2018 Australian Interior Design Awards finalists announced

East Malvern House by Made By Cohen, Photography by Shannon McGrath

The shortlist for the Australian Interior Design Awards have been announced and the results are breathtaking! 

Run by the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) in partnership with Artichoke magazine and judged by some of our most highly regarded interior designers and architects, its 15^th year has seen a record-breaking number of more than 600 entries. Finalists have been selected across 13 categories for projects completed in Australia and worldwide for design in public, residential, commercial and retail interiors.

DIA CEO Jo Kellock is excited by this year’s line up. “I’m thrilled when I look at the images up for judging, I’m just amazed!” enthuses Jo. “The interiors are such exciting spaces to be in.”

“As it’s a peer-reviewed award, it holds tremendous kudos across the interior design industry,” she says. “The judges are selected each year by the industry themselves via a rigorous selection process, based on their own design credentials.”

Canning Cottage by Bicker Design, Photography by Nikole Ramsay

Never was there a better opportunity for inspiration in cutting edge interior design – with hundreds of images to get lost in and steal ideas from. 

Almost 50 projects make up the shortlist, with many familiar names being joined by some newcomers in a lust-worthy gallery of entries.

Loft House x2 by Brad Swartz Architects, Photography by Katherine Lu

In the Residential Design category 2017 Emerging Interior Design Practice winner, Brad Swartz Architects made the shortlist with an inspired design realised with the collaboration of two inner-city neighbours giving up their parking spaces to create conjoined one-bedroom houses.

Hecker Guthrie in collaboration with Woods Bagot for Elwood House are shortlisted for a sleek, contemporary apartment where the design heroes rather than hems in, elements of brick and concrete in the dwellings.

Previous winners SJB have no less than 5 projects shortlisted, ranging from a light and bright, contemporary Bondi Beach house with stunning views, sweeping curved walls and bold bathroom tiling, through bespoke leather banquets for a family of four and sharp detailed warehouse conversions, to the sensitive restoration and extension of Architect John James Clark’s own home, built in 1869.

Elwood House by Hecker Guthrie, Photography by Shannon Mcgrath

Residential Decoration is peppered with well-known names – Juliette Arent and Sarah Jane Pyke have two properties shortlisted out of their Arent & Pyke studio. Others to watch are Hare + Klein and the fun and funky Frenches Interior by Sibling Architecture.

St Vincents Place by B.E Architecture, Photography by Derek Swalwell

Brunswick West by Taylorknights, Photography by Tom Blachford

The voice of professional design in Australia, the DIA has been bringing Australian designers together for over 70 years and now boasts over 2000 members. “Historically, Australian design has been criticised for its lack of international appeal but awards like this bring the best and brightest into the spotlight, showing the rest of the world just what we can do here in Australia,” says DIA's National Head of Communciations Jane Connory.

Thrusting interior designers onto the world stage, the award is recognised as the premier event in the Australian design industry. “It’s a great opportunity for designers to stand next to their work,” says Jane.

Beach House by SJB, Photography by Felix Forest

“The most impressive entries reveal an uncompromising narrative expressed through a unique combination of materiality, colour and detail. Success prevails when the decoration enhances the interior’s story.”

Judge Tracey Wiles, Partner, Make (NSW)

North Bondi Penthouse by SJB, Photography by Anson Smart

Paddington House by Fiona Lynch, Photography by Sharyn Cairns

Judges are so far impressed with the entries across the board. “This year’s shortlist displays comfortable, liveable spaces with a strong emphasis on furniture and lighting as art. Each project is human-focused and there’s a definite variety of spaces and atmospheres being created in the home,” says Mark Simpson, Director, DesignOffice (Vic).

Winners will be announced in a star-studded event at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Sydney on 25^th May 2018. Below is the shortlist for the Residential Decoration category. View the full shortlist here.

Aida Crescent House by Deicke Richards, Photography by Christopher Fre

Shortlist for Residential Decoration

Arent&Pyke for Amarelo Terrace, NSW 

Arent&Pyke for Curatorial House, NSW 

Arent&Pyke for Treetop House, NSW 

Doherty Design Studio for Beechworth Residence, Vic 

Fiona Lynch for Elsternwick House, Vic 

Golden for South Yarra Mirror Apartment, Vic 

Hare + Klein for City Fringe, NSW 

Infinite Design Studio for Fairlight Crescent, NSW 

Justine Hugh-Jones Design for Taylors Bay Residence, NSW 

Madeleine Blanchfield Architects for Centennial Park House, NSW 

Madeleine Blanchfield Architects for Coogee House II, NSW 

Matt Gibson Architecture + Design for Mixed Use House, Vic 

Nina Maya Interiors for The Glasshouse, NSW 

Robson Rak Architects & Interiors for Elwood2, Vic 

Robson Rak Architects & Interiors for Stables House, Vic 

SIBLING Architecture for Frenches Interior, Vic 

Simone Haag for Armadale Residence, Vic 

Simone Haag for Toorak Residence, Vic 

SJB for Beach House, NSW 

Tom Mark Henry for Bondi Residence, NSW 

Watch this video for winning designs from the past 15 years.