5 of Our Favourite Australian Interior Design Projects
Australia is home to a remarkable design culture, one that currently celebrates refined materiality and interiors that are both uncomplicated and expressive. Some of the country’s most inspiring homes share an ethos of thoughtful restraint, dimensional finishes, and spatial poetry. In this roundup, we explore five beautiful residential interior design projects in Australia — from coastal minimalism to textural inner-city retreats — each offering a unique perspective on what it means to live and design beautifully and with intention.
Tree House – by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects
Tree House is perched on a steep hill above a leafy canopy, creating the feeling of living among the branches. Connection to nature is ever-present — not just from the lush greenery that surrounds the home, but also with the use of timber almost everywhere you turn. A sculptural staircase anchors the design, drawing you upward to the heart of the home: the sun-drenched living, kitchen and dining areas on the second level. Although compact in footprint, the home feels anything but small as smart planning allows each space to feel open, purposeful, and bathed in light.
Photography: Anson Smart
Seaside Bungalow – by Handelsmann + Khaw
A masterclass in relaxed refinement: in this home, coastal living meets minimalist luxury with interiors that feel timeless, tactile, and deeply serene. A warm, muted palette of oat, sand, and ivory flows throughout the spaces, enhanced by hand-applied plaster walls and pale oak floors that celebrate natural texture. Curves are a recurring theme, from arched openings to a sculptural staircase and custom kitchen island, adding softness and a sense of rhythm. Every element is intentional yet effortless — bespoke stone joinery, vintage lighting, and other subtly playful details. With generous windows framing glimpses of sea and sky, the home feels cocooned yet open, elegant yet easy.
Photography: Felix Forest
Brixton – by Cera Stribley
At Brixton, conscious restraint allows thoughtful materiality to take centre stage. Textures are layered to create contrast between structure and softness; solid stone forms and polished bronze details are balanced by supple plaster and velvet upholstery. Warm tones anchor each space — designed not just for function, but for feeling: comforting, luminous, and deeply liveable.
Photography: Martina Gemmola
Malvern House — by Studio Ceravolo
A Federation-era gem reimagined into a contemporary minimalist’s sanctuary. This interior preserves heritage charm with exposed federation mouldings and gracious proportions, modernised through refined materials and sculptural detailing (like that incredible staircase!). Groundfloor spaces unfold on square stone pavers — mirrored by 60,000 plus mosaic tiles throughout the house, which also provide dignified pops of colour and reinforce a Milanese-apartment sensibility. Along with timber wall panels, the stainless steel kitchen splashback, and touches of stone, this cultivates a sensory-rich environment despite a structural simplicity.
Photography: Sean Fennessy
Somerville House — by Fiona Lynch Interiors
A delicate dance of texture, colour, and sculptural form makes Somerville House feel intimately curated yet naturally unstudied — the epitome of ‘eclectic chic’. A palette of earthy greens, russets, and dusky pinks bring extra warmth and depth to plaster walls and custom joinery. The marble-clad kitchen and bathroom walls are a Fiona Lynch signature, making vibrant yet sophisticated statements. Throughout the home, minimal yet bold craftsmanship is expressed through carefully chosen furniture, artwork, and lighting, yielding spaces that centre the rich material narrative.
Photography: Pablo Veiga
Across these five homes, a shared design language emerges: one that values the sensory experience of space. Whether through textural surface finishes, artisanal craftsmanship, sculptural forms, or richly layered palettes, each interior tells a story — not just of architecture, but of lifestyle, mood, and meaning. These projects are more than just beautiful spaces; they’re case studies in how great interior design can elevate the way we live.