Home Tour: Inside Highgate Hill’s Boutique Brilliance

How do you go about styling a large-scale apartment block to appeal to a whole host of potential buyers, from young professionals to downsizers, while ensuring each space still feels curated and bespoke? 

This was the job that CG Design Studio was tasked with when styling the boutique apartment development, Highgate Hill, in inner-city Brisbane. 

Rejecting the Norm

CG Design’s Studio Director and Principal, Christopher Gyzemyterl, and Senior Interior Designer, Julia Stojanovic, say stepping away from the quintessential Queensland palette and embracing blackened timber, deep, earthy greens, and sourcing tailored finishes and materials helped them deliver a truly unique outcome. 

“The result is a synergy of light and dark hues, and in turn a sophisticated yet fresh space,” Julia reflects.

It was a large-scale project for the pair, which initially started with the interior design of the boutique's multi-residential development, before expanding into more styling for some of the complex’s residents.

Indeed, when we typically think of the Queensland aesthetic bright, light and summery finishes come to mind.

But CG Design Studios wanted to pave their own path and approached elements such as cabinetry design by introducing a fine shaker profile – a contemporary interpretation of traditional detail. 

“The palette was predominantly clean and fresh, with warmth introduced in the form of bronze metals, oak flooring and glimpses of muted green hues. The result is a harmonious integration of youthfulness and maturity,” Julia says.  

Hot and Cold Elements

The stunning apartments have also been injected with the perfect mix of warmth and coolness throughout. 

“The palette is fresh with moments of rich exuberance used carefully to avoid over-saturation. Warmth was introduced in the likes of wallpaper and artisanal fabrics, in a decadent palette of terracotta, burgundy, navy, and wine. While the main bedroom has a tonal myriad of calming, muted hues,” she notes. 

Following the first assignment, CG Design Studio was then retained by the sub-penthouse residents to furnish their newly acquired homes. 

Bespoke Touches

“The clients requested a homely and inviting space that had a strong sense of personality and individuality,” Julia explains. 

“There was a strong emphasis on creating a highly individualised curation of pieces that felt unique and polished, yet comfortable. This engagement allowed us to complete our design vision for the project for this residence, from the in-built elements of the design process, right through to furniture, furnishings, and décor selections.”

Julia’s favourite items from the project include all the pieces of furniture which were locally sourced and created in Brisbane. 

“I love the stunning hand-blown glass lighting by Soktas, as well as the exquisitely crafted objects by the talented ceramicist, Jess Sellinger. The office desk, designed in-house at CG, was impeccably fashioned by a Brisbane-based furniture craftsman,” she says. 

Boutique Brilliance

Walking through the complex you’re struck by the way in which it represents both mature sophistication and playful youthfulness while housing the same energy as a modern, boutique hotel. So striking is the fit-out of this Brisbane block of apartments that it was recently shortlisted for the 2023 Australian Interior Design Awards, an industry-leading design-based awards program. Recognised in the 'Residential Decoration' category, the sophisticated set of apartments might just be some of the most coveted places to purchase in the Queensland market.

PROJECT CREDITS

Photographer: Brock Beazley @brockbeazleyphotography

Interior Styling: CG Design Studio @cg_design_studio

Words: Bella Brennan @bellarosebrennan

Interviews facilitated by Australian Interior Design Awards.

Loved our tour of Highgate Hill in Brisbane and want to keep perving some of the most stylish places going around? Take a peek inside the newly revamped boutique hotel, Osborn House. Then check out Bone Made's stylish home renovation of this Inner West property.