It’s no secret that est are huge fans of our Australian homegrown design scene, which for us, means recognising and applauding the skill and innovation of both emerging and established designers alike. But with so many incredible projects to choose from it was no easy feat handpicking just five.

An ode to Australian residential design from the past year, we’ve included the clever, urban renovation of the Spotted Gum Northcote House by Taylor Knights in Melbourne, to the lush tranquillity of Mim Design’s Edge of the Rainforest Home in Noosa. Each different home in this collection shares a common theme; attention to detail, clever use of materials and a boundary-pushing attitude. From established design luminaries including Mim Design to exciting, up-and-comers such as CJH Studio, we showcase some of the best local abodes below.

Going out on her own and founding her own design practice CJH Studio, Interior Designer Cassie James-Herrick debuted her very first residential project; Melbourne Home to much acclaim. Cassie modernised the internal layout of this 100-year old home for a young, growing family and simultaneously brought it to life with her signature combination of effortless style and thoughtful details. The aesthetic was for a beautiful space that was not precious or pretentious.

To achieve this, CJH Studio kept finishes minimal and consistent. A palette of natural stone, light American oak and terrazzo floor tiles feature throughout the home, with varying tones of grey for the walls. The result is a relaxed, warm and inviting home that still remains firmly practical. You heard it from us first – CJH Studio is definitely one-to-watch.

The brief for this Woollahra Home was simple: ensure no two spaces are the same. Decus Interiors took inspiration from the client’s notable outfit choices when it came to selecting the materials. “Every time we met the client, she was wearing a bold outfit, truly reflective of her effervescent nature, so we used this as a cue”. The client’s confident personal aesthetic inspired striking patterns and bold stone textures, paired with softer elements for balance.

The team at Decus Interiors are not afraid to push the boundaries and try what’s not often seen as being on “trend”. With the juxtaposition of interesting materials, playful colours and injection of personality throughout the home, this project demonstrates the innovative approach that sets them apart within the design industry – and makes for a home that truly reflects the owners’ unique style.

Home to a growing family who love to entertain, the design for the Spotted Gum Northcote House required some savvy use of spatial awareness to accommodate the family’s brief. Cue Melbourne architectural and interior design firm Taylor Knights. Specialising in residential renovations that encapsulate a timeless, playful and innovative connection to the outdoors, Taylor Knights created a new light-filled language for this heritage home located in Melbourne’s eclectic suburb of Northcote.

If it’s all about the heritage terrace façade out the front of this home, then it’s most definitely about the display of contemporary modernism inside – including the Australian spotted gum that was applied in a variety of tones and textures throughout. Capable of both concealing and revealing, this home hides some contrasting and sunny surprises along the way.

This once disconnected 1980s holiday home has been newly refurbished by Mim Design as a modern sanctuary that encapsulates its idyllic surrounds. Aptly named ‘Edge of the Rainforest’, it’s tucked away in the foliage of Noosa’s National Park and now, quite literally, features the best of both worlds; a home immersed in the treescape and seascape.

Mim Design has complemented the striking forest greenery from outside with a palette of neutral and navy. To attune the home with its beachside location, the interior relies on the smoothness of marble, smoked oak floors and white lining boards as joinery. Carefully refurbished to create a space to relax, slow down and enjoy life’s simple pleasures, this home is a refined reflection of easy Australian living.

The Elissa Home by local talent Templeton Architecture was reformed on bold expectations; to become the ‘forever home’ for a family of six. The old layout of the 1980s build was unable to meet the brief at its current size, so was marginally extended. But this wasn’t highest on the agenda for Templeton Architecture, who chose to concentrate on the relationship and ambience of each space, improving connections between rooms. From back to front, Templeton Architecture has celebrated iconic volumes and internal flow with a wall of glass that you’re unlikely to forget.