Tag: Whiting Architects

Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards 2016 winners

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date May 11, 2016
No Comments on Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards 2016 winners

This year’s Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards were dominated by the outstanding projects of designer Fiona Lynch, who topped off the night by being the first woman to win the top prize of Designer of the Year. She also took out the top award for Best Residential Interior for the Balwyn Residence (pictured) and Best Bathroom Design for the Hargreaves Residence.

At last night’s 2016 Awards, Australia’s interior design community came together to celebrate and identify the very best in Australian design talent. One of Australia’s most prestigious design accolades, the Awards acknowledge excellence in Australian interior design and decoration and set the benchmark for expertise, creativity and vision in what is a highly competitive and progressive industry.

This year, Belle’s style-director-at-large Steve Cordony, transformed Coco Republic’s Alexandria showroom, evoking a modern geometric theme with hits of ultramarine blue to the delight over 250 industry and media guests. This year’s judging panel included publisher and design expert, Karen McCartney, Coco Republic executive directors, Anthony Spon Smith and Jeremy Byrne, Dinosaur Designs creative director, Louise Olsen, Timothy Oulton, founder and director of Timothy Oulton, Belle editor Tanya Buchanan and Steve Cordony.

Tanya said: “Congratulations to all of the designers and firms who entered this year’s awards, which had the most entries ever with more than 300 projects submitted for judging. The calibre of entries was incredible and the judges really noticed a dynamic aesthetic and sense of innovation running through the body of work. It was great to see some of Australia’s best design talent Fiona Lynch, Whiting Architects, Arent & Pyke and Woods Bagot, recognised for their outstanding work. So many design schemes take years to plan and execute so I know how they must feel to win an award for one of these projects which are always challenging but ultimately rewarding.”

Fiona receives return flights for two to Paris to visit Maison & Objet in September courtesy of Cathay Pacific, a $5,000 Parisi voucher, a $1,000 Coco Republic voucher and of course a one-year subscription to Belle. All the award winners are profiled in Belle’s June/July 2016 issue, on sale on Monday 16 May.

The full list of winners

Best Residential Interior Fiona Lynch, Balwyn Residence

Best Commercial Interior Woods Bagot, Paramount by The Office Space (see it here)

Best Hospitality Interior Arent & Pyke, Alex Hotel

Best Residential Kitchen Design Whiting Architects, O’Grady Kitchen

Best Residential Bathroom Design Fiona Lynch, Hargreaves Residence

Belle Coco Republic Interior Designer of the Year Fiona Lynch

Best Residential Interior – Readers’ Choice Arent & Pyke, Double Bay House

Tags 2016, alex hotel, arent and pyke, belle coco republic interior design awards, design awards, fiona lynch, interior design awards, steve cordony, tanya buchanan, Whiting Architects, winners, woods bagot

Designers Expert Tips Homewares

10 interior designers’ favourite Melbourne homewares stores

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date August 14, 2015
1 Comment on 10 interior designers’ favourite Melbourne homewares stores

With so many homewares stores out there, getting some expert recommendations can save you time, money and most importantly, tears. Surely I’m not the only one who’s got overemotional in the local bedding store… no? Just me! Moving on.

So, we spoke to 10 of Melbourne’s top interior designers to get their recommendations on their favourite Melbourne homewares stores (and don’t worry Sydney, you’ll get yours in the coming weeks).

Miriam Fanning of Mim Design: I look no further than Mud Australia, especially for platters, vessels, vases and cookware. Their timeless handmade porcelain range combines clean lines, functionality and a beautiful colour palette, and has a minimalist aesthetic that I love.

Screen-Shot-2014-03-23-at-3.10.10-AM — Miriam

Sonia Simpfendorfer of Nexus Designs: Cult have so many simple, beautiful accessories, particularly from the Danish brand Hay; their Kaleido trays range in great, slightly off colours are a favourite. The Scholten & Baijings designed bed linens are minimalist loveliness and they have understated desk accessories, notebooks and even coat hangers.

Lauren Macer of Sisalla Interior Design: Safari Living is easily my favourite store for unique homewares. They consistently have a fantastic selection of up and coming Australian designers mixed with some of my favourite European brands. I love stepping into the little corner shop and being surrounded with luxurious Missoni cushions, gorgeous tableware by Danish brand Menu and a great range of Tom Dixon homewares. There are the lesser known brands too, I love the delicate woven bamboo lights by Ay Illuminate made using traditional methods by artisans in Asia and Africa.

