Five Favourites from the 2019 Top 50 Rooms Award

In its 21st year, the Top 50 Rooms Award garnered no shortage of Australian talent in residential architecture and interior design. Unveiling some of the country’s most tantalising spaces, the awards have crowned leaders in creativity and innovation from our brimming design scene. 

This year more than 100 rooms from around Australia were put forward in the 2019 Australian House & Garden’s 2019 Top 50 Rooms Award. Arent&Pyke took out King Living Room of the Year for their lauded Under the Tree project, while Studio Ezra’s Mediterranean-inspired kitchen impressed judges to win the Blum Best Kitchen award. 

Award winners also included Decus Interiors for their brave use of bold marble in the Parisi Best Bathroom and Doherty Design Studio’s Thornton Residence for the Zip Best Use of Technology. Playing to our love of the outdoors, Hare+Klein were awarded Wynstan Best Indoor-Outdoor Connection and Madeleine Blanchfield Architects’ mirrored bathroom space was named winner of Best Outdoor Room. 

We took the opportunity to pour over our five favourites from 2019 Top 50 Rooms Award. For the entire Top 50 list, see the November issue of Australian House & Garden.

Room of the Year: Arent&Pyke

Sydney-based  studio Arent&Pyke’s Under the Tree project has captivated judging panels in almost every Australian award line up this year. Endowed with the title of King Living 2019 Room of The Year, Arent&Pyke designed this unique living space around a Ficus Lyata tree.

Best Kitchen: Studio Ezra

Multi-disciplinary Studio Ezra were awarded Blum Best Kitchen in 2019 for this earthy hub of the home, designed for studio director Georgia Ezra. Reminiscent of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean tones, this custom timber and terracotta kitchen showcases a tapestry of warm and tactile materiality, with garden greenery views from the kitchen sink. Perhaps best of all, the kitchen showcases Studio Ezra tiles.

Best Bathroom: Decus Interiors

Never shy to bring an exciting material palette to the bathroom, Decus Interiors were recognised as the winner of Parisi Best Bathroom in 2019. This eye-catching powder room lies in a recently completed Sydney home, playing on a palette of purple from the luxurious Cipollino marble vanity. Design highlights also include Articolo lighting’s wall sconces and the Abal Mirror by MatterMade from Criteria Collection.

Best Use of Technology in the Home: Doherty Design Studio

Doherty Design Studio were awarded Zip Best Use of Technology for their Thornton Residence living space, located on the private grounds of a golf club in regional Victoria. A collaborative project with Detail 9 Architects, Thornton Residence is both a comfortable and calming country retreat for its family and guests alike.

Best Indoor-Outdoor Connection: Hare+Klein

Sydney studio Hare+Klein were awarded Wynstan Best Indoor-Outdoor Space for this dark western red cedar clad indoor-outdoor room. The space offers the owners the opportunity to enjoy the garden, rain, hail or shine.