The aptly named Gold Coast Apartment, remodelled by SJB, explores colour psychology and how an array of shades can alter one’s disposition. The exuberant refurbishment takes cues from the ebullient hues of Miami Vice, transferring it to the laid-back lifestyle of the Gold Coast. Designed by SJB within a 2000s Ian Moore tower, this aerie turns away from the staid minimalism so predictably seen in coastal properties, evoking a convivial atmosphere through the transformative power of colour. “Gone are the tropes of shell artwork on the walls and wabi-sabi décor,” claims the team at SJB.
Formerly burdened by a series of disjointed renovations, the apartment was stripped to reveal its architectural potential, allowing the design team to redefine the space and lacquer the walls with colour. The renovation reconfigured the double-height apartment with a riotous excess of lobster pinks, baby blues and soupçons of ultramarine. These colours – far from cosmetic embellishment – were curated to improve mood and create an uplifting environment.
A glass-and-steel staircase framing the verticality of the space marks the entry experience. The lower level, designed for entertaining, features a chromed kitchen island as well as a purple-encased cocktail cabinet that ties together the surrounding hues. These choices underscore the power of colour in shaping mood — encouraging interaction and a sense of festivity. The dining room, set against double-height windows offering panoramic views of the Gold Coast skyline, feels metropolitan yet grounded in its coastal setting.
Set across two levels — the former comprising the living spaces and the latter housing the private quarters — the residence is punctuated by two vast voids, climbing from the floor to the second-storey roofline. Accompanied by a passageway to the guest room, painted in ultramarine blue and fitted with an expansive, spherical porthole window looking out to the void — daring a day-club level of exuberance — these design features allow light to permeate the space and play with the scale and size of the apartment, theoretically creating an illusion of grander proportions.
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The interplay of electric colours continues throughout the home. In the master suite, the palette is toned down to whites and greys, letting the space breathe while incorporating splashes of pastels through contemporary artworks. A guest passage, wrapped in an ultramarine blue, is punctuated by a porthole window overlooking the lower level.
Climbing the stairs, the guest rooms remain in conversation with the overarching theme. Custom velvet-striped headboards, each in a primary colour, echo the seaside without resorting to cliché, giving the rooms a sense of personality that aligns with the vibrancy of the design.
Ultimately, the Gold Coast Apartment deftly balances formality with fun, conjuring a space where privacy and play are equally considered. The bold application of colour is not mere ornamentation but a defining feature that elevates the experience, turning a retreat into an immersive, mood-altering slice of paradise within paradise.
