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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
  5 hours ago

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
  21 hours ago

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

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!

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!

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.

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

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

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!

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...

Interiors

A Sunny Bondi Terrace Renovation With A Candy-Pink Bathroom!

The interiors of this family home now feature an all-pink bathroom and olive green features, inspired by the owners' personal style!
Christina Karras

Shopping

Style Meets Sustainability In Armadillo’s New Melbourne Showroom

Melbourne design lovers will be happy to hear beloved rug brand Armadillo have opened a new showroom in Fitzroy!
Christina Karras

Studio Visit

Di Lunedi’s Nostalgic Ceramics Serve Up A Slice Of Coastal Italy!

Step inside the Northern NSW studio of De Lunedi's Elise Eales, who creates one-off ceramic pieces inspired by her love of Italy's seaside.

Homes

A Victorian Coastal Family Home Inspired By A Famous Alpine Village

The Jan Juc family home of artist Ingrid Daniell and designer Clifton Daniell.

Design Eye

Creating A Timeless Interior, With Jean-Pierre Biasol

Melbourne interior designer Jean-Pierre Biasol reveals how interior spaces can outlive trends, thanks to careful furniture selections.

Stays

10 Retro-Inspired Motels To Book For Your Next Weekend Away!

Is there anything more nostalgic than a vintage motel with a dreamy pool? Here's some of the coolest ones to visit across Australia.
Christina Karras

Interiors

Inside The Memo Co-Founder Phoebe Simmonds’ Family Home

Entrepreneur Phoebe Simmonds and builder Shaun Caton's 'contemporary Edwardian' Melbourne family home.

Gardens

The Bountiful Country Garden of The Design Files' Alice Ziebell!

Take a wander through the magical Korumburra garden of The Design Files' partnership manager Alice Ziebell, and see the unbelievable 'before...

Weekend Read

Why Is Good Quality Furniture So Expensive?

With cost of living on the rise, we speak to two leading local furniture brands to find out what drives the price behind their designs.
Christina Karras

Architecture

A Vibrant Transformation Of A Brown Brick Suburban Home

Play House by State of Kin in Marmion, Perth makes a strong case for the retention and renewal of suburban brown brick homes!

Sustainable Homes

A Hilltop, Off-Grid Family Home With Mountain Views

Inside the off-grid family home in Mansfield, Victoria designed by Robbie Walker.

Studio Visit

This Artist’s Mysterious Paintings Look Like Otherworldly Portals

Melbourne-based artist Ryan Hoffmann’s captivating 3D artworks blur the distinction between painting and sculpture.
Christina Karras

Interiors

The 2023 Dulux Colour Awards Finalists Are Here – And They’re Full Of Inspiration

The finalists for the 37th annual Dulux Colour Awards have been announced! See our favourite residential projects.
Christina Karras

Homes

A Melbourne Family’s Romantic Edwardian Home

The family home of artist Octavia Tomyn is a classic, stately Edwardian filled with sentimental art!

Architecture

Before + After: A Light-Filled Renovation Of A Heritage Sydney Terrace

Kitty Lee Architecture revitalise a small Enmore cottage with clever additions and personality.

Food

Julia's Irresistible Baked Cheesecake With Figs

This utterly delectable baked cheesecake is rich, but not too sweet, on the perfect biscuit base. Find Julia's recipe here.
Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Interiors

This Accessible NSW Home Beautifully Channels Japanese Architecture

Butterfly House by Dane Taylor is a sustainable and thoughtful coastal retreat that blends mid-century design and Japanese architecture.
Christina Karras

Architecture

A Breezy + Sustainably Minded Extension Designed For Entertaining

This old Edwardian in Melbourne has been turned into an entertainer's dream sanctuary with a passively designed extension.
Christina Karras

Family

Jeweller Sarah Gardner On Building A Brand, Managing Motherhood + Battling Blood Cancer

How jewellery designer Sarah Gardner manages business and motherhood while living with a Myeloprofilrative Neoplasm.

Architecture

This Off-Grid Holiday Home Makes The Most Of Its Serene Views

Hidden in Robertson, NSW, this serene family retreat offers an outlook of the enchanting Yarrawa Brush and Kangaroo Valley.
Christina Karras

Interiors

A Playful, Sub-Tropical Take On A Mid-Century-Inspired Home

CG Design Studio transformed a dilapidated Brisbane cottage into a mid-century-inspired home, complete with a rooftop garden and pool!

