INTERIOR DESIGNER MELISSA COLLISON

Melissa Collison is not what you would call a regular interior designer. Take her approach to the design of Sake, a Japanese restaurant. She convinced a staff member to get naked, be painted head-to-toe in a dragon tattoo design by make-up artist Wayne Chick, and have her photograph taken by fashion photographer Paul Westlake for the project. The image became the muse and artwork throughout the restaurant. For another commercial project Melissa art directed a photo shoot with photographer Anson Smart that involved a pig carcass and traditional butchery tools so that they could then become the visual touchstone for Swine & Co in Sydney’s CBD. Residential clients themselves haven’t had to go through such rigorous processes, but her interior designs for their homes have been equally memorable.

Which five words best describe you? Brave, determined, empathetic, inquisitive, adventurous and glamorous - oh, is that six?

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? With a mother who is an artist who worked with oils plus and always changing our home around, painting, wallpapering, new furniture, picking flowers, I was surrounded by it. When I decided to begin my own business I worked around the clock to get started. I just keep going. I see life as a surprise: I see the good in most or I turn everything I can into something good, but I also know when to let go. 

The path I have taken is determination. You can’t teach that. I never try to make a client live in what I like to live in or design. Our work isn’t cookie cutter. When I meet with a client, I take on board snippets they can tell me about themselves, their life and work with what they have. I take the brief they give me to the next level - I hope it gives them more than what they imagined.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Listen, learn, explore: repeat. Be brave. Smile.

What’s your proudest career achievement? My proudest career achievement is that I am doing what I love. Also, that I work with an amazing team. That I have wonderful clients. To have achieved getting here, being here and still loving it.

What’s been your best decision? Travel for inspiration. Never stop travelling and learning and experiencing. Remain open.

Who inspires you? I'm inspired by life. Every day holds something new. However, if I could have the talents of Louis Kahn, the style of Catherine Deneuve, have a home in Palm Springs, vacation in Corsica with Alain Delon, and live between New York and Patagonia, then I’d be truly inspired.

What are you passionate about? I am totally passionate about creating for my clients, whether I am designing a restaurant, home or a block or apartments. Also the experience of travelling and seeing life. One of my secret passions is cooking. I cook a lot for friends. It’s pure joy seeing everyone happy around the table.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Hanging out with Peggy Gugenhiem in Venice could be fun.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? I feel like I've only just begun. I have no idea what life holds. But I am totally open to it. Right now, I’m working on establishing a series of outdoor events that promote health and vitality for young girls and women that allows them to be brave. And, there is something else in the pipeline - can’t reveal it just yet.

What are you reading? These interview questions, and Blink by Malcolm Gladwell.

images courtesy of melissa collison

ARCHITECT CLINTON COLE

Clinton Cole approaches architecture from a slightly different perspective from many of his colleagues in the industry. He not only holds a degree in architecture, and is registered in his profession, but he’s also a licensed builder and accredited construction supervisor. Clinton’s passionate about combining these skills, and transforming the industry. He is also dedicated to creating designs that always have one eye towards sustainability. Clinton has received a swag of awards since establishing his practice in the mid-90s.

Which five words best describe you? Creative, belligerent, inquisitive, disruptive, artistic (at least those were the words my teachers used on my school report cards and they would know best).

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? What I am doing now is very similar in many ways to what I did when I was a kid - pulling objects apart and reassembling them, building things from scrap material I would find around building sites near my home, working with my hands creatively with many different materials and mediums. The challenge has always been working out how to use my skills most effectively in the team environment that I lead and do less of the physical side of construction which I spent my first 10 years doing. It is little more than a romantic notion to do everything yourself, architecture is a craft but not a sustainable craft nor meaningful craft if only 50 or so projects are produced from a lifetime of energy as both an architect and builder. The path I have taken in the last five years is to create a business environment in which reciprocal learning is cultivated amongst a broad cross-section of design and construction-based team members to allow my company to successfully deliver multiple projects at different stages of production concurrently.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Architects are their own worst enemy when it comes to providing services for free. Getting too close to clients generally leads to a relationship where favours rather than invoices are expected. What I have learnt is that clients appreciate a service that brings value to them and their project not just value for money. If you provide services for free your time has no value. Be professional: your client is not paying you for your friendship. The reality is that the clients whom you provide a professional and valuable service to during the performance of the work often become a friend after completion of that service.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Creating a company that consists of exceptionally talented team members and getting to a stage where I can - almost - balance work and family, although imbalance can be a healthy thing in a creative industry.

