The striking apartment where Felix Forest, his wife, Edwina, and their two-year-old daughter live has a calm, peaceful interior, which strikes a happy balance between elegant classicism and a more contemporary aesthetic – though that might soon change as the couple are expecting their second child.
Felix is a photographer who specialises in architecture and interiors, while Edwina runs her own women’s fashion brand, Aje. Their light and spacious home is based in an art deco building in the historic Harbourside suburb of Elizabeth Bay in Sydney. The area is a buzzy development along the water’s edge and is filled with laidback cafés and restaurants, tree-lined streets and beautiful parks.
The striking architectural styling of the landmark building immediately captured the couple’s attention when they first saw it. “The apartment is housed in one of the three oldest art deco buildings in the area,” says Felix. “It was built in 1917. We actually bought two adjacent flats, over a five-year period, and eventually amalgamated them into one large home. Of course, the project took a long time, but we immediately fell under the charm of the early art deco styling with its sense of scale, the ornate mouldings, the huge bay windows and its relationship to natural light.”
There had been some poor renovations carried out over the years, so the couple stripped everything back and restored the original charm of the apartment – while also creating a safe and functional home for their young family. The idea was to create an airy space with a white and bright canvas on which their art, antiques and furniture could be displayed, while at the same time making it an inviting home. They have long had a passion for abstract art and midcentury furniture in particular, most of it found in flea markets all over the world, and the scale of the apartment with its 3m-high ceilings, dark floorboards and large bay windows, is the perfect backdrop.
“We wanted to preserve the integrity of the unique design features of the art deco era, while also ensuring it had a contemporary sensitivity. The kitchen, the bathrooms and the sun rooms are the areas we spent the most time renovating,” says Felix. “However, joining the two apartments via that one large-scale, central arch was definitely pretty involved and very messy.”
The views from the huge windows make the space even more fascinating. It overlooks a row of 1890s Victorian terraces and, because it is elevated, the view is not impeded so you can see only the rooftops and chimneys. “It’s very reminiscent of a Parisian view,” he says, before adding, “I am French.”
They chose a flat finish for the paint throughout the apartment. In the main living area, the white kidney sofa is Italian and from the 1950s. It sits opposite a brown Soriana sofa, designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa. The chair next to the artwork is a small 1950s piece in the style of Alexandre Noll. The shelf is Staccato by Atelier O from Anibou.
One of Felix’s favourite places in the house is the study, just off the main living area. “The walls are finished in clay and it really exudes simple sophistication, a sort of warm austerity,” he says. The desk and the cabinet that stands behind it are both designed by Gunni Omann for Omann Jun, while the table lamp is the iconic Lampe Tripod by Serge Mouille. The pieces on the cabinet include family heirlooms, recent purchases from artists and finds from markets.
Felix loves cooking, so the kitchen is one of his favourite places to spend time. Here the cabinetry is walnut crown veneer from Winchester Interiors. There is also a custom-designed, eat-in nook where the leather banquette seat is by Edwin at Atelier Furniture.
The main bedroom, which faces east for the morning light, has a bed by Gervasoni from Anibou, while the rug was designed by Felix and Edwina, then custom made by Fyber.
While Felix finds it hard to choose between the kitchen and the study as his favourite rooms, there is only one place for Edwina: “We poured a lot of love into the bathroom – my wife loves to bathe,” he laughs.