The Design Files: A bright and breezy first apartment in Fairlight

WHO: Elli Walsh (artist/art gallery assistant) and Cameron Walsh (works in the music industry).

WHERE: Fairlight, NSW

WHAT: A young couple’s bright and breezy first apartment.

Young couple Elli and Cameron Walsh spent a long time apartment hunting before securing their two-bedroom flat in a 1960s block in Sydney’s Fairlight. “It was at a crazy time, when Sydney properties were selling before they even hit the market,” recalls Cameron.

The pair had seen and loved this apartment, but it was far beyond their budget, so they moved on. Five weeks later, it was still for sale, so they made a ridiculous offer, and to their surprise it was accepted.

Despite their modest budget, Elli and Cameron prioritised a few key renovations soon after moving in.

They laid new floorboards, painted throughout and updated the kitchen. With these key updates complete, they furnished their home with a carefully sourced collection of vintage and contemporary furniture, light fittings and other details.

Their secondhand lounge set is a favourite; it was purchased for next to nothing on eBay, and re-upholstered in natural linen.

As an artist and art gallery assistant, Elli has accumulated an impressive collection of fine art which is proudly on display here, alongside Cameron’s much-loved record collection.

The couple’s apartment is a joyful and much-loved first home. Nestled among lush treetops in a small block of just six apartments, their love-nest has a relaxed feel.

It’s bright, airy and meticulously clean and tidy – in part due to Elli’s self-confessed “obsessive-compulsive” tendencies. It’s also ever-changing.

“Elli is perpetually changing our interiors,” says Cameron. “We have lots of art and special objects that we try to display without crossing the fine line into ‘clutter’.”

For Elli and Cameron, Fairlight is an idyllic spot for their first home together. “We’re just a short walk from multiple beaches, and a ferry away from the city,” Cameron says.

Evenings after work are spent floating in the ocean watching the sunset, while picnics, walks and falling asleep on the sand under a beach umbrella constitute most weekends. The apartment is, in Cam’s words, like “a beach shack without the sand”.

The Design Files guide to moving in together

Co-habitation is a wonderful stage in a new relationship but, beyond the obvious financial and logistical challenges, decorating as a duo can be stressful. Consider:

• Streamline and cull your stuff before the big move. Discuss which essential items you each own, what needs to be purchased and what needs to go.
• Work out furniture placement and eliminate unnecessary cartage in advance.
• Struggling for a coherent aesthetic? A carefully selected rug ties a room together. Try West Elm for affordable, high quality options.
• If budget permits, buy one special item together to mark the start of your new chapter.