Creative People

Eliza Gosse’s Paintings Capture The Nostalgia Of Retro Architecture

Sydney artist Eliza Gosse shares an inside look at the mid-century architectural inspirations behind her mesmerising paintings.
Christina Karras

Homes

A First Home Buyer’s Refined Brunswick ‘Terrace House’

Izzi McGrath has found her forever home in her beautifully styled, sustainably-designed Brunswick apartment.

Stays

This 1980s Stay In Torquay Is A Feast Of Colour + Pattern

Take a look inside this groovy new stay in Torquay, Victoria, swathed in bold wallpaper, eclectic art and references to its 1980s roots.

Interiors

20 Of The Best Sculptural Table Lamps To Suit Any Style!

Level up your interior spaces with one (or more) of these sculptural table lamps. Our columnist Lauren Li shows us how!
Lauren Li

On The Market

A Beautifully Renovated Fitzroy North Terrace Hits The Market

Nestled on a quiet street right between Edinburgh Gardens and Fitzroy Pool, this cute and compact Victorian hides a contemporary makeover!
Christina Karras

Studio Visit

The Dreamy Still Life Paintings Of Brooke Holiday

Despite being told once that she 'couldn't paint', this local artist creates beautiful still-life paintings that are a visual feast!
Christina Karras

On The Market

A Robin Boyd Mid-Century Masterpiece Hits The Market!

A slice of Victoria's mid-century architectural history has hit the market. Take a look inside Robin Boyd's 'Boyd Baker House'!

Art

Artist Charlotte Swiden’s Solo Sydney Exhibition Is A Love Letter To Connection

The Swedish-born, Melbourne-based artist's new exhibition, ‘Affect’ is on now at Saint Cloche, Sydney.
Christina Karras

Architecture

This California Bungalow Conceals A Deliciously Bold Interior

References to Le Corbusier meet bold citrus hues in Wowowa's latest project, Wrong Champ.

Interiors

A Delightfully Kooky, Mid-Century Inspired Melbourne Home

Gloss House is a an equal parts futuristic and retro new home designed by Studio Doherty and Enth Degree Architects.

Gardens

An Intriguing Coastal Garden, Filled With Natives + Surprises

MINT Pool + Landscape Design have woven garden spaces throughout this Jan Juc home, complete with sweeping views!
Christina Karras

Stays

A Sustainable Penthouse Apartment In The Heart Of Melbourne – That You Can Stay In!

HV.Hotel's light-filled interiors and environmentally friendly architecture invites guests to experience sustainable living firsthand!
Christina Karras

Homes

The Idyllic Country Family Home Of The Design Files’ Partnerships Manager, Alice Ziebell!

Alice and Marlon Ziebell moved to South Gippsland during Covid lockdowns, and never looked back. See inside their newly renovated home!

Shopping

Pieces Of Eight's New Melbourne Store Is A Life-Sized Jewellery Box

Melanie Katsalidis' new Pieces of Eight store in Melbourne's Royal Arcade, is a treasure trove of Australian-made pieces. Step inside!

Sustainable Homes

This Sustainable, Architect-Designed Farm Stay Makes The Most Of Its 40sqm Footprint

Gawthorne’s Hut is a sustainable, off-grid 40sqm home located on a working family farm - built for a budget of just $250,000.

Interiors

Inside Stylist Steve Cordony’s European-Inspired Country Farmhouse

The interior stylist has been restoring the historic Rosedale Farm in country NSW for the six years – and now you can book to stay there!
Christina Karras

Studio Visit

The Melbourne Designer Bringing New Energy To The Art Of Stained Glass

Eloise McCullough of Fools Glass is among the next-gen of artists who are reviving the enchanting, ancient craft for a modern audience!
Christina Karras

Shopping

YSG + Tappeti Release Egyptian-Inspired Handcrafted Rug Collection

YSG teams up with Tappeti to design a 12-piece handcrafted rug collection, Real Majik.

Climate

Meet Goodbye Gas: The Local Business Helping Households Go All-Electric

Ben Russell and his team of 'electrification experts' are making it easier than ever to ditch gas in favour of electric, renewable energy.
Christina Karras

Art

Meg Gallagher Paints Textural Landscapes On Denim Offcuts in Her New Exhibition

Meg Gallagher's exhibition 'No Place Like Home' opens today at Sydney’s Totem Road Gallery.

Architecture

This Grand Edwardian Hides A Spectacular + Playful Renovation

Hermon by WOWOWA brilliantly reimagines a Melbourne home's period elements, with rich and colourful interiors!
Christina Karras

On The Market

TV Presenter Edwina Bartholomew’s Picture-Perfect Home Is For Sale

The Sunrise presenter and her family have recently renovated their historic Sydney home, but now it's on the market! Step inside.
Christina Karras

Homes

A 1970s Northern Beaches Rental, Where Everyday Feels Like A Holiday!

