All Stories

Architectural Apartment Mid Century Minimalist Family Country Tiny Coastal Victorian Renovated

Small Garden Suburban Garden Country Garden Public Garden Vegetable Garden Coastal Garden

Aboriginal Art Exhibition

Illustration Lighting Interior Design Graphic Design Styling Textiles Furniture Jewellery Photography Craft Floristry Architecture Industrial Design Woodwork Quoted Art Aboriginal Art Ceramics

Lunch Dinner Snacks Salad Vegetarian Breakfast Sweets Gluten Free Drinks Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Fashion Kids Art Ceramics Furniture Gifts Lighting Plants + Flowers Rugs Soft Furnishings In Print Sustainable Design Homewares

Guides Stays

Homes

Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.

Architecture

Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.

Interiors

Award-winning Australian interior design, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top designers.

Gardens

In depth features on Australia’s most beautiful gardens and landscape design.

Creative People

Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.

Art

Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.

Food

Weekly recipes and meal ideas from our favourite cooks, authors and foodies.

Travel

Unique travel destinations, design-led accomodation and day trip ideas in Australia and New Zealand.

On The Market

Climate

News

All Stories

Architectural Apartment Mid Century Minimalist Family Country Tiny Coastal Victorian Renovated

Small Garden Suburban Garden Country Garden Public Garden Vegetable Garden Coastal Garden

Aboriginal Art Exhibition

Illustration Lighting Interior Design Graphic Design Styling Textiles Furniture Jewellery Photography Craft Floristry Architecture Industrial Design Woodwork Quoted Art Aboriginal Art Ceramics

Lunch Dinner Snacks Salad Vegetarian Breakfast Sweets Gluten Free Drinks Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Fashion Kids Art Ceramics Furniture Gifts Lighting Plants + Flowers Rugs Soft Furnishings In Print Sustainable Design Homewares

Guides Stays

Homes

Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.

Architecture

Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.

Interiors

Award-winning Australian interior design, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top designers.

Gardens

In depth features on Australia’s most beautiful gardens and landscape design.

Creative People

Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.

Art

Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.

Food

Weekly recipes and meal ideas from our favourite cooks, authors and foodies.

Travel

Unique travel destinations, design-led accomodation and day trip ideas in Australia and New Zealand.

On The Market

Climate

News

Interior Designer Lauren Li On Creating The Backdrop To Life, On TDF Talks

Podcast

There’s no two ways about it, Lauren Li is one of the nicest people in the Australian design biz! Besides her fabulously successful firm, Sisalla Interior Design, Lauren also authors a monthly column for TDF on the latest interior design trends. They are some of our most popular stories ever!

On this episode of TDF Talks, Lucy and Lauren dive into the local design scene to chat all about Lauren’s creative career in the field, her predictions for future trends, and the lowdown on her next project: an online community and learning hub for designers, The Design Society.

3rd September, 2021

Lauren’s own studio is styled like one of her projects so you can see a glimpse of her talent IRL! Photo – Caitlin Mills.

Hard at work – Lauren is never without a moodboard filled with inspiration! Photo – Caitlin Mills.

Lauren’s heavenly home in South Yarra! Interior by Sisalla Interior Design, Photo – Eve Wilson.

Sasha Gattermayr

Friday 3rd September 2021

Lauren Li is a guru in approachable, accessible interior design. Her spaces are timeless, beautiful interiors that make you feel properly at home. She’s not here just for messing about with fancier-than-anything furniture!

‘Do what you love!’ she says of her design sentiment. ‘Enjoy your space, don’t worry about what other people think, just do what you love.’

In this episode of TDF Talks, Lauren breaks down this refreshing approach to personalised, subjective spaces; how she got started in the business; and her favourite designers of the moment.

If you love her monthly interiors column, you’ll love this chat!

This episode of TDF Talks was brought to you by Printful. Printful allows you to create and sell custom printed products online, from art and clothing to accessories, stationery, homewares and more. All from your own online store!

Right now, you can also participate in Printful’s Ecommerce Prodigy contest — build your online store from scratch using their online tools, and you could win up to AUD$3000. Find out more here.

This Week

Homes

Artist Gemma Leslie’s 1880s Mediterranean-Inspired Family Home

The historic home of artist Gemma Leslie and Mike Chambers is a little slice of Tuscany... in Melbourne!

