We loved every single room of the Making HOME renovation, but the studio apartment was another level of excitement. Huge, feature-packed and utterly gorgeous, it’s the answer to comfortable multigenerational living.

“We pushed ourselves on the design of this space – we wanted it to feel light and bright but still cosy. When it came to fit-out, we worked every nook and cranny to deliver superior functionality and a luxe finish.” – Nikki from the Making HOME team

In Episode 7, see how the reno team tucked a full-size boutique apartment right underneath the main house, complete with a separate entry! Discover how they controlled sound transfer for maximum peace, fully maximised the outdoor patio space and linked the overall design to the main house.

In love with what we’ve used? Scroll down for the lowdown on what makes this space so functional and beautiful. From the tiles to the taps, we’ve lifted the lid on every secret.

Shop The Space

So much more than a ‘granny flat’, this apartment is a fully functional home. Meticulously designed for a single or couple to live comfortably, it’s as sophisticated as it is practical – and it might just be our favourite space in this home.

Cabinetry

Beautifully neutral and finished with anti-fingerprint technology, kaboodle’s feta whip v was an easy choice for this classic kitchen. The modern profile gives a clean finish that lets the handles and fixtures sing and the premium melamine finish offers excellent longevity.

Matte to the touch and filled with flowing grains, maplenut cabinetry brings oodles of warmth. Paired with gold handles, it’s high on glamour too.

Maplenut is available in all standard sizes and it’s fabulous for adding special features without breaking the bank. We used it throughout the kitchen and butler’s pantry, for the hallway closet and the walk-in robes.

Salento worn gold handles couldn’t be more perfect for modern kitchens and they pair just as beautifully with neutral cabinetry as they do with colours. The slim handle and broad arm are elegant and functional, and the range of available sizes makes them suitable for heaps of applications.

To dial up the luxe in the apartment kitchen, we used the same biancoccino benchtop that we used in the study. Packed with gorgeous grey veins that mimic natural marble, this product is the answer to a high-end finish without destroying your budget.

It is soft to the touch and features anti-fingerprint technology. So, no matter how much use it gets, it will always be ready to impress.

Kitchen Appliances

Kleenmaid appliances were the key to a high-end look and premium functionality in this kitchen.

We opted for the Kleenmaid Induction Cooktop 60cm ICT6020 in this space, which boasts four cooking zones and nine power levels. It has a residual heat indicator and a child safety lock for added peace of mind when little people are in the space.

The Multifunction Oven 60cm OMF6015 comes with five cooking levels and 11 functions, including Convection Hot Air Frying for crispy goodness without the oil!

It has an interactive digital display, easy-use rotating function knobs, programmed cooking and a child safety lock.

Like the main kitchen, we installed a Concealed Slide-Out Rangehood RHSOG61 in the apartment. Able to be tucked away when not in use, it enables uninterrupted lines in the kitchen – and it works like a pro too!

It’s whisper-quiet, equipped with two LED lamps and features three extraction settings for maximum efficiency.

Aside from function and reliability, we partnered with Kleenmaid for this kitchen for its excellent range of integrated appliances. For a sleek finish, integrated appliances are a must-have and they were at the top of our wishlist from the outset of this renovation.

The Integrated Top Mount Refrigerator CRZ25511 sits flush with the maplenut cabinetry and includes a 189L fridge and 77L freezer. It has a concealed drinks compartment, electronic touch controls and a genius Iso-air no-mix cooled air system which prevents the cool air of the freezer from mixing with the refrigerator.

The Fully Integrated Dishwasher DW6031 tucks away beautifully into our kaboodle cabinetry. But there’s a lot more to love than its seamless finish – it’s also super quiet, programmable and comes with a five-star WELS rating.

This clever unit is engineered with a floor light beam that lets you know when it’s operating.

Sink

The Elleci Tekno 350 sink from Jaco Jaanson plays beautifully with the marble-look benchtop and white cabinetry.

Huge on functionality, this double-bowl sink uses Granitek for maximum durability throughout years of solid use. It withstands high temperatures and hard knocks, and it inhibits the growth of bacteria.

Tiles

From Beaumont, Fire Fingers Sage Gloss Tiles add depth and texture to the kitchen splashback and bathroom. The inspiration for the colour palette for the entire apartment, they’re made using glazed porcelain and have a pressed edge.

Similar in style and hue to the pool tiles in Episode 1, these beauties link the apartment to the outdoor living zone – and we can’t stop staring at them!

We love that the Urban Calacatta Herringbone Tiles echo the bathrooms in the main home and add personality to the apartment bathroom.

Beautiful underfoot and a feast for the eyes, they’re perfect to use with strip drains and tile insert wastes and complement the Riverstone tiles on the wall and main floor.

Soft, smooth and versatile, the Riverstone White Microtec Textured Tile is just as perfect for alfresco walkways as it is for interior applications.