Everyday’s a holiday in the family home of film directors Helena Brooks and Jae Morrison on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Stays

Before + After: A $40k Makeover Of A Historic Adelaide Apartment (That You Can Stay In!)

Book your stay at Mini Mansion—a new accomodation designed by artist Billie Justice Thomson in a 1910s Adelaide building!

Sustainable Homes

How This Family Transformed A 100-Year-Old Edwardian Into An Energy Efficient Home

A sustainably-minded renovation of an old Edwardian home in Preston, Melbourne, respects the old whilst celebrating the new.

Architecture

A Contemporary Farmhouse Immersed In Private Wetlands

A robust Wolveridge Architects home meets stunning new wetlands by Sam Cox Landscape on the Mornington Peninsula.

A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life With Architect + Grand Designs Australia Host, Peter Maddison

After 12 years hosting the beloved series, Peter Maddison is onto his next chapter, and we joined him to hear all about it!
Christina Karras

Architecture

Step Inside St Kilda's Famous Crigan House With Tim Ross

The 80s are back, baby! Join Tim Ross for his new one-man show, Rosso 88, at the award-winning 1980s Crigan House.

Studio Visit

Zachary Frankel: A 'Curious' Maker of Sculptural Furniture + Objects, Inspired By The Past

The local maker works with everything from timber to recycled plastic in his sculptural range of boundary-pushing furniture.
Christina Karras

Architecture

An Architect’s ‘Quietly Radical’ North Bondi Family Home

The renovation of architect Anthony Gill's own family home in North Bondi is a compelling case for modest inner-city development.

Sustainable Homes

Heritage Charm Meets 6-Star Sustainability In This Striking Family Home

EME Design have turned this dated Melbourne abode into a surprisingly sustainable haven.
Christina Karras

Stays

A 1940s Log Cabin Turned Serene Retreat In The Yarra Valley

From its humble beginnings, Carl’s Hut has been lovingly transformed into a boutique log cabin stay, where guests relax and recharge among...
Christina Karras

Homes

An Interior Designer's Dreamy Beach House On The Great Ocean Road

Interior designer Leigh Ellwood’s serene + minimal beach house - with a million dollar view!

Sustainable Homes

An Owner-Designed, Off-Grid Escape In Bay Of Fires

Lisa Hatfield and landscape designer Sam Cox designed their off-grid holiday house, Swansong, in Tasmania’s Bay Of Fires—and it’s avai...

Architecture

An Inspired Reworking Of An Intimate Marrickville House

Studio Weave bring the backyard and northern light into an existing compact cottage to form an inspired family home.

Shopping

11 Places To Shop Australian-Made Furniture

Meet some of our favourite furniture brands, makers and designers who are all about manufacturing locally - and doing it with style!
Christina Karras

Creative People

The Zero-Waste Event Decoration Business Putting The Sparkle Into Sustainability

Sarah Borg of Bangin Hangins offers her clients a brilliant alternative to single-use party decorations - with hand-made, zero-waste event s...

Architecture

A Thoughtfully Renovated Mid-Century Home, With A Geometric Twist

This renovated home in Melbourne's north is a love letter to the past, with a new architectural balcony and lush garden views.
Christina Karras

Art

How Darwin’s Coolest New Art Gallery Is Championing Indigenous Stories

Laundry Gallery is an exciting Aboriginal-owned creative hub, based inside a converted 70s laundromat!
Christina Karras

Climate

Designer Style Meets GreenPower In The Sydney Apartment Of Jono Fleming

How interior designer Jono Fleming made his home more sustainable, in just three minutes.

Homes

A Vintage Farmhouse On Sydney’s Upper North Shore

It looks like an authentic country farmhouse, but Alexandra Nea Graham’s family home is an almost entirely new-build!

Gardens

A Coastal Garden That Revives The Native Landscape

House Revisited brings the natural landscape of Macmasters Beach on the NSW Central Coast, into a stunning residential property.

On The Market

An Idyllic Homestead With Country Views For Sale In Gippsland!

This 1890s homestead is the ultimate treechange opportunity, with a rambling garden, sprawling views, and it's already been renovated!
Christina Karras

Studio Visit

The Sydney Sculptor Creating Striking Pieces From Centuries-Old Sandstone

Sculptor Tom Butterworth creates striking tables, stools and vessels from recycled Australian sandstone, with beautiful results.
Christina Karras

Art

A Look Inside Abbey Rich's Mesmerising New Exhibition

See the Melbourne artist's beautifully bold abstract pieces at MARS Gallery, filled with playful patterns and hidden meanings.
Christina Karras

Gardens

A Boundless Garden Immersed In Native Bushland

A new coastal home on the Mornington Peninsula buried deep within a native grassy woodland, with stunning gardens by Plume Studio.