Wilson Tang of Sonelo Design Studio: CIBI is our much-loved go-to Japanese cafe and Japanese designer product store. The subtlety and simplicity of their objects boldly embrace their functionality whilst carefully disguising themselves into an appealing object. Their cookware, dining sets, and glassware are up-there on our wish list.

Diane Bergeron of Mercer School of Interior Design: One of my favourite homewares shops in Melbourne is Modern Times on Smith Street. Their pieces are always original and beautifully crafted. I know when I go in there I can find something that will be timeless and mix well with other styles of furniture. Our reception desk at the Mercer School of Interior Design was purchased from there and makes such a statement when you arrive.

hg11T50_17b_DianeBergeron_portrait-bw-edit — Diane

Matt Gibson of Matt Gibson Architecture + Design: We love Great Dane Furniture in Fitzroy, around the corner from our office. They have a great diverse range of furniture,homewares, lighting and accessories, focusing on natural materials like solid timber that ensure products have a long lifespan. Their timeless mid-century pieces can be styled up or down to either accentuate or pare-back their modernist flavour.

Chris Rak of Robson Rak Architects: The one store that blows me away every time I go in is Nicholas & Alistair in Abbotsford. They’ve always got the most exquisite and original 20th century furniture and objects from Europe. I literally lose my breath every time I go in there. The boys who run it are just so passionate and highly knowledgable that they hit the nail on the head with everything they bring in.

Caecilia Potter of Atticus & Milo: Space Furniture is a favourite because they’re a lovely, friendly team to work with and they have such an eclectic collection of my favourite designers and design studios such as Patrizia Urquiola, Antonio Citterio, Marcel Wanders, Ingo Maurer, Bruno Rainaldi, Edra, Moroso, Maxalto, Foscarini, Opinion Ciatti – I could keep going!

Anna Dutton of Bower Architecture: One of my favourites is Luke Furniture, just around the corner from us on High Street in Prahran. Their range is carefully curated and features timeless pieces with texture and warmth: qualities which align with our own approach to design. They have a great range of ceramics, warm timber accessories, lighting and of course, furniture. We just bought a Modernica Case Study Planter from them in black ceramic and timber for the Bower Architecture studio. It is perfect.

Anna (right) and co-directors Chema Bould and Jade Vidal.

Carole Whiting of Whiting Architects: My favourite Melbourne homewares store is Red Hill House as it always has a great collection of kitchen goods, decorative and practical products and they are always well stocked. They have a keen eye for products with a bit of soul and they support the local community by stocking products produced by local craft makers. With so many mass-produced goods on offer, it’s nourishing to buy one-offs or handmade goods that someone has physically touched and made with love.

We hope you found this list useful. Please let us know what you’d add!

Competitions Designers

2015 Australian Interior Design Awards winners revealed

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date May 20, 2015
1 Comment on 2015 Australian Interior Design Awards winners revealed

There’s always some seriously gorgeous projects in the Australian Interior Design Awards, and with over 400 entries across the program’s 14 categories, you can be certain the winners don’t disappoint!

The big winner this year was young Melbourne practice SIBLING. The eight-person team was the recipient of the Premier Award for Australian Interior Design and the Award for Emerging Interior Design Practice for their dazzling retail fitout DUST, which also received the Retail Design Award and a Best of State Award (Victoria).

However, we can’t resist having a particular interest in the residential category winners. This year, the Residential Design Award went to Smart Design Studio for their Jersey Rd project. The perfect blend of old and new, the design celebrates the historic Sydney home’s stately characteristics while linking to the new extension through modern elements.

For the Residential Decoration Award, Whiting Architects took home the prize for their Kerferd VIC project. Aiming to be a ‘holiday house in the city,’ the design infuses a relaxed weekender feel into an urban family home. The interior plays on primal themes of comfort and nesting, with texture and warmth foremost.

To find out more about this year’s winning projects, visit their website.

Tags 2015 Australian Interior Design Awards, australian interior design awards, australian interior design awards 2015, design, interior, sibling, Smart Design Studio, Whiting Architects