People may say you shouldn’t judge someone by their office, but when it’s an interior designer, perhaps we can get away with it! Shona McElroy surely won’t mind if we do, being that her moody and sophisticated workspace in Sydney’s Paddington is about as beautiful as they get.
Situated on a corner spot near the Fiveways shopping area, Smac Studio’s location is a great starting point. “I’ve always loved Paddington, how the Victorian terrace houses have heritage facades in different colours and the streets are lined with mature trees. It feels very European,” Shona says.
“I also love how if you peek through the front door of the traditional facade, each terrace is so individual. There’s a lot of clever architecture and design in this area. People are houseproud, the suburb is beautifully kept and it all just feels really special. There are art galleries everywhere and a lovely community feel.”
The building housing Shona’s office is more than 100 years old and the upstairs was originally a living area. There’s still a heritage fireplace with original details and a doorway that’s been built over on the first floor, which Shona and her team use as pinboard to lay out design ideas.
The space has housed a jeweller, a florist, and an organic food store among other local businesses. “The building is in keeping with the Victorian terraces Paddington is known for, though it’s slightly different in the fact that it’s a commercial corner building. It’s got great big windows onto the street looking at mature trees,” Shona adds.
The office might be small (just 25 square metres on each of two levels), but it certainly packs a punch. “I wanted it to really speak to the street and speak to our aesthetic, which is a modern take on classical elements with smart storage solutions. I wanted to use colour in a bold way without it being overpowering.
“The floor downstairs needed to function as a meeting room, but also as a space of beauty. We’ve used elements you’ll see throughout our projects, like marble, artworks, feature lighting, velvets, timbers and a real mix of materiality to create an elevated, modern, unique space. It’s almost nostalgic in some ways.”
Shona certainly had fun experimenting with the space. “I wanted it to be eye-catching from the street without feeling overdone. We definitely were bold in our choices. However, when you get in here, it actually feels really calm.”
She had only two days to design and two weeks to choose all the furniture and fit-out details! “It was the fastest job I’ve ever done and I had to trust my instincts,” Shona said. “I’ve often said that our first concept is the best and our office is proof of that; there’s nothing I would do differently, it’s come together beautifully.”
Despite the small space, Shona shied away from painting it all-white to make it feel bigger. “We’ve created a generous feeling of space by recessing mirrors in our joinery, which makes it look twice as big. The walls and ceiling are painted a greeny-grey tone, which is gentle, warm, and makes the office feel more like a boutique or a bar. If you look at images of traditional formal offices they’re often moody with really dark timber, so I was playing with this idea with the inky palette.
“I also wanted to use my office to prove to clients everything doesn’t have to be white! People are often scared of colour and scared to paint walls and ceilings a little darker, but my office shows that bold colour choices can feel warm, homey and elegant.”
The cabinetry is one of her favourite elements, hiding away samples, air con, a kitchenette and bathroom. “I’m proud of the overall palette. It’s got recurring burgundy themes you can see in the Smac Studio-designed rug, the art and the bathroom walls. All those red tones contrast with the green in the walls, seating and marble. I’ve also brought in grounded chocolate hues with the thrifted velvet chairs and fluffy sheepskin stools.”
Of course, the project wasn’t without its challenges. “We’re a young design firm, so we had to be cost-conscious while making sure our luxe design values were reflected. We chose to stain the floors instead of putting down new ones. Some wonderful suppliers also provided us with lighting (Christopher Boots via Est Lighting) and custom furniture (Fform), viewing our office as a kind of showroom for them. We also have a relationship with local artist Amelia Axom, who is selling her work in our meeting room.”
Space was always a concern, especially as the building is an unusual shape. “We’ve managed to make everything quite compact and cute. It feels like a generous space and you’re not tripping over anything. I think small spaces make you more creative in the way you use space.”
There are fun and unexpected details everywhere, from the burgundy bathroom to the fireplace with a painted marble motif, to the aviator-style chests with drawers either side of the fireplace, which provide lots of storage.
In the workspace upstairs, open shelves display books, magazines, small artworks and anything else that inspires the team. “In between the shelves is a cute little feature; the architraves of an old door that once connected this room to the neighbouring building. We’ve put a pinboard there and the architrave frames it, which I love. It’s a big inspiration wall.”
Shona says the office is a complete reflection of the firm’s aesthetic. “The first and only design and fit-out was so successful and strong! It feels really right for us.”
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Photos by Dave Wheeler