What’s been your best decision? Marrying my soul mate and having children. The second best decision I made over 10 years ago was splitting with my then business partner and realising I could lead a team on my own and produce much better results. This was quite a pivotal moment in my life.

Who inspires you? Anyone who is hard working, loves life, is creative or respects those that are. My wife is my true inspiration. Architecture and creativity are everything to me but perspective from a partner not directly part of the industry I am involved in keeps my approach to the design of architecture objective and my approach to the business of architecture free of tradition and indoctrination which the practice of architecture in Australia suffers greatly from.

What are you passionate about? I am passionate about making architectural design more affordable. Whilst I enjoy making beautiful things which cost more than most can afford the fact that my friends and family can’t really afford what I produce is something I have spent the past three years trying to address. Watch this space as I am getting close to a solution that I hope will change the way the average Australian will think of architecture and whom architects think they can deliver architecture to.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I’d have a coffee with Alvar Aalto, a cup of tea with Nanna Ditzel and a beer with Kurt Cobain.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Playing Wembley stadium to a crowd of 100,000, but I think I’ll have to download an app for that and experience it through my Google Glass. Next year we will be starting to develop our own properties and this has been a dream since I started my career.

What are you reading? My reading list is a little sad. I tend to read technical documents, standards, building codes, Acts, legal precedents and the like. The practice of architecture and indeed construction is increasingly restricted by so many external forces that the only way to work through them is to have a fundamental understanding of what those forces are. It’s on this basis that we can push boundaries and take risks whilst steering through the middle of these issues. Other than this I am definitely a picture book sort of person. I love any architecture books, particularly those where images are what they are instead of the fully pimped hyper reality architectural photography of today. I read a little online, get great little pieces through Twitter and I only read newspapers when I am on holidays and usually because my hot chips were wrapped in them.

images courtesy of clinton cole; photography murray fredericks

INTERIOR DESIGNER MIRIAM FANNING

It takes a long time to become an overnight success, as one version of this popular saying goes. Meet Miriam Fanning, a living example. She’s been working as an interior designer for more than 20 years and has been slowing making her way up the ranks. But it was after she started a family in 2000, and launched Mim Design, that she started to make a mark on her own terms. As the demand for her expertise increased, so too did the practice. Today she employs 19 staff and works on a range of projects from residential to hospitality and retail.

Which five words best describe you? Curious, passionate, resourceful, creative and loyal.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? My first design-based job was at the Buchan Group in Melbourne, where my interests in retail were partnered with working within such a stimulating and diversified practice. Starting as a junior and eventually growing into the position of associate director, I was inspired by the many facets of design I experienced while working across a variety of projects. Having a family led me to launch Mim Design in 2000. My main aim was, and is to be continually inspired; I love the ability to work on a diverse range of projects within the growing and ever-changing design industry. Mim Design has grown, too. It started out with just myself and has since blossomed into a busy studio of 19 talented staff with two other directors and two associates. Our projects now range in service from interior design to architecture as well as place-making, styling and brand direction.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Always give everything a go, and embrace the challenge. Show empathy as well as respect to all aspects of life from living through to creating.

What’s your proudest career achievement? To just sit back and appreciate the strong team and design ethos our firm has. As a designer having our studio projects recognised and published on the pages of our favourite magazines is always a rewarding moment for us too; most recently Belle, Houses, Artichoke and Inside magazine have all run features covering a range of our completed projects.

What’s been your best decision? I’ve never looked back on the leap of faith I took to go out on my own and launch Mim Design. It was a dream come true for me and one that has proudly grown from strength to strength over the past 14 years.

