This story originally appeared in Volume 6 of B.H. Magazine, pre-order your copy of Volume 7 now.
Sometimes, all a space needs is a single detail to lift it. A cleanly designed lamp, the right rug, or a thoughtfully placed indoor plant can transform a room from feeling lifeless to being energised, but the hard part is knowing exactly what that detail is.
To get some guidance, we spoke with more than a dozen of Australia’s top designers, architects, and tastemakers to understand their favourite details to elevate a space, and how you can incorporate them into your home too. Let’s get into it.
Tom Fereday – Industrial Designer & Founder
“Proven to instil calm, natural living plants can transform a space and its feeling quite literally through wellbeing and air quality, but also through an unspoken calm that comes from being around nature. They are inherently beautiful objects in their own right that gradually change and adapt through the seasons – a living sculpture.”
David Caon – Industrial Designer & Founder of Caon Design Office
“Rather than adding, I prefer to remove items from a space. I love placing classic pieces into a room and letting them do the talking, because having a few nice things works better than loads of stuff. I’m also not a big fan of covering walls in art – I prefer a simple arrangement with a balance of negative space.”
Jeremy Bull – Founder & Principal of Alexander & Co.
“The glow of a lampshade instantly transforms a room’s ambience. Illuminated parchment feels like sitting by a campfire – it stirs our eyes and emotions with a suggestion of intimacy and humanity. This one was an online auction find, and it now sits atop one of our handmade pieces in our workshop space.”
Sarah Ellison – Interior & Product Designer
“Instantly elevate the spirit of your living room by introducing a bold striped sofa. This singular, impactful statement can offer a swift and dramatic transformation – a total vibe shift that transcends smaller design gestures.”
“Explore contemporary options from leading brands, or reimagine a beloved piece with custom re-covering.”
Joseph Gardner – Style Editor of Vogue Living & Director of Studio Gardner
“Light is one of the most powerful design tools because it doesn’t just change how we see a space, but how we feel in it. I’m calling a ban on downlighting! I love the Half Light by EJR Barnes – sculptural when off, mood- shifting when lit.”
“Scent is equally powerful, an often overlooked layer of design. The Graphite candle by Mad et Len is grounding and refined, adding sensory richness. Together, scent and light complete an interior.”
Sarah I’Anson – Interior Designer & Founder of Sarah I’Anson Design Office & SI’A Gallery
“As a designer, I’m drawn to pieces that are both sculptural and functional – objects that can hold their own as artworks, yet shift subtly with use, mood, or context.”
“For me, the ability to transform a space lies in this balance of permanence and adaptability, which is why I designed the Mitsumata table lamp – equally at home in a bedroom, entrance foyer, or living room. By layering light, we shift the mood, add depth, and create a sense of occasion.”
Oliver Du Puy – Founder & Principal of Oliver Du Puy Architecture & Interiors
“Adding subtle texture and movement gives a room better depth, solidity, and meaning. Spaces become more poetic and tactile; pictures hang, and furniture sits with more purpose.”
“We like to use Otsumigaki [a clay and lime plaster] to emphasise the interplay between light and shadow, and help shape the atmosphere and create sensory-rich experiences.”
Tamsin Johnson – Interior Designer
“Three things: books, rugs, sconces. The sculptural value of a book is not to be underestimated. Arrangements are endless – stacks, singles, different sizes.”
“Rugs offer instant warmth and texture, and allow furniture to settle naturally into a space. Sconces add poise and maturity. Their light is mellow and casts abstract shapes and shadows.”
Steve Cordony – Interior Stylist & Author
“Every home should have a personal scent that captures the soul of the space and the people within it. My overall home scent is Ernesto by Trudon, but I have individual fragrances in each room.”
“I use scent to evoke memory and capture the essence of sacred spaces that feel as important as choosing a personal fragrance.”
Phoebe Nicol – Interior Designer & Co-owner of the Vault Sydney
“A room should always have character and layers. Part of my design approach is to include unique pieces that add interest and tell a story. My husband and I found this Jean Campa sculpture on a recent buying trip – its form and individuality stood out.”
“I also believe artwork is integral to creating a narrative within a space. I’ve always been drawn to Coen Young’s practice – there’s an instinctive boldness in his medium that commands attention.”
Elle Lovelock – Editor in Chief of Home Beautiful
“Is it strange to say multisurface spray? Fancy ones – like Diptyque’s – are a two-in-one: they clean your home and leave a beautiful fragrance in the air.”
“A just-lit candle takes time to scent a room, but this is a 60-second style shortcut worth making when guests are at the door.”
Charles Hinckfuss – Founder of MCM House
“Nothing transforms a room like music. It sets the tone, the style, the atmosphere. As our homes become more contemporary, I like the idea of a speaker that is not only functional but sculptural – a piece of art that adds imagination and energy to the space.”
“Lately, I’ve also been burning my Incense of the West clay hut, which I picked up from South West Trader. Handmade in Mexico, it’s a small smoking hut that fills a room with scent and theatre. The smoke curls out like something from an old Western film.”
If you enjoyed this guide to elevating your home with simple details, you might enjoy our other stories from the pages of B.H. Magazine below:
- How The Restoration Of An Heirloom Omega Found Hidden Family Lore
- Why Japanese Cooking Knives Are More Than Just A Souvenir
- Midas Touch: How The Tactile Aspect Of Luxury Separates The Great From The Good
- How China Stole The Car Industry, And How The West Plans To Fight Back
- A Night At The Museum: Vacheron Constantin Celebrates 270 Years In Spectacular Style
