Inside Sydney Architect’s Clever DIY Transforming Apartment, 51sqm/549sqft

Never Too Small

Issue 2 is all about finding ways to slow down in the city, but don’t go slow in getting your copy! Get your copy now visit https://www.nevertoosmall.com/store  Architect, artist and furniture designer Matt Reynolds designed and self built most of the interior of his compact and tranquil seaside apartment, aptly named beâCHâlet. Inspired by caravans and yachts, the design maximises every inch with clever features like a false plywood ceiling for adaptable lighting, hidden skirting board drawers, and multi-functional furniture on wheels for flexibility. Sliding screens and ceiling-mounted curtains transform the living area into a home gym or private space for guests, while an elevated platform bed creates a cosy nook with storage underneath. The result is a thoughtfully crafted home that seamlessly blends efficiency, functionality, and a warm, personal touch.  Watch the original apartment tour here ✨https://youtu.be/p7bWtw5BjFo?si=rTjpBEbXTBn-1GP8   00:00-01:30 Introduction 01:30-02:42 Entrance  02:42-04:41 Kitchen 04:51-06:25 Garage  06:25-11:40 Living Area  11:40-14:38 Main Bedroom 14:38-17:04 Guest Bedroom 17:04-18:16 Bathroom and Laundry 18:16-19:08 Conclusion  #smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign   How I live small Ep.5  Project Name: beâCHâlet Owner: Matt Reynolds https://www.mattr.studio/   Produced by New Mac Video Agency Creator: Colin Chee Director & Cinematographer: Nam Tran Producer: Lindsay Barnard Editor: Jessica Ruasol Music: Artlist.io Lang La Ku Shona by Guy Buttery Forgotten Dreams by Aves Hands Held High by Aves Sunchilling by Vicate Microdose by Roie Shpigler Back to Reality by Okaya o k t o b u by Benny Bronco ctrl by Lalinea The Game Is Mine feat HMD by Superlative First Garden by sero Such a Shame by Nomad Producer On My Own by Sedley Beats Someone Will by Shinto Milan by WOOLFSON

Transcript

00:05I love every space in this apartment.

00:10It's just designed to suit how I live.

00:15I'm particularly drawn to caravans and yachts, boats, those sorts of things.

00:22A lot of my friends have kind of commented on the fact that I'll have a quite large space and

00:27then I'll start infilling it with other things to make it a bit smaller and cosier.

00:33I suppose I wouldn't feel at home in a really massive space, plus I'd have to clean more.

00:42G'day, my name is Matt Reynolds, I am the founder of Matter Studio and we're in Beach

00:48Chalet today.

00:49It's an apartment that I designed and built myself.

00:56I live here on my own with my collections of books and sporting equipment, magazines and

01:01clothes.

01:03I've lived here since 2012 I think.

01:07I bought the place after jogging by one day and made an offer and fortunately had the opportunity

01:13to buy it.

01:14It was pretty run down.

01:17Because it was in a state of a little bit of disrepair there was an opportunity there to

01:21come in and really tidy it up and I thought I could get in here and do something special

01:25with it.

01:29Entering the place.

01:31Got a nice little art gallery here.

01:34This houses a beautiful print from my friend Carolina Aranchez.

01:40Enter the Genkan.

01:42Shoes off.

01:43Shoes into shoe holder.

01:46This element actually is hinged at the front underneath here and so it can tip forward.

01:52It'll also lose all the shoes but I've got long term storage hidden underneath there and

01:57that's why it's long term so that I don't lose all the shoes all the time.

02:01The little art space here opens up from the rear and so I can place my friend here and I

02:08can also see when someone's delivering me some Uber Eats or whatever it is and then that

02:14closes back up.

02:16That's also chalkboard paint I've never written on it but I could write my recipes or shopping

02:22list on it but I can't take that shopping list with me.

02:25And then overhead we've just got recycled off cuts from all the plywood joinery so they're

02:31just a mixture of the different timbers that I've used and they come through as the ceiling.

02:36There's a bit of pegboard behind that as well and that masks where the original hallway

02:41light was.

02:42The kitchen's primarily black, it's got again cork floors because if you drop something

02:48it's more likely to not break when it hits cork.

02:52I often do a black kitchen primarily so I can integrate all the appliances and make them

02:58kind of disappear in the bench top etc.

03:00Skirting board drawers, IKEA used to do a skirting board drawer they should bring it back so that's

03:06an IKEA skirting board drawer.

03:08I think drawers give you the opportunity to get back to the back of the space really easily.

03:13Short term pantry in there, long term pantry over here.

