The Design Files: Inside designer Jono Fleming's art and plant-filled haven

Who: Jono Fleming

What: A designer’s “curated maximalist” off-the-plan apartment

Where: Waterloo, Sydney

Many interior designers tend to err on the side of minimalism but not Jono Fleming. Since moving into his Waterloo apartment in 2015, this Sydney designer has been steadily creating an art and plant-filled haven reflective of his vibrant personality.

When Fleming first set out apartment hunting in inner-city Sydney, he began by researching multi-residential projects by architecture firms he admired. “I admittedly was looking specifically at ‘designer’ apartments,” he says. “I wanted to know I was investing in quality, and the firms I was familiar with would come with this guarantee.”

This strategy worked, leading to the discovery of a new project by revered Australian design firm SJB in Waterloo.

“I had never seen a new build with so much character, but also blank enough for me to bring my own aesthetic in,” he says.

Even though the building was entirely new, the apartments contained design elements normally only found in decades-old homes. “Beautiful detailed architraves, herringbone floors, and an exposed painted brick wall made the entire space feel like it had some history to it,” Fleming says.

To offset the existing neutral palette, Fleming has introduced colour through art, accessories and furniture, particularly in the living room. The hero of this space is an army green sofa by HK Living, which is surrounded by an evolving gallery wall and the “world’s healthiest devil’s ivy”.

The nature of Fleming’s work as a designer and stylist means he’s constantly sourcing new props for styling, many of which inevitably end up in his personal collection.

While previously these items were scattered across the apartment, he’s now installed a wall of shelves in the study, where all his new acquisitions and styling props are organised by colour.

This eclectic, personality-filled apartment shows that finding your own home styling aesthetic can take time, even for the professionals!

“It was originally a very, dare I say, ‘Scandi’ vibe with lots of neutrals, pops of blush and a reindeer hide,” the designer recalls.

These days, Fleming calls himself a “curated maximalist”, with a space that’s a much better reflection of his unique sense of style.

How to collect art

It’s rare to have a whole collection of art at the ready.

Art is something you collect over time. It can take a bit of patience, and a fair bit of research to begin to build a collection. But getting started is more affordable than you might think.

• If you’ve found an artwork you really want to invest in, but haven’t quite got the budget, there’s a government program called Art Money that’s essentially like AfterPay for art. Many galleries are engaged with the initiative, and it’s a great way to get started collecting Australian art.
• Research and connect with up-and-coming artists via Instagram – and sign up to their mailing lists so you’re in the know when they have new work available.
• Op shops, eBay and Etsy are also great places to fill out your collection. The trick is to always use professional framing, to elevate any piece to look gallery-worthy.
• No great art collection has ever been amassed overnight. Embrace blank walls, and wait for your collection to evolve over time.