This Just In: 2017 Australian Interior Design Awards Shortlist
These inspiring projects are in the running to win one of Australia's most prestigious interior design awards
Joanna Tovia
3 April 2017
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
It’s no small feat being selected for the shortlist of the interior design industry’s most respected awards. Competition is fierce and, as you’ll see from the following selection of projects in the residential design and decoration categories, Australian designers are a pretty talented bunch. The Australian Interior Design Awards is in its 14th year and, this year, there were a record 525 entries up for judging by an 8-strong panel of industry experts. The award winners in all categories will be announced at a gala presentation in Melbourne on June 9. In the meantime, feast your eyes on some of our favourite projects on the shortlist.
Design practice: Board Grove Architects, Melbourne
Project: Footscray Apartment
Photography: Haydn Cattach Photography
Designer’s notes: This renovation to an existing concrete-frame apartment consisted of adjustments to the circulation to create greater flexibility and increased natural light penetration into the interior. The kitchen was the key focus and was designed as a series of sculptural objects within an open-plan living dining area.
Project: Footscray Apartment
Photography: Haydn Cattach Photography
Designer’s notes: This renovation to an existing concrete-frame apartment consisted of adjustments to the circulation to create greater flexibility and increased natural light penetration into the interior. The kitchen was the key focus and was designed as a series of sculptural objects within an open-plan living dining area.
Design practice: Austin Maynard Architects, Melbourne
Project: Dorman House
Photography: Peter Bennetts
Designer’s notes: The clients said: “save our shack but give us the view”. Dorman House is a finely crafted timber box, independently constructed to hover over an existing beach house in Lorne. The interior is considered, well crafted and intricately detailed to produce a space that is not solely focused on the vista.
Project: Dorman House
Photography: Peter Bennetts
Designer’s notes: The clients said: “save our shack but give us the view”. Dorman House is a finely crafted timber box, independently constructed to hover over an existing beach house in Lorne. The interior is considered, well crafted and intricately detailed to produce a space that is not solely focused on the vista.
Design practice: Madeleine Blanchfield Architects, Sydney
Project: Clovelly Residence
Photography: Prue Ruscoe
Designer’s notes: The project was refurbishing an existing 1950s suburban house in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for a young family of five who are great art lovers and deeply creative people. They wanted to ‘fix’ the dark, disconnected parts of the south-facing house and create a home that embodied their unique character.
Project: Clovelly Residence
Photography: Prue Ruscoe
Designer’s notes: The project was refurbishing an existing 1950s suburban house in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for a young family of five who are great art lovers and deeply creative people. They wanted to ‘fix’ the dark, disconnected parts of the south-facing house and create a home that embodied their unique character.
Design practice: Adam Kane Architects, Melbourne
Project: Hardwood House
Photography: Adam Kane
Designer’s notes: Hardwood House was created as a contemporary dwelling referencing the regional Daylesford setting. An abundance of timber lining to walls, ceilings, and floors, and use of an emotive colour palette create a sense of warmth and comfort for the occupants.
Project: Hardwood House
Photography: Adam Kane
Designer’s notes: Hardwood House was created as a contemporary dwelling referencing the regional Daylesford setting. An abundance of timber lining to walls, ceilings, and floors, and use of an emotive colour palette create a sense of warmth and comfort for the occupants.
Design practice: Kennedy Nolan, Melbourne
Project: Belmont House
Photography: Derek Swalwell
Designer’s notes: A complete interior design spanning restoration and alterations to a graceful Victorian house with a contemporary addition. The approach to the interiors is part of an overall design philosophy also driving the architecture and landscape design. The aim was to provide a durable, substantial, memorable environment for a large family.
Project: Belmont House
Photography: Derek Swalwell
Designer’s notes: A complete interior design spanning restoration and alterations to a graceful Victorian house with a contemporary addition. The approach to the interiors is part of an overall design philosophy also driving the architecture and landscape design. The aim was to provide a durable, substantial, memorable environment for a large family.
Design practice: Studio Tate, Melbourne
Project: The Melburnian
Photography: Sharyn Cairns
Designer’s notes: Our clients, empty-nesters who purchased their apartment off the plan 15 years ago, were looking for a refreshed, opulent aesthetic. We introduced the idea of ‘LA glamour’– a sophisticated and bold concept that uses feature materials to evoke an understated luxury.
Project: The Melburnian
Photography: Sharyn Cairns
Designer’s notes: Our clients, empty-nesters who purchased their apartment off the plan 15 years ago, were looking for a refreshed, opulent aesthetic. We introduced the idea of ‘LA glamour’– a sophisticated and bold concept that uses feature materials to evoke an understated luxury.
Design practice: Bower Architecture, Melbourne
Project: The Villa at Barwon Heads
Photography: Shannon McGrath
Designer’s notes: The bold external form of The Villa is experienced internally through long viewlines capturing varying spatial volumes, natural light and links to water and landscape. Layered enfilade circulation journeys unfold to reveal a palette of soft, natural materials creating peaceful, relaxing interior spaces selected to age gracefully over time.
Project: The Villa at Barwon Heads
Photography: Shannon McGrath
Designer’s notes: The bold external form of The Villa is experienced internally through long viewlines capturing varying spatial volumes, natural light and links to water and landscape. Layered enfilade circulation journeys unfold to reveal a palette of soft, natural materials creating peaceful, relaxing interior spaces selected to age gracefully over time.