03:17Tucked away in here, full size microwave.

03:21This is an IKEA bench when they used to do solid timber benches, they don't do that anymore

03:25unfortunately.

03:26This used to be an IKEA bench top but then I've replaced it with off cuts from my dining

03:29table and then just stained at Japan Black.

03:32It probably needs a new lease on life eventually, I might put a steel top on this or zinc or

03:37something

03:37like that.

03:38Even if I'm preparing a meal here I've still got room to put ingredients along the back

03:42there as well.

03:43And that depth also gives me room around the back of my sink to hold those everyday appliances

03:49which I tend to use more often than things that I'll store away.

03:54My glassware is all up above here and I had the large windows behind that and I wanted to

04:00make sure that I still kept the light coming through that space.

04:03And so what better place to store my glassware than in front of a window so I can still have

04:08the light come through that.

04:09I use this trolley for everything and so that rolls out of the way and then I just feel like

04:15I've got all of this room in my kitchen.

04:17I've got the classic triangle going with the fridge, the sink, the cooktop but I also have

04:23the bin here and so when I'm prepping food all my food waste is going straight into the

04:29bin.

04:29So I can cook really efficiently here.

04:32the spotlights, I can reposition them so I'm not getting shadows from behind.

04:39I've also got LED lights hidden up inside.

04:42When I'm prepping food the lights coming from a source in front of me so I'm not overshadowing

04:47what I'm cutting so I'm not going to chop my fingers off hopefully.

04:51Beach Chalet evolved over kind of a seven year period because I was working you know in big

04:58practice and I was being sent overseas quite often it meant that this is a long drawn out

05:04process to build the place.

05:05So I got to tinker on designs but when I committed to a design that's when I went downstairs and

05:12cut it out and built it.

05:14So I built a shed in the carport to then renovate this place.

05:18The fact that it was a larger car park deeper meant that I knew I could store things at the

05:22back and eventually build a shed.

05:24I'd figure out a room, draw it and then I didn't do technical drawings.

05:31I'd literally write I need a piece 300mm by 700mm by 15mm and then head downstairs and spend an entire

05:40day cutting out all of those objects so that I could then assemble them.

05:50This is a living area.

05:52Love the sighting screen.

05:54Creates a quiet calm space when it's closed and then when I open it up you've got all that

05:59multimedia etc.

06:01Behind here we've got more pegboard so I can do things behind the TV and hang up different artworks.

06:07What's that thing on top of the TV?

06:09So I'm part of the Nielsen surveys so I determine what Australia watches.

06:14So if it's crap TV or if it's good TV I vote on it.

06:19I'm not going to answer that question on the grounds that I might incriminate myself.

06:25I have a lot of stuff but I've also designed this space to hide a lot of stuff.

06:30So whilst you look around here today and I've got tons of stuff on display,

06:35all my collections of books and magazines and other accoutrements from travelling around the world,

06:40you're seeing the tip of the iceberg.

06:42And Beach Chalet hides 80% of the stuff I own.

06:47Generally I close this down.

06:49I probably don't have both open at the same time.

06:51Unless I'm watching self-help videos on how to exercise.

06:55But then I'll get the gym going.

06:57And so these are two curtains that can go all the way around the living room

07:01and carve it off as a separate room.

07:05And then you've got access to the wall bar.

07:07There's a yoga mat curled away.

07:11I am not going to show you a pull up at the moment but there's a pull up bar.

07:16This element then goes down onto the wall bar.

07:21And you've got your home gym to do all your workouts.

07:25Not that I do many of them.

07:27Now up to the balcony.

07:28Not the greatest day in Bronte this morning.

07:31Got a barbecue out here.

07:33It's on a slide out deck.

07:34And that was going to bang into my plants.

07:37And so it pulls out.

07:40Should have cleaned that after the last stake.

07:42I've also got an irrigation system.

07:45And so then you can set your timer for different amounts of watering each day.

07:49And that plugs into my kind of crazy little water bottle here.

07:53So I can go away overseas.

07:56And my plants will survive for a week or two.

07:58And then behind you is the crazy overgrown jungle.

08:03That's partly creating a screen to my neighbours next door.

08:09I've got sheer curtains here that go all the way across.

08:12I can also take these curtains all the way around the apartment.

08:16So overhead I've got a track.

08:19And these curtains can come around the dining table.

08:23If I do have more than two guests over here.

08:28And I need to use these as beds as well.

08:30I can close this space right off.

08:33This curtain can then draw all the way across.

08:36And go out of the way.

08:38The sofa is much like the sideboard and the coffee table.

