Interior Design Awards Finalists Strut Their Stuff
Behold the amazing work of the shortlisted designers for the 2015 Australian Interior Design Awards
These well-regarded awards recognise and celebrate excellence and, as you’ll see below, this year’s finalists are at the cutting edge of Australian interior design. We’ve selected some of our favourites from the Residential Design and Residential Decoration shortlist for your viewing pleasure. Which project do you think should be named No.1?
This house was designed with a simple idea in mind – to create a joyful space that enriches daily life. Set in tropical North Queensland, Planchonella House embraces the rainforest surrounds, allowing the aspect to take centrestage in the interior. The simplistic approach combines colourful, natural furnishings to create an honest, raw dwelling.
The clients and their twin sons asked for a home “for community, art and nature to come together”. Tower House is ‘anti-monolith’ – a village externally and a home internally.
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The clients purchased a 1980s Wayne Gillespie townhouse that had “lost some sizzle” after a very bland interior renovation. They loved the light-filled design and wanted to create a more expressive interior decor with a dramatic entry to complement the steel staircase, as well as to add some cosier spaces.
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See more of this house
The architects aimed to infuse a relaxed ‘weekender’ atmosphere into an urban family home. The interior plays on primal themes of comfort and nesting, with texture and warmth foremost.
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See more of this house
Project: Medindie Residence
Design: Williams Burton Architecture + Interior Design (SA)
Photos by Christopher Morrison
Design: Williams Burton Architecture + Interior Design (SA)
Photos by Christopher Morrison
A gnarly pepper tree proved to be the biggest planning challenge for an addition to a young family’s Victorian-era home in an unassuming street in Adelaide’s Medindie. A pool, small block, desire for light, space and “room to grow” rounded out the brief.
This assemblage of spaces uses the full extent of the site over a single level to add to and adapt an existing single-fronted workers’ cottage. The boundary walls of this house fortify the interior spaces to provide a secluded and private organisation of spaces around a central courtyard.
This penthouse apartment on the waterfront was designed for a long-time client. “The level of trust allowed us to offer a complete product from first drawing on paper to final styling details,” says architect Steven Whiting. “The interior balances warmth and a restrained elegance without competing with the broad ocean views beyond.”
With magnificent proportions, this grand 1890s home required a decorating approach relevant to the clients and their interest in both contemporary furnishings and the period architecture. The brief was to introduce a convivial mix of warmth and modern elegance to create a space that was both calm and visually inspiring.
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See more of this house
Project: Kirribilli Apartment
Design: Hare + Klein (NSW)
Photos by Jenni Hare
The textured framework for the spectacular view of Sydney’s Circular Quay echoes the hues inside, drawing the eye to the movement of the harbour beyond. Light flows into south-facing spaces, reflected by crisp white walls and ceilings. This is balanced by blocks of colour on the eastern walls, opening tight spaces to “light and logic”.
Design: Hare + Klein (NSW)
Photos by Jenni Hare
The textured framework for the spectacular view of Sydney’s Circular Quay echoes the hues inside, drawing the eye to the movement of the harbour beyond. Light flows into south-facing spaces, reflected by crisp white walls and ceilings. This is balanced by blocks of colour on the eastern walls, opening tight spaces to “light and logic”.
Project: Theresa Street Residence
Design: Sonelo Design Studio (NSW)
Photos by Peter Bennetts
Subtlety is the one word Theresa Street residence evokes. Despite the modest budget, the renovation creates a seamless interior that effortlessly disguises the old as new.
Design: Sonelo Design Studio (NSW)
Photos by Peter Bennetts
Subtlety is the one word Theresa Street residence evokes. Despite the modest budget, the renovation creates a seamless interior that effortlessly disguises the old as new.
Project: Lace House
Design: Susi Leeton Architects + Interiors, with Allison Pye Interiors (VIC)
Photos by Shannon McGrath
Lace House is a renovated Victorian House set in a tree-lined street. The brief was to update the existing ‘70s kitchen, family, study and sitting rooms, along with new bathrooms and bedrooms. The designers aimed to create a gentle, relaxed family home that reflected the grace of the original.