Climate

Everything You Need To Know About GreenPower (+ Why You Should Make The Switch)

The easiest way to invest in in Australia's renewable future - and it's simpler (and cheaper) than you think!

A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life With Local Icons + TikTok Stars, Ginger And Carman

Get to know the fashionable, dynamic duo, whose fun-filled adventures (and inspiring approach to life) have made them Internet famous!
Christina Karras

Creative People

The New Small Business Making Mid-Century-Inspired Furniture In Australia

Culture Cush are making velvet-covered modular lounges inspired by retro designs, with the best materials of today!
Christina Karras

Homes

A Quirky Redfern Terrace With A Hidden Green Roof

The unconventional family home of designer Sacha Coles, split over 4 levels!

Gardens

A Lush Secret Garden, Inside A Converted Melbourne Church!

This surprising garden in East Melbourne has its own lagoon pool, a natural fish pond and 10m-tall walls covered in ivy.
Christina Karras

Studio Visit

Local Artist Hannah Maskell Creates Mesmerising Grids Of Colour

The Melbourne-based artist's geometric drawings and wooden sculptures are a cross between 'colour theory and colour therapy'.
Christina Karras

Architecture

An Unconventional Beach House Elevated On Steel

Steel beams elevate AB House by Office MI—JI to form an unconventional beach house in Barwon Heads.

Food

Julia's Crunchy Crumbed Fish With Cos Salad + Yoghurt Tartare

Julia Busuttil Nishimura's delicious take on a classic summer fish dinner – on high rotation for the rest of the season!
Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Sustainable Homes

An Off-Grid, Modern Country Farmhouse In Regional Victoria

Step inside a newly built farmhouse that's fully off the grid, with all the classic features of an old country home.
Christina Karras

Art

9 Unmissable Exhibitions To See In 2023!

From NGV's Alexander McQueen exhibition, to a showcase of Frida Kahlo's works, here are the must-see exhibitions of the coming year.
Christina Karras

Architecture

A Brazilian-Inspired Update Of A 1920s Brisbane Cottage

Bowen by Shaun Lockyer Architects elevates a 1920s cottage with a stunning renovation and addition.

Shopping

Shop The Chunky, Colourful Furniture You’ve Seen All Over The Internet

Meet the tradie brothers behind FEARON, who have been making quirky, must-have furniture that blends fun with functionality!
Christina Karras

Homes

An Owner-Designed Renovation Of A 1970s South Yarra Apartment

How designers Lola Digby-Diercks and Sebastian Owen completely transformed their South Yarra apartment in just six months.

Interiors

Before + After: A Dated Brick Home Turned Coastal Holiday Pad

Dark timber and dated tiles have been replaced with light and bright interiors in this Mornington Peninsula beach house.
Christina Karras

Studio Visit

How Powerhouse Designer, Yuwaalaraay Woman Lucy Simpson Is Making Waves

How the Sydney based designer weaves stories of Country and culture into her collaborations with leading brands, such as JAG and Breville.
Jirra Lulla Harvey

On The Market

A Rare Robin Boyd House Is Available To Rent

You could be the next tenant of this house, designed by Australia's most famous architect.

Studio Visit

Dani McKenzie’s Detailed Paintings Look Like Familiar Photographs

The Melbourne artist recreates local streetscapes and everyday scenes, filled with intimate reminders of our own inner-worlds.
Christina Karras

Sustainable Homes

How An Architect Turned This 1930s Bungalow Into A Sustainable Family Haven

Architect Emily Sandstrom's warm family home runs off solar power, with a vegetable garden and impressive entertaining area hidden inside!
Christina Karras

Family

Journalist Nas Campanella On Parenting With Blindness + Building Disability Awareness

How ABC journalist Nas Campanella navigates motherhood as a person living with blindness and Charcot-Marie-Tooth.

Design Eye

How to Create Fun + Playful Interiors, With Studio Joy’s Kristel Marshall

The Melbourne designer shares how to balance minimalism and maximalism with playful colours and bold furniture – in a way that won't date!...
Christina Karras

Art

10 Emerging, Affordable Artists You Need To Have On Your Watchlist!

From ethereal still lifes to striking ceramic work, and meticulous soft pastel drawings, these are the artists to start collecting now!

Creative People

A Noosa Design Studio's Chic New Office, Inside A Former 80s Club

CLO Studios' have transformed an old music club into their dreamy new office space, and it's filled with eclectic design inspiration!
Christina Karras

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