Australia’s top design influencers on styles, trends and changing interiors

What makes a home beautiful?
“For me, it’s all about a sensorial experience. That is, how a home physically feels – for example, timber flooring underfoot, luxe upholstery you can sink into and cool, smooth stone to prepare delicious food on. It’s also lovely to associate a signature scent with someone’s home – mine is Cyrnos by Trudon. Sound, too – it could be a water feature or a type of music. My go-to playlist on Spotify is ‘This is Vivaldi’.”

What’s your favourite HB moment?
“It’s happening right now! To be the custodian of a brand as it turns 100 is an incredible privilege. We’ve spent months poring over the past 100 years of magazines and it’s fascinating to see that although trends come and go, what Australians want has essentially remained the same: a home that suits their lifestyle, which provides comfort and security, and acts as a canvas to express their style.”

“I hope to give people the advice and inspiration they need to decorate with confidence” – Elle Lovelock

Click here to see inside Elle’s home.

What’s your favourite HB moment?
Chyka: “My favourite HB moment was 30 years ago when Bruce and I were on the cover of the magazine. I was very pregnant, and we had this whole set-up of flowers and the decor; it looked amazing, then two days later, they rang to say we had to shoot the whole thing again because there was a mop in the background. This was before the days of Photoshop.”

What makes a home beautiful?
Chyka: “A home has to tell the story of the family who lives there, and for me that’s colour, books, lighting, it has to smell beautiful – it’s just those things that give you that special feeling, like a great big, warm hug when you walk into your home.”

Which design moment over the past 100 years has been the most influential?
Bruce: “The layering of design and design culture over the past 100 years doesn’t impact or affect us at all. We are collectors and hoarders, we have pots from the 17th century, Murano glass from Italy, all sorts of things. I think that’s what makes the way we live more interesting.”

Click here to tour Chyka and Bruce’s penthouse apartment.

What makes a home beautiful?
“A truly beautiful home is layered with love, history and meaning. It’s about creating a balance between aesthetics and function. And, of course, a sense of warmth and comfort. People turn to magazines like Home Beautiful because they’re not just looking for design ideas – they’re seeking inspiration for creating a life that’s rich, intentional and meaningful.”

Which design moment over the past 100 years has been the most influential?
“It would have to be the growing recognition of nature’s role in interior design. This shift towards biophilic design – bringing nature into our homes – has profoundly shaped how we approach spaces today.”

Which interiors brands have you always turned to?
“Orient House is a constant inspiration for us. And, of course, our company, Designer Boys Art – bespoke, one-of-a-kind pieces to elevate any space and add a unique, artistic touch. We also adore Craft Enterprises and Jack Mitchell in Brisbane.”

How long have you been collaborating and working with Home Beautiful?
“Home Beautiful was a fixture in my childhood home. My mum was a loyal reader, and it became woven into the fabric of our family life. I would devour them, dog-earing pages and collecting inspiration, long before Pinterest existed. It was our portal to the world of design. Over the years, Home Beautiful has championed KWD’s design ethos, showcasing a wide variety of our projects.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“A beautiful home holds stories, rituals and relationships. It supports your energy and elevates your everyday. Interior magazines like Home Beautiful provide the inspiration and, more importantly, the information, to help people elevate their homes in a way that feels achievable, bridging aspiration with accessibility. And that’s powerful, because when people feel proud of their space, it changes the way they live.”

What’s your favourite HB moment?
“Without question, it was the day my guest editor issue arrived in the KWD studio. Each image was considered, and every word was intentional. That collaboration deepened my belief in the power of design journalism – not only to inspire, but to educate, elevate and create genuine connection.”

What does the future of home decorating and design look like?
“Design is becoming more intentional – more conscious of sustainability, cost and purpose.”

“We’re moving towards smarter, more compact homes where every element serves multiple functions” – Kate Walker

How long have you been collaborating and working with Home Beautiful?
Kara: “Over 10 years now. The team has always been so supportive of our projects and endeavours, and it’s still a ‘pinch me’ moment every time we are featured.”

What’s your favourite HB moment?
“When our ‘Bay Builds House 2’ project featured in the September 2024 issue. Such a beautiful spread, alongside amazing company.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“A home that tells your personal story is what makes it beautiful in our eyes. A home that speaks to the individual stories, memories, travels, values and tastes of its owners.”

Which interiors brands have you always turned to?
“Pony Rider is a staple Australian brand we love styling our homes with. It’s durable, hard wearing and suits our coastal style.”

Home invention you couldn’t live without?
“It would have to be the washing machine! Gone are the days of hand washing clothes and with the introduction of AI, washing machines are becoming smarter and smarter, with the ability to adjust cycles depending on the load and use the optimal amount of water and detergent to suit. It does make you wonder where the next 100 years of clothes washing will take us!”

