< Previous84 THE EYE Half-Egyptian, half-Australian, Yasmine Saleh Ghoniem’s tactile interiors reflect a mix of global influences, as this Sydney home reveals Words Karine Monié Photography Prue Ruscoe Styling Felicity Ng MUST TRAVEL AD_040_84-91_Arena_Sydney Yasmine_11755398.indd 8425/08/2021 04:03:30 PMThe kitchen, built by Jonathan West to Yasmine’s design, has poplar burl timber veneer cabinetry with solid timber American ash handles. The island is topped with Black Fantasy quartzite from Artedomus. AD_040_84-91_Arena_Sydney Yasmine_11755398.indd 8525/08/2021 04:03:41 PMNCONVENTIONAL COLOUR SELEC- TIONS AND NATURAL MATERIAL S like timber and stone are my go-to’s,” explains Yas- mine Saleh Ghoniem. “And I’m always drawn to tactile surface fi nishes. My interiors are intended to age gracefully – in fact, they look better with age.” This very personal aesthetic pervades the three-story, her- itage-listed property that Ghoniem renovated in Sydney for a family of four. Preserving the historical essence of a late 19th-century Victorian Georgian corner shop while turning it into a 700-square- metre, four-bedroom home with different stylistic infl uences was at the heart of the concept of this extensive transformation. Born in Kuwait to an Egyptian father and Australian mother, Gho- niem is accustomed to mixing references, using her nomadic up- bringing as the starting point for her projects. “I grew up in a desert,” she says. “Given the unforgiving heat, I spent a lot of time indoors in the AC. When I looked out the window, soft brown shades reigned for miles. So my imagination became my oasis.” After swinging from Kuwait to Egypt to Saudi Arabia and Australia in her childhood, Ghoniem studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design and went on to work at three different architectural fi rms in the United States. This was followed by a stint as an aid worker in Kenya, where she helped to build schools, and a year-long trip across southeast Asia and Europe. With such a rich range of experiences, it comes as no surprise that Ghoniem’s interiors are inimitable. “My travels have left a very tangi- ble collage of memories in my mind, which I constantly draw upon,” she says. “That’s why texture plays such a strong role in my work.” Ghoniem founded Sydney-based studio YSG last year after realis- ing a number of award-winning projects with her sister, the land- U AD_040_84-91_Arena_Sydney Yasmine_11755398.indd 8625/08/2021 04:03:54 PM00 In a corner of the main living area, Reeno benches from Grazia&Co have been covered in Pierre Frey mohair and alpaca bouclé. The silver travertine dining table was designed by YSG and the pendant is from DCW Editions. OPPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP: The designer; the former 19th- century corner store exterior of the home. AD_040_84-91_Arena_Sydney Yasmine_11755398.indd 8725/08/2021 04:04:09 PM88 In the main living area, Yasmine designed a custom daybed and a sliding screen with a hand-woven textile from Planet to conceal the television. The Oluce Plume wall light is from Moebel. AD_040_84-91_Arena_Sydney Yasmine_11755398.indd 8825/08/2021 04:04:27 PMAD_040_84-91_Arena_Sydney Yasmine_11755398.indd 8925/08/2021 04:04:40 PMThe study has a vintage table and chairs from Curated Spaces. The striped vessel and fl oor lamp are vintage pieces. The large artwork is by Rune Christensen, courtesy of Piermarq. AD_040_84-91_Arena_Sydney Yasmine_11755398.indd 9025/08/2021 04:04:49 PMscape architect Katy Svalbe, and shapes spaces to tell stories. “I guess I’m a choreographer of sorts because space occupies my mind as much as tangible furnishings and fi xtures,” explains the designer. “All my interiors are sculptural and interconnected to create an overarch- ing narrative.” This project took three years to complete due to council approvals and structural alterations to maintain original features. Initially char- acterised by its oddly confi gured pokey rooms, the intent was to open up the main living area to unite the kitchen, dining and living room on the ground fl oor. Upstairs, some of the major changes included creat- ing a light-fi lled library and a principal suite with a bathroom and a walk-in-wardrobe. In addition to providing a better fl ow, the remode- ling refl ects Ghoniem’s innovative use of materials. In the kitchen, for example, the worktop is crowned with leathered quartzite and a join- ery wall that also conceals the refrigerator is covered in a mottled poplar burl veneer. Oversized vertical handles act as framing devices to the natural grain patterns. “I love the sensation you get from run- ning your fi ngers over its pitted surface,” says the designer. In keeping with the building’s heritage, Ghoniem also introduced salvaged granite steps leading to the kitchen from the front door and to the adjoining dining room. They were bush hammered to look as though they belong to the original build. Elsewhere, Ghoniem took inspiration from the quiet restraint of traditional Japanese interiors: a batik-covered sliding shoji frame to conceal the TV, and the main bedroom’s wardrobe and bed frame are lined with a tatami-like mat- ting of vintage seagrass. A refi ned, tonal colour palette has been used throughout with a few bold fl ourishes: citrine and amber in the lounge area’s dip-dyed rug, a honey hue in the kitchen, peridot velvet chairs at the head of the din- ing table, and aquamarine in the principal bedroom. “Perfection in my book is about cohesive clashes and unpredictable conclusions,” she says. “It’s imperative that design outcomes supersede our clients’ wildest expectations. ysg.studio 91 FROM TOP: A Corteccia quartzite vanity unit in the main ensuite; contrasting textures have been brought together in the main bedroom. The custom walnut bedhead and bedside table were designed by YSG, the Berber rug is from Loom and the Italian-style reading lights were a 1stDibs fi nd. AD_040_84-91_Arena_Sydney Yasmine_11755398.indd 9125/08/2021 04:05:05 PMSHORE THING AD_040_92-99_Arena_Montauk_11754166.indd 9225/08/2021 05:37:05 PMThe outdoor kitchen is a bespoke design made from plaster. OPPOSITE PAGE: The custom white oak dining table is surrounded by campaign chairs in undyed leather and white oak by California design studio Stahl + Band. The wicker pendant is by Atelier Vime. With its organic textures, sun-bleached hues and indoor-outdoor architecture, life’s a beach at SoulCycle founder Julie Rice’s Hamptons holiday home Words Amy Bradford Photography Chris Mottalini AD_040_92-99_Arena_Montauk_11754166.indd 9325/08/2021 05:44:21 PMNext >