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Design: Susi Leeton Architects + Interiors, with Allison Pye Interiors (VIC)
Photos by Shannon McGrath
Lace House is a renovated Victorian House set in a tree-lined street. The brief was to update the existing ‘70s kitchen, family, study and sitting rooms, along with new bathrooms and bedrooms. The designers aimed to create a gentle, relaxed family home that reflected the grace of the original.
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Project: Horizon Apartment
Design: Stephen Collier Architects (NSW)
Photos by Peter Bennetts
This project, in Harry Seidler’s The Horizon building in Sydney, is the conversion of a 70sqm one-bedroom apartment into a new residential space offering flexible living arrangements as either a 2-bedroom, 1-bedroom or a single large room.
Design: Stephen Collier Architects (NSW)
Photos by Peter Bennetts
This project, in Harry Seidler’s The Horizon building in Sydney, is the conversion of a 70sqm one-bedroom apartment into a new residential space offering flexible living arrangements as either a 2-bedroom, 1-bedroom or a single large room.
Project: The Man Cave
Design: Allen Jack+Cottier (NSW)
Photos by AJ + C Photography
Design: Allen Jack+Cottier (NSW)
Photos by AJ + C Photography
The cave is a unique project borne out of the larger context of a warehouse renovation. The client talked of a quiet retreat for sleeping. From this, the idea of some form of independent and insulated pod emerged. The pod created new spaces within the geometry of the existing warehouse.
Project: Alfred Street Residence
Design: studiofour (VIC)
Photos by Shannon McGrath
Design: studiofour (VIC)
Photos by Shannon McGrath
This project challenged the typical design response of adding a single living and kitchen module to the rear of an existing Victorian house. Instead, the designers chose to insert two courtyards from which these living and cooking zones could spill forth. The result is a series of fluid and light spaces.
Project: Walsh Street, South Yarra
Design: Neometro and Carr Design Group Collaboration (VIC)
Photos by Derek Swalwell
Driven by its architectural context, 126 Walsh Street comprises four large apartments that maintain the spirit of experimentation. Offering new ideas about how houses should operate in the 21st century, each residence incorporates flexible floorplans, wide terraces that capture north/west orientation, integrated joinery and a disarmingly simple palette of materials.
Design: Neometro and Carr Design Group Collaboration (VIC)
Photos by Derek Swalwell
Driven by its architectural context, 126 Walsh Street comprises four large apartments that maintain the spirit of experimentation. Offering new ideas about how houses should operate in the 21st century, each residence incorporates flexible floorplans, wide terraces that capture north/west orientation, integrated joinery and a disarmingly simple palette of materials.
Project: West End Redevelopment
Design: jenhands design (QLD)
Photos by Carole Margand
This project involved the extension and redesign of a pre-WWII workers’ cottage. The clients requested an elegant response that respected the house’s heritage without being ‘historical’ in look. The design was to capture the light, retain a sense of volume, maximise the views, and be functionally flexible.
Design: jenhands design (QLD)
Photos by Carole Margand
This project involved the extension and redesign of a pre-WWII workers’ cottage. The clients requested an elegant response that respected the house’s heritage without being ‘historical’ in look. The design was to capture the light, retain a sense of volume, maximise the views, and be functionally flexible.
Project: Curraweena House
Design: Hare + Klein (NSW)
Photos by Jenni Hare
Empathetic and considered selection of finishes and furnishings has enhanced this late Federation home, marrying the old and new in a contemporary but simple, classic aesthetic in keeping with the client brief and respectful of the original architectural envelope.
Design: Hare + Klein (NSW)
Photos by Jenni Hare
Empathetic and considered selection of finishes and furnishings has enhanced this late Federation home, marrying the old and new in a contemporary but simple, classic aesthetic in keeping with the client brief and respectful of the original architectural envelope.
Project: The Bride & Groom
Design: Russell & George (VIC)
Photos by Paul Martin
This house is Stage One of the transformation of an existing 1950s suburban house into one half of a grander vision. Dubbed the Bride and Groom, Stage One is the bride, a decadent layered and luxurious series of reception and sleeping rooms. Stage Two will be an open stone pavillion.
