Top Australian Interior Designers

Interviews, Tips and Advice from Australia's top Interior Designers. A recent feature for Australian Open Colleges Featuring:

Greg Natale, Bespoke Design - Brendan Wong, High End Residential - Darren Palmer, The Block - Justin Bishop, Traditional & Enduring - Sian Macphearson, Est Magazine Editor - Jen Bishop, Interior Design Publishing - Andrew Loader, Residential and Boutique

Justin Bishop is passionate about timeless, traditional style design. Throughout his design career he has worked in a variety of creative fields, developing a passion for the creative process; and always demonstrating an absolute sense of style.

Justin founded his interior design company over ten years ago and has designed a number of versatile projects throughout the country, from the most elegant urban residences to casual weekend retreats and innovative commercial interiors.

As an interior designer he is known for his classically sophisticated interiors, which blend old and new harmoniously. His work has appeared in many leading magazines and interior publications including Belle, Country Style, the Melbourne Age and the Grand Designs magazine. Australian House & Garden recently listed him as one of the 'best of the best' interior specialists in the country.

1 What's the secret to running a successful interior design company?

I think the core of running a successful business is a belief in your product and a passion for what you do. I live and breathe classic style and design, it's ingrained in me. I genuinely enjoy assisting my clients and I'm always excited about working on new properties with them. Of course, a good business head is also a must but primarily in design, it's so important to love what you do.

2 What is the Australian industry like? How is it unique?

I suppose we have our own niche. Of course, we are influenced by overseas trends and styles, both current and past, but there is definitely a fresh, Australian pared-back and slightly rustic style that is truly our own. We have more and more access to international products but we are also fortunate to have a growing supply of brilliant designers and manufacturers right here on our doorstep.

3 What's required to work on heritage design projects?

Working on heritage projects requires a sympathetic and controlled approach to design. It's not an avenue to be too clever and creative, rather it's about showing restraint, being true to a particular design style and executing a coherent, well thought out scheme. I love working on heritage projects as my personal style leans towards a more traditional aesthetic.

4 What are the biggest challenges you face in your daily work and how do you overcome them?

Organisation! As a creative type, this is not my strongest point. It's SO important to be organised when making decisions and passing on information. The slightest mistake can have an enormous impact on the outcome of a project. I make lists and I cross check everything; I force myself to be diligent with my diary and I make sure that I have covered everything on a daily basis.

5 What advice would you offer students looking to build their portfolio?

Get out there and start designing! Offer your services to friends and family. As well as a good education, experience is so important. Record what you do. Photograph your work, whether it's at design stage or completion. You can edit your portfolio at any stage but initially, it's important to create a large body of work. You will gain experience and start to develop your own personal design style.

Embracing the Dark side

While I am known for my penchant for 'white' interiors, I have recently been gravitating toward a darker colour palette in my work.

There is something decadently luxurious about a dark interior scheme; deep natural tones in charcoal, black, chocolate, and tobacco, teamed with deep oak joinery and other timber interior details.

It's a slightly more masculine look, that suggests the feeling of an old school gentlemans office or library.  There are leather bound books, cut glass whiskey decanters and a collection of timber walking sticks.

As the following images suggest, using darker elements in a traditional scheme will not look dated or overly fussy; what we see, in fact, is a slightky contemporary edge.

By using a clever mix of beautiful fabrics, natural timbers, sophisticated colour schemes, and perfect accessories the look can be stunning, elegant, and utterly timeless.

The New Luxury

I am working on a variety of residential projects at the moment; the majority of which are in Melbourne's inner suburbs and are in period style. I love the design direction that I'm taking on these properties.

It’s a very Melbourne look, that I call 'The New Luxury'. I'm using a blend of natural finishes, with aged patinas and weathered surfaces, and blending these with high end luxury fabrics, including velvet's, satin's and silks.

It’s a design juxtaposition that works beautifully, giving glamour to the rustic and character to the luxury. I look forward to bringing you images of these projects as they near completion in 2016.

The French Chateau Dolls House

As promised, in a blog a few months ago, I have completed the first design in a new series of architectural miniatures. The French Chateau. Many years ago, as some of you will remember, I produced a range of handcrafted Architectural Miniatures, decorative Dolls Houses and collectable objet d'art. I am excited to announce, I have decided to recreate a selection of the original range. Hand crafted and hand painted, in the style of the original designs, these one off pieces will be available online… See our online store for more details.

Interior design workshops

Our second interior design masterclass for the 2015 season was held today in Sassafras. Discussing and workshopping all things style and design! Many thanks to todays budding interior designers Nikki, Verity, Sue, Jo, Malinda and Celeste for their enthusiastic participation. With sublime catering from Cafe de Beaumarchais, it was another great day!

