DESIGN | A sculptural terrace in Sydney’s inner-city shaped by flow and stillness
DESIGN
A sculptural inner-city terrace shaped by flow and stillness
The Fitzroy Residence brings together Studio Liu and Christine Rose Interiors as collaborators — long-time friends with a shared appreciation for thoughtful, enduring design. Guided by a brief that called for something deeply personal and far from ordinary, the duo crafted a residence in Sydney’s inner city suburb that balances function with feeling. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of ma, the home unfolds in sculpted transitions and subtle contrasts, inviting its owners to slow down, reconnect and inhabit each space with ease. Throughout, soft textural elements including carefully selected CULTIVER linens, help to enrich the home’s sense of warmth and everyday comfort. We spoke to Louise from Studio Liu about how the partnership came to life, the ideas that guided the design, and the details that give the Fitzroy Residence its relaxed, refined character. Take the tour.
As your first collaboration together, how did this project come about - and what drew you to working together on the Fitzroy Residence?
Our clients are a professional couple who initially approached Christine at the outset of their renovation journey looking to reimagine their beloved home in preparation for the future they envisioned. Christine and I first met over almost a decade ago working at another interior design firm. Christine and I clicked through our shared love for fashion and design but also we have a very similar sense of humour and we can always have a great time laughing through whatever it is we are doing. Being great friends and in the same field of work, naturally you gravitate towards wanting to collaborate together on something.
What was the client’s brief - and how did you combine your two practices to address it?
Something less ordinary, set the tone for a project that was not only highly functional, but also deeply personal. The clients were looking at this property as a forever home and wanting to shape it so that it could grow together with them into the future. They needed more space so City Geeks had been engaged to lead the architectural direction, with the reconfiguration and extension of the ground floor living spaces and upper-level bedrooms forming a pivotal part of the vision. From the onset, the clients were firm that they didn’t want the cookie cutter beige interiors and they were willing to be adventurous with texture and colour.
The design was inspired by the Japanese concept of ma, which refers to the space or interval between elements, both physical and emotional. Fitzroy embodies this philosophy through its celebration of the in-between — subtle transitions, sculpted voids, and the poetic interplay of form and emptiness. The home invites pause, creating space to breathe, reflect, and reconnect.
Which elements did each of you bring that shaped Fitzroy Residence’s unique identity?
Personally, I find it hard to pinpoint specific elements that are specific to each studio because the collaborative process was so pure. We discussed everything together and should a detail, a fabric or a colour be suggested by one studio, the other was fully on board with the idea. Christine has a beautiful style which is warm and layered and we see a lot of that coming through the furniture and detailing. Studio Liu envisages spaces that speak through form and timeless aesthetics and I think we made quite an effort to bring this through as well through the joinery and space planning.
Were there moments in the process where your perspectives diverged - and how did those differences deepen the final outcome?
If there were they’d have been minimal and not enough to shape the outcome. I think a part of collaboration is being open to the other creative’s ideas, talking through them and both accepting them for the greater good of the project. Being able to sit with things that you may not have thought of or chosen when working alone helps you grow as a designer and it also creates a design language that can never be created by either of you alone.
What qualities were most important to you when selecting fabrics and finishes?
The interiors are rich in texture and layered with warmth, both studios have a shared sensitivity to materiality and comfort. We wanted the materials and finishes to have longevity and functionality but we also wanted them to be youthful so they reflected our clients’ personalities. Colour was used with intention — deep burgundy, barely-there mint green, deep olive, and powdery blues appear throughout, reflecting the fun, expressive nature of the clients themselves.
What are each of your most loved elements from the design?
For me, I really loved the simplicity of adding coloured paint throughout the home to create a series of interesting and unexpected spaces. I love that this is a timeless and cost effective way to bring life to a home and so easily customised to suit the taste of the client.
What does the beauty of home mean to you?
The beauty of home to me means comfort, warmth, and honouring of time. Time is intertwined so deeply with our lives whether it’s time spent alone, with family, doing things, not doing things. A home aging gracefully beside you throughout time and staying relevant to you and your family is really beautiful.
Interiors: @studio___liu & @_c.rose.design_
Stylist: @tommymesk_
Photographer: @nicholas_wilkins
Architecture: @thecitygeeks
