Renovating can be stressful, with the ever-present potential for unforeseen hurdles to arise as the project progresses. But there are also times when it can be a deeply enriching experience, especially when it forms the foundation for a lasting frien

It’s Top 50 Rooms time and on the following pages, we are delighted to reveal a dynamic and diverse line-up of rooms that hit the right note in terms of visual impact and homeowner happiness. When I think of top lists of any kind, I am immediately tr

This grand Federation home, located on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, caught the eye of its new owners just in time. Busy professionals with three children between 10 and 14, they were about to begin renovating their existing residence when this house c

Lynne Bradley Lynne Bradley Interiors, Lindfield, NSW; lynnebradleyinteriors.com.au. Picking up on the blue hues in a beloved artwork that hangs nearby, Lynne created a gorgeously curvaceous kitchen island to be the hero of this open-plan space. S

Photograph by Dave Wheeler. Artworks by Marisa Purcell (on wall), William Versace (on table), Susan Chen (top shelf), Natalie Rosin(second shelf), Apparatus Studios (third shelf, left), Korban Flaubert (third shelf, right) and Scott McNeil (bottom sh

Christopher Gyzemyter and Julia Stojanovic CG Design Studio, Stafford, Queensland; 0413 273 063 or cgdesignstudio.com.au. Having seen and swooned over a brass bar in New York, the owner of this four-level terrace in Brisbane asked interior designe

Did your childhood have an impact on your career in the design industry? Luke Bonnano: I grew up in Melbourne and its mix of Federation, Art Deco and Modern architecture, as well as the vibrant art scene, definitely influenced my interest in desig

Greg Natale Greg Natale Design, Surry Hills, NSW; (02) 8399 2103 or gregnatale.com. Channelling the charms of the coastal location without falling victim to beach-house clichés has culminated in a super sophisticated bedroom. Interior designer Gre

Greg Natale Greg Natale Design, Surry Hills, NSW; (02) 8399 2103 or gregnatale.com. Perfectly placed artworks add to the bejewelled quality of this main bedroom suite in Sydney’s northern suburbs. Designed as part of a three-storey, five-bedroom,

Brett Mickan Brett Mickan Interior Design, Surry Hills, NSW; (02) 8065 5492 or bmid.com.au. Designed to accommodate a family of seven, this striking kitchen is part of a contemporary extension to a Federation home in Sydney. Tasked with adding dep

Daniel Boddam Daniel Boddam Studio, Sydney, NSW; (02) 9660 1144 or danielboddam.com. Asked to devise a contemporary addition to a heritage-listed home, architect Daniel designed three light-filled, A-frame pavilions. “The extension draws on the ti

Susanna Bilardo Enoki, Adelaide, SA; (08) 8271 5500 orenoki.com.au. Interior designer Susanna was briefed to create a “showstopper kitchen” that could provide a playful backdrop for parties and dinners while catering to the everyday needs of a fam

For Billy Innes, the garden is a place where plants and family coexist and thrive. Nothing makes this mum of three happier than a weekend afternoon spent pottering and planting while listening to the sounds of her children swimming in the pool or pla

Eva-Marie Prineas Studio Prineas, Darlinghurst, NSW; (02) 9332 2006 or studioprineas.com.au. Pool views and a native garden appear almost like living works of art from within this Sydney living room, part of a contemporary extension to the rear of

Lauren Mahoney Studio Trio, Northbridge NSW; (02) 9967 3060 or studiotrio.com.au. Both pattern and the colour pink hold great allure for the young family that owns this Sydney home. “The homeowners adore New York marble so the whole kitchen was de

Andrea D’Cruz D’Cruz Design Group, Maroubra, NSW; (02) 9690 2232 or dcruz.net.au. Interior designer Andrea’s sheer mastery of materials has brought a disproportionate amount of beauty to a petite space. Clever design techniques – such as laying th

Thomas Hamel Thomas Hamel & Associates, Surry Hills, NSW; (02) 9699 3688 or thomashamel.com. A life-size print of a 1970s photograph of rock band The Eagles is positioned for maximum impact in the bar/living area of this Sydney home. The placement

Anna-Carin McNamara Anna Carin Design Studio, Surry Hills, NSW; 0422 949 267 or annacarindesign.com.au. A painting by Indigenous artist Freddie Timms is given the commanding presence it deserves in this sitting room designed by Anna-Carin and her

Stevie glass table lamp with cotton shade, $169.95, Provincial Home Living. Whitman steel floor lamp with glass shade, $895, Coco Republic. Boule resin table lamp with linen shade, $320, MCM House. Tesma ceramic table lamp with fabric shade, $159

Susanna Bilardo Enoki, Adelaide, SA; (08) 8271 5500 or enoki.com.au. When interior designer Susanna was asked to update the kitchen and living areas of this Victorian mansion in Adelaide, she knew she had to highlight the home’s existing conservat

Nicholas Kaiko Kaiko Design Interiors, Neutral Bay, NSW; 0431 290 666 or kaikodesign.com.au. Curves and arches, inspired by the existing architecture, were a key design feature in the renovation of this ’90s brick bungalow in Sydney. The homeowner

Anna-Carin McNamara Anna Carin Design Studio, Surry Hills, NSW; 0422 949 267 or annacarindesign.com.au. The homeowners’ passion for Russian literature led to a tale of the unexpected in the main bedroom of this Sydney terrace. “The colour of the b

Carole Whiting Carole Whiting Studio, South Melbourne, Victoria; (03) 9972 8779 or carolewhiting.com. This bathroom has a built-in sense of serenity, a huge asset for a room on the top floor of a three-level terrace in bustling South Melbourne. Th

Greg Natale Greg Natale Design, Surry Hills, NSW; (02) 8399 2103 or gregnatale.com. Sinuous lines are the defining feature of this living room, part of the heavenly fit-out of a two-storey Sydney apartment. “The owner wanted a soft, contemporary s

Greg Natale Greg Natale Design, Surry Hills, NSW; (02) 8399 2103 or gregnatale.com. Sculptural shapes and opulent materials make this master ensuite a sumptuous soaking zone. Located on the top floor of a two-storey apartment, the space was design

Alexandra Gourlay-Craig Vellum Interiors, Mosman, NSW; 0402 686 427 or velluminteriors.com.au. Tasked with transforming a dark, barely used room into a functional and inviting living space, interior designer Alexandra found inspiration in the Fede