Design practice: Handelsmann + Khaw, Sydney
Project: Hunters Hill House
Photography: Felix Forest
Designer’s notes: A new residence in suburban Sydney applies a European sensibility to the Australian design vernacular. A neutral palette of authentic materials inhabits the crisp, modern plan beneath a primitive pitched roof. A balance of rough and smooth textures creates a union of formality and sensuality, light and shade.
Project: Hunters Hill House
Photography: Felix Forest
Designer’s notes: A new residence in suburban Sydney applies a European sensibility to the Australian design vernacular. A neutral palette of authentic materials inhabits the crisp, modern plan beneath a primitive pitched roof. A balance of rough and smooth textures creates a union of formality and sensuality, light and shade.
Design practice: Madeleine Blanchfield Architects, Sydney
Project: Bellevue Hill Residence
Photography: Robert Walsh
Designer’s notes: This project was remodelling the interiors of a large Art Deco house. The existing planning was convoluted so we created vistas through various rooms and a circular vestibule to tie together unconnected spaces. Simple materials in keeping with the existing house were used and found elements we uncovered were showcased.
Project: Bellevue Hill Residence
Photography: Robert Walsh
Designer’s notes: This project was remodelling the interiors of a large Art Deco house. The existing planning was convoluted so we created vistas through various rooms and a circular vestibule to tie together unconnected spaces. Simple materials in keeping with the existing house were used and found elements we uncovered were showcased.
Design practice: SJB, Melbourne
Project: A Private Residence
Photography: Anson Smart
Designer’s notes: The refurbishment of this grand heritage home optimises an existing simplicity of detail. The design has clarified this further through minimal palette shifts expressed as large swathes of unbroken colour. Soft and expressive detailing provides a restrained and liveable sense of luxury, while wholly opulent furnishings defy era-specific trends.
Project: A Private Residence
Photography: Anson Smart
Designer’s notes: The refurbishment of this grand heritage home optimises an existing simplicity of detail. The design has clarified this further through minimal palette shifts expressed as large swathes of unbroken colour. Soft and expressive detailing provides a restrained and liveable sense of luxury, while wholly opulent furnishings defy era-specific trends.
Design practices: Leeton Pointon Architecture + Interiors and Allison Pye Interiors, Melbourne
Project: Twig House
Photography: Lisa Cohen
Designer’s notes: Twig House was conceived as sculpture – melding architecture, interior and landscape into one. Curved monumental concrete forms, devoid of architectural embellishment, rise gently out of the landscape and are balanced by tactile materiality exploring the fluidity of form and light, enclosure and expansiveness.
Project: Twig House
Photography: Lisa Cohen
Designer’s notes: Twig House was conceived as sculpture – melding architecture, interior and landscape into one. Curved monumental concrete forms, devoid of architectural embellishment, rise gently out of the landscape and are balanced by tactile materiality exploring the fluidity of form and light, enclosure and expansiveness.
Design practice: Elenberg Fraser, Melbourne
Project: Rockley Gardens
Photography: Tom Blachford
Designer’s notes: Situated on the western edge of Toorak’s iconic Rockley Gardens, this eight-storey residential building is a luxurious fusion of gardens and interior spaces, creating an intimate connection between the room and the landscape. Life extends from the interior to the landscape; inside and outside are integrated as one.
Project: Rockley Gardens
Photography: Tom Blachford
Designer’s notes: Situated on the western edge of Toorak’s iconic Rockley Gardens, this eight-storey residential building is a luxurious fusion of gardens and interior spaces, creating an intimate connection between the room and the landscape. Life extends from the interior to the landscape; inside and outside are integrated as one.
Design practice: Sarah Davison Interior Design, Sydney
Project: Manly Residence
Photography: Prue Ruscoe
Designer’s notes: Our brief was to create relaxed, liveable interiors that feel like a world-class resort, yet function seamlessly as a full-time family home. Unique vintage and custom-made furnishings combined with warm, natural textures balance the brilliant blues of the Pacific.
Project: Manly Residence
Photography: Prue Ruscoe
Designer’s notes: Our brief was to create relaxed, liveable interiors that feel like a world-class resort, yet function seamlessly as a full-time family home. Unique vintage and custom-made furnishings combined with warm, natural textures balance the brilliant blues of the Pacific.
Design practice: Clare Cousins Architects, Melbourne
Project: High Noon
Photography: Shannon McGrath
Designer’s notes: Idyllically set among Victoria’s coastal bushland, Flinders House is filled with character; it’s a thoughtfully detailed home for a young family of five. With abundant access to functional outdoor spaces, the design enables an independent, nature-loving childhood for its three younger inhabitants.
Project: High Noon
Photography: Shannon McGrath
Designer’s notes: Idyllically set among Victoria’s coastal bushland, Flinders House is filled with character; it’s a thoughtfully detailed home for a young family of five. With abundant access to functional outdoor spaces, the design enables an independent, nature-loving childhood for its three younger inhabitants.
Tell us
Which is your favourite project? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More
See here for more photos of these projects as well as the others on the shortlist.
Which is your favourite project? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More
See here for more photos of these projects as well as the others on the shortlist.
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Clovelly house gets my vote for a unique home that reflects the lives and loves of the family who live in it. There are so many levels of interest within the home that I suspect it is both inspiring and relaxing at the same time. Three cheers to those interesting people who look beyond 'the trend' and have the self-confidence to do so. It pays off!