Gemini Duet By Alessandra Smith Design
Alessandra Smith Design reimagines a Hawthorn apartment through geometry and texture—creating interiors that honour the bond between twin sisters while also expressing their individuality.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos DYLAN JAMES Interior Decorator ALESSANDRA SMITH DESIGN Architect EWERT LEAF Editorial Styling ETHAN WAIRAU
‘I don’t see design as simply selecting beautiful furniture or finishes. For me, it is about building a narrative that captures who the client is, how they live, and what makes their story unique,’ says Alessandra Smith.
‘The Charlotte Swiden painting, serendipitously titled Duet captures the spirit of the home more than any other single element.’
The beige-and-chrome USM Haller console brings a precise, polished quality to the living space.
‘Texture became one of the most important design tools in Gemini Duet, especially because the apartment’s footprint is compact—by playing with contrasting surfaces, we could create depth and visual interest without overwhelming the rooms.’
n the living room, the Nina sofa by Jardan, upholstered in ochre boucle, sets the tone.
“I’ve always been drawn to geometry for the way it can quietly shape a space—it creates rhythm and flow without needing to lean on bold colour or heavy pattern. In this project, it became a kind of invisible thread tying everything together.”
A custom bedhead upholstered in Clarke & Clarke fabric becomes the room’s visual centrepiece, its raised velvet geometry creating subtle movement and tactility against a woven neutral ground.
A home in harmony—connected by a shared design language, while still allowing each space its own voice.
‘The apartment feels lived in, personal, and layered, because it grew out of a narrative that was deeply rooted in who the sisters are and how they inhabit their space.’
Bold geometry meets a muted, grounding palette, transforming the bedroom into a space that feels equally expressive and serene.
Named for the twin sisters who call it home, Gemini Duet is a Hawthorn apartment with interiors reimagined by Alessandra Smith Design as a study in duality, connection, and individuality.
The brief: two sisters (Sam and Amber), two rooms, two personalities, inspired a design language rooted in geometry, texture, and balance.
Gemini nods to their astrological sign and the dual nature of the project, while Duet speaks to their harmony and shared vision, anchored by Duet, a bold geometric painting by Charlotte Swiden that sets the emotional tone.
Geometry became a unifying thread throughout the interiors; from the scalloped edges of a two-toned rug and the curves of Jardan’s ochre boucle Nina sofa, to the raised velvet patterning of a custom bedhead, shapes repeat in subtle variations. ‘Geometry became a language of harmony and balance, without falling into the trap of making everything identical. Instead, it was about creating echoes rather than duplicates, so each space could have its own personality while still feeling part of the same story,’ shares Alessandra, principal designer at Alessandra Smith Design.
In the living space, sculptural forms meet warmth and tactility—the ochre boucle sofa is paired with a custom pale-blue timber side table by Zachary Frankel, while the vintage Pipistrello lamp and USM Haller console layer in timeless design references. A negative space in the rug’s pattern mirrors the diamond geometry of the bedhead in Sam’s bedroom, quietly linking the spaces.
Texture is used with equal precision. Smooth chrome meets the raw tactility of solid timber, and lustrous finishes play against matte surfaces. In the bedroom, raised velvet geometry on the bedhead is softened by a neutral palette, while striped burlwood bedside tables bring a playful clash that still aligns with the apartment’s geometric language.
Storytelling underpins the entire project. Alessandra sees design as ‘building a narrative that captures who the client is, how they live, and what makes their story unique.’ For the sisters, that meant a home that reflects both their shared connection and their distinct identities. Each choice, whether a design icon, a piece by a local maker, or a handcrafted ceramic, adds to that personal story.
At the heart of it all is Charlotte Swiden’s painting Duet. Positioned at the entrance, it introduces the themes of connection, individuality, and rhythm that carry through every room. Its forms echo in furniture, textiles, and even the smallest details, acting as the apartment’s visual and symbolic anchor.
The result is an interior that is cohesive yet layered—warm, refined, and deeply personal. A duet of harmony and individuality, captured in the language of geometry and texture.