Who inspires you? Inspiration is everywhere from texture, spaces and colour for everyday living. Visualisation has always been a huge source of inspiration to me whether it’s through travel, film/cinematography or through someone else’s individual philosophy and interesting critique. I’m always seeking out new inspiration and have become addicted to some fantastic design blogs recently. I must admit a trip away clarifies design sense and detail for me.

What are you passionate about? I’m passionate about achieving the best result possible, as well as immersing myself in every project, whether it’s from getting to know the client through to understanding their business. Oh, and a really good night’s sleep doesn’t go astray!

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Where do I start! Artist Brett Whiteley, architect Richard Neutra and visual artist Andy Warhol.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Next on my long list of dream projects is to create a capsule collection of our custom-designed products, collaborations with some of our fabulous suppliers and then one day soon a book to document the Mim Design journey. And, in-between, I’d love to keep travelling and keep exploring weird and wonderful places with my family and friends.

What are you reading? Empty mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell Jr.

images courtesy of mim design

PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD GLOVER

Australia’s Richard Glover has been exposed to some amazing opportunities through his career as an architectural photographer. He was chosen to document the transformation of the Bankside Power Station into London’s Tate Modern - a commission that spanned six years. And while living in the UK, he also worked regularly for a range of renowned architectural firms, including Foster & Partners and John Pawson. Now back in Australia he continues to work for leading practices such as Cox Richardson, Tzannes Associates and Bates Smart as well as emerging firms such as Luigi Rosselli and Collins & Turner. Richard has also become a regular speaker on architecture and photography. He is teaching architect students at UTS and last month spoke on Radio National’s By Design program on Architectural photography - does it exist any more - in an age of instagram? Richard’s personal works are held by Tate Britain, Tate Modern, The Royal Mint, Art Gallery of NSW and ArtBank Australia, among others.

Which five words best describe you? Honest. Empathetic. Diligent. Generous. Handsome. Witty. 

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? Having worked in the advertising industry for several years before deciding to be a professional photographer I had a good understanding of the photographer’s role in the business of visual communication and gave me confidence to tackle several different industry fields. After a few years developing my skills and portfolio I moved to London and it was there that I began to focus on architecture and interiors as the principal subject matter for my work.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Certainly, exercising your natural creative talent is important but not as crucial as being patient, determined and prepared to work hard for many, many years. It is a tough gig but very rewarding.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Having the opportunity to photograph the transformation of the former Bankside Power Station into Tate Modern - the world’s most popular modern art gallery - over a six-year period. It was a “big” project in every sense and gave me great satisfaction.

What’s been your best decision? Moving to London. It gave me the opportunity to test myself in one of the world’s great creative centres and presented a never ending path of commission possibilities in several different fields: architecture, design, art, publishing and presented the opportunity to work with some of the best creative people along the way.

What are you passionate about? I am still very passionate about photography, though the "business" of photography is hard graft (like all business). But, the making, disseminating, discussing, teaching of photography is still fun, stimulating and rewarding. Besides photography, I love being a happy husband and father of two children, and in particular a proud supporter of my son’s football team - go Glebe Greyhounds!

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? My grandfather. He passed away when I was still a boy and I never really got the chance to know him. He was a keen amateur photographer and I would have enjoyed talking with him about our joint passion.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Retiring.

What are you reading? Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel - a fictitious account of the life of Thomas Cromwell.

images courtesy of richard glover; portrait jeremy shaw
architects peter stutchbury, 1 + 2 architects, john pawson, denton corker marshall

ARCHITECT ADRIAN AMORE

Good architecture is a meeting of form and function. Great architecture takes these elements and elevates the union into art. Enter the Melbourne loft apartment designed by Adrian Amore Architects. It won the Residential Design Award at the 2014 Australian Interior Design Awards, and has caught the eye of editors across the world. Since establishing his practice in 2008, Adrian has worked on a range of commercial and residential projects, including Nique in Melbourne's St Kilda and the Sydney home of Gourmet Traveller editor, Anthea Loucas.

Which five words best describe you? Impatient, wise, loose, alive, thinker.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I think my career has started? Hmm, sometimes I wonder.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Just push.

