Shona McElroy: the “fantastically ugly” apartment she turned into a beautiful home

When interior designer Shona McElroy first walked into her Edgecliff apartment, most people would have walked straight back out. The layout was awkward, the kitchen was hidden away, the bathroom opened into the living room, and a closed-in balcony came with terracotta floors, popcorn walls and a popcorn ceiling. 

But Shona, founder and principal of Smac Studio, saw what it could become. 

In this episode of The Edit, Shona joins Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock to talk about turning an old 1920s apartment into a beautiful, functional home, why north-facing light matters, how to avoid the dreaded “Pinterest house”, and what interior designers really think through before a room comes together. 

She also shares how she helps clients edit their belongings when downsizing, why a coffee table book can be the beginning of an entire room, how virtual reality is changing interior design, and the deeply nostalgic item she brought from her mystery drawer. 

This episode covers: 

• Shona McElroy’s 1920s Edgecliff apartment renovation 

• How to fix an awkward apartment layout 

• Why natural light can make a smaller home feel better 

• What to know about popcorn walls and ceilings 

• How to design cupboards, shelves and drawers around real life 

• Downsizing, decluttering and editing sentimental pieces 

• How to avoid creating a “Pinterest house” 

• Styling travel mementos and meaningful objects 

• Coffee table styling tips from an interior designer 

• How virtual reality is being used in interior design 

• What makes a home feel beautiful, personal and lived-in 

🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910 

Listen and follow on Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq 

👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful’s YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag 

Watch full episodes: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1c73iMScLqZ357jQ_0A3eDGTysM1SUxO 

Credits: 

Host: Elle Lovelock 

Guest: Shona McElroy 

Producer: Charlie Potter 

Consulting Producer: Jessie-Lee Klass 

Edited by: Pro Podcasts  

Executive Producer: Jessie-Lee Klass 

Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain 

With thanks to our fantastic Home Beautiful team

Learn More: 

The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media. 

https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/ 

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