replaced with a new layout and bold injections of colour and pattern along with the client’s own collection of art pieces. With a strict brief to avoid beige or white furniture, YSG Studio have created an irresistible interior that proves playful choices can play along nicely within sophisticated interiors. A classic YSG approach.

The tight, angular rooms of the existing apartment were replaced with light-filled flowing spaces that bring an expansive feeling to the scheme. Obtrusive walls were removed in the master bedroom, the kitchen and the entrance to create a more open-plan feel while capitalising on the million-dollar views.

Dramatically veined marble elements reveal a new organic order within where stacked and curved edges introduce undulating rhythms. A sculptural fireplace plinth in Viola stone sits delicately upon two sculptured legs.

The client’s desk – the only original piece of furniture retained for the project – with its glass surface and concave legs comprising mirrored inlays contributes a sophisticated yet inconspicuous presence within the confines of this small study. Olive green ceiling creates a sense of drama.

In the bedroom, a shell-like plaster Plafoniere light in the style of Jean Charles Moreux floats like a cloud (see image gallery). Surrounding this space, curtains and a custom integrated upholstered bedhead with side panels in a textured hand-embroidered Pierre Frey fabric inject the room with multi-cultural references.

The original interior was dark and dated “all grey walls, joinery and carpets, plus red feature walls,” says Yasmine Ghoniem. “To reconnect it to the harbourside, the base palette was flipped to a muted, light and airy neutral shell.” Neutral limestone floors and pitted travertine bathrooms and textured Marmorino polished plaster walls act as the perfect base that allows playful injections of visual interest and vivacious energy – cue jewel-toned marble and arresting hand-embroidered Pierre Frey curtains.

Ghoniem explains that the living room unfolds with a “circus-like mood… conveyed with equal parts whimsy and elegant strength”. Established & Sons candy-striped beach-ball-like pendants in the dining room sit in perfect harmony with the Aboriginal painting hanging behind, and the deliciously deep red carpet seen in the adjacent living area. A moment where, despite their differences, a collection of colours, textures, furnishings and art pieces combine to create an atmosphere full of life.

A large dividing wall set immediately within the entrance inhibited any water views in the master bedroom. Now the harbour engages the eye upon entry. Cavities located beside the pillows in the custom integrated bedhead/bedside unit provide space to conceal smart devices resting upon charging stones, removing all surface traces of digital distractions. The bedside unit features horn handles with animated Macassa veneer detailing. Swirly Viola stone surfaces add an exotic flair.

The master bedroom features walnut timber cabinetry, cherry timber Taliesin 1 floor lamp by Frank Lloyd Wright, custom-designed Tappeti rug with floral motifs echoed in the golden silk bed throw, and a seductive, hand-painted ceiling inspired by ancient Chinese folding screens.

This amazing room stands with a distinctively different voice to the lighter, neutral-toned living spaces, bringing a sense of drama and an unexpected visual point of departure.

The bar’s smoked bronzed mirror visually amplifies the dimensions of the living area while bouncing natural light throughout. Most importantly, it reflects the hero view.

Elsewhere, spaces flow into one another, harsh junctions and strictly defined areas nowhere in sight. Furniture choices further support this idea with soft, rounded shapes providing a subtle distinction between rooms without jarring spatial divisions or angular furniture.

Ghoniem describes the hero of the apartment as the smoked bronzed mirror within the bar that bounces natural light across the space. Not only does it seemingly expand the extent of the living area, it also glorifies the ritual of pouring a drink after work – something that was very important to the client. We’ll drink to that!