Sona Decor Singapore spoke to acclaimed Australian interior designer Greg Natale about the inspirations behind his Sydney home, which is filled with colour, geometric design and art.
Home Two-bedroom apartment
Location The Horizon, a 43-storey apartment building in Sydney
Who Lives Here Famous Australian interior designer, Greg Natale
It can be a long journey to achieving one of your dreams. Greg Natale knows this.
He was only in his twenties when he set his eyes on The Horizon – a 43-storey building in Sydney designed by modernist architect Harry Seidler (1923-2006) – however, he immediately knew that he wanted to live there one day.
![greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_38-768x1024-1 Homeowner and designer Greg Natale.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_38-768x1024-1.jpg)
![greg_natale_book_cover_3007183361-hr-853x1024-1 Greg is famed for his iconic style, which he has shared in his design book.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/greg_natale_book_cover_3007183361-hr-853x1024-1.jpg)
Australian Interior Designer, Greg Natale
Greg – who has helmed an eponymous design studio since 2001 – kept this idea in mind for years until being able to purchase his current two-bedroom apartment in the beloved building.
“As I look out from one of those wave-crested concrete balconies, I feel immensely honoured and lucky to live in this iconic structure, which has become a part of the Sydney skyline itself,” he says.
![greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_05-767x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_05-767x1024-1.jpg)
Bright, Brass, Metals
As explained in his new book, “The Patterned Interior”, published by Rizzoli, Greg gave importance to light and touches of bright colour in his home. “I wanted white to feature strongly, with lots of brass and metallic touches— these would work together to harness that brilliant Sydney sunlight, then filter and feature it throughout”, he says.
In the entrance, the geometric taupe and white Yves rug designed by Greg introduces pattern within seconds of stepping foot inside. It combines with Andy Warhol “Flowers” prints in bold tones.
A Kelly Wearstler sculpture, Keith Haring piece, Florence Knoll side table and Restoration Hardware Cathedral brass sconce complement the eye-catching area.
![greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_10-768x1024-1 Greg designed the rug to match the rich details of the coffee table.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_10-768x1024-1.jpg)
![greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_30a-767x1024-1 Metallic accents help to offset the rich colours and the patterns in the room.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_30a-767x1024-1.jpg)
Flair for Flamboyance
Renowned for creating both serene and flamboyant interiors with a mix of contemporary and vintage elements, Greg uses these same principles in his own dwelling where he gives his imagination and creativity free reign.
In the living room, the mirrored wall was designed to reflect the exterior view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The white sheer Skyline by Jab Fabrics curtains feature a chevron stripe, and the shape of the ceiling coffers is echoed in the round coffee tables by Greg Natale.
“By using the furniture to mirror the interior architecture, I could emphasise the curved forms and thereby offset the angles”, Natale explains.
On the wallpapered white and gold backdrop that characterises the main living area, a colourful abstract painting by Waldemar Kolbusz pops out.
The velvet navy sofa by Jonathan Adler with gold and graphic black-and-white cushions by Greg Natale is surrounded by two beige velvet Jonathan Adler Bacharach swivel armchairs with brass bases.
![greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_13-767x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_13-767x1024-1.jpg)
White Dominates the Space
“White dominates my apartment but pattern defines it”, the designer adds.
In the dining room, furnished with white leather Phillips dining chairs and a Van Dyck table with chrome legs (all by Minotti), the Melange Large Flush Mount lamp by Kelly Wearstler, a Greg Natale buffet and a Sydney Ball artwork, angles and curves blend.
According to Greg, “What ties it all together is that marble-effect wall treatment and the plethora of metals popping throughout.”
![greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_18-768x1024-1 The terrazzo marble floor adds a sense of dynamism to the formal look of the kitchen.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_18-768x1024-1.jpg)
![greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_27-768x1024-1 The detailed tile design is not just captivating to behold, it also makes the room feel visually larger.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_27-768x1024-1.jpg)
Kitchen
In the more neutral kitchen, the patterned terrazzo floor, grey marble surfaces and brass cabinets continue to create dynamism.
![greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_21-767x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_21-767x1024-1.jpg)
Bedroom
In his bedroom, Greg purchased a Romeo Rega bed on 1stdibs with custom-made cushions in Diane Von Furstenberg fabric. The Yves rug and Hudson nightstands were designed by the Australian designer while other pieces are by Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler.
![greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_29-768x1024-1 The white and gold wallpaper looks stunning against the geometric lines on the rug and side table.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_29-768x1024-1.jpg)
![greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_42-768x1024-1 Everything has been carefully designed, from the layout of the spaces to the drawer configurations.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/greg_natale_darlinghurst_apartment_ii_42-768x1024-1.jpg)
As in the rest of the spaces, artworks of different styles (including op art, pop, minimal and street art) adorn the walls (such as “The Provocateurs” by Retna above the bed), adding more colours and graphic elements to the whole.
“Some pick up the hues or lines of the apartment, others defy them”, says Greg. In the en-suite bathroom, the monochrome mosaic wall was designed by the Australian after one of his trips to Italy as a way to reflect and honour his family origins.
Patterns are Conversation-Starters
“In the world of interior design, pattern is a conversation-starter”, Greg states in his book, which features his apartment among other striking residences.
“It can delight and surprise, refresh or rebel; it can shock, overwhelm, polarise or please. No two people feel the same way about a pattern. But more importantly, pattern can bring a space to life. It introduces a vital layer to the design of a house, delivering a dynamic buzz, adding contrast and balance, injecting warmth, detail and interest. And I couldn’t live without it.”
Photos © The Patterned Interior by Greg Natale, Rizzoli New York 2018. All images used with consent from Greg Natale Pty Ltd © Anson Smart