The Design Files: Inside the sharply-edited city apartment of Paris Thomson

Who:  Paris Thomson, of SIRAP

Where: Collingwood, Victoria

What: Sharply-edited city apartment

Paris Thomson spends her days capturing, editing and producing highly-considered footage for her Motion Production Studio, SIRAP. It is little surprise then that Thomson’s small apartment is also highly edited, and captures her exacting and precise aesthetic.

The Collingwood apartment is only two blocks away from the young entrepreneur’s busy studio, but offers a serene escape from the office. She describes how “when I walk through the door I feel like I’m in another world”, where the leafy aspect creates a sense of calm.

The space is flooded with natural light, providing a “beautiful spot to sit in the mornings with the sun falling on your face”.

The size of the apartment has necessitated a clever and curated approach to make the intimate space feel like a welcoming home.

For Thomson, this meant adopting a “quality, not quantity” mindset, and applying a strategic use of textures to add warmth and softness.

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While admitting to following the Melbourne stereotype of not being big on colour, Thomson says, “I love the classic look of black and white natural textures – stone, metals and timbers”.

Thomson bought the apartment off the plan in 2015, and moved in early 2017. “I wanted to get my foot in the door and buy something that I could actually live in,” she says.

She had looked at several apartment developments, both built and off the plan, but this one by Gurner stood out from the crowd.

“I wanted to live in a smaller block and not a huge tower,” she said.

“This building is low rise and still retains elements of the original facade which was refreshing – there are so many squeaky clean new apartments, it’s nice to have a nod to what was once there.”

Interior design details by Elenberg Fraser were also a drawcard for this apartment. The stone bench across the balcony is one of her favourite design features – “the perfect perch for a G&T”, she says.

And while the size of the home means entertaining often ends up as a standing soiree event, for Thomson, adapting to living in this apartment has gently influenced her perspective of life. Now, “less is more”.

The Design Files guide to doing more with less

With space at a premium, and more Australians embracing apartment living, doing more with less is the new mantra for city-dwellers.

• Circular dining tables work best in tight spaces – if replacing a kitchen bench, consider a tall table with stools.
• A compact yet versatile couch is key. A sofa with slim arms and back will optimise space.
• Storage is a key consideration for small footprint living – but shelving shouldn’t take up floorspace. Go floor to ceiling with bedroom robes to maximise storage, and turn that under-used study nook into floor to ceiling shelving.
• Living small means buying less – so invest in quality over quantity.