08:42All on wheels.

08:44If I have guests over.

08:45I can make these into beds.

08:49I think it is important to be able to move things around.

08:52I think probably the sleeping and couch configuration here.

08:58In this living room.

08:59Drives a certain solution with the dining table.

09:02This configuration works so well.

09:05That to reconfigure might block off access out of the balcony.

09:08And those sorts of things.

09:09Probably in the future.

09:10If I was doing more of these sorts of renovations.

09:13I'd try and build in just a little bit more flexibility.

09:16With some of the furniture.

09:18So that you can refresh it.

09:20Like you're a teenage kid in their bedroom.

09:21And change the posters of a rock band.

09:25At this end of the table.

09:27I've kind of set it up as a work station.

09:30So I've got some hidden storage.

09:32Hidden under here.

09:34A ton of power outlets.

09:36So then I can just set up for a working day at home.

09:39If I'm not using the guest room.

09:43I've built the light myself as well.

09:45And designed it.

09:46I wanted to make sure that this light wouldn't blow around.

09:50When I had both doors open.

09:51And so I thought I can use dowel as a suspension member.

09:54And then I just got two pieces of brass tube.

09:58And then put an LED strip light underneath them.

10:00And then probably poking out this side.

10:03Is a little bit of the cabling.

10:05But that goes up and into the ceiling.

10:07And into the wiring.

10:08And hey presto.

10:09You've got a suspended feature light above your dining table.

10:13I wanted to kind of create the living space underneath the dropped ceiling.

10:17That said I also needed to hide where the original light fixture outlets were in the ceiling.

10:23So I created a false ceiling of plywood.

10:26So I could then run cabling wherever I wanted to.

10:30Here's a mistake in Beach Chalet.

10:32I've done my measurements off the skinniest wine bottle available in the market.

10:36Without knowing it.

10:37And so unfortunately I can't get the bigger bottles in to these stacks.

10:40So they slide in at the other end.

10:43But it means that I've got to choose skinny bottles to go up the middle rack.

10:48This is linen cupboard.

10:49And ironing board.

10:52And all those necessary items that you need.

10:54All built specifically for the particular ironing board I had.

10:59Toiletries etc.

11:01Main bedroom.

11:03The back of the door.

11:05This is a map of Bronte.

11:06And so I think that's my unit block there.

11:09Above doors is an opportunity to put more storage.

11:12And then that way you also create a threshold coming into a room.

11:15Like an entry space.

11:16There's a bit more storage.

11:18A bit more shoes.

11:19Overhead.

11:19You know just cupboards for more storage.

11:21And then these are all the items you need to get to every day.

11:24Your wallet and your keys and your phones etc.

11:27That's all IKEA systems.

11:29And I've just put a plywood front on them.

11:31These handles I made myself as well.

11:35Again the pegboard reappears from the living room.

11:38So I can just slide these out.

11:41Take the glass out.

11:43So I can replace those prints.

11:45My dad was an optometrist.

11:46And that's one of the testing sheets that he had.

11:50And again the false ceiling overhead.

11:52Creates this little nook where the bed sits.

11:55And I can have my bed with the head on this end.

11:58Or I can move my bed over to have its head facing off that end.

12:03This lamp which is again on a bayonet fitting.

12:06It comes out of the wall.

12:07And I can take that next door and put it up in the living room.

12:10That's a David Truebridge Coral lamp.

12:15And then I can also open these up as well.

12:18For some reason in this apartment block they built these windows across the top here.

12:22And then all I'm doing is trying to keep the light out when I'm going to sleep.

12:25Because that's facing east and I'm getting all of that morning sunlight.

12:28And I'm not necessarily a morning person.

12:31My wardrobe and this is all basically IKEA kit.

12:35And then I've hacked the wardrobe doors.

12:38Because IKEA do separate glazed mirrored components.

12:43So they don't crack on transport.

12:44But you can pull out the T-bars and just replace it with a whole sheet of mirror.

12:49And these wardrobes actually go down to the floor.

12:52So you know rather than lose that space.

12:55Those coats go down into the floor space.

12:59Underneath me all of my long term storage for camping equipment and that sort of stuff.

13:05I love playing with compression and expansion.

13:09I love playing with stepping up and stepping down platforms.

13:13My previous practice name was Platform Architecture.

13:16But it was too long when people were typing it into searches.

13:20And so I shortened that to Matter Studio.

13:22But I still love platforms.

13:23And it's about creating a sense of a different room.

13:27Without necessarily putting a wall in.

13:30All of a sudden I've created this elevated little zone.

