Melbourne’s Best Interior Designers: Creating Beautiful and Functional Spaces
4 min
Melbourne has a well-deserved reputation for elegance and style with interior design, and with so many to choose from (especially if money is no object!) we thought a short list of the best interior designers, was needed. Please note, these are in no particular order, because everyone is quite frankly, fabulous.
Simone Haag
An impressive portfolio of stand-out projects is the calling card for Simone Haag. Her website opens with a quote from editor of Vogue Living, which is pretty impressive. Young, enthusiastic, brave. Her studio core values are Discovery, Connection, Significance and Belief. Her “Art House” is a firm personal fav.
Christopher Elliott Design
The Richmond base designer has an elevated contemporary style, that transforms spaces in a thoughtful, memorable and meticulous manner using bold colours, clever use of light and interesting textures.
Flack Studio
Just flip through The Elwood House pictures to see the breadth of design expression that comes out of this studio, both residential and commercial. They master the contemporary elegance brief with ease, while still allowing a ‘touch of daring’ as they say, to create a holistic design.
Megan Hounslow
Is it okay to say Megan Hounslow’s paintings are in fact what attracted me first? A bit off topic, but then again maybe not. The Hounslow touch is pictorial and nuanced. The Netherby House project is a study in rapport between contemporary and heritage aesthetics.
Nickolas Gurtler Office
With studio values, such as ‘transportive, immersive and thought-provoking’ , it is no wonder the studio has such an impressive following in residential and commercial design. Their talented curation of items is an art form in itself.
Heartly
This Abbotsford studio, which offers full architectural services, has an unpretentious honesty that creates happy spaces. Their profile says “interiors created by Heartly are creative, confident, practical and beautiful”, and that’s true. They were shortlisted in the 2022 Australian Interior Design Awards for Canning Street Cottage.
Mr. Mitchell
If repeat and referral business is a signpost to a good studio, then Mr Mitchell deserves to be right up there. Twenty-three years in business, and still producing vital, magazine worthy spaces that will outlast fads and trends – because as we all know, elegance is forever in style. His Mittagong project? To die for.
Alexander Pollock
Aaron Wong leads the award-winning Alexander Pollock team as they create outstanding interiors for private residential and commercial residential projects. While all the homes are Insta worthy, their command of eclectic design is outstanding – the Kew House, for example, is brilliant.
Six Pieces Interior Design
Finding the perfect piece for the space is a drawcard to this full-service design studio. Although mentioned in other studios, the quality of 2D and 3D renders is fantastic here, guided by the fully qualified and experienced principals Caroline Lawton and Titia Huggard.
Camilla Molders Design
Not just a great place for design, but also a strong advocate for environmental responsibility. But back to interior design, with 20 years’ experience under her belt, contacts and resources are no issue for the studios informed, bespoke designs – from lofts to mansions, this practice is a go to.
Is it better to hire an interior designer?
Interior designers can be a better option if you’re designing a whole house because they can oversee the entire project for a more cohesive look. Interior designers also have access to trade prices, and often have longstanding relationships with trades and suppliers that can lead to lower costs, a smoother project and a better outcome in the long run.
How much does an interior designer cost in Melbourne?
Like most things, you get what you pay for. An inexperienced designer may charge between $50 to $90 per hour, but the average cost is between $100 and $300 per hour. It’s best to discuss budgets and expectations upfront to avoid disappointment or confusion.
At what stage should I hire an interior designer?
If you’re building a house, it’s wise to get an interior designer on board as early as possible, ideally during the planning stage. Often, they can help with critical details such as kitchen layout, storage options and materials selection, which will give you a realistic idea of budget.
How do I find the right interior designer?
Social media is your friend here. Many interior designers are active on Instagram, posting progress images, as well as finished spaces. Just be careful to check that the images they post are their own work. Alternatively, word of mouth is still a valuable source. If you visit a house, a restaurant or even a boutique hotel you like, ask who designed it. Be sure to create your own portfolio of images to take to your first meeting to help convey your ideas.
