The old Sydney harbour apartment transformed for 21st-century living
The home
An apartment in a 1930s art deco block in Elizabeth Bay, in Sydney's inner east. Originally, it had three small bedrooms along a hallway leading to a living area with a view of Sydney harbour through a small window.
Now it's been reconfigured, glass doors flood the apartment with light and sea breezes. The entire block has added new balconies.
Who lives here
John Bechini, owner of Italian furniture and lighting showroom VBO Australia, and his partner, hairdresser Victor Marques.
What we did
"I chopped the middle bedroom in two – one half became a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite for our bedroom, the other half a home office," says John. "Two of its walls are sliding screens which allows me to see the view from my office."
Favourite room
"The living room. It's nice sometimes to lie on the sofa and just listen to the water."
The 'hood
"It has a nice community feel. On a Saturday morning, everyone is out walking the streets and it's very social."
Best advice
"Create a space that works for your lifestyle. We entertain a lot, and so we've created a kitchen where we can cook up a feast but where everything can then get hidden away and it acts like a bar."