You don’t need a large space to create a personal, meaningful home, just look at the dreamy apartment of YSG director, Yasmine Ghoniem!
The designer’s Bondi apartment is just 55 square metres, but every inch is infused with her personality, distinct style, and exceptional use of colour.
Yasmine bought this apartment with her husband Tom Swanson as their first home in 2017. Despite its worn carpet, vinyl, and purple paint, the couple saw potential in its sensible layout (featuring no common walls or internal corridor, ensuring no wasted space) and high ceilings.
Six months of renovations (and numerous design tangents!) followed, although the overall vision remained constant. ‘The emotive sentiment was always the same: creating a retreat where feelings speak far louder than the furnishings,’ Yasmine says.
The interiors were completely overhauled, including new architectural cornices, skirting, bedroom and bathroom joinery. The kitchen was also redone, resulting in Yasmine’s favourite room in the house.
‘It was the most difficult to configure because it was like trying to stuff an elephant into a matchbox,’ Yasmine says of the kitchen. ‘The palette’s fresh and punchy, but neutral enough to not tire of quickly. The lighter peach ceiling makes it soar upwards.’
Opposite the kitchen is the new built-in living room lounge that Yasmine chose instead of a traditional sofa, so as not to overwhelm the space. ‘I had to economise on furniture selections so as not to clutter the floors and walls too much… This way I could control ratios,’ she explains.
If you’re familiar with Yasmine’s work, you’ll know colour is everything, and her home is no exception. ‘No blonde woods and maritime or navy blues, and certainly no all-white palette – that’s sooo not YSG!’ she says.
Dulux and Porter’s Paints underpin most spaces, layered with stone offcuts on ledges, vintage textiles, and eclectic furniture pieces. A delightful feature is the painted kitchen and entry floor – a richly detailed tapestry of salmon pink, hand-painted on the original timber floorboards by long-term YSG collaborators, Creative Finish Sydney.
‘At its very core, my outlook is nourished by the layers of my culture’ says Yasmine of her design aesthetic. ‘Mum’s Australian, Dad’s Egyptian, and I grew up between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, with a few years in between in Australia and a stint in America for studies and work post my schooling days,.’
While a feast for the eyes, this richly layered, tactile space is also remarkably comfortable, inviting Yasmine and Tom to flop into a state of complete relaxation when they swing open their front door.
Yasmine says the home only continues to improve over time, in keeping with her design ethos. ‘Every space I design always looks better six to 12 months after I hand over the keys because humans leave the most incredible scents and traces. You can’t buy that.’
Reeno bench mini from Grazia and Co upholstered in Kiwi Boucle from Pierre Frey. Pion dining table by Sancal from Kezu. Banquette custom designed by YSG made by Materialized (with vintage textiles from Cheesoon and Fitzgerald). Lampe de Marseilles by Le Corbusier from Cul. Antique Moldovianl Kilim Rug from Cadrys. Custom open shelving joinery by YSG with assortment of personal ceramics. Luna Bolster Eggshell cushion by Jardan. Bar niche hand painted by Creative Finishes. Fruit bowl by Timna Taylor from the DEA store. Vase Shigaraki Plateaux Vase from the DEA Store. Stool by Henry Wilson. Artwork ‘Corey Worthington’ by by Nick Santoro from Egg and Dart. Opal Cone Floor lamp by Tom Dixon from Living Edge. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Womb chair Eeero Saarinen from Dedece in wine mohair. Opal Cone Floor lamp by Tom Dixon from Living Edge. Arie Shelf by E15 from Living Edge.Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Home owner and YSG director, Yasmine Ghoniem! Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Reeno bench mini from Grazia and Co upholstered in Kiwi Boucle from Pierre Frey. Pion dining table by Sancal from Kezu. Banquette custom designed by YSG made by Materialized (with vintage textiles from Cheesoon and Fitzgerald). Lampe de Marseilles by Le Corbusier from Cul. Custom open shelving joinery by YSG with assortment of personal ceramics. Luna Bolster Eggshell cushion by Jardan. Bar niche hand painted by Creative Finishes. Fruit bowl by Timna Taylor from the DEA store. Vase Shigaraki Plateaux Vase from the DEA Store. Stool by Henry Wilson. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Banquette custom designed by YSG made by Materialized. Vintage textiles from Cheesoon and Fitzgerald. Window treatments made by Solace with textiles from Zara Home. Antique Moldovianl Kilim Rug from Cadrys. Coffee table custom designed by YSG and made by Euro Marble. Ceramic Wall Vase by Felicity Ng. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Reeno bench mini from Grazia and Co upholstered in Kiwi Boucle from Pierre Frey. Pion dining table by Sancal from Kezu. Banquette custom designed by YSG made by Materialized (with vintage textiles from Cheesoon and Fitzgerald). Lampe de Marseilles by Le Corbusier from Cul. Antique Moldovianl Kilim Rug from Cadrys. Custom open shelving joinery by YSG with assortment of personal ceramics. Luna Bolster Eggshell cushion by Jardan. Bar niche hand painted by Creative Finishes. Fruit bowl by Timna Taylor from the DEA store. Vase Shigaraki Plateaux Vase from the DEA Store. Stool by Henry Wilson. Artwork ‘Corey Worthington’ by by Nick Santoro from Egg and Dart. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Upper cabinetry in Camel Hide by Dulux. Dot Vase Large from Jardan. Bust Candle by Becker Minty Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Custom joinery by YSG made by Xpert Joinery. Lower cabinetry in Deep Reed by Dulux. Calacutta Manhattan marble from Med Marble. Vintage ceramic bowls from the DEA store. Coffee plunger by Jardan. Phoenix Mixer from Sydney Taps. Custom patterned hand painted floor by Creative Finishes. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
‘The palette’s fresh and punchy, but neutral enough to not tire of quickly. The lighter peach ceiling makes it soar upwards,’ says Yasmine. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Dulux and Porter’s Paints underpin most spaces, layered with stone offcuts on ledges, vintage textiles, and collected treasures. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
‘Swirl Tables’ by Tom Dixon from Living Edge. Table Lamp ‘Bellhop’ lamp by Flos from Living Edge. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Bed linen by Major Minor from the DEA Store. Nude Linen and Luna Bolster Eggshell pillows by Jardan. Floral Bolster custom designed by YSG for the NGV installation and made by Think Positive. Vintage bed throw by Cheesoon and Fitzgerald. Roy floor lamp in bronze by VBO. Rug by Kulchi. ‘Swirl Tables’ by Tom Dixon from Living Edge.‘Bellhop’ lamp by Flos from Living Edge. Signed photo from the Baz Luhrmann Romeo and Juliet production by Hugh Stewart. Paper Mache mask from Hay. Artwork ‘Still Life’ by Mariusz Zdybalv from The Vault. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Custom joinery by YSG made by Xpert joinery in Porter’s Paint Biscotti. Kartell Bedside table from Space. ‘Revised Ovington’ lamp from Space. Custom made bedhead by Materialized with vintage fabric from Cheesoon and Fitzgerald. Bed linen by Major Minor from the DEA store. Pillows by Jardan. Floral bolster custom made by YSG for the NGV installation and made by Think Positive. Stansborough wool throw from DEA store. Custom made blinds by Solice. Sunset textiles made by Think Positive for the NGV Installation by YSG. Vintage tapestry artwork on floor from Rudi Rocket.Artwork on wall ‘Barrier Highway, Cobar NSW’ by Robert Gray. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Floor runner from Kulchi. Stool by Henry Wilson. Custom joinery by YSG made by Xpert joinery in Porter’s Paint Biscotti. Stansborough Wool throw from DEA store. Artwork ‘Mr Tallmadge’ by James King (2015) from Becker Minty. Framed scarf by Kushana Bush from Cheesoon and Fitzgerald. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
Marmarino render on walls. Stone from Med Marble. Joinery custom designed by YSG in Dulux Grey Pail. Wall Shelf from Living Edge. Photo – Prue Ruscoe. Styling – Felicity Ng