Bespoke Art

I have been creating bespoke wall decor for a current project... Exquisite enlargements of original French and Italian postcards printed on textured water colour paper, beautifully framed behind glass. I wish we could keep them! 

Work in progress

It's full steam ahead at one of our current projects.

I always love this stage, as everything begins to come together. Detailing, including paintwork, architectural trims and decorative metal work, start to create a sense of whats to come.

This is the time when all our decision making comes to life and we see the end in sight... more pictures to come.

Justin Bishop & Co. Architectural Miniatures

Many years ago, as some of you may remember, I produced a range of intricate architectural miniatures.

From my studio in Richmond, Victoria, I handcrafted a classically inspired collection of architectural models, collectable Dolls Houses, ornate Bird Houses and other objet d’art, in fine detail. They were commissioned by architecture enthusiasts and dolls house collectors alike.

When I chose to concentrate on my career as an interior designer, I closed the doors of my Richmond workshop and delivered my last commission… That was over ten years ago.

Requests for my work have never ceased, so recently, after some inspiring overseas travel, I have decided to reform “Justin Bishop & Co. Architectural Miniatures”. I have made plans to recreate a select number of pieces from my original collection and I am excited to announce that I will be taking commissions once again.

A classic French chateau will be the first piece in the new range, available in a selection of colours.

Further details will be released soon.

Country Style Magazine

Country Style Magazine recently revisited their story on my home from a past issue. I have since remodeled the house but I still love the "plain, dressed up" style that I gave it back then...

"Interior designer Justin Bishop's admiration for a "very plain but dressed up" style and military history come together in this small timber cottage in Sassafras in Victoria's Dandenong Ranges, featured in a past issue of Country Style. Photography Mark Roper, styling Leesa O'Reilly."

The Wolseley - Piccadilly London

The Wolseley has been on my list of London 'most do's'  for years! So it was an absolute treat to walk through its doors on my recent visit to the U.K. Even at a glance, it's impressive exterior, with its arched windows and brilliantly decorative iron work, drew me in.

The Wolseley is a café-restaurant in the grand European tradition on London's famous Piccadilly. With a spectacular Listed interior, the restaurant buzzes from early till late, seven days a week.

The great Brasseries of France are the most obvious inspiration for this hugely popular restaurant, but there are few places in Paris that can match The Wolseley for sheer plushness. Originally a 1920s car showroom, it was built on such an extravagant scale that it bankrupted Wolseley Motors. Swift black-clad waiters glide across the patterned marble floor, carrying groaning platters of fruits de mer, steak frites and lobster bisque between the pillars and archways of this Italian-influenced dining room.

It is a celebrity hide out also with London 'A listers' Kate Moss and Jason Statham frequenting often. Madonna, when in London, is often spotted there.

As well as eclectic lunch and dinner menus encompassing European classics, the restaurant serves breakfast, morning coffee, afternoon tea and an all-day menu.

Deyrolle - Rue de Bac, Saint Germain

During my recent travels to Paris one of my first stops was a quirky shop just off Boulevard Saint Germain on the left bank...

Deyrolle was founded by well-known entomologist Emile Deyrolle in 1831, and has been at its current two-story premises since 1881. I had been keen to visit the store since reading about it s few years ago.

Exotic taxidermy, entomology, and natural history specimens displayed in antique wooden cases and glass bell jars have made this store a destination for Parisians ever since it opened its doors. In 2007, much of the store was destroyed in a predawn conflagration that left in its wake a haunting tableau of singed wings and charred fur.

With the help of artists and collectors worldwide, the store has been largely rebuilt from that fire. Today everything from house cats to polar bears are once again on display in Deyrolle. The store itself has also managed to maintain its 19th-century decor, with beautiful wooden cases and specimen drawers throughout. Though some of the more exotic animals are not for sale, almost everything in the store is available for rent.

Portobello Rd and Henry Gregory

Portobello is really several markets in one, Saturday being the day when it is in full swing. Then you can experience a mile of hustle, haggle, colour and energy. The feature of Saturdays is the opening of hundreds of antique and specialist shops and stalls. 

The antiques section is located near Notting Hill tube station; The half mile of road contains 100′s of  buzzing market stalls, shops and arcades.  I found a wonderfully overwhelming array of authentic antiques on offer as well as some fabulous reproductions, including glass and crystal pieces, silver, books, sporting goods and paintings. 

Henry Gregory, located near the top entrance to the market, was just one of the many stores I searched. The beautiful range of antique and reproduction items includes decorative objects, trophies, silver, sporting goods and luggage which is sourced by Henry Gregory himself. He has been buying all over the British Isles for the last 40 years.

The shop changes continuously as it sells and ships to clients all over the world including private buyers, decorators and dealers.

I purchased a few items, including some antique hats and a pair of wonderful vintage boxing gloves. I certainly had to restrain myself!