Lucy Feagins

On The Market

A Luxuriously Modern Home For Sale In Sydney's Forest Lodge

This new home has everything from smart-home features to solar and an electric car charger, alongside a dreamy outdoor entertaining area!

Christina Karras

Architecture

A Playful Renovation + Extension Of A 1910s Edwardian Weatherboard Cottage

This once lacklustre Edwardian cottage has been given new life thanks to a renovation and extension by Architect George Meek, of Studio Meek...

Bea Taylor

A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life With A Rising Star In The Australian Ballet, Riley Lapham

We went behind the scenes with professional ballerina Riley Lapham as the company brings their 'Don Quixote' to the stage!

Christina Karras

Climate

Everything You Need To Know About Creating An All-Electric Home

Switching from gas to all-electric appliances makes for a more sustainable, safe, healthy, and affordable home. Here's how to get it done!

Amelia Barnes

Apartments

Inside A 100-Year-Old Apartment Building, In The Heart Of Melbourne’s CBD

We tour two unique apartments inside Temple Court, an elegant 1920s building nestled on Melbourne's iconic Collins Street!

Christina Karras

Studio Visit

The Sculptural Fabric + Metal Works Of Architect-Trained Artist, Annie Paxton

Melbourne based Annie Paxton creates mesmerising sculptural works made from silk, fabric, aluminium, steel and chain mail!

Amelia Barnes

Giveaway

Introducing Designer Rugs x Castle’s Colourful New Collection + Your Chance To WIN!

Brighten up your space with your pick from Designer Rugs x CASTLE's fun-filled collection - enter the giveaway here!

Christina Karras

Sustainable Homes

A South Gippsland Home Both Protected From + Inspired By The Elements

A textured brick wall wraps around three pavilions in Fish Creek House, sheltering the home from the ferocious winds, while capturing stunni...

Amelia Barnes

News

The Museum Of Contemporary Art Australia Has A New All-Female Display

The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is giving focus to eight unique female artists in its impressive collection!

Sponsored

Interiors

A ‘Little Big House’ Designed For The Whole Family

A Melbourne family home by Maike Design where the priorities of parents and children take equal billing.

Amelia Barnes

On The Market

A Celestial House Designed To Capture The Night Sky Hits The Market

This home designed by Peter Stutchbury features an open-air skylight that allows for stargazing without leaving home - and it's for sale!

Christina Karras

11 hours ago

News

An Inspiring Photography Exhibition By Catherine Opie Is Coming To Heide

Heide Museum of Modern Art is hosting the first major Australian showcase of renown American photographer Catherine Opie.

Sponsored

Creative People

The ‘Alien-esque’ Cartoon-Inspired Ceramics Of Elizabeth Lewis

Elizabeth Lewis makes surrealist-inspired ceramics… in a colour palette reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons!

Amelia Barnes

On The Market

This Designer’s Family Home Hides A Rooftop Terrace, And It’s For Sale

The Melbourne house of owner-designer Dan Gayfer is on the market, but this Edwardian's sweeping extension is full of surprises.

Christina Karras

More Podcasts

Podcast

Cormach Evans On Creating Space For Aboriginal Excellence, On TDF Talks

Yorta Yorta man Cormach Evans talks to host Lucy Feagins about the two organisations he founded and directs: Strong Brother Strong Sister, a...

Sasha Gattermayr

Podcast

Stylist Turned Designer Sarah Ellison On Building A Cult Status Furniture Brand, On TDF Talks

The Byron Bay-based creative talks transitioning from stylist to designer, the value of being an assistant + living in an Instagram world.

Sasha Gattermayr

Podcast

BuildHer Collective Co-Founder Rebeka Morgan On Empowering Women In Construction, On TDF Talks

In this episode of TDF Talks, BuildHer Collective co-founder Rebeka Morgan breaks down the basics of the renovation game!

Sasha Gattermayr

The Design Files acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

First Nations artists, designers, makers, and creative business owners are encouraged to submit their projects for coverage on The Design Files. Please email bea@thedesignfiles.net

The Design Files’ original content and photos are copyright protected. Please email us before reposting our content on other publications, personal websites, or Instagram. Feel free to share our images on Pinterest using the credit ‘via thedesignfiles.net’. Thank you!