Balancing Built-in and Freestanding Furniture in a 50sqm/538sqft Bondi Beach Apartment
“I really love when furniture and architecture almost start to blend”, architect Brad Swartz began, elaborating, “Something we always think about is trying to find the right balance between what’s built in and what is freestanding furniture. The founder of Brad Swartz Architects was explaining this to Never Too Small on the occasion of our visit to one of their recent projects, Anywhere Apartment: a 50sqm/538sqft dwelling in a 1930s Art Deco–style building within Sydney’s Bondi Beach neighbourhood, home to celebrities and backpackers alike.
Swartz explained how he and his design team had two primary objectives for this space: first, to create a sense of spaciousness rather than merely maximising storage, and second, to curate a luxurious, earthy, and slightly beachy material palette. To kick off the transformation, the architects essentially gutted the apartment, which was characterised by its narrow corridors and small rooms. With the apartment primarily north-facing, however, Swartz felt that there was “no reason to radically rethink the floor plan”, meaning as they reimagined it, they kept all key functions in their prior spots.
An Open Kitchen with a Slide-out Dining Table
“One of the really nice things about this apartment is that, when you walk in, you just don’t feel contained. You immediately have space even though it’s not a huge apartment”, Swartz explained. And he’s right; there’s a definite sense of spaciousness and openness from the moment of entry. The layout begins with the kitchen, designed to feel less like a conventional cooking area and more like an integral part of the living space. The built-in kitchen island, for example, was designed to be functional and aesthetic in equal measure; a balance made most apparent by its material combination of stainless steel – known for its durability – and travertine, which adds warmth and visual appeal.
The kitchen itself is fully equipped with two under-bench fridges, a laundry machine, oven, and cooktop and even features clever add ons like a dining table that slides out from the kitchen island to accommodate up to four dinner guests. A near perfect example of Swartz’s love for furniture and architecture that almost blend into one. Swartz, however, also believes that too much of a good thing is possible, which, in this instance, materialises in the adjacent living room, free from any built in furniture. “[Leaving spaces open] really provides longevity for a project, both in terms of flexibility for current our clients as well as any future occupant of the apartment”, he explained, noting that it also lets a space develop character.
“We’re not just thinking about how to cram as much stuff in as possible”
With tiles flooring underfoot (selected for their practicality, making cleanup after sandy days a breeze), a wall-mounted sandcast bronze light draws you through into the bedroom. You pass through a corridor, which was actually narrowed, intentionally, to add some additional depth to the built-in storage for hiding all those things that “people want to pretend aren’t in small apartments”, as Swartz put it. The luxurious, calming feeling is continued by minimal decor and an inviting view of a frangipani tree. In fact, everywhere you turn in this apartment – whether the living room, bathroom, or second bedroom – it is palpable how Swartz and team materialised their dreams of a roomy, elevated, but subtly beachy home.
“The thing that we loved about this apartment”, he explained, “was that it was a real exercise in quality over quantity – something we think is really important in all building work. What we’re building, from a sustainability point of view, should be able to last the test of time”. He expanded on this philosophy, describing his team’s approach small space design more broadly: “We’re not just thinking about how to cram as much stuff in as possible, but we’re always thinking about finding the right balance between storage for what you need and flexibility of the space and the sense of space beyond that”.
