Best of est 2019 | Top 10 Australian Designers

As we welcome the new year, we’re celebrating the design talent on our shores. Evolving their style and approach or leading the way on innovation, we’re passionate about Australian designers setting a standard for good design in 2019 – locally and globally. 

Our refined list of Australian designers pays tribute to masters at their craft, as well as emerging designers who’ve come into their own in 2019. For their contribution to the design landscape, leadership, accolades or their support of est, we’re recognising; Madeleine Blanchfield, David Flack, Annabelle Berryman and Sarah Henry, Luigi Rosselli, Juliette and Sarah-Jane Pyke, Cushla McFadden and Jade Nottage, Jean-Pierre Biasol, Sarah Cosentino and Felicity Slattery, Kirsten Stanisich and Jonathon Richards and Romy Alwill. Read on to find out why these designers have been crowned the best of est in 2019. 

Madeleine Blanchfield

Sydney-based architect Madeleine Blanchfield has led her firm to another award-winning year for their modern Australian residential design in 2019. The breadth of their standout projects – The Kangaroo Valley Outhouse, Crescent Head, Centennial Park, Attic House and the Astor Apartment (also one of our best Australian homes in 2019) reveals boundless design aptitude, transpiring scale and context. We’ve also been privy to Madeleine’s new venture into furniture design, inside est magazine issue #35. Stay tuned; there is even the possibility to see in the designer’s own home in 2020.

David Flack

Named Belle Coco Republic Interior Designer of the Year, Melbourne-based designer David Flack has had a stellar year of recognition for his bold and conceptual design. Driving the unique aesthetic of his namesake studio, David revealed an unmissable lineup of projects this year; including Fitzroy, Prahran, Caulfield and Sandy Bay. Each highly-acclaimed project reveals a driving, boundary-pushing mission, as David puts Australian interior design on the global stage. 

“studiofour’s approach to the built environment is to constantly strive for a unity with nature. Our designs reflect a strong emphasis on our relationship with nature.”

– Annabelle Berryman

Annabelle Berryman and Sarah Henry

Melbourne-based architecture, interiors and landscape designers Annabelle Berryman and Sarah Henry have charged ahead with their thorough, skilful and ‘healthy’ approach to design in 2019. This year we walked through their Centralpark Residence, reiterating the importance of rework over demolition, while their Mayfield Avenue project highlighted how a central garden can inform an entire home design. With some new projects below to be released in 2020, we know there are only good things to come from this design duo. 

“A lot of my projects have curved corners or angle walls but softly done so that it favours a certain fluidity of movement, views and solar aspects. Curves are one element of geometry that’s very easy to use and I’m not afraid to use it.”

– Luigi Rosselli

Luigi Rosselli

Known for his iconic yellow trace sketches, Sydney Architect Luigi Rosselli has expanded his practice’s portfolio of definitive sculptural homes in 2019. Alongside an esteemed team of collaborators, Luigi Rosselli brought his signature curves to one of our most popular homes on est, Homage to Oscar. Luigi’s name is also on the triple arches of Villa Nostalgia, and the home of esteemed fashion native Camilla Freeman-Topper – a show-stopping project from est magazine issue #34. 

 Juliette Arent and Sarah-Jane Pyke

It seems every year is Juliette and Sarah-Jane Pyke’s year, as their studio continues to deliver a signature colourful and often unexpected aesthetic. But this took on a whole new meaning in 2019, with Magnolia House, one of the best home’s on est in 2019 and projects Villa Amor and Under the Tree. Perhaps the defining hallmark of Arent&Pyke’s year is Under the Tree, taking out almost every major Australian award while garnering international appreciation. 

“We pride ourselves on reinvention, always striving to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone. We feel that is why our projects are visually so diverse with a common thread of playful invention throughout them all.”

– Jade Nottage

Cushla McFadden and Jade Nottage

Cushla McFadden and Jade Nottage have captured our attention throughout 2019, both through their successful residential projects – Clovelly House, Bischoff Residence and Darlinghurst Terrace – as well as their design know-how. Their studio Tom Mark Henry has continued to impress us with their fast-expanding portfolio of wellness spaces, restaurants, elite commercial spaces and subdued Sydney homes and looking to 2020, we know there are many more exciting projects brewing.

Jean-Pierre Biasol

It’s been a big year for Jean-Pierre Biasol and his studio. Launching their furniture collection Tre Mezzo (featured in est magazine issue #35) and Tondo, Biasol have also made appearances in almost every award line up for both their residential and hospitality projects. Their European-inspired Casa Atrio, Casa Chiaroscuro and Hobart eatery Sisterhood were all met with praise on est in 2019. With their product design full steam ahead and new projects in the wings, you’ll be seeing Biasol’s name on est in 2020. 

“We believe there is beauty in the detail and strive to always interpret spaces, materials and project briefs with a worldly outlook, foregoing trends in favour of a more considered, directional and entirely tailored approach.”

– Sarah Cosentino

Sarah Cosentino and Felicity Slattery

Melbourne-based designers Sarah Cosentino and Felicity Slattery of Studio Esteta have made their mark on 2019 through a suite of exceptional hospitality and residential projects. The studio introduced us to their iconic Portsea Beach House, one of the top Australian homes in 2019, Merricks Guesthouse and award-winning Via Porta Eatery and Deli, opened by Sarah Cosentino and her creative siblings. Taking a moment to share some wisdom with est, we’re looking forward to more of projects brimming with heart and soul in 2020. 

Kirsten Stanisich and Jonathan Richards

Kirsten Stanisich and Jonathon Richards made the move from leading SJB’s Sydney interior front in late 2018, to create their own design identity. Rebranding as Richards Stanisich, they take with them a collection of top-tier hospitality, commercial and residential projects. The duo’s new studio venture has also been met with a widely-praised product design debut, the Bell Table, in 2019. An exciting new chapter for the designers can only foresee an inspiring year ahead in 2020.

“There is an ever-growing enthusiasm toward good design in Australia, perhaps it has been neglected for too long, but we are excited about being part of an expanding awareness.”

– Jonathon Richards

Romy Alwill

Sydney interior designer Romy Alwill and her eponymous studio collaborated with Luigi Rosselli Architects on two of the most talked-about Sydney homes in 2019. Both in Homage to Oscar (featured in our best of est 2019 Australian homes) and Camilla Freeman-Topper’s home (from est magazine issue #34), pushed boundaries in terms of finishes and forms while celebrating their architectural features. We’re only anticipating more of this timeless, edgy and refined design work in 2020.