13:33That brings the ceiling down lower.

13:35Even though the ceiling didn't change.

13:37But it creates a cosy nook in that space.

13:39And doubles up with plenty of storage underneath.

13:42The platform is literally just built on timber stud work.

13:45On top of the existing floor below.

13:48So if someone wants to come in here and pull that out.

13:51First of all I'd cry.

13:53But secondly they can just remove all of the timber.

13:56And reconfigure it back to a flat floor.

13:59Guest bedroom.

14:01I'm fortunate enough to live alone.

14:03And have this as a guest room for when visitors come over.

14:06If I do work from home.

14:08This is a beautiful space to work in the tree canopy.

14:12These are both pull out beds.

14:14So that'll slide out.

14:15The cushion unwraps.

14:17And this is a fold down desk.

14:18So that will fold down against the wall.

14:20When this big iMac isn't here.

14:22So that we can have both beds out.

14:24If there's more than two people visiting.

14:28This is a big sliding wall panel.

14:30So this becomes the door.

14:32And there's also a pin up inspiration wall.

14:36A plywood ceiling to allow me to move lighting around.

14:41And where I'm standing on a platform once again.

14:44And again more storage underneath.

14:46Quite slim drawers.

14:48It's kind of a hybrid room.

14:50It serves well as a guest room.

14:51But not well enough.

14:52And so I think I'm going to eventually replace all of this.

14:56Put a queen size bed.

14:58Window bed up against this wall.

14:59And then having built in joinery along this wall.

15:03With a fold down desk.

15:05So that will become quite a nice little nook.

15:08Bicycles as well.

15:09This is a steel frame that I had built for me.

15:12When I used to race in the 1980s.

15:16Funnily enough.

15:17I got some Reynolds wheels.

15:19Which is my last name.

15:20I basically add my plywood carcasses.

15:25To kind of infill around things.

15:27Also having a support for this overhead cupboard to go across.

15:31And keep all your silly collections of kids toys that you've had since forever.

15:36My siblings might be kind of interested to know that I've got one of our first sets of Lego from

15:42the 1970s.

15:43And I think living small gives you an opportunity to keep editing how much you own.

15:49And keep minimizing.

15:50I'm not a minimalist.

15:51You can tell from where I live.

15:53But it also keeps a cap on how maximalist I might be.

15:57I find it difficult to throw pieces away.

16:00Particularly because they remind me of when I bought them.

16:02And where I bought them.

16:03And a time in my life.

16:05And so I want to hold onto them.

16:06But I'm probably not wearing them as often.

16:09And I'm not reading that book as much as I used to.

16:11And so that's the point in time where you have to think about letting go.

16:15And some of these things can be anchors.

16:17And so it's about letting go of those anchors.

16:20And giving yourself an opportunity to live more life into the future.

16:26So bathroom.

16:27It's a bathroom and a laundry.

16:29Behind this screen is a washer and a dryer.

16:34And then two different drawers for whites and colours.

16:37All my laundry detergents etc up in there.

16:41A little nook for the toilet.

16:44Nice piece of joinery here with fold out storage for all the mess that happens.

16:49Another cupboard here.

16:51We have a cupboard door here.

16:53Living alone I don't have to worry too much about going to the toilet or having a shower.

16:57But when guests are over obviously we need a door.

16:59So I've got a sliding mirrored door there.

17:02High NAM in the background.

17:03And then for that extra bit of privacy that can lock down through here.

17:09That's also got a hole on the other side.

17:11So that if someone were to pass out in here we can push it through with a pen.

17:14And open the bathroom door up.

17:17I've installed heat lights so it doesn't get too cold in winter in here.

17:21So there's an infrared heat lamp and exhaust fan as well.

17:25That's western red cedar.

17:27So sometimes it can smell like you're in a sauna.

17:30Which is a lovely kind of smell to have in a bathroom.

17:33At least for me some people might not like that.

17:35But I love the smell of saunas.

17:37Beach Chalet helps me live the life I want to live.

17:40Because it's cosy.

17:43It's calm.

17:44It's tranquil.

17:45So it also serves its purpose.

17:47It's a functional space.

17:48You know form follows function.

17:51Like I'm sure other people couldn't live in this home the way I live in it.

17:56But things are designed to specifically suit my needs.

17:59Living small can be a challenge.

18:01But it's also a challenge I wanted to take on.

18:06You soon learn about efficiencies in life.

18:09I love designing for small space because there's always a solution to those problems.

18:16You soon.

18:19You soon.

18:25You soon.

18:27You soon.

18:28You soon.

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