EST LIVING FEATURES BRISBANE APARTMENT

Soft hues and natural finishes were selected with sophisticated and traditional statements complimenting the contemporary, yet character filled, apartment located in an iconic Brisbane Harry Seidler building.
The interiors soft pastel tones, curved features and modern edge allowed us to bring in a range of unique pieces for the story including a delicate mesh chandelier, iconic lamps and chairs, organic ceramics, sculptures and character artworks in soft tones, natural timbers and strong cobalt blue.

Interior Design by Alicia Holgar Photography by Shannon McGrath Styling by STUDIO CD

Alicia Holgar’s Avian Apartment embodies an expressive refurbishment within an iconic Brisbane building originally designed by Australian architect Harry Seidler.

Awarded AIDA Best of State Residential Design – Queensland in 2020, Avian Apartment sees the redecoration of a central Brisbane apartment by interior designer Alicia Holgar. The owners asked for a luxurious inner-city pied-à-terre with a ‘welcoming atmosphere,’ filled with artwork and custom-designed furniture. Initially weighed down by a strong palette of black and red, Alicia introduced a refreshing palette that confidently blends in with the sunny Brisbane locale. 

“The space is best experienced as a whole, where the sum of many important parts can be fully appreciated,” Alicia Holgar explains. Unique artwork in a range of scopes and sizes dresses walls throughout the apartment. Los Angeles artist Jessalyn Brooks flew in to create the abstract mural that frames the dining space, titled ‘The Avians’ and informing the name of the project. A set of Cesca Chairs designed by Marcel Breuer sit around the custom-designed oak wood dining table by Alicia Holgar, overlooking the Brisbane cityscape.

A table designed by Melbourne-based mason Den Holm greets you in the entrance of the home, adorned with curated objects designed by Jaime Hayon, Guy Maestri and Guido Deleu that sets the tone for the bold and bespoke interiors to follow.  

Drenched in natural light, the central living room is a tactile feast, filled with a spectrum of colours. Atop a Halcyon Lake rug, the curved sofa designed by Alicia Holgar grounds the space, complemented by the circular Meshmatics Pendant for Moooi and artwork by Ryan Hoffmann. The Wiggle Chair designed by Frank Gehry injects a playful sense of personality to the room, its curves replicating those in the structure of the apartment.

INGREDIENTS

Furniture - Living Edge, Anibou, Design Nation, Ondene

Art and décor – Space Furniture, Living Edge, Clay Canoe, Damon Moon, Becker Minty, Ondene, Cult, 1st Dibs, A Ceramics, Guido Deleu, Guy Maestri, Lethbridge Gallery, The Vault Sydney, Paper Boat Press, Graphis Art & Framing, Olsen Gallery.

TOP 5 STYLISTS OF 2019

We are honoured to begin the year as one of Est Living's top 5 stylists of 2019 alongside Australia's best and look forward to an exciting new year ahead.

As we welcome the new year, we’re debuting our top five stylists of 2019; the names you should know for the coming year in design. 

Behind every good project is an individual or team of interior stylists. As our first year profiling our top five, we’re honouring the immense dedication of these stylists to the local – and international design sphere.

This past year we were privy to a hoard of stellar interiors. But there is no denying, those that stood out had the signature styling hand of our top five. From across the globe in North London to our home-grown talent, we’re commending the work of Jack Milenkovic, Louisa Grey, Simone Haag, Alexandra Gordon and Claire Delmar. 

Join us as we highlight why they’ve rightfully earned their place as one of the best stylists in 2019.

Claire Driscoll (Delmar)

We’re kicking off our top five stylists in 2019 with none other than Claire Delmar from Studio CD. Claire was our very own style hunter in 2019, scouring Paris Design Week and Maison et Objet for the latest furniture, art and objects, as seen in issue #34 of est magazine.

While her name graced a number of projects in 2019, the styling of Mrs Smith’s Mosman harbourside home and Alexander & Co’s Bondi Junction put Claire’s name in the spotlight. We have no doubt this year will be even bigger for Studio CD.

INGREDIENTS

Interior Design Mrs Smith Photography Prue Ruscoe Styling STUDIO CD

Architects Alexander &CO. Photography Anson Smart Styling STUDIO CD

Interior Design and Styling STUDIO CD Photography Anson Smart 

Claire photographed by Nicole Lily Rose for Est Living

PARIS WITH EST LIVING

After an incredible few weeks in Paris filled with design, history and dining for Maison et Objet and Paris Design Week Claire shares her top 10 pieces, exhibitions and experiences with Est Living - featured in Issue #34, out now.

Claire photographed in Paris near The Louvre by Nicole Lily Rose

INGREDIENTS

1. Architects Furniture 1960-2020 - Cite de Architecture Museum

An incredible 300 piece collection of furniture, spanning 60 years, of the most iconic pieces of this century’s architects. Enjoying a privileged and private tour of the collection with the curator of the exhibition we were taken on a journey of standout pieces designed with architectural knowledge of each space. 

2. DOOQ World of Details – ‘Malibu’ Armchair

Boucle and soft curves featured throughout the fair but it was the velvet detail pinching in the oversized arms of the ‘Malibu’ chair that set it apart from the rest.

3. Restaurant Balagan

A theatrical evening of the senses experienced through Israeli food and interiors by Dorothee Meilichzon of Chzon (also known for Hotel Panache and Hotel Des Grands Boulevards) for Experimental Group. The combination of music, food, atmosphere and a highly specified design marks an unforgettable experience with details considered from the ceramic tiles, ‘Mathilda’ chairs designed by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso , down to the glass amber plates and green glassware. 

4. Atelier Jerome Pereira – ‘Chaos’ pendant

A magical play on poise the ‘Chaos’ light has the effect of a mobile. Formed from hand blown glass and timber to balance it felt like a sceptre hanging from the ceiling above us.

5. Paronetto Paola – ‘Paper Clay’ new pastel colour range 

Always a stying favourite for its unique raw and textured ceramic finish, the new pastel tones released in shades of blue were a standout. 

6. Theoreme Editions

This exhibition was a thoughtful celebration of emerging contemporary designers which had a serene balance of calm. I could have purchased the entire collection, in particular Francesco Balzano’s ‘Constantin’ solid cast resin stool in the softest blue/grey.

7. Birkenstock Showroom

Set within a grandiose Parisian apartment and designed by Vinson & Co the sandals sat seamlessly within the interiors layered with vintage and contemporary furnishings such as the Faye TooGood ‘Roly-Poly’ chairs and Pierre Jeanneret ‘Chandigarh’ chair.

8. Blomus ‘Fuum’ Glassware 

A beautifully unique range of fine glassware celebrating an elegantly soft curve in muted amber and grey tones, designed by Theresa Rand.

9. Exposition AD Interieurs

An incredible, standout experience of the week created by a collection of rooms within the one building. Each room was expertly designed by one of 13 selected designers demonstrating their own unique awareness of the space and creating the feeling of walking into a different world each time. Pierre Bonnefille’s room in particular captured earthy tones, textured finishes and a play on soft curves and geometric shapes nodding to mid-century and modern design representation. 

10. Moustache Showroom

The playful ‘Bold Chair’ designed by Big-Game expressed modern font and featured at the newly appointed Moustache Showroom.