Creative apartment design ideas: brilliant kitchens and living spaces

In a home of any size, the kitchen often becomes more than just a place for meal preparation. It serves as the heart of the home. However, within the optimised space of an apartment, it must also seamlessly blend functionality with social interaction.

“In apartment kitchen design, we need to consider the kitchen not as a separate room but as a central hub that integrates with the living space,” says John. “This demands not only a high level of space efficiency but also an aesthetic that complements the living area.”

John believes when it comes to apartment kitchen design, the key is in the details.

“We need to consider the flow of movement, the triangle of preparation – where you store your food, prepare your food and cook your food – and the integration of appliances in a way that enhances the overall usability of the space.”

“Kitchens morph into the living room space with an island bench being a multi-purpose area where you can prepare, you can cook, you can have a laptop there. It’s always on show, so it’s very important to consider the details and fit-for-purpose materials.”

Moreover, the kitchen’s visibility within the apartment adds another layer of complexity. John emphasises the popularity of butler’s kitchens, a feature of ultra-modern apartment design. A butler’s kitchen is a smaller, secondary kitchen that serves as an area where much of the meal preparation, cleaning and storage take place.

This clever design feature helps to keep the main kitchen less cluttered and more presentable, especially when entertaining guests. It also assists in maintaining the clean lines and open feel of the main living space.

To stay ahead of emerging trends in kitchen design, John attends the EuroCucina trade show in Milan, Italy, each year. He recently observed two aesthetics emerging: a ‘chunky field’ and a ‘sleek field’.

“Benchtops are either super thick in natural stone, with a sort of chunky, solid feel, and you might have large appliances, big tapware and big handles. Then there’s the sleek logic, which is a thinner porcelain benchtop with much finer detailing.”

“Pre-etched stainless steel has had a resurgence as it doesn’t show scratches. Also, in regard to the tactility of surfaces, I’m seeing materials that people can touch and feel that have a texture, rather than plain polished chrome or a plain flat timber laminate.”

Transitioning to the living space, John shares his insights into apartment living room design ideas that maximise both functionality and comfort in the layout of the apartments.

“Apartment living room design must consider proportion and layout to avoid the inefficiencies that can come with certain shapes, like square rooms,” he says.

Instead, Lendlease architects prioritise rectilinear layouts that naturally divide the space into functional zones, such as dining and sitting areas, which can be furnished effectively without wasting space.

Beyond the interior efficiency of apartment living spaces, John also addresses the broader elements that significantly impact the quality of life for residents, focusing on aspects such as balcony design and acoustics, which are top priorities for apartment owners.

• Balconies

Smart apartment balcony design ideas are an essential element of apartment living, especially in the post-COVID era, where people more than ever appreciate the value of outdoor space. John details the ergonomic studies that guide the design of these spaces, ensuring they are large enough to be functional and protected from the elements at the same time.

“We design balconies to enhance the living experience, offering residents a private outdoor area that feels like an extension of their living space,” he says. “It’s important that we tend to recess our balconies so there’s a high degree of protection from wind and rain. A lot of developers will actually have a projecting balcony, which is more exposed to the weather. We are very conscious of our balconies being usable all year round.”

• Acoustics

Acoustics is often a concern for apartment residents. To minimise sound transmission between apartments, a butterfly apartment plan is sometimes used, with bedroom or living room locations mirrored in adjoining apartments.

“Noise comes up as a potential pain point, and people worry about the neighbours,” John says. “We comply with the Building Code of Australia, which has a very high rating. We haven’t had any issues with acoustics on our projects.”

“We try to mirror the same use as the apartment next door. So we’d have bedroom to bedroom or living room to living room, where the same use during the day or night is matched.”

“We’re also conscious of where a lift core is behind an apartment,” John says. “So there’s less noise transfer from the lift to the apartment directly behind it.”

• Privacy

In designing apartment interiors, the focus is on creating living spaces that meet a variety of needs and optimise privacy. Bedrooms are strategically placed at opposite ends or in separate zones to accommodate different living arrangements, such as families or professional roommates, ensuring privacy and comfort.

“In an urban environment, we’re conscious of the proximity of another building,” John says. “So my team will specifically orient a bedroom away from another apartment if we can. We walk through that apartment as if we’re living there. If I’m lying in bed, what am I looking at? We will flip the apartment plan if we think we have a privacy issue with another apartment building nearby.”

• Flexibility

“Quite often, the second or third bedroom is now a study or a small gym,” John says. So “we’re aware of making sure the spaces are flexible so that you can work in the living room and not feel you’re imposing on anybody else in that unit.”

The size of the apartment living room is balanced with that of the bedrooms to avoid hierarchy, promoting equal comfort for all occupants. Additional features like study nooks offer a place to work or sit and chat with someone making a meal in the kitchen.

• Views

While optimising space, acoustics, and privacy are essential, many people would agree that when it comes to life in a high-rise apartment, the views take centre stage. We design our apartments to respond to the environment. We maximise key view lines to icons like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, or the Yarra River in Melbourne. We ensure the design responds to the environment and prioritise cross ventilation so plenty of fresh air can circulate.

Wellness spaces within our properties reflect a significant trend we are now incorporating into our designs. The demand for these facilities has grown, particularly as people increasingly prioritise their health and wellbeing and crave a connection to the surrounding environment.

We respond to this by incorporating indoor pools and gyms, state-of-the-art wellness centres and outdoor spaces in our developments that promote physical and mental health.

“We’re seeing a demand for fitness centres and wellness areas that provide a comprehensive health experience,” says John. This holistic approach extends to the air that residents breathe.

Features like enhanced ventilation systems and the option for advanced air purification methods ensure that the living environment remains safe and healthy.

When it comes to apartment living, Lendlease strives to be at the forefront of innovation and design excellence. Our dedication to creating spaces that meet and exceed the demands of modern life is evident in every detail – from our thoughtfully designed kitchens that serve as multifunctional hubs to strategic layouts that maximise privacy and functionality.

With a commitment to sustainability, aesthetics, and practicality, we’re redefining what it means to live well in compact, sophisticated environments.

Want to know more? Read more about the philosophy that underpins our apartment architecture design.