The Belle Fanuli Interior Design Awards 2023

The winners of this year’s Belle Fanuli Interior Design Awards represent the best in Australian interiors today.

The winners of this year’s Belle Fanuli Interior Design Awards showcase the dynamic energy of an industry that is consistently thriving.

BELLE FANULI INTERIOR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR – WINNER ADAM HADDOW

BEST RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR – WINNER ’19 WATERLOO STREET’ BY ADAM HADDOW OF SJB

Despite its compact size, 19 Waterloo Street, designed by Adam Haddow from SJB, engages in a playful dialogue with space. Embracing the philosophy of “doing more with less,” as articulated by Adam, shapes the entire project’s design, whilst emphasising sustainable principles.

Adam in his Surry Hills office. Photography Georgina Egan

With a maximum width of 3.3 metres, Haddow’s creative and clever spatial planning in achieving a sense of scale and luxury shines bright.

Every inch has been meticulously considered, designed to serve a purpose, whether that be functional or playful and it is the confluence of these design choices that made SJB the standout for both Best Residential Interior and the ultimate accolade, Interior Designer of the Year, in this year’s awards.

Adam’s home, 19 Waterloo Street. Photography Anson Smart

HALL OF FAME – WINNER ANDREW PARR OF SJB

Parr was honoured the prestigious Hall of Fame award, admitting him into a league of legacy. His
work spans across decades, into Australia’s most special homes, hotels and hospitality ventures.
Andrew is the founding director of SJB Interiors. Recent projects of his include The Royce Hotel, The Adge Hotel and Charnwood Residence.

Andrew Parr accepting his Hall of Fame Award at the Belle Fanuli Interior Design Awards 2023. Photography Esteban La Tessa

BEST RESIDENTIAL BATHROOM DESIGN – WINNER ‘GLOSS HOUSE’ BY MARDI DOHERTY OF STUDIO DOHERTY

Explore the vibrant world of Studio Doherty’s creations, and you’ll swiftly discover their remarkable skill in infusing spaces with bursts of brilliant colour that not only captivate the eye but also stand the test of time. Their award-winning Best Bathroom is a the dazzling ensuite adorned in luscious apple green. It’s not just a bathroom; it’s a radiant testament to their artistry, deserving every accolade it receives.

Mardi pictured at Maivern Residence with artwork by Gerwyn Davies. Photography Tim O’Connor.

The winning bathroom at ‘Glass House’. Photography Anson Smart

BEST HOSPITALITY INTERIOR – WINNER ‘ENOTECA BOCCACCIO’ BY MIRIAM FANNING AND EMMA MAHLOOK OF MIM DESIGN

The enchanting journey of Enoteca Boccaccio, the newest addition above Boccaccio Cellars, a family-run Italian grocer and bottle shop. Crafted by Mim Design, this visionary space seamlessly embodies the preservation of family values and Italian heritage. Ascend a staircase adorned in Signorino’s Corsica Rosa del Garda tiles to discover a bar that transcends expectations with its brass detailing, terracotta-hued flooring, rich burgundy joinery, and harmonious stone finishes. This award-winning project is not just a testament to design excellence; it encapsulates 60 years of dedication, showcasing a profound love for food and wine in a single, brilliantly orchestrated space.

Mim Design’s Miriam Fanning and Emma Mahlook at Enoteca Boccaccio in Balwyn, Melbourne. Photography Tim O’Connor.

BEST USE OF COLOUR – WINNER ‘HOME AND AWAY’ BY YASMINE GHONIEM OF YSG STUDIO

Sydney’s YSG Studio exudes a rebellious spirit under the bold leadership of Yasmine Ghoniem. Each project showcases her fearless approach, notably in the vivid use of colour to narrate tales of distant lands within interiors. YSG’s work, abundant in tone, texture, and pattern, defies trends—simultaneously radical and balanced, weaving a tapestry of diverse influences.

Yasmin in her Redfern studio. Photography Kristina Soljo

Unsurprisingly, YSG Studio won the Best Use of Colour award this year. Yasmine Ghoniem, describing the award-winning project “Home and Away,” reveals, “Grounded in hybridized Spanish Mission and Moroccan riad elements, with flashes of Egyptian splendor, this casa nurtures with sanctuary-like appeal and inspires with fictional flair. We approached the transformation of this home like creating a storybook”.

The winning Best Use Of Colour ‘Home and Away’. Photography Anson Smart

BEST COMMERCIAL INTERIOR – WINNER ‘KODA’ BY JULIETTE ARENT AND SARAH-JANE PYKE OF ARENT&PYKE

Arent&Pyke, no strangers to the winners’ podium, secured Best Commercial Interior this award season for their design of Koda Cutters new Sydney studio in the iconic Queen Victoria building. Transforming the salon’s vision from Bondi Beach to the CBD, the Arent&Pyke duo embraced Diane Gorgievski’s directive to enhance the client’s journey with meticulous attention to detail. The result, a glamorous space blending myriad shades, glossy tints, burl timbers, and contemporary materials like terrazzo and high-gloss polyurethane.

Juliette and Sarah-Jane in a Sydney Residential Project. Photography Will Horner.

The interiors at Koda, in Sydney’s heritage QVB shopping destination. Photography Anson Smart.

BEST RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN DESIGN – WINNER ‘PARKVILLE HOUSE’ BY PALCEMENT STUDIO

Placement Studio transformed this kitchen with a lush palette—deep artichoke green on the walls and a rich, swirling marble adorning the curvaceous island benchtop. The addition of a bay window, extending into the once-unused courtyard, creates a Victorian conservatory feel. Delicate ribbed glazed insertions, mirroring the joinery, add a touch of thoughtful elegance to the space.

The Placement Studio team, from left; James Flaherty, Stephanie Kitingan, Jacqueline O’Brien, and Ashlee Pukk. Photography Tim O’Connor.

Placement Studio’s winning ‘Parkville House’. Photography Tom Ross

EMERGING DESIGN STAR – WINNER AMELDA WILDE INTERIOR DESIGN

Amelda Wilde, founder of Amelda Wilde Interiors, is a storyteller through design, distilling her clients’ character into quirky, playful, and timeless spaces. Recognised as the Emerging Design Star in this year’s awards, Amelda’s unique style celebrates imperfections in materials. The Von Leach residence (pictured below) is an ode to handcrafted revival—a decadently imperfect California bungalow where arts and crafts narratives span a century. Amelda preserves and amplifies the home’s atmospheric qualities, softening antique features in neutral, contemporary finishes while joyfully crafting spaces that resonate with timeless charm.

Amelda at the Von Leach residence. Photography Tim O’Connor