What’s been your best decision? To study architecture. I met my wife Michelle at architecture school. She is my muse. 

Who inspires you? Nils Frahm, musician, composer from Berlin. Genius; channeler of god.

What are you passionate about? Architecture. Wine. Perfect Martinis. Experiencing life, enjoying life, seeking pleasure. Sleep.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I am terrified of meeting people I greatly admire. I find the idea incredibly awkward.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? To make visions real. To materialise them.

What are you reading? Jean-Paul Satre: A Life by Annie Cohen-Solal.

images courtesy of fraser marsden

INTERIOR DESIGNER JASON MOWEN

After 14 years of living overseas - mainly in the UK and Spain - interior designer Jason Mowen was ready to start a new venture on his return to Sydney in 2009. Along with artist Eduardo Santos, he set up a boutique showroom in an enviable double-fronted position in the regenerating suburb of Redfern. It’s a cross-pollinating space that showcases an unexpected mix of antique and 20th Century furniture and decor pieces, as well as tribal and contemporary art. From here, Jason also creates custom furniture and interiors based on an aesthetic cultivated during his time in Europe. After moving to London in 1995, he and Eduardo ran a menswear shop in Covent Garden for seven years before Jason worked for interior designer Jonathan Reed. A highlight of this period was assisting on the new royal palace for Queen Raina of Jordan. Later, after setting up his own studio in Madrid in 2005, he converted a 14th Century Moorish tower that had belonged to the Austrian Archduke Luis Salvador. While most of his adult years have been informed from a life spent overseas, most of his childhood was spent between Maleny and Brisbane in Australia, other than a stint in Papua New Guinea. 

Which five words best describe you? Sensitive, stubborn, hedonist, generous, perfectionist.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? It's been a culmination of experiences and, in particular, people who have shaped my life and career. I've been really, really lucky to encounter, through either work, friendship or love, a small handful of people with great knowledge and taste. I guess it was inevitable a tiny part would rub off on me. They may not even realise it, but it's been one of the most significant and wonderful aspects of my life.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Don't let anyone talk you out of anything.

What’s your proudest career achievement? So far it's probably been opening the shop in Redfern in the middle of the financial crisis on a budget of $15,000! It was as much a miracle as career achievement. 

What’s been your best decision? Moving to London when I was 24.

Who inspires you? The list is long. In terms of style, the French and Italians. In terms of strength and kindness, my mother. I'm also inspired by the classical world - Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. 

What are you passionate about? A lot! I'm Taurean: travel, art, food, love. And Spain!

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I was going to say Jesus Christ, but I'm switching to Elizabeth Taylor. I was invited to her birthday party in 2002 and didn't go, stupidly thinking I'd have other opportunities to meet her. Apart from being one of the great actors of the 20th Century, she was a wonderful humanitarian. What Taylor did for AIDS, giving it a voice when it had none, was incredible. She was a true trailblazer.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? I'd love to own a c.1960 house in Old Las Palmas, Palm Springs, with a big garden and a view of the mountains.

What are you reading? The rise of the nouveaux riches by J. Mordant Crook.

images courtesy of jason mowen, felix forest and belén imaz (image 2)

SHOP OWNER MAXINE SMITH

More than three years ago Maxine Smith was watching a group of women from Laos make silk scarves. The idea struck her that she could take them back to Australia - along with other wares from her travels - and sell them to people who treasured handmade and crafted textiles and decorative objects for their home. Maxine spends considerable time sourcing each piece for her online store Barefoot Gypsy, and travels around the globe hunting out pieces she would want in her own place, always with an eye towards ethical pieces.

What five words best describe you? Passionate, enthusiastic, focused.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I have always loved travelling and collecting beautiful pieces along the way. In 2009 I was recently separated from my then husband and business partner. Together we had created a building business, which gave me a keen insight into the world of business and architectural design. Now a single mother with five children, I took a trip to Laos. In hindsight, it really was a trip of reflection, a time to think about the future. I was in a community in Laos admiring the silk scarves the women were making which gave them an income for their family when I had that “light bulb” moment and thought what if I could bring in the scarves and sell them to small boutiques and home and gift stores. I haven’t looked back, each day the collection broadening in scope and destinations I source from.

