A Contemporary Design for a Converted Warehouse in the Heart of Perth

Time for a Change

Young professionals Tim and Emma are the owners of this converted warehouse apartment in the heart of Perth. Previously part of a boot factory, the apartment is full of industrial character, featuring a loft-style interior with hardwood flooring and high ceilings.
As both of their careers required frequent travelling, the owners were often flying in and out of the city. And with all that moving around, they wanted to make their inner-city apartment a beautiful home to enjoy when back in Perth. 
For professional advice, they approached local Renovation Partner Jason Zielinski, who helped them explore their opportunities for renovating. Initially, Tim and Emma were focused on updating the kitchen; the cabinetry was dated, and there was no space for their fridge, which had been kept in the nearby laundry room. However, as they looked further into the possibilities, they decided to also renovate their laundry room and powder room, alongside making a couple of improvements to the lounge.

Overcoming Construction Challenges

As with every renovation, this one brought its unique challenges. As the apartment was part of a complex, the other residents needed to be considered. However, Tim and Emma forgot to let their strata manager know about the renovation, and construction happened to commence on the first day of lockdown – an unpleasant surprise for the residents working from home. This was apparent mid-way through the noisy process of ripping up tiles when a few residents popped their heads in to enquire about the noise. 
Jason quickly made sure that the strata manager was informed and purchased a case of wine to distribute throughout the building as an apology, which was well received. 
Jason and his renovation team also had to work around Tim and Emma’s busy schedules and COVID-19 restrictions, which required staggering when tradespeople were on-site. The renovation really put Jason’s project management skills to the test, but he embraced this challenge and managed everything seamlessly. 
Materials used in the apartment renovation include tiling from Tiles Expo, cabinets and benchtops from Top Shelf Cabinetry, a basin from nood co., and additional products from Harvey Norman Commercial.

Project Timeline and Cost

Due to the unforeseen lockdown, this Perth apartment renovation required an extended construction schedule. Fortunately, Jason was able to reduce the impact, so it was only a matter of extending the original timeline of 3.5 weeks to 5.5 weeks. 
Tim and Emma didn’t have a specific budget in mind, but they did have a clear idea of what materials, colours, and finishes they wanted. It was a design-focused project. Overall, the renovation totalled $59,323. 

The Contemporary Kitchen 

Bright, white, and minimalist, the renovated kitchen has a fantastically fresh face, making it a standout room within the apartment.
Glossy white cabinets with recessed handles make the base of the new kitchen and have been paired with a dark grey stone benchtop featuring a waterfall edge. For the overhead cabinets, the bulkhead installation creates a more seamless appearance for a clean design.
And just as Tim and Emma desired, the fridge now has a place in the kitchen. As the existing appliances were all made with stainless steel, the same finish has been used for the deep silver sink and tapware. And completing the contemporary kitchen, the white subway-tiled splashback and soft-grey floor tiling gently brighten the room with a neutral colour palette.

The Fresh Look Continues

The laundry and powder both continue the kitchen’s minimalistic style and cool-toned colour scheme, resulting in likewise refreshed appearances.
The soft-grey tiling, glossy white cabinets, and dark-grey benchtops have been used again and make for relaxing, cohesive interiors. But they’ve also made significant functional improvements. While the laundry room previously had little storage room and no bench space, the new cabinets and benchtop make the area much more practical to use.
Finally, the grey splashback made of stretched hexagonal tiles gives the laundry room a point of difference – but that’s not all it contributes. The neutral colour also matches the wall-mounted concrete basin in the adjoining powder room for a perfectly cohesive design. 
The basin is a gorgeous addition from nood co., a company that manufactures concrete sinks with an overarching focus on sustainability. It’s the understated focal point of the powder room. And with the same silver tapware as the kitchen and laundry, the style feels consistent.

Additional Apartment Improvements

The lounge has been updated with a stunning cement-look accent wall – keeping with the use of concrete materials. The wall’s colour gives dimension to the lounge’s otherwise white walls and nods to the building’s industrial beginnings.
Beneath the stairs, more glossy white cabinets have been installed and run floor to ceiling. This addition provides plentiful storage space, which the lounge had lacked, but also features statement shelving units with recessed lighting to show off what’s on display. 
The home’s electrical wiring was updated to incorporate this lighting. However, it was also updated to accommodate the kitchen appliances and allow relocation of the lounge’s TV, which has enabled a new furniture layout for a more functional space that flows better.

Final Thoughts

Tim and Emma are thrilled with their apartment’s renovation. Its interiors have been entirely freshened up with the contemporary design and neutral colour scheme they envisioned. The result of which is a bright and airy loft-style apartment that carries a hint of industrial flair. 

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