Home Tour: A Hospitality Design Guru’s Harbourfront Apartment

Timelessly chic, Rachel Luchetti’s harbourside home is the essence of designer style 

Who lives here

Rachel, her husband and two boys.

Location

North Sydney, on the harbour between Kirribilli and Neutral Bay.

Décor style 

Simple yet timeless.

Favourite room

The lounge room, it’s so cosy and rich.

Powerhouse interior design studio, Luchetti Krelle is revered around the hospitality scene for their bold, yet stylish interiors. Their impressive portfolio is the envy of the design world; Blackwood Pantry, Banksii, Tequila Mockingbird, Sake Manly, Veranda Bar, Ovolo 1888 – and we’re only beginning to scratch at the surface. A design by this multi-award-winning team means you’ll be the next hottest venue in town. 

When not on site, Rachel Luchetti – one half of creative duo – is at home in her beautiful harbourfront apartment. It’s tucked away in North Sydney between Kirribilli and Neutral Bay. We take a sneak peek inside her designer abode. 

Having grown up on the same street that she now lives, Rachel’s large two-bedroom garden apartment sits in a block of six. Right next to High Street Wharf and backing onto a waterfront reserve. 

Once belonging to her great grandparents who bought the apartment block in the 1950s, Rachel’s apartment is a sanctuary with a lot of family value. To this day, Rachel’s love for the area and apartment is what has kept her grounded. 

Surrounded by the charm and character of 1920s architecture, Rachel takes a pared-back approach to her interiors. Select pieces have a striking presence in understated rooms, and beautiful French doors open out onto a sunroom with a deep-set clawed bathtub.   

Using neutral colours as a base, Rachel creates a sense of calm throughout the home. The living room though is a statement of rich colours that highlight the ornate ceilings and doorframes.   

After Rachel’s first son was born, she transformed the sunroom into a bathing room by installing an old claw bathtub. Separate to their main bathroom, French doors open into a lush oasis, a beautiful bath surrounded by plants and antiques.  

“It’s so wonderful having the bath outside of the bathroom – at bath time we can watch the little ones from the lounge room,” 

Dark blue against crisp white trims and a window seat that beckons quiet moments with a glass of wine. The lounge room’s eclectic styling sits in beautiful contrast to a softer palette that runs throughout the apartment. The classic yet tribal Persian rug and the deer hide adds another layer of texture to the room. And the artwork pops. 

“Our most indulgent purchases are our artworks. Paintings by Jasper Knight and Oliver Watts, and I love the iconic designer pieces from KE-ZU and Cult Furniture,” 

When Rachel moved into the apartment 14 years ago, she redid the kitchen in a simple, functional and timeless design. And like all things Rachel does, it’s the detail that ties the room together. The thick architraves and window frames inspired thick kitchen benchtops. And sitting off to the kitchen is the dining area, a mix of old with the new.

“I find my one pieces from Gumtree. I love it for mid-century furniture like our Ercol original dining chairs and mid-century coffee table. For homewares, Mud Australia and Jardan are my go-to’s,” 

The light-filled bedrooms are calming spaces with a plush window seat in each. Artwork and antiques bring warmth and character to the rooms, and the master bedroom has French doors that open out onto the sunroom. 

“The master bedroom has a bed from Jardan, which I love and the French doors open on to the bathing room,” 

North Sydney’s towering office buildings and prestigious schools give way to quiet streets lined with beautiful Jacaranda trees and large parklands. During the week North Sydney is bustling, with office workers and students from elite schools going about their day. But when the weekend rolls around, it is a local’s only haunt.

Down the road, and sitting in striking contrast to North Sydney, is glamorous Kirribilli. The homes are beautiful, and the views are stunning. Broughton Street, a popular dining spot, trails down to uninterrupted views of Sydney Harbour, the bridge and the opera house. And all of this is within easy walking distance from Rachel’s apartment.

1. Prioritse

Think about what’s important and make a list of priorities. Renovations can be really expensive, so it’s good to have a clear idea of what you want and have realistic expectations of what you can afford.

2. Mix old with new

Go for timeless rather than trendy – mix antiques or vintage furniture with more modern pieces.

3. Be inspired

The colours, material and textures you use depend on the personality of the architecture. Be inspired and go with it.

• Save on kitchen joinery by going flat pack.
• Save on bathroom renovations by going with simple vitrified tiles and not fancy marble.
• Splurge  on good quality furniture and appliances.
• Splurge  on good door hardware – you really notice the difference.