Behind The Design

What actually keeps an architecture business alive past the first project? Most people judge an architecture firm by the finished home. The clean lines, the light-filled kitchen, the project that lands on Instagram. Behind that image sits a business built on budget conversations, team trust, and a reputation that took years to earn. In this episode of Behind the Design, I sit down with Chris Trott...

What does an interior stylist actually do? It's a role that most people only notice in the final image. The beautifully photographed home, the perfectly layered living room, or the project that lands in a magazine. But behind those images is a creative process that most people never see. In this episode of “Behind The Design”, I sit down with interior stylist Bea Lambos to talk about the world...

A beautiful home rarely tells the full story. Behind every completed project is a team navigating site constraints, heritage restrictions, unforeseen challenges, client expectations, and hundreds of decisions that never make it into the final photographs. In this episode of Behind the Design, I sit down with Jack Williams, founder of JW Projects, to unpack the realities of residential construction...

Finished homes, polished brands, and resolved details are what we usually see. What’s less visible is the pressure underneath: the hard decisions, constant judgment calls, and the reality of sustaining growth. James McCarthy knows that reality well. In this episode of Behind the Design, I sit down with James McCarthy, co-founder of GatherCo, a trade-only supplier in the architecture and interiors...

Colour gets the attention, but it is rarely where the real work happens. Mariah Burton built Folk Studio on something quieter than a signature aesthetic, a belief that the person living in the space is always the starting point and that the brief is never really the Pinterest board, the budget, or the timeline. It is the human being sitting across from you at that first meeting, and everything tha...

Most material decisions are still driven by aesthetics. But the real shift is happening in safety, performance, and sustainability, the layers a renovator or end user often doesn’t see, and rarely gets guided through. That’s the conversation missing across the broader industry. In this episode of Behind the Design, I sit down with Erin Payne from Cosentino to explore how one of the world’s leading...

From chasing design milestones to discovering what truly makes work meaningful, this episode takes you behind the scenes of large-scale hospitality design. In this episode of Behind the Design Podcast, I chat with Nasim Köerting, Design Director at Merivale, about the realities of leading some of Australia’s most recognised hospitality projects. From her early career in London to managing complex...

“Design doesn’t need to please everyone. Designers like McQueen, Schiaparelli, and Margiela showed me that discomfort, exaggeration, and vulnerability aren’t flaws—they’re tools.” In this episode of Behind the Design, I talk with Nelli Hegi, founder and creative director of Hegi Design House, about creating furniture that’s more than functional, it tells a story. Nelli blends furniture, art, fashi...

From kitchen joinery to high-end design, this is what it takes to turn craft into a sustainable business. In this episode of Behind the Design Podcast, I sit down with furniture maker Tim Noone, founder of Tim Noone Furniture, to talk about his journey from kitchen joinery to creating high-end custom furniture. He shares the challenges of crafting beautiful pieces while keeping a business sustaina...

Building a design studio is often celebrated as creative freedom, yet many founders discover that without boundaries, success can start to feel unsustainable. In this episode, I sat down with Kate Lawrence, founder of Kate Lawrence Interiors and bedding brand Sleep Ins, to unpack the real story behind building and reshaping a creative business. Kate speaks candidly about: • Saying yes to everythin...

Behind every beautiful piece of joinery is a series of decisions, conversations, and mistakes no one ever seesIn this episode, I sat down with Luke from Élan Joinery and SKUPA , to talk through what really goes into custom joinery and furniture, beyond the finished photos. From early planning and material selection to timelines, teamwork, and trust, Luke shares how thoughtful joinery is built arou...

Trends come and go, but brands built on craft, instinct, and resilience tend to stick around. In this episode of Behind the Design, host Camilla Ingall sits down with Charles Hinckfuss, founder and creative force behind MCM House. Charlie shares the unpolished reality behind building one of Australia’s most recognisable furniture brands, from early days focused purely on survival, to growing a nat...

