DESIGN TRENDS TO EMBRACE IN 2026 … AND THE ONES TO AVOID
Top architect Georgina Wilson reveals which popular design trends add lasting value and which risk ageing poorly in modern homes.
2 min
Stainless steel kitchens. Built-in bunk beds. Pure linen curtains. These once-coveted features are rapidly gaining traction, but not all are built to last.
Architect Georgina Wilson, founder and principal of Georgina Wilson Associates, is urging homeowners to think beyond Instagram appeal and focus on choices that enhance longevity, flexibility and everyday liveability.
As Australia’s most followed architect, Wilson sees firsthand how trend-driven decisions shape how people live in their homes.
While some features genuinely improve functionality and future-proof a property, others quickly become high-maintenance burdens or costly mistakes. Here, she shares her honest perspective on the design choices worth embracing and those best left behind.
DESIGN CHOICES TO THINK TWICE ABOUT
Bookshelves: Considered, curated shelving? Yes. Buying hoards of books just to fill up your shelves? Not on Georgina’s watch. It’s a shortcut to turning your home into a dust haven.
100% linen sofa covers and curtains: While lovely in theory, 100% natural fibres aren’t always the most functional. Linen can shrink, wrinkle and sag over time, so your pieces can end up looking dishevelled.
Kitchen serveries: They might look great on Pinterest, but in reality, kitchen serveries feel like you’re running a tuckshop and can block the primary access to the outside.
Stainless steel kitchens: While visually striking, stainless steel kitchens fall short in everyday life, unless you enjoy constantly wiping away fingerprints, of course.
Built-in bunk beds: Your kids will inevitably outgrow them, and you’ll have to rip them out. The one exception? A holiday house where you need to maximise temporary accommodation.
DESIGN CHOICES WORTH INVESTING IN
Doggy baths: Georgina has had seven requests for dedicated doggy baths in the past three months alone, signalling a growing desire to design homes that cater to every inhabitant. While some may see them as niche, she believes they’re a smart, practical addition that keeps daily life running smoothly for pet-owning households.
Multigenerational living: Georgina is seeing more clients request spaces for grandparents or explore subdividing homes to accommodate adult children, reflecting the rise of multigenerational living. Alongside this, there’s been a notable increase in lifts being retrofitted as families look to future-proof their homes for long-term use.
Two primary bedrooms: An emerging request Georgina has seen several times this year is for two primary bedrooms within one home. While she jokes it sounds like a dream, it speaks to a growing desire for flexibility as living arrangements and family dynamics evolve.
Mudrooms: These remain hugely popular, with clients recognising their value as hardworking, functional spaces that keep homes organised. Georgina notes that the key is to ensure they enhance circulation rather than interrupt it.
Enclosed studies: As working from home becomes a permanent fixture, Georgina says clients are increasingly prioritising fully enclosed studies over makeshift dining table setups. It reflects a shift towards creating proper separation between work and home life.
Victorian auction buyers will soon receive a piece of information that has traditionally been withheld until bidding reaches it: the vendor’s reserve price. Under new property-sale and underquoting laws, agents must publish the agreed reserve at least seven days before an auction or fixed-date sale. Most changes begin on 1 October 2026 and apply to …
Continue reading “Victoria’s New Auction Rules Will Force Reserve Prices Into the Open”
Four decks, 34.5 metres and a made-to-measure interior: step aboard the new Custom Line Navetta 35, unveiled at Cannes.
Four decks, 34.5 metres and a made-to-measure interior: step aboard the new Custom Line Navetta 35, unveiled at Cannes.
2 minThe most compelling modern yachts increasingly borrow from residential architecture: clearer circulation, larger windows and outdoor rooms that feel genuinely connected to the interior. Custom Line’s new Navetta 35, given its world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival, pushes that idea across four decks.
At 34.5 metres long with a beam of 7.7 metres, the yacht is the new entry point to Custom Line’s displacement range. Its scale is substantial enough to create distinct private, social and service zones, yet remains below the dimensions of the yard’s larger custom superyachts.
The exterior was developed through Ferretti Group’s Strategic Product Committee and Engineering Department, while Custom Line Atelier supervised the interior definition and owner personalisation. That made-to-measure process is central to the brand: layouts, materials, furniture and artwork can be shaped around how an owner intends to use the yacht rather than applied as a fixed decorative package.
Outdoor living is distributed across the vessel rather than concentrated at the stern. The beach club brings guests close to the water; the main and upper decks provide protected entertaining areas; and the sun deck creates a more private elevated retreat. The design seeks to preserve open sightlines, allowing sea views to run through social spaces and reducing the sense of division between saloon and terrace.
The Navetta designation signals a displacement yacht intended for composed, efficient cruising rather than outright speed. For owners, the appeal lies in range, comfort and the ability to spend longer periods aboard. Technical specifications, engine options, range and top speed should be confirmed against the final shipyard data for the displayed hull.
What can be seen is a continuation of Custom Line’s preference for quiet sophistication. Instead of decorating every surface, the interior architecture uses proportion, natural light and carefully selected materials to carry the experience. Built-in pieces establish structure, while freestanding furniture and art allow an owner’s personality to emerge.
The debut also arrives during Custom Line’s 30th anniversary year. Since its foundation, the marque says it has delivered more than 300 made-to-measure yachts. The Navetta 35 is therefore both a new model and a statement about what the next chapter should look like: more openness, closer contact with the water and customisation that goes beyond choosing finishes.
At Cannes, where new models compete for attention metre by metre, the Navetta 35’s proposition is relatively restrained. It is not trying to look like the fastest boat in the marina. It is designed to feel like a highly private waterfront home — one capable of moving when the owner wants a different view.
Yacht snapshot
– Model: Custom Line Navetta 35
– Type: Displacement superyacht
– Length: 34.5 metres
– Beam: 7.7 metres
– Decks: Four
– Debut: Cannes Yachting Festival, 8–13 September 2026
– Builder: Custom Line, Ferretti Group
– Price: On application
A Vaucluse masterpiece by MHNDU with interiors by Poco Designs brings architectural ambition and breathtaking ocean outlook to the auction block.
The grand harbourside residence combines sweeping Sydney Heads views, resort-style entertaining and refined designer finishes with a reported $36 million price guide.