In the apartment, we used it throughout the entire main floor, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom and hallway. We also used it on the bathroom walls to break up the sage finger tiles.

It features Microtec slip resistance and a natural drifting style that’s at one with the coastal location of this home.

Underfloor Heating

If you’ve watched the making of our beautiful bathrooms, you’ll know we’re huge fans of underfloor heating. But we didn’t stop at the bathroom when it came to floor heating in the apartment – we used it in the whole space!

Like the superhero of warmth, Hotwire Under Tile Heating has zoning capabilities. This means occupants can decide exactly when and where heating is required. It minimises allergen circulation in the area, and by oozing radiant heat, it reduces the workload of air heaters.

Best of all, underfloor heating offers a whole new level of comfort. Trust us, once you have it, you’ll never go back!

Tapware & Accessories

Magnificent tapware is a big feature of this home, and in the apartment, we embraced the glamorous beauty of brushed brass.

For the kitchen, we chose the Mika Pull-Down Sink Mixer from Greens Tapware. This showstopper features sparkling textured details on the handle and a handy pull-down nozzle for rinsing out the sink.

The Mika Wall Basin Mixer in Brushed Brass is directly mounted on the Riverstone wall tile for a clean and uncluttered finish. Partnered with a round white basin and Pop-Up Basin Waste this vanity zone screams designer living.

While the floor-to-ceiling finger tiles give this shower a glorious canvas, the brushed brass tapware is the ultimate finishing touch.

Greens had us completely covered with the Mika Shower Mixer Trim Set in brushed brass and the required Universal Shower Mixer Body. The result is a fresh and modern shower that oozes the colours of nature and invites you in to stay.

Other special moments in the bathroom include the Gisele/Reason Toilet Roll Holder in brushed brass and two Gisele/Reason Hand Towel Holders in brushed brass. Stacked one atop the other, these towel rails sparkle proudly and provide a knockout perch for fluffy towels.

The Gisele/Reason Robe Hook in brushed bass is textured and well-sized to hold thick towels or robes. We strategically positioned it to be easily accessible when stepping out of the shower.

From the kitchen to the bathroom, brushed brass tapware creates gorgeous harmony and consistency in the apartment. It’s like little moments of magic throughout a welcoming space.

Laundry Appliances

The Samsung 9kg/6kg AddWash™ Smart Washer Dryer Combo is ideal for this apartment because there wasn’t room for two machines.

It boasts powerful AI Control which personalises washing by remembering habits, suggesting cycles and displaying useful information.

A standout feature is the Powerful Hygiene Steam cycle, which uses steam to saturate clothing and eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria and allergens.

TV

Designed for maximum enjoyment, cutting-edge entertainment was a must-have feature in this custom-built apartment.

From Samsung, we chose the 65″ The Serif White 4K Smart TV for the living zone because it looks amazing and delivers everything!

Some of our favourite features include the incredible colour and contrast with QLED powered by Quantum Dot and the removable included stand. It has exceptional sound, an anti-glare matte display and Ambient Mode for gorgeous aesthetic displays.

Curtains & Blinds

S-Fold Thea Coconut Sheers served other areas of the home perfectly, and it was an easy decision to use them in the apartment.

Running floor to ceiling, they provide abundant filtered light and softness when closed and they open smoothly every single time.

Paired with sheers, the Choices Penrith Bright White Roller Blinds provide excellent light control, privacy and insulation above the workspace.

The sheers and blinds are made to measure from TUISS Blinds Online and are super quick to install. They’re our go-to for affordable curtains and blinds that look anything but!

Doors & Trims

The Sliding Barn Door System was the perfect solution for the walk-in wardrobe door. And the exposed track is Farmhouse goals!

We used this system with the HAV22 door from the Haven Range. It’s the very same door used on the bathroom and interior doors of the main house.

Crafted from solid MDF, the HAV22 is an architectural door that’s great for sound insulation and delivers a luxe look.

The bespoke Evolution Premium Floor-To-Ceiling Cavity Unit is the answer to a bedroom door that doesn’t encroach on floor space. It slides away neatly into the cavity and pops out with a gentle push.

When open, the unit provides the natural light of open-plan living, and when closed, the benefits of a closed room. It’s the best of both worlds!

Like other parts of the home, we used a combination of Silktrim Replica Architraves 85x18mm and Silktrim Replica Skirting Boards 188x18mm in the apartment.

Ready-primed and moisture-resistant, these sophisticated finishing touches are a simple way to elevate rooms.

Pavers

With a large block to play with, we were very lucky that we had excellent outdoor space for this apartment.

Adding Euro Classic Pavers in Cyprus makes the space feel even larger than it is. We love the way they connect the entertaining areas, pathways and even the top of the retaining walls.

To soften the concrete finish, we manicured the gardens and added a feature tree which will grow into the space over time.

These spaces would not have been possible without the Making HOME sponsors.

Catch up on the Making HOME Renovation Series now!

This article first appeared on Making HOME.