doherty design studio – The Interiors Addict

Australian House & Garden’s hotly anticipated Top 50 Rooms is back for 2019 with some amazing spaces representing some of the best Aussie residential architecture and design. “The calibre of winners at this year’s awards represents some of the brightest talents in Australia’s design industry,” says editor Tanya Buchanan.

From a Mediterranean inspired kitchen, with warm timber cabinetry, to a whimsical outdoor room that cleverly employs mirrors to create the illusion of an endless green oasis, a series of amazing rooms were celebrated in the awards that were handed down last night.

Best use of technology: Doherty Design — Best use of technology in the home: Doherty Design Studio

“The jury recognised new directions in interior design in these projects, including the clever use of raw materials, a love of simplicity and a restrained approach to design,” says Tanya who judged the competition (currently in its 21^st year) alongside King Living’s global marketing manager Harry Bonalakis, Grandiflora founder Saskia Havekes, Kirsten Stanisich and Jonathan Richards, directors of Richards Stanisich, and several others.

Room of the Year: Arent & Pyke
It’s no surprise that the uber talented Juliette Arent and Sarah-Jane Pyke took out the ‘Room of the Year’ category for their truly stunning living room, part of a recent Sydney project.

“The room is the perfect alchemy of elements – volume, texture, light and colour, architecture and object – combining to create something truly special,” says Sarah-Jane Pyke and we couldn’t agree more.

Best Bathroom: Decus Interiors
We’ve profiled the talented Alexandra Donohoe Church, of Decus Interiors, before and it’s no surprise to see her pop up in these awards. Her jewel of a powder room is located near the entry on the ground floor of a newly built Sydney home.

“It’s an almost-hidden gem as it is accessed by a door concealed within joinery. The owners entertain every week and this powder room is a much-loved talking point,” says Alexandra.

Best outdoor room: Madeleine Blanchfield
Like something out of Alice in Wonderland, Madeleine Blanchfield’s whimsical outdoor bathroom uses mirror to reflect its lush open-air setting.

“It is a mirrored cube elevated above the existing ground and nestled in vegetation. The walls are one-way mirror, which is see-through from the inside but reflective externally. There is a bath and shower in the centre of the cube,” says Madeleine Blanchfield.

Best use of Colour: Greg Natale Design
An Interiors Addict favourite, Greg Natale took out this award for a room that was inspired by a Ray Cook painting (already owned by the clients) and includes limewashed timber floors and De Gournay Chinoiserie wallpaper alongside chic lighting and furniture.

Best kitchen: Studio Ezra
“It’s Mediterranean meets Middle Eastern meets modern,” says Studio Ezra’s Georgia Ezra of her award-winning kitchen. There are garden views from the kitchen sink and the fridge and dishwasher are hidden behind panelling that is inlaid with grass cloth for added depth and warmth.

The full list of winners:

King Living Room of the Year: Arent & Pyke
Blum Best Kitchen: Studio Ezra
Parisi Best Bathroom: Decus Interiors
PGH Bricks Best Use of Materials: Carter Williamson
Armadillo & Co Best Use of Colour: Greg Natale Design
Wynstan Best Indoor-Outdoor Connection: Hare & Klein
Zip Best Use of Technology in the Home: Doherty Design Studio
Best Outdoor Room: Madeleine Blanchfield
Best Use of Soft Furnishings: Cameron Kimber
Samsung Hall of Fame: Thomas Hamel
Cover room: Stacey Kouros Design

The winners and all of the Top 50 Rooms are featured in the November issue of Australian House & Garden.

For more | 2019 Houses Awards

Back when I was little I had the coolest cubby house on the street (think two storeys, a chimney and bright red shutters) but I’ve got to admit the VARDO HUT, by Doherty Design Studio, makes mine seem a little lacklustre!

Half traditional gypsy wagon (or, in gypsy language, vardo) and half treehouse-esque loft, the design has utilised common garden materials, plus ledges and mesh for growing plants, to integrate the structure into the backyard.

“We looked to the nomadic vardo for inspiration, harnessing the traditional shape to evoke a sense of adventure from the built form,” explains Mardi Doherty, director of Doherty Design Studio. “Common garden materials have been used to express bold playful forms, while we’ve allowed for children to create hanging gardens from the form to further integrate it within its surroundings and allow the children to craft their own experience.”

Multiple points of entry and ladders engage the young mind and sense of adventure, while encouraging physical development through a use of co-ordination. For practicality, a clear roof allows in natural light (while also providing a visual connection to surroundings); entry points provide cross-ventilation and opportunities for visual supervision; while the overall design educates children on living sensitively within nature.

The VARDO HUT was auctioned at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show as part of the Cubby House Challenge to raise funds for Kids Under Cover (a youth homelessness not-for-profit). It sold for $9,000 and won the people’s choice award.

For more information.