After a decade spent seaside in Tamarama, Sophie Coote felt pulled to the city. The rest is kismet: together with partner Jordy Burrows, the pair found “the one” – and only – apartment they viewed in Surry Hills, and two days later called it home. The move felt like a natural extension of Coote’s everyday life. After all, as one half of Australian label SIR., which she co-founded with Nikki Campbell in 2014, Coote’s modus operandi is to immerse herself in new places, journeying through different cities to arrive at the root of a new collection. Last year, she travelled to Japan, Milan and Ibiza, bouncing between galleries, vintage stores and fabric archives. So, what does she look for in a permanent pad?
Architectural Charm
“I love the classic bones of an older property,” says Coote. Tick – the apartment building, originally a hospital, is newly renovated but retains an art deco feel. “I love classic Victorian influences in architecture,” she adds. “I love big windows, wooden floorboards and old frames, vintage tiles and hardware.” The two-bedroom, two-storey apartment is her vision IRL. There are original Victorian windows, new herringbone floorboards and polished concrete walls that run the length of the building, meaning light streams in all day so one can catch sunrise and sunset. The main bedroom and bathroom are on the top floor, with an open-plan kitchen and living area that spill out onto the balcony, boasting harbour views. Downstairs, alongside a guest bedroom, the space has been customised for Coote’s wardrobe, filled with vintage finds sourced in Paris and New York.
Design Philosophy
“There are so many parallels between my personal aesthetic, how I dress, and the home,” she says. “I love a fusion of old and new. I love finding a vintage designer piece that has that uniqueness that no-one else has.” She cites friend and interior designer Tamsin Johnson, who outfitted SIR.’s stores, as an inspiration. For the apartment, Coote turned to local haunt Vampt Vintage Design and trawled through books and Instagram to find her own objets d’affection. The turnkey apartment came with the couch, which the pair chose to keep – a complimentary blank canvas to their new rug and coffee table by Fleur Studios. “I have always loved a more neutral, minimalist space,” says Coote, “but then adding a piece of art or a sculpture that allows the space to pop.” Figurative works by Stanislas Piechaczek frame the lounge, while pieces by James Coe adorn other corners in the home. “I love artists who work with colour combinations that are unexpected but work really beautifully together,” she says. “It reminds me of something that would be done by a high-fashion house.” Art imitating life.
Lifestyle & Leisure
For Christmas, Coote gifted Burrows an old record player. “Music is a huge part of our life – we listen every single day,” she says. Burrows curates the SIR. store playlists, while live music is a cornerstone of the brand’s travel itineraries – which most recently included performances by Crazy P at Ibiza’s Pikes Hotel and at Glastonbury. At home, while music is (always) playing, Coote can be found designing or cooking upstairs. Her go-to meals? Hearty soups and baked salmon. The pair entertain occasionally, or else go out for meals. Of home, she says: “It’s our hideaway from the world.” Coote knows every gastronomic artery in the neighbourhood. “Surry Hills has a real melting pot of interesting people. It’s got amazing cafes and restaurants,” she says. Per Coote: head to Tento for matcha, Chez Crix for French fare with a view, Arthur for date night, and Bar Copains for an afternoon wine.
Looking Ahead
It’s easy to forget the pair have lived in the neighbourhood less than a year. So, what comes next? “I hope we continue to collect pieces from our travels,” Coote says. “When you look at your home and it’s filled with memories – I love that approach.”
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Words: Jen Nurick
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