What's the best lesson you've learnt along the way? That you can't do it all yourself.

What's your proudest career achievement? Our newly launched catalogue and the fantastic response it has received from my customers and others in the industry. It is really gratifying when you work so hard on something and people respond well to it.

What's been your best decision? To not waiver in my decision to keep the collection organic and to care where products are sourced. While I often work with vintage pieces, one of my new collections is made in India. I didn't want my products made by women in appalling working conditions or the use of child labour, so I went there unannounced to see who was making the products and the working conditions. Needless to say I was happy with the working environment. I do believe you always need to care how and where things are made.

Who inspires you? A lot of things inspire me but it is the artisans who keep their craft and traditions alive that keep me constantly motivated to continue finding new pieces. I love that I can be part of the process of sharing their craft and traditions with different audiences.

What are you passionate about? People and their cultures. I love the textiles and objects that are part of the communities I discover through my travels and embrace the stories behind them.

Which person, living or dead would you like most to meet? I couldn’t choose just one - maybe we could host a Moroccan style brunch and I could put together the guest list so we could invite all the amazing people I would love to meet in person.

What dream do you still want to fulfill? I would like to design and develop a clothing and soft furnishings range.

What are you reading? I demolish mountains of magazines on interior design. One favourite magazine at the moment is The Renegade Collective, a great source for inspiring tips for small business. I also enjoy trawling through my endless Nomad Textile books.

images courtesy of barefoot gypsy

INTERIOR DESIGNER JUSTINE HUGH-JONES

I first entered the world of Justine Hugh-Jones about four years ago. Her Sydney home was the location for a decorating feature I styled for Real Living magazine. It was one of those houses that had the whole crew looking around in admiration. I’ve never forgotten the kitchen or bathroom. The former for its custom-made island bench standing proud like a piece of furniture and the latter for Moroccan herringbone terracotta brick tiles. Since then I have interviewed Justine several times for various features on design and decorating. She always has something insightful and interesting to add. The spaces that she creates strike the perfect balance between style and functionality. They are beautiful timeless rooms that you want to live in - not just admire. The images above are from Justine's home in Sydney. The portrait was taken in a home she designed for a client.

Which five words best describe you? Real, calm, hedonistic, visual and perfectionist.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I studied international business at university in France and London then started work for British Airways marketing the First Class brand which ignited a furious passion for traveling ,style and design. Three years living in the elegant city of Hamburg in Germany opened my eyes to Northern European design and culture. Here my career in interior design began as an intern with an interior designer decorating and painting old beautiful merchant houses. After further study in decorative arts and and interior design in London I moved to Sydney and 10 years ago started my own interior design business. I started with my first job for a friend of a friend, pretending I knew everything. And guess what? I'm still learning! 

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Always trust your first instinct on everything. 

What’s your proudest career achievement? Shortlisted for best residential house for Belle magazine interior design awards 2013. 

What’s been your best decision? Sounds predictable and, yes, corny but an easy answer. Marrying and having two boys with the man I love. 

Who inspires you? People who infect you with their amazing energy, talent, humour and warmth.

What are you passionate about? I start off being passionate about my design concepts and vision and that's undoubtedly one of the most exciting parts of my job. But then I have to focus that passion towards all the people I come into contact with during the course of each project. I feel it's about 50 per cent design and then honestly the rest is how you deal with people. It's such a psychological job that you have to love people to do well. Starting with the client and, of course, their family and friends, the architect, the builder and all their different trades, all your varying suppliers, your colleagues, the delivery companies, your Instagram followers... It’s such a people job and, I must admit, I'm as passionate about all of them as I am about design otherwise I couldn't do my job well. 

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? This is such an easy question for me. It just has to be my beautiful big sister Debra who died when she was only 22 and I was 17. What a lot we would have to catch up on. 

What dream do you still want to fulfil? A house abundantly full of beautiful artworks. 

What are you reading? Garden Life by Richard Unsworth.

images courtesy of justine hugh-jones; house shots nicky ryan; portrait nick scott