Checkmate by YSG Studio
Leaning into 70s design influences, Checkmate by YSG Studio transforms a dated and heavy brick residence into a laid back utopia for a family of four in Byron Bay.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Prue Ruscoe I Interior Design: YSG Studio I Styling: Felicity Ng I Build: Webber Build
Once an exposed red brick home laden with heavy timber, Checkmate, by YSG Studio, has been reimagined into a laid back utopia for a family of four, amongst a tropical setting that backs onto the surf in Byron Bay.
The home is a welcome step away from the generic beachside white wall and neutral palette interior—and instead of looking outward, full attention is on what’s happening within, with an interior full of eccentric beats of nostalgia.
The transformation by YSG Studio encompassed both sweeping structural changes and a total material redesign, bridging the home's history with its brand new chapter. The kitchen was completely gutted, doubling its size, adding a ‘front-of-house’ L-shaped counter configuration to the partially concealed galley.
Surprising materiality choices allude to an assortment of inspirations, ranging from yachts to Australiana to skate parks. Timber dominates within, complemented by soft peach and brown tiling, and chrome and marble accents. Playful injections of colour abound, while a 70s inspired sunken lounge in a palette of desert and denim-hued textiles adds another element to the already magically layered spaces.
‘Responding to our clients’ love of deep browns plus vintage pieces, we plumped up the furnishings with an assertive kind of whimsy, adding retro chrome injections,’ says YSG Studio founder, Yasmine Ghoniem.
The interior is a fusion of vintage gems spanning the aesthetic breadth of 50s Italian to the 70s, each piece paying homage to vintage style. High and low pieces share the spaces, all balanced perfectly, without any individual piece demanding too much attention. Within the mix is a limited edition casual denim Cassina armchair, chrome dining chairs (revived with shimmery citron upholstery) and chrome cone bar stools covered in new Kvadrat silk jacquard weaves depicting exotic fronds, against a gingerbread-hued wall sit two armchairs covered in mint and chocolate harlequin-patterned wool. Many pieces are somewhat unexpected, yet as with anything that has the YSG Studio touch, are all in perfect visual harmony.
The use of pattern is a dominate design element applied througout the spaces. Pale ceramic floor tiles have been replaced with square grids of terracotta pavers bound by thick grouting grounding settings in the living areas. Connecting levels, their outlines sync in smaller scale via the main bathroom’s checkered latte and wheat-shaded porcelain tiles, flowing onto the balcony lining the parent’s retreat. Miniature mosaics clad the bathtub, while chunky checkered Kimberley sandstone adorns the guest bathroom downstairs. ‘Replacing sliding doors, we added an outdoor high seat ledge with expressive checkered tiles beyond the study/bar for morning coffees and evening drinks service for friends,’ says Yasmine.
Checkmate is a family-friendly home, which celebrates the retro and quirky with the classic and the timeless, YSG Studio showing us once again that when it comes to interiors, you can never have too much fun or flair!