Design doesn’t need to shout to make an impact. In this episode of  Behind the Design , Camilla Ingall sits down with  Daniel Boddam , founder of Daniel Boddam Studio, to unpack his philosophy of  quiet living ; a design approach rooted in restraint, calm, and deep respect for the Australian landscape. Daniel shares his journey from architecture into furniture design, why he deliberately plays the...

In this episode, Camilla sits down with Stephanie Ferrara, founder of Laidback Lee Design, to explore how she built a growing design studio while renovating her own family home as an owner-builder and raising two young daughters. Steph shares how a Covid job cut sparked her leap into business, what she’s learned from flipping character homes, and how stepping onto site as a woman and now a builder...

In this episode, Camilla sits down with Dani Dean, founder of The Make Haus, to explore the evolution of her multidisciplinary studio, spanning florals, interiors, spatial design, commercial installations, and standout projects like the David Jones Flower Show. Together, we unpack what it truly looks like to juggle creativity, business, and motherhood. Dani shares why she refuses to niche down, ho...

This episode of Behind the Design features Troy Donovan, Principal Facade Designer at Prism Facades, whose work bridges architecture, engineering, and creative storytelling. From sketching in a notebook to leading large-scale projects with firms like Grimshaw Architects, Troy shares how facade design shapes the way we experience buildings, from the Sydney Opera House to the Australian War Memorial...

This episode of Behind the Design features Shona McElroy from Smac Studio, one of Australia’s most exciting emerging interior designers. What began as a side project has evolved into a thriving studio known for its bold use of materials, thoughtful detail, and high-end residential interiors that balance precision with personality. In this honest and grounded conversation, Shona opens up about the...

This episode of Behind the Design features Leon and Victoria Pirrello, the couple behind Vicello. What began in their garage has grown into a thriving joinery and design studio with a team, factory spaces, and a reputation for delivering bespoke interiors across NSW. Their journey is one of courage, collaboration, and saying yes to projects that stretched them well beyond their comfort zone. They...

This episode is a true reflection of creativity, resilience, and the beauty of turning life’s challenges into meaningful design. In this episode of Behind the Design, we sit down with Jenn Bliss, the visionary behind some of Port Stephens’ most admired homes, including the much-loved Talm Beach House. What began as a love for interiors sparked in childhood has grown into a career that blends desig...

This episode is a true testament to the power of taking risks, following your creative instincts, and the beauty of building a business that reflects your passion. In this episode of Behind the Design, we chat with Laura, the creative mind behind Laura Rees Styling. What began as a leap into freelancing has grown into a thriving interior styling business, bringing unique and personal touches to sp...

This chat felt especially authentic and creatively energising. What began as a passion project has unfolded into a full-bodied creative business: storytelling through space, reimagining nostalgic design moments, building community, and saying "why not?" In this episode of Behind the Design, Camilla sits down with Nina, the creative founder of Paloma Studios and the visionary behind That 70s Bungal...

In episode 23 of Behind the Design, we sit down with Dimitri Vargas, the visionary behind a flourishing custom furniture business that specialises in handcrafted, Australian-made pieces. Dimitri shares his inspiring entrepreneurial journey, from starting his career in the design world during the 2020 lockdown to now running a successful furniture company. He dives deep into his creative process, t...

In this episode of Behind the Design , Jonathan Tsoupis takes us through his unique entrepreneurial journey, revealing the story behind his success in the tile and design industry. From humble beginnings as a young tiling apprentice to building a thriving business, Jonathan shares insights into the evolution of his company, Studio xOx. He also dives deep into his mindset on business, work ethic, a...

In this episode of Behind the Design, I sat down with my producer, Andrew for a candid Q&A session unpacking the real-world process of collaboration in the design and construction industry.  From aligning with architects during early-stage planning, working seamlessly with builders to manage schedules and budgets, to guiding clients through joinery decisions - this episode reveals how intentio...

Behind the Design welcomes the incredibly talented Montana Moore, a Sydney-based self-taught mixed-media artist whose creative journey spans from South Africa to Scotland, and now, the Northern Beaches of Australia. From sculptural pieces to layered painted works, Montana’s art is deeply rooted in emotion, texture, and her profound connection to the natural world. In this episode, we explore her t...