“The introduction of the internet and social media has certainly impacted the world of design” – Kara Demmrich

How long have you been collaborating and working with Home Beautiful?
“We’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with Home Beautiful for years now, ever since our early reno days. We’ve loved sharing our transformations with readers who are as reno-obsessed as we are.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“Forget trends or rules – it’s all about making your home feel like you. That’s when a home truly feels beautiful. When a space is beautiful, it makes everyday moments feel a little more special.”

How do you think our homes have changed since 1925?
“So much has changed, but some things are still the same. The love of timber floors, high ceilings and character details still runs deep – we just give them a modern twist, with way better built-in storage!”

Your favourite HB moment?
“When we saw ‘House 5’ featured in the magazine back in 2016. Today, we’re up to House 18, but that first feature will always hold a special place in our hearts.”

Your favourite HB moment?
“My favourite Home Beautiful moment was when I was asked to guest edit the July 2022 issue of the magazine.”

Which design moment over the past 100 years has been the most influential?
“Someone I admire, who has been a great influence on my own work and changed the way things were designed in the early 1930s, was the UK potter Clarice Cliff. She was one of the first people to pay famous actors to endorse her wares through magazine articles and appearances at department stores. She also came up with the idea of live window displays – people dressed nicely using her teapots, cups and saucers, drinking tea and having a little tea party as people outside passed by. It was hugely successful.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“Home is where the heart is, and being able to create a home just for yourself is one of life’s greatest pleasures. What I love about interiors is the opportunity that it presents for people to be creative in their own homes.”

How long have you been collaborating and working with Home Beautiful?
“For 25 years now! It was the first publication to ever feature my work when I was just starting out. I remember buying Home Beautiful magazines as a young boy, already fascinated by interiors. It played a big role in shaping my passion for design.”

Which design moment over the past 100 years has been the most influential?
“One of the most influential design moments for me is the rise of postmodernism in the late 20th century. It reintroduced personality, boldness and a sense of play into design, pushing back against rigid minimalism. Architects like Harry Seidler and Paul Rudolph reimagined the relationship between form and function in ways that still feel progressive today.”

Which interiors brands have you always turned to?
“Designer Rugs. I’ve been working with them since day one.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“When it reflects a unique personality, built thoughtfully layer by layer.”

“Your home should be an extension of who you are – and that’s what I love most about interior design. It gives people the freedom to express themselves through their surroundings. Most of us want to live in a space that feels beautiful, personal and comforting” – Greg Natale

How long have you been collaborating and working with Home Beautiful?
“I first started working with HB for the May 2014 issue when our recently renovated coastal home was featured. That was the impetus to start my decorating business.”

Your favourite HB moment?
“Having our Bowral home and one of my beach projects featured in the first hardcover Home Beautiful Hamptons Homes coffee table book was a highlight.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“Filling it with the people and things you love most. It’s so important to create a haven you truly love. Having been treated for breast cancer over the past year, and renovating our house in Noosa during that time, it’s highlighted how important it is to live in a home that brings you joy, comfort and security.”

What does the future of home decorating and design look like?
“Classic design and style is timeless and eternally appealing, it’s immune to fads and trends that come and go and which we eventually tire of. Stick with the classics and you can’t go wrong.”

How long have you been collaborating and working with Home Beautiful?
Janette: “Our first feature with Home Beautiful was at our Palm Beach house in 2011, 14 years ago!”

What makes a home beautiful?
“A home is most beautiful when architecture and interiors work in harmony, balancing form, function and feeling with thoughtful, intentional design.”

Which interiors brands have you always turned to?
“Brodware tapware, Bremworth woollen carpet, Porter’s Paints and Dulux paints.”

Your favourite HB moment?
“My favourite HB moment would have to be having our Newport house featured on the front cover and inside HB’s Hamptons Homes first hardcover coffee table book! It was such an honour to have our work featured together with two other projects of ours inside the book.”

Home invention you couldn’t live without?
“My coffee machine!”

“People turn to HB for inspiration because home is your place of retreat, it’s your space to connect with family and friends” – Janette Stritt

How long have you been collaborating and working with Home Beautiful?
“About nine years. I believe our first feature was one of our vintage caravan transformations and our most recent was a Cedar & Suede farmhouse project. I’ve also been fortunate to do some editorial styling for HB, too.”

How do you think our homes have changed since 1925?
“It’s the scale of homes that shows the most variance. Dare I say it, I think many homes now are so large they’re a challenge to adequately fill and they have lost that lived-in vibe that makes a place feel like a home. Sadly, we’ve also lost the level of intricate craftsmanship that could be achieved in 1925, when home building was more accessible.”

