Chromatica By Arent & Pyke
Arent & Pyke take an off-the-plan apartment and give it warmth and character through Art Deco influences and a rich palette of colour and materiality – shaping a home that feels anything but new.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Interior Design ARENT & PYKE Photos ANSON SMART Photo Stylist JACK MILENKOVIC
Custom dining table by Arent & Pyke in American White Oak, Custom banquette seat by Arent & Pyke in Pierre Frey ‘Palladio’ fabric, Custom cushions by Arent & Pyke in Zimmer + Rohde Chapan fabric, Artwork: Background To A Torso 2 2023 by Mark Maurangi Carrol from Nasha Gallery, Eclipse wall sconces from Nook.
Artwork: Background To A Torso 2 by Mark Maurangi Carrol from Nasha Gallery, Eclipse wall sconces from Nook, Vintage Cermanic Vase from 506070 Shop, Edra sofa from Space Furniture, Artifort Suit dining chair from Ke-Zu.
Venetian plaster walls, skirting and ceiling, Custom dining table by Arent & Pyke in American White Oak, Custom TV unit by Arent & Pyke in walnut burl and polyurethane with Verde Antigua stone top, Artwork: Horny Jail 2023 by Mark Maurangi Carrol from Nasha Gallery, Vinatge Cermanic vase on dining table from 506070 Shop, Daphine Terra floor lamp from Lumina, Artifort Suit dining chair from Ke-Zu, Edra sofa from Space Furniture, &Tradition swivel armchair,Rueber Henning rug from Halcyon Lake, Daphine Terra floor lamp from Lumina.
Artwork: Horny Jail 2023 by Mark Maurangi Carrol from Nasha Gallery.
Window treatments in Dedar ‘Wide Linen Mèche’ in Marbled Shell.
“We avoided cluttering walls with tall and bulky cupboards, pairing traditional Art Deco and contemporary materials into streamlined structures for two key joinery units.”
Custom wine cabinet/bar by Arent & Pyke in walnut burl and polyurethane with Verde Antigua stone top, Eclipse wall sconces from Nook.
Custom wine cabinet/bar by Arent & Pyke in walnut burl and polyurethane with Verde Antigua stone top, Ceramic vase from Planet, Recycled glass bowl by Daniel Barbera.
Artwork: Untitled Composition 2022 by Oscar Nimmo from Nasha Gallery, Daphine Terra floor lamp from Lumina, Edra sofa from Space Furniture, Venetian plaster walls, skirting and ceiling.
Edra sofa from Space Furniture, &Tradition swivel armchair, De La Espada Twenty-Five coffee table from Spence & Lyda, Daphine Terra floor lamp from Lumina, Custom TV unit by Arent & Pyke in walnut burl and polyurethane with Verde Antigua stone top.
Artwork: Composition 13 2024 by Oscar Nimmo from Nasha Gallery, Custom bedside table by Arent & Pyke in Poplar Burl, Vintage table lamp from 506070 Shop, Custom bedhead by Arent & Pyke in Zimmer + Rohde ‘Kantha’ fabric.
Artwork: Composition 13 2024 by Oscar Nimmo from Nasha Gallery, Custom bedside table by Arent & Pykein Poplar Burl, Vintage table lamp from 506070 Shop, Custom bedhead by Arent & Pyke in Zimmer + Rohde ‘Kantha’ fabric, Cermaic vase by Steve Lees from Craft Victoria, Bedding and throw by Society Limonta from Ondene Double Bay, Wall paint in Dulux ‘Bongo Drum’.
Chromatica by Arent & Pyke is set within a three-bedroom apartment in Elizabeth Bay, where colour, material and proportion are used to shape the interior.
'Our clients were eager to customise their newly acquired home purchased off the plan, transforming it into an elegant sanctuary with cosy appeal. Located within a premium new residential build in Elizabeth Bay, it pays homage to the area's grand Art Deco architecture with lavish materials and detailed finishes,' shares Arent & Pyke.
Positioned above the street with consistent northern light, the apartment is defined early through its surfaces. Walls and ceilings are treated as one, finished in Marmorino plaster that shifts subtly across the day. The approach softens the presence of natural light and removes the starkness often associated with new builds, creating a more cohesive backdrop for the interior.
'To absorb this solar drenching and in response to the kitchen's dark intensity, furnishings feature base notes of emerald, sapphire, ruby, carnelian and deep amethyst. Prioritising comfort and practicality while maximising a sense of space, we limited key pieces to oversized, sculpted blocks of colour with gently curved returns. Tactility was also a high consideration, so sumptuous fabrics abound, including a velveteen Edra sofa and custom chenille dining banquette,' says Arent & Pyke.
The main living space is organised through a series of fixed and built-in elements. A dining banquette runs along one side, extending the functionality of the room and offering an alternative place to sit beyond the living area. Opposite, low joinery and shelving maintain open sightlines, keeping the room visually clear while integrating storage.
Colour is introduced with control and intention. Deep greens, blues and reds appear across key furniture pieces, anchoring the space without dominating it. A custom dining table designed by Arent & Pyke sits against the banquette, its form restrained, with lacquered legs providing a point of contrast.
Material selection is consistent across the apartment. Timber, stone and textiles are chosen for their durability and tactile qualities, rather than surface effect alone. An oversized wool and silk rug grounds the lounge area, its lustrous, shifting tones a quiet nod to the gold-leaf paintings of Gustav Klimt.
The master bedroom shifts to a softer palette, with caramel-toned Poplar Burl formed into streamlined bedside tables. A patchworked bedhead introduces lilac and terracotta Ikat, while bolder iterations reappear across the dining banquette to link the spaces.
Across Chromatica, restraint proves the most expressive tool of all – each decision in colour, material and form quietly compounding into an interior that feels considered, complete and entirely lived-in.
Location: Elizabeth Bay, Sydney
Interiors: Arent & Pyke
Photography: Anson Smart
