A Date With Design

What does it take to build a design language that is instantly recognisable? In Episode 8 of A Date With Design, we sit down with acclaimed Australian interior designer Greg Natale to unpack the career, creativity and design philosophy behind one of Australia’s most distinctive voices in interior design. From his signature use of pattern, colour and bold layering, to his evolution from interior de...

In this beautifully nourishing episode of A Date With Design , we pull up a chair with host, retreat curator and connection-maker Jacqui Toumbas to explore the art of gathering — slowly, intentionally, and with heart. From long-table dinners with strangers to restorative retreats across sun-drenched corners of Italy and Greece, Jacqui has built a career around one powerful idea: that the spaces we...

In this special on-location episode of A Date With Design, we step out of the studio and into the world of Brisbane’s evolving hospitality scene, joined by celebrated restaurateur Simon Gloftis. Together we explore how truly memorable dining experiences are created — not just through food, but through atmosphere, architecture, and the quiet rituals that surround a meal. Through the stories behind...

In this episode, Arielle and Jill take you on a decadent Melbourne design date. From cathedral-like dining rooms and iconic Melbourne bars to neon-lit dive joints and cult ramen spots, they unpack how great hospitality design shapes atmosphere, behaviour, and memory. The conversation then turns from plates to prompts and the future of the interior design industry, with a deep dive into AI tools fo...

A Retro Motel Romance takes us on location to the Gold Coast for Open House 2025, where we explore two beautifully restored mid-century motels and unpack why these roadside icons still matter. From neon palms, breeze blocks and terrazzo entries to poolside culture and pastel perfection, Jill and Arielle dive into Australia’s love affair with motel design and the optimism of post-war travel culture...

In this episode, Arielle and Jill peel back the curtain on hospitality through the eye’s of one of Queensland’s most respected food critics, Anooska Tucker-Evans, for an intimate look inside the mind of someone who has seen — and tasted — it all. From first impressions and design dealbreakers to the delicate balance between food, service, and ambience, they explore what truly makes a hospitality e...

In this episode, Arielle and Jill check in at Melbourne to explore the city’s most captivating hotel interiors. From sleek contemporary luxe at Hyde Melbourne Place to the playful, eclectic energy of Standard X, they unpack how modern hotels are evolving — blending local character, global trends, technology, sustainability, and sensory storytelling. With their signature mix of candid insight and p...

Welcome to the very first episode of A Date With Design…  In this episode, The First Date , we set the tone for what’s to come. Our first Design Date takes us underground to Central, Brisbane — an award-winning hospitality space where history, theatre, and modern dining collide. We experience the venue through a diner’s eye, unpacking first impressions, atmosphere, layout, comfort, and those all-i...