Your favourite HB moment?
“The Christmas shoot that took place at our home last year. I’ve always wanted to do a Christmas shoot, so I was incredibly grateful to HB for making that happen.”

Which interiors brands have you always turned to?
“In the studio, we source very widely but we often use Jardan, Molmic, Armadillo, Porter’s Paints for grasscloth wallpaper and Cult for iconic lighting.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“Originality and soul and the feeling that the home is ever evolving and impermanent.”

“I love a collector’s home. I’m nostalgic, so I love to see history unfold throughout a space” – Carlene Duffy

Your favourite HB moment?
“Flocked wallpaper was making a massive comeback and I thought, ‘Surely we can flock the cover’. It turned out every cover had to be hand-flocked. It was so much work, but it was worth it in the end as the issue won heaps of awards and was a really great sell-out.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“In all the different roles that I’ve had, people will take you through their home, but they won’t talk about the colour of the sofa or the walls, they’ll talk about the story of how they bought it, or the argument they had with their husband about choosing it, or what a risk it was choosing that colour. Your home really is your life story. It’s a collection of memories. It’s about everybody wanting to be at your house, and the home everyone feels comfortable in.”

Click here to see inside Wendy Moore’s home.

How long have you been collaborating and working with Home Beautiful?
“Home Beautiful featured my range of houses with GJ Gardner in 2018, my Hyams Beach cabin in 2023 and my Bondi home in 2024 – my first ever cover!”

Your favourite HB moment?
“Building the palm leaf Christmas tree at my Hyams Beach cabin, though my proudest HB moment has got to be the cover story.”

Which interiors brands have you always turned to?
“I like Few & Far, Loughlin Furniture, Design By Them, Sarah Ellison, Jardan, Unitex Rugs and of course my own Darren Palmer ranges of taps, cushions, art and rugs.”

Which design moment over the past 100 years has been the most influential?
“In my opinion, and it’s clearly a biased one, seeing newness and the practical application of current trends from non-professionals on The Block has broken a design-language barrier, making it easier to communicate in terms of design and its importance to everyday life.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“Answering the brief of the people who need to interact with a space and the idea of surprise and delight, and the creative ways in which we match individual needs to individual solutions.”

How long have you been collaborating and working with Home Beautiful?
“I have been working with and featured in Home Beautiful for the past 12 years.”

Your favourite HB moment?
“My favourite moment was when I made the front cover this year in March. It featured a beautiful classic kitchen with English roots, which I designed in Sydney. The whole cover just looks brilliant! Seeing it in newsagents, Coles or Woolies gives you that extra smile.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“Soft furnishings, beautiful curtains and poles, scatter cushions in gorgeous fabric with trims. For carpentry, I love large architraves, corner blocks, cornices and timberwork. I am really into these if the home is traditional – I love beautiful ceilings, ceiling panels, banding and rosettes.”

Interiors brands you have always turned to?
“Astra Walker, Brodware and I love Bremworth’s New Zealand wool carpet.”

Click here to see inside Lauren Mahoney’s home.

Your favourite HB moment?
“When the magazine did a wonderfully generous feature on my luxury coffee table book, ‘Living well by Design’ (Vendome Press), back in 2021 and again when I released ‘Natural Living By Design’ this year.”

Which interiors brands have you always turned to?
“Armadillo, Boyd Blue, Cadrys, Dusty Luxe, Natural Floorcovering Centres, Fred Living, Holmon Home, Horgans, Globe West, LM Home, MCM House, McMullin, Paloma Living, Sheridan,Vickers & Hoad auctioneers, Fat Shack Vintage, and Water Tiger.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“What attracts us to certain homes and not to others has little to do with room size or sheer elbow room, and more to do with proportions, balance
and character. The right quality of space puts us at ease. It’s about the unity of a space, the flow of each room into the other, the house as a harmonious whole.”

What makes a home beautiful?
“A beautiful home is one where its design thoughtfully reflects the lives of those who live there. When a space is practical, genuinely lived in and true to those who inhabit it, it achieves a timeless beauty.”

Your favourite HB moment?
“Being invited by Home Beautiful to guest edit the August 2023 issue – a career highlight and truly one of my most rewarding professional experiences.”

Which design moment over the past 100 years has been the most influential?
“Having lived in several Art Deco apartments and now working on one in a renovation for a client, I’ve come to appreciate how the architecture, finishes and fittings together tell a compelling story.”

Which interiors brands have you always turned to?
“Arthur G furniture, Floorspace, and Wills Bisgrove.”

What does the future of home decorating and design look like?
“I believe the future of interiors will be deeply shaped by AI, from pre-construction visualisations and advanced programming tools to innovations in construction speed, cost efficiency and precise specification. As we lean further into technology, I also sense a growing counter-desire; a return to slowness, craftsmanship and the grounding presence of nature.”

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