While Christina Byrn’s stunning ground-floor apartment in St Leonards (that featured in our February issue) is a spacious, light-filled retreat, her second flat in a nearby building tells a slightly different story. This smaller space, located in the former home of the architect behind much of St Leonards’ Victorian aesthetic, Decimus Burton, is a masterclass in how to create grandeur on a small footprint.

“It started as a bit of a storage solution to house all my accessories and things I had accumulated over the years,” Christina laughs. “But as I began to decorate it, I realised it was an amazing opportunity for me to show, as an interior designer, what can be done with a small, awkwardly shaped apartment and turn it into something rather special.

The apartment, which serves as both a rental property and a personal project, is steeped in history. “My main apartment is in James Burton’s house, the father of Decimus, who was the property developer of the area. This smaller apartment is in Decimus’s former house. It’s a lovely historical link and I love the connection between the two buildings,” Christina explains.

From the moment you step inside, the apartment feels far larger than its dimensions would suggest. “I’ve always believed that small spaces can feel grand if you design them right,” says Christina, who is slowly leaving behind her three-decade long career in front line humanitarian aid and is now re-focusing her attention on her other love – interior design.

With this smaller space, Christina has applied the same principles as in her main apartment, using a restrained palette of white, black, and natural woods to create a sense of calm. “I try not to overcrowd a space,” she explains. “The key to designing a successful small space is in creating zones. Every area has its function and then it works as a whole.”

In the living room, a cosy daybed nestles into a nook and doubles as a guest bed. “It’s the best spot in the flat,” Christina says. “You can sit there, look out at the sea, and just feel completely relaxed.” The room is furnished with a mix of mid-century pieces sourced from local antiques shops in Hastings and from Christina’s extensive travels – a vintage bus destination roller on the wall gives a sense of the travel bug she has had all her life.

“I love finding unique pieces that have a story,” she says. “It’s all about balance and creating something that feels both functional and yet also beautiful.”
The apartment’s colour palette is understated, with soft whites dominating the walls. But Christina uses black and natural wood across her furniture choices and then, mirroring the varnished natural timber of the floorboards, has introduced splashes of brass in the accessories. “I love the warmth that brass brings,” she says. “It’s a reminder of my travels, but it’s also a colour that brings energy to the space.”

One of the clever features of the apartment is Christina’s space management in both the tiny galley kitchen and the shower room. Both are small in size and yet have the aspirations of much larger rooms – a clever trick to achieve. “It’s a small kitchen, but I didn’t want it to feel small by downsizing the appliances,” she explains. “The trick was to make sure it had everything you’d need in a larger kitchen, but without overwhelming the space. I kept the shelving on the wall to a minimum to avoid making it feel too cramped and then having the large window at the end draws the eye to the treetops outside.”

The bathroom, though also compact, is a perfect example of how to make the most of limited space. A walk-in shower, sleek space-saver sink and vintage style brass heated towel rail create a sense of luxury. Carefully placed mirrors reflect the natural light and make the room feel larger. “Mirrors are such an important tool in small spaces,” Christina says. “They can completely transform a room by bringing in light and reflecting the beauty of what’s outside.”

Throughout the apartment Christina’s love of travel is again evident, she laughs that she originally just bought the small space in order to house her huge collection of ‘things’. In the living room hangs a stunning satellite photo of a river in Bangladesh, in the bedroom an aerial photo of a shrimp farm. “I love the idea of bringing the world into my home,” Christina explains. “Each piece has a story, and it’s those stories that give the space its character.”
Though the apartment is small, Christina has managed to create distinct zones for dining, lounging, and sleeping, all within one space.

“By dividing the room into different areas, you make it feel larger than it is. The fact that there is even capacity for an overnight guest is great. We really got the most out of the available floor area,” she says. Christina’s design choices have made the apartment feel far bigger than its square footage might suggest. “Visitors often comment on how spacious it feels, despite its compact size. It’s all about the details,” she says. “I’ve worked hard to make sure every corner has something special, without making the space feel cluttered.”
This attention to detail extends to the apartment’s furnishings which Christina has sourced. A sleek Danish two-seater sofa sits next to a chest of drawers from a local antique dealer, while a contemporary Sputnik light fixture adds a touch of mid-century modern flair. “I love mixing old and new,” Christina says. “It keeps the space feeling fresh and dynamic.” The bedroom takes us to Asia, with a paper lampshade and Chinese script in the artwork. A vintage desk sits opposite a pair of old wooden oars that Christina has hung on the wall. Two new wall lights, again very Danish in feel, nod to her heritage.

Christina’s second apartment, like her ground floor home, is a reflection of her unique life – one filled with travel, compassion, and creativity. “This flat was a way for me to experiment with design on a smaller scale,” she says. “It’s been a real joy to see how much you can do with a little space. I am really happy to see people enjoying it, they fall in love with it when they come here, I think it’s the attention to detail and the functionality of a smaller floorplan, though the location is certainly also doing its part in rendering this apartment so soothing and peaceful.”
In both of her homes, Christina has created spaces that are not just beautiful, but meaningful. Whether she’s designing a large, light-filled retreat or a cosy, compact apartment, her focus remains the same: shaping calm, inviting interiors that tell a story. “At the end of the day, it’s about creating a place where you can feel at peace,” she reflects. “That’s what home is all about.”

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For more information on Christina’s interior design company, Kyrr Interiors,
please visit kyrrinteriors.com