Designer Series | Inera Studio
“We needed something hardy because the apartment is tenanted and every material had to earn its place on durability as well as looks”.
– Nicola Bird, Inera Studio
Interior design came as a natural evolution for interior designer Nicola. Two decades as a graphic designer in the magazine industry had already developed her keen eye for composition, balance and storytelling before she turned her attention to interiors. When she renovated her own house, she found a new passion, leading her to study decoration, interior design and eventually become qualified as a registered building designer. Through Inera Studio, Nicola brings together creativity, technical expertise and practical problem-solving, guiding projects from the very first sketch through to final approval and completion.
The ocean view North Bondi apartment project is a perfect expression of Bird's design philosophy to create spaces that are connected to the location and surroundings. Rather than relying on a predictable coastal palette, she looked to the neighbourhood’s character. The faded greens, pale teals and warm sandy tones drew directly from both the ocean and interwar art deco buildings that lined the streets in North Bondi. Soft curves, arched openings and gentle geometry echo the architecture of the area, creating an undeniable connection between the surroundings and interiors.
A long-term rental, the apartment needed to withstand daily use while maintaining a sophisticated aesthetic. To achieve this, Nicola carefully selected durable, low-maintenance surface materials from the Smartstone Sintered Collection for both practicality and elegance, delivering warmth, texture and visual continuity across the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry.
A long-term rental, the apartment needed to withstand daily use while maintaining a sophisticated aesthetic. To achieve this, Nicola carefully selected durable, low-maintenance surface materials from the Smartstone Sintered Collection for both practicality and elegance, delivering warmth, texture and visual continuity across the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry.
“The practical answer is that the apartment is tenanted and the owners are overseas, so I needed surfaces that could take everyday use without anyone on site to look after them. Non-porous and low maintenance mattered more here than it would in an owner-occupied home”, said Nicola.
She chose Smartstone Carrara for kitchen benchtops and laundry area and Bellini Bianco for the bathrooms for its warmth and amber tones in the veining, which matched the warm flecks in the wall tiles perfectly.
Inera Studio is a Sydney-wide interior design studio and registered design practitioner working across residential renovations, new builds, apartment developments, and boutique hotels.
Designer: Nicola Bird, Inera Studio
Project: North Bondi Apartment
Featured Stones: Carrara and Bellini Bianco
Application: Kitchen island, splashback, benchtops and bathrooms
“I've specified Smartstone on a number of projects now.
The colour range and the durability are what keep me coming back”.
– Nicola Bird, Inera Studio
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