Well, hasn’t time flown? The 2018 AIDA Awards are again upon us, showcasing the cream of the crop in Australian interior design. Just as last year, the shortlist is a compilation of big names and arresting spaces – some unseen and others no stranger to us at est. The list is filled with familiar favourites; the unforgettable Iluka House by Alexander & Co. alongside the work of B.E Architecture, Architect Prineas and Taylor Knights – making up a host of nominees we’ve proudly shared in the past.
As we anticipate those crowned for each category, we’ve handpicked designers – both emerging and established – to keep your eye on. Whether it’s designers or projects listed across categories or a number in just one, these are the masters of their craft to watch and projects not yet seen on est – testament to Australia’s diverse and thriving interior design realm. See more about the awards on the 2018 AIDA awards website here.
Madeleine Blanchfield Architects are the luminary of ‘Modern Australian’ style. The firm have an exceptional ability to open up the old and the new to behold a scenic Sydney view – a talent they’ve taken to new heights in their Coogee House project. Iterating the contemporary Australian palette, the Coogee House is a stifler for its high ceilings and scaled windows and doors. If you haven’t already, make a note of their name and don’t forget it – they’ve got nominations across decoration and residential design.
Photography by Robert Walsh
We’ve called Fiona Lynch’s style minimal luxe and we’re not afraid to do it again. It’s style celebrated for its individuality, transpiring into more than one nomination in the 2018 AIDA awards shortlist. The studio has a knack for rich materiality and colour, layering marble, metallic and black accents with playful splashes of colour. This Paddington project shines with its signature Fiona quirk and iconic objects – spot the Container Table, Ptolomeo Bookcase and 637 Utrecht Armchair. Folding out onto the rear courtyard, this home is exciting everywhere you look.
Photography by Sharyn Cairns
We were lucky to peep inside Studio Griffiths’ Main Ridge House in Issue 28, picked by Sharyn Cairns as her best-loved bathroom in our series, Through a Photographer’s Eyes. While we definitely agree that the bathroom is a standout space, we are also coveting the custom-made panelled joinery in the kitchen and the thread of grey and charcoal that extends throughout. The Main Ridge House is guaranteed not to date, with a stately mix of muted tones, smooth textures and traditional forms.
Photography by Sharyn Cairns
Tommarkhenry bounded out of the blocks this year with their Bondi Residence, designing a cool, calm and collected place to call home. With their name on some top-notch commercial projects, the studio have made their mark on 2018 with a home that values the finer details. The planked ceiling, marble sink and designer pieces reveal an exceptional attention to detail, from a team that we’re certainly looking forward to seeing what’s next.
Photography by Damian Bennett
With their name across the 2018 AIDA awards shortlist, SJB are in the know with their design forward residential projects. Their project The Riley is a compilation of industrial bones and contemporary elegance, graced by unique rugs, lighting and soft furnishings. Optimising each opening, the SJB team have entered 2018 with a refreshing take on inner-city apartment living. If one thing is certain, SJB is the name to know for the year’s best-in-class work.
Photography by Felix Forest
