NEVER TOO SMALL

How Two Sydney Creatives Transformed Their Small Apartment, 55sqm/592sqft
Issue 3 of NTS Magazine is a love letter to Japan — from Tokyo’s bold architecture to the vibrant world of Japanese magazines. Featuring Sir Paul Smith, insider travel guides, and a pull-out poster. Limited copies – get yours now: https://www.nts-store.com/ After years of dreaming about renovating their 55sqm/592sqft apartment in Sydney’s inner west, creative maximalists—artist Kirthana Selvaraj and community worker Vicki Papa—teamed up with designer Nicholas Gurney to create a calm, creative home that that still delivers “big house energy”. Gurney reimagined the layout by removing internal walls and introducing clever custom joinery to streamline storage and define flexible zones for working, resting, and entertaining. A multi-functional dining and work table slides neatly beneath the kitchen benchtop, preserving a clean, open look when not in use. Clever details like circular cut-out handles and mirror panels enhance flow and function, while the couple’s personalities shine through curated art, colourful accents, and “The Everything Room”—a vibrant guest and creative space filled with books, hobbies, and personal treasures. 00:00-01:15 Introduction 01:15-01:39 Location 01:39-02:10 Entrance 02:10-04:17 Living Room 04:17-05:45 Balcony 05:45-08:18 Dining Room 08:18-09:54 Kitchen 09:54-12:17 Bedroom 12:17-15:37 Bathroom 15:37-17:06 Creative Studio 17:06-18:52 Conclusion Artworks mentioned in episode: 2:36 Artwork in living room - Vanetta Nampijinpa Hudson https://yaamaganu.com.au/?s=vanetta 2:49 Artwork in the living room - Moss Hopkins 3:38 Artwork in the living room - Douglas Schofield https://www.instagram.com/dougie_scho... 8:55- Artwork in the kitchen - Vicki Papa https://www.instagram.com/topjobjob/ 11:59 Artwork in bedroom - Karen Black https://www.karenblack.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/karenblacks... 12:06 Artwork in bedroom - Paul Donald https://www.paulcdonald.com/ #smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign How I Live Small Ep.7 Owners: Kirthana Selvaraj and Vicki Papa https://www.kirthanaselvaraj.com/ Designer: https://www.nicholasgurney.com.au/ Produced by New Mac Video Agency Creator: Colin Chee Director & Cinematographer: Nam Tran Producer: Lindsay Barnard Editor: Jessica Ruasol Music: Artlist.io Capao da Canoa by Amos Ever Hadani Flat White feat. Mantrick by Yestalgia Matcha Latte by Aves Cruise Control by LOLEK Crème by Barrell Driving Slow by intomuffins Weekdays in Blue by Simon Berggren Ballads Vanille by Notize Smooth Lab by Simon Berggren Ballads Share your projects with us- https://www.nevertoosmall.com/submiss... Subscribe to our newsletter- https://www.nevertoosmall.com/subscri... Check out our store- https://www.nts-store.com Website- https://www.nevertoosmall.com Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/nvtsmall Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/nvtsmall