Design: Russell & George (VIC)
Photos by Paul Martin
This house is Stage One of the transformation of an existing 1950s suburban house into one half of a grander vision. Dubbed the Bride and Groom, Stage One is the bride, a decadent layered and luxurious series of reception and sleeping rooms. Stage Two will be an open stone pavillion.
Project: Doll’s House
Design: BKK Architects (VIC)
Photos by Shannon McGrath
Design: BKK Architects (VIC)
Photos by Shannon McGrath
Doll’s House is a materially rich project providing flexible, highly sustainable living that is responsive to its context and able to adapt to the changing needs of a family over a long life-span.
Project: The Domain Residence
Design: Travis Walton Architecture & Interior Design (VIC)
Photos by Derek Swalwell
This Manhattan-inspired renovation in the Domain, South Yarra, transforms a single-fronted Victorian heritage home into a bold, modern residence that retains personality while projecting professional polish.
Design: Travis Walton Architecture & Interior Design (VIC)
Photos by Derek Swalwell
This Manhattan-inspired renovation in the Domain, South Yarra, transforms a single-fronted Victorian heritage home into a bold, modern residence that retains personality while projecting professional polish.
Project: Cliff Top House
Design: Hare + Klein (NSW)
Photos by Jenni Hare
On a cliff that overlooks the sea on one side and beach on the other with sight lines through the organic curve of the double volume spine, all elements are seamlessly integrated with restraint and consideration for the architecture. Texture, form, colour and comfort create a calm and relaxed home.
Design: Hare + Klein (NSW)
Photos by Jenni Hare
On a cliff that overlooks the sea on one side and beach on the other with sight lines through the organic curve of the double volume spine, all elements are seamlessly integrated with restraint and consideration for the architecture. Texture, form, colour and comfort create a calm and relaxed home.
Project: Lake Wendouree Residence
Design: John Wardle Architects (VIC)
Photos by: Peter Bennetts
Design: John Wardle Architects (VIC)
Photos by: Peter Bennetts
This residence pays homage to the beautiful gardens of Ballarat. Comprising a series of pavillions located within a landscape of varied garden types – formal, rambling, kitchen and courtyard – each pavilion has a unique material and spatial quality, accentuated by the immersive relationship to its adjacent garden
This 27sqm apartment is designed to comfortably accommodate a couple. Through high-quality design, it provides an affordable option for inner-city living and challenges the need for urban sprawl.
Project: True Blue Terrace
Design: Nexus Designs (VIC)
Photos by James Geer
In this project, the designers streamlined a Victorian terrace into a “machine for modern family living”. Every millimetre was considered meticulously, resulting in a vast and spacious ambience. The cabinetry creates a portable work space, play space, toy storage, and changeable dining space, all designed to be highly functional with intense colour and repetition of pattern.
Design: Nexus Designs (VIC)
Photos by James Geer
In this project, the designers streamlined a Victorian terrace into a “machine for modern family living”. Every millimetre was considered meticulously, resulting in a vast and spacious ambience. The cabinetry creates a portable work space, play space, toy storage, and changeable dining space, all designed to be highly functional with intense colour and repetition of pattern.
Project: Darling Point Pied-á-terre
Design: Sarah Davison Interior Design (NSW)
Photos by Anson Smart
This highly personalised apartment is a pied-à-terre for an urbane businessman. A rich palette of warm timbers, classic tan leather, and techni-colour art, is combined with classic 1960s furnishings. These interiors are bold, inspiring and the epitome of modern luxury.
TELL US
Which project do you think should win? Share your thoughts in the Comments. The winners are to be announced on May 15.
Design: Sarah Davison Interior Design (NSW)
Photos by Anson Smart
This highly personalised apartment is a pied-à-terre for an urbane businessman. A rich palette of warm timbers, classic tan leather, and techni-colour art, is combined with classic 1960s furnishings. These interiors are bold, inspiring and the epitome of modern luxury.
TELL US
Which project do you think should win? Share your thoughts in the Comments. The winners are to be announced on May 15.
Design: Jesse Bennett Architect (QLD)
Photos by Sean Fennessy