Amid a formidable line-up of projects, Melbourne-based practice Clare Cousins Architects was unanimously awarded this year’s Premier Award for Interior Design at the 2022 Australian Interior Design Awards (AIDA).

Stable and Cart House is a cart store that’s been transformed into a thoughtful modern residence while preserving the heritage character of the 1920s warehouse. The North Melbourne property has retained its industrial exterior, while the interior features striking brick walls, a new light-filled courtyard, and an understated blend of old and new elements.

The judging panel – made up of a jury of eminent designers working with a convenor appointed by the Design Institute of Australia – agreed it was ‘the absolute standout project across all categories’ for ‘unlocking the immense potential and possibility of the building itself’.

Flack Studio took out the award for best Residential Decoration with their incredible transformation of singer Troye Sivan’s three-storey Melbourne home.

The property has been one of the most talked-about projects of the last 12 months, thanks to its mix of retro and eclectic pieces that helped it skyrocket to Insta-fame. The jury notes this captured a ‘strong sense of the client’s character through a beautiful curation of art, furniture, lighting and objects in a way that doesn’t feel forced or contrived’.

Unsurprisingly, the Best Of State category was filled with some truly special dream homes. Red Hill Residence by SJS Interior Design was named the favourite project in the ACT while Iota and Studio Roam for Lewis House was the top pick for Western Australia. It featured an excavation of a heritage-listed 1940s Spanish Mission style home, in order to reconfigure it for contemporary life with great attention to detail!

The awards’ esteemed Emerging Interior Design Practice was dually awarded to designer Brahman Perera (who recently featured on TDF!) and Pattern Studio, with the jury believing both practices are shaping the advancement of Australian interior design in the coming years.

And if the list of projects is anything to go by, the industry has no where to go but up!

2022 Australian Interior Design Awards Winners

Premier Award for Australian Interior Design
Clare Cousins Architects for Stable and Cart House, Victoria

Residential Design Award
Clare Cousins Architects for Stable and Cart House, Victoria

Commendations
Kennedy Nolan for Always, Victoria
Studio Bright for Autumn House, Victoria
Arent and Pyke with Carter Williamson for Layer Cake, New South Wales
Bennett Murada Architects for Robinsons Run, New South Wales
Fiona Lynch Interior Design for Sorrento House, Victoria
Flack Studio for Troye Sivan House, Victoria
