A Capsule Apartment: Resetting our approach to styling our homes

April, 2019.

The idea of a ‘capsule’ collection/wardrobe/range is not new. Placing emphasis on material value and bringing into question the need vs want argument, we are now beginning to question the origin and integrity of our possessions more and more.

Some say that excess is our future. Our minds are constantly filled with negative information presented through the media via all our digital platforms as it has been proven that these stories are the ones that we retain. It harks back to self preservation and is a fundamental notion that media portals take advantage of to a huge degree.

Given this, we naturally attempt to sift through and filter the bad in search of the good (we are ultimately a silver lining kind of species) to exert a level of self control within our own immediate environments. Behind closed doors, the desire to regain a sense of positivity, clarity and personalisation is being reflected in the way we are living within our domestic spaces – our homes. 

An awareness of the origin, manufacture and materiality of our possessions has crept into our collective conscience as we begin to opt for singular pieces that assuage our consumer guilt, look great, and work harder to justify their elevated price tags.

We recently met Pete & Jude who downsized as empty-nesters from their large NEOMETRO™ designed family home, to a 2 bedroom apartment in inner Melbourne. Their new home provided the freedom for Pete and Jude to re-think their lifestyle needs and approach the interior styling of their home from an absolute beginning. They grabbed the opportunity with both hands and so began a process that started with them giving away ALL their previous furniture and styling objects (along with a huge chunk of their personal possessions) and culminated in the procurement of new pieces that singularly suited their new apartment life.

Working with a stylist, Pete & Jude’s home prioritised the following key styling elements;

1. A WALL MOUNTED LIGHT OF CLASSIC DESIGN.

Paolo Rizzatto’s 265 wall mounted light from Flos

Wall mounted lighting is a great space saving option to free up floor space introduce a functional element as they can extend over a living space where and when needed. They also don’t need to be hard wired, providing much needed versatility as they can be taken with you to subsequent homes and can be easily be used in a study, living room or bedroom.

2. A STATEMENT COUCH

Moroso sofa via Hub Furniture.

When purchasing a couch look for a piece that is classic in shape and prioritises comfort. Investing in a good quality couch gives the opportunity for reupholstering down the track. Choose a shape that isn’t specific to a room, go with a classic 3 seater so that it can fit into any space with an armchair or two. if you have a chaise it can be hard to make them fit in new spaces with the orientation of windows, location of walls etc.

3. NEST TABLES

‘Nest’ by Adam Goodrum via Cult.

Nest tables are a great furniture item that can have huge versatility in size, scope and function. Being able to maximise on the real estate of floor space, this design option can fluctuate between collectively working as a coffee table, dividing and conquering as bedside or couch side tables as well as having a pleasing aesthetic that packs down when necessary. 

4. ARTWORK THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY LOVE.

‘Sand Sea’ by Brooke Holmes via Modern Times.

Maximising on statement pieces of classic design means that when you ultimately decide to re-style your space, the cost and time is minimal. Artwork, on the other hand, is an element of investing in your space that is timeless when approached in the right way which comes down to love. Invest in oieces that really resonate and leave you feeling moved. 

Words by Tiffany Jade