“We used Venetian plaster on the walls throughout to give the home a premium finish and also create a slight reflection to allow light to penetrate the darker areas,” says Barratt. This was complemented by clever details such as repetitive horizontal lines to portray continuity, pocket doors with mirrored backs to further reflect light, and movable partitions to hide some of the unsightly apartment blocks.

Sliding doors are a dominant design detail in this revamped penthouse, for good reason. “The sliding pocket doors were one of the key design features that we proposed from the beginning. We wanted to open up the apartment completely to show off the true grandeur of the space,” stresses Barratt. For the family, it’s an ingenious addition: they can zone off areas for privacy when required, but the doors are completely hidden when they’re open. That they appear so effortlessly woven in is testament to the firm’s focus on creating a space that is as practical as it is beautiful.

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Given that this is a family home, adding a sense of warmth was paramount. Barratt achieved this through the use of engineered wood flooring and a largely neutral palette that creates a calming ambience. This, however, doesn’t mean to say decorative touches are in short supply. Quite the opposite: the designer incorporated Phillip Jeffries wallcoverings to bring a sense of individuality to each of the rooms, and used soft furnishings such as Tappeti rugs to add texture.

Much thought went into choosing each element, from the Gallotti & Radice dining chairs to the decorative flourishes afforded by the Alexander Lamont finishes, and the biggest accent piece of all: a bespoke self-playing baby grand piano by British artisans Edelweiss Pianos. A carefully curated art collection ties it all together, including a striking three-metre painting from Australian artist Ella Baudinet that hangs in the hallway.

One of the hallmarks of an Elliot James interior is a high level of customisation, and that was in full force here with tailor-made sofas and chairs as well as plenty of built-in units and joinery. For Barratt, one of the highlights of this project is the living room TV unit the firm spent months developing and refining. “We wanted to have a finish that worked well with the travertine base but didn’t detract from the rest of the space. We eventually settled on a raw blackened steel base with a silvery patina that sat beautifully and complemented the different materials and textures in the living room,” he says.

The bedroom is another area in which the firm’s detailed approach shines. The customised headboard features built-in reading lights, as well as a curved leather inlay with a mirrored stainless-steel finish. It’s paired with bedside pendant lights from Apparatus Studio.

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One of the most dramatic interiors is found in a surprising place: the walk-in closet. In stark contrast to the tranquil sleeping area, the wardrobe area is dark, bold and theatrical. Clad in textured black veneer from floor to ceiling, it features sumptuous details such as bronze handles and a leather-clad island in a muted green hue. At the end is a wall of mirrors that reflects light back into the space to ensure an atmospheric appeal and not a gloomy one.

The cherry on top? A hidden, all-white bathroom lies behind two of the wardrobe doors, an unexpected sanctuary that Barratt says is like “entering Narnia.” It is out-of-the-box ideas like this that not only make for a gorgeous home, but will bring delight to its owners every day for years to come.

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