snug club
Snug Club is a 23 sqm self-contained studio apartment in Fitzroy, conceived as a space entirely distinct from the client’s primary residence - a room designed for mood, pleasure and escape.
Purchased alongside the main home, the apartment forms part of a pair of off-the-plan dwellings. While one became the client’s residence, the second was imagined as something altogether separate: part guest retreat, part entertaining space, part private world of its own.
At the briefing, the ambition was for the space to feel like a “snug” - intimate, layered and a little moody - drawing on the spirit of a club. Not the exclusive kind, but one defined by ease and invitation; somewhere to settle into and stay a while.
The interior is organised around a sunken conversation pit, which acts as the gravitational centre of the space. It anchors both the spatial arrangement and the social rhythm of the room - a place to gather, stretch out or retreat. A removable centre ottoman allows the pit to shift between lounge, daybed and informal dining, supporting a range of uses within a compact footprint.
Materiality plays an expressive role throughout. The pit’s bolster, upholstered in a Camengo velvet jacquard, introduces depth and movement, while a painterly Roman blind offers a looser, more fluid counterpoint. Walls and ceiling are drenched in burgundy, drawing the room inward, offset by the rawness of the exposed concrete above the pit. A palette of burgundy, blue and gold moves through the space, with amber tones lending warmth and luminosity.
Practical without being driven by utility, expressive without excess, and polished without becoming precious, Snug Club is defined by atmosphere - immersive, transportive, and entirely its own.
Lighting is central to the experience. A Murano chandelier hangs above the pit, its sculptural glass casting a soft, diffused glow. It is complemented by wall lights, an Akari floor lamp, a lit plexiglass mirror and vintage table lamps, creating layered pockets of light that shift throughout the day. A concealed LED strip traces the edge of the pit, giving the impression that it is illuminated from within.
Furniture and objects are curated to feel collected over time. Chrome, glass and glazed finishes are threaded through the scheme. From the frames of vintage chairs to the surface of a glass-and-brass console, catching and reflecting light as it moves across the room. In a space defined by depth and shadow, these moments of reflectiveness introduce a subtle luminosity.
Kelly | Snug Club
“After seeing Ally’s skills with colour, I appointed her to design a conversation pit and studio in my apartment. It’s quite simply been a pleasure from start to finish. From our first conversation, Ally brought such warmth and enthusiasm to the project. Her eye for colour is truly exceptional and her talent for sourcing out of this world. Ally will go the extra mile for her clients. I can’t recommend her highly enough.”
Artwork anchors the room conceptually. Michael Vale’s The Wicked Messenger - a solitary clown set against a stark landscape - introduces a note of ambiguity and quiet tension. In contrast, a large vintage painting by Tina Sammassimo depicts a social gathering mid-celebration, carrying a sense of occasion tempered by intimacy. Together, they create a tension between solitude and gathering that echoes the way the space is used.
Within a compact 23sqm footprint, each element is carefully resolved. The sofa converts to a bed, allowing the studio to accommodate overnight stays, while distinct zones support gathering, retreat and more private moments without compromising the overall cohesion.
Designed for gathering, shaped by mood, and held together through a careful layering of material and light, Snug Club unfolds as an experience.