A long-standing cultural cruise and a new expedition-style offering will soon operate side by side in French Polynesia.
The pandemic-fuelled love affair with casual footwear is fading, with Bank of America warning the downturn shows no sign of easing.
A long-standing cultural cruise and a new expedition-style offering will soon operate side by side in French Polynesia.
3 minFrom late 2026 and into 2027, PONANT Explorations Group will base two ships in French Polynesia, offering travellers a choice between a culturally immersive classic and a far more exploratory deep-Pacific experience.
The move builds on more than 25 years of operating in the region with the iconic m/s Paul Gauguin, while introducing the expedition-focused Le Jacques Cartier to venture into lesser-known waters.
Together, the two vessels will cover all five Polynesian archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands — as well as the remote Pitcairn Islands.
THE PAUL GAUGUIN: CULTURAL IMMERSION, POLYNESIAN STYLE
Long regarded as the benchmark for cruising in French Polynesia, m/s Paul Gauguin will remain based year-round in the region.
Renovated in 2025, the ship continues to focus on relaxed, culturally rich journeys with extended port stays designed to allow guests to experience daily life across the islands.
A defining feature of the onboard experience is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — Polynesian hosts who share local traditions through music, dance and hands-on workshops, including weaving and craft demonstrations.
The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and internationally minded, catering to travellers seeking depth rather than distance.
Across the 2026–27 seasons, the ship will operate 66 departures, primarily across the Society Islands, Tuamotu and Marquesas, with select voyages extending to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
LE JACQUES CARTIER: EXPLORATION AT THE EDGE
Le Jacques Cartier introduces a more adventurous dimension to PONANT’s Polynesian offering, with itineraries focused on the least visited corners of the South Pacific.
The ship will debut three new “Discovery” itineraries, each 14 nights in length, which can also be combined into a single, extended 42-night voyage — the most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary currently available.
In total, the combined journey spans six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory rarely included on cruise itineraries.
Unlike the Paul Gauguin’s cultural focus, Le Jacques Cartier centres on exploration.
Each day includes one guided activity led by local experts, with excursions conducted via tenders, local boats and zodiacs. Scuba diving is available on board, supported by a resident instructor.
Across the 2026–27 period, the ship will operate nine departures, offering a deliberately limited and low-impact presence in some of the Pacific’s most isolated communities.
THREE NEW DISCOVERY ITINERARIES
The new itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier include:
– Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
– From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
– Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu
Each voyage departs from Papeete, with prices starting from $15,840 per person.
SCOUTING THE PACIFIC’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES
In preparation for the new itineraries, PONANT Explorations Group undertook extensive scouting across the Austral and Tuamotu Islands to develop activities in collaboration with local communities.
José Sarica, the group’s R&D Expedition Experience Director, worked directly with residents to design experiences including welcome ceremonies, cultural workshops and visits to marae, the region’s sacred open-air temples.
Six new ports of call have been confirmed as part of this process, spanning both the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos.
SIX NEW PORTS OF CALL CONFIRMED
New stopovers include:
– Mataiva, known for its rare mosaic lagoon
– Hikueru, home to one of the largest lagoons in the Tuamotus
– Makemo, noted for its red-footed boobies and frigatebirds
– Raivavae, famed for its crystal-clear lagoon pools
– Tubuai, rich in marae and spiritual heritage
– Rurutu, known for limestone caves and seasonal humpback whale sightings
A DUAL EXPERIENCE, ONE DESTINATION
By pairing its long-established cultural voyages with expedition-led exploration, PONANT Explorations Group is positioning French Polynesia not as a single experience, but as two distinct journeys — one grounded in tradition and comfort, the other pushing into the furthest reaches of the Pacific.
For travellers seeking either immersion or discovery, the South Pacific is about to feel both familiar and entirely new.
Three completed developments bring a quieter, more thoughtful style of luxury living to Mosman, Neutral Bay and Crows Nest.
From the shacks of yesterday to the sculptural sanctuaries of today, Australia’s coastal architecture has matured into a global benchmark for design.
