The Design Files: A slice of Scandinavia in Sydney furniture designer Frag Woodall’s home
WHO: Furniture designer Frag Woodall, his wife Naomi and their young son Beau.
WHERE: Kensington, NSW.
WHAT: A slice of Scandinavia in Sydney.
Designer and furniture maker Frag Woodall of MrFrag Studios in his Sydney home. Photo: Eve Wilson
The two-bedroom apartment of designer Frag Woodall and his wife Naomi feels like a little slice of Scandinavia, in the heart of central Sydney.
“Having spent some time in Scandinavia, we have always been enamoured with the traditional ‘summer houses’, and the way they make the most of the light,” says Frag. Almost all the design and decoration choices in Frag and Naomi’s two-bedroom Kensington apartment reflect this inherent European sensibility.
One of nine in this 1930s block, Frag and Naomi’s apartment was dark and neglected when the pair first took possession in 2011. It had very few redeeming features, but Frag could see its potential. He was particularly drawn to the layout.
The living room with Grasshopper lamp designed by Greta M Grossman from Cult, antique Japanese vase, and a lounge redesigned by Mr.Frag studios. Photo: Eve Wilson
“It’s only small at 80 square metres, but it has a circular layout with no dead space or hallways,” the designer explains.
“You get an aspect into at least two other rooms from any place you’re standing.”
Frag had a clear vision of what he wanted to create here right from the beginning.
One of nine in this 1930s block, Frag and Naomi’s apartment was dark and neglected when the pair first took possession. Photo: Eve Wilson
Taking on the roles of designer and builder, he started work straight away to transform the space into a light, airy and welcoming home.
“I wanted a simple, reduced colour and material palette, but a heightened attention to detail, hence the softened corners on the walls, corded light switches and the handmade shutters,” says Frag.
Frag is all about the details. He machined his own customised curved architraves for the windows, and softened the hard corners on all the internal doorways here by physically sawing and sanding back the plasterwork by hand.
Hanging cabinets and peg rail designed and built by MrFrag Studios, with vases and vessels by Anne Black, Samantha Robinson and Object Gallery. Photo: Eve Wilson
In their original state, the floorboards were not pretty, with lots of defects and knotholes, so it was agreed they would be painted white throughout. The consistent use of white on floors and walls is balanced by the use of rough Baltic pine panelling in the living room. Timber ceiling beams have also been added throughout the apartment – the larger ones across openings are structural, while the lighter beams are not structural but create a sense of rhythm and continuity, linking the various spaces.
In keeping with Frag’s impressively restrained palette and intense attention to detail, there’s also a great deal of consistency in the pared-back selection of furniture, artwork and accessories here. Much of the furniture has been designed and made by Frag, while a few key vintage finds add depth and interest.
“I was conscious of not changing colours and materials too much between the rooms, which helps it feel much larger than it is,” Frag explains. “It was important to us to develop a calmness with simple and pared-back furniture, letting the light and natural surroundings do all the work.”
Vedel timber bird sculpture, vintage books and Amanda Dziedzic glass dome vessel. Photo: Eve Wilson
The Design Files guide to Scandi style
Scandinavian style is simple, pared back and yet sophisticated. For Sydney designer Frag Woodall, this aesthetic translates easily into the relaxed Australian lifestyle.
Nordic style is, in fact, born out of the context of making the most of scarce light through winter. For this reason, a palette of whites and soft neutrals that optimises natural light is often employed, with mood lighting to create a cosy, welcoming atmosphere.
Start with a simple, reduced colour and materials palette, using calm neutral tones, or a strict monochromatic scheme.
Add “cosiness” with soft textiles, and lamps for indirect mood lighting.
Seek out original Scandinavian design flourishes – Marimekko (from Finland) for bold textiles, Great Dane (Denmark) for high-end furniture and lighting, and of course IKEA for accessible original design with a distinctly Swedish sensibility.
