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Interior designers and married couple Jono Fleming and Ryan McGregor need little introduction.
The pair have a knack for creating spaces that feel welcoming, considered and effortlessly stylish, as seen in some of our favourite projects — from this Sydney harbourside penthouse to this colourful art deco apartment.
This time, they’ve turned their attention to their own shared workspace in Surry Hills. What was once a two-room office with plain white walls and floors has been transformed into a colourful, patterned space that feels much more like home.
‘More than anything, we wanted it to be a true reflection of our two design styles coming together. Warm, inviting, layered and full of personality, but still very much a working design studio,’ Jono says.
The studio sits above Ben David Store, and because the building required no structural changes, the pair focussed their attention on the details. Over six months, they layered in furniture, colour and texture, carefully selecting and sourcing individual pieces to give the space a distinctly homely feel.
The building is beautiful and old with wonky doors, uneven walls, and a leaky roof that proved especially difficult when a waterfall sized leak flowed onto newly installed carpet.
‘The fact that it’s now dry is really all we ask,’ Jono says.
Rather than let the building’s quirks get in the way, the pair worked with them, making the most of the soft, filtered light that pours through its arched windows.
‘We get this gorgeous dappled light coming through them throughout the year, and it changes the feeling of the space across the day,’ Jono explains.
‘It’s one of those things you couldn’t really design from scratch, and it makes the office feel incredibly warm and calm.’
Natural colours from the cork, timber and tiles also contribute to this warm space. Looking to cover the white floors in the smaller office, Jono and Ryan briefly considered a neutral carpet before taking a leap and choosing a custom tiger print.
‘To say we’re obsessed with the carpet is an understatement. It brings a bit of joy to us every day and, weirdly, it doesn’t overpower the space at all. It almost acts like a neutral now.’
Their love of patterns continues with a hand-blown leopard-print sconce by Volker Haug and DIY reupholstered desk chairs.
‘Between the tiger, the leopard and the chairs, there’s a lot of pattern happening, but somehow they all speak to each other rather than competing,’ Jono says.
The prints and warm colouring make these two rooms feel larger than they are. The couple also appreciate having this cosy studio space to separate their two practices — Fieldroom, and Jono Fleming Studio — from their home life.
This meticulously designed space ultimately conjures a feeling of ease for their clients, which reflects their creative process and approach to design.
‘People sometimes wonder how we can be married and work together, but having that separation between home and office really helps us zone our minds,’ Jono says.
‘And being in the heart of Surry Hills makes it pretty beautiful to come to work every day. We genuinely love it here.’
