A small, coast-side rental apartment is framed internally by timber units, rationalising its skewed plan through an internal perimeter of custom cabinetry and an anchoring granite centrepiece.

This intimate St Julian’s apartment acts as foil to local rental property standards and homogenised real estate jargon. The brief for its fit-out was to elevate an existing space through quality finishes and rational organisation. The apartment’s original layout was defined by angled walls and dead space. Its re-design sees a re-framing of the living area, with custom timber units bringing regularity to the plan and providing abundant storage within a modest footprint.

The apartment’s material palette is kept neutral, pairing timber cabinetry and floors with pale soft furnishings. Chevron flooring accentuates the new square layout, with a concealed TV and storage disappearing into uninterrupted geometry. In the centre of the kitchen, a richly veined granite island is a focal point, juxtaposing the uniformity of the surrounding timber. The island works as an axle within the space, directing users to the window and views on one side, and back towards a narrow hallway on the other.

This leads to a bedroom past a concealed bathroom, openable via a sliding door in the hallway. The hallway and bedroom walls are a peppery grey, contrasting with the bright main room ahead. This emphasises the axis between the two living zones – one open and light, the other muted and private. Back through the apartment’s entrance, a timber bench pairs with a smoky black table, reintroducing the play of light and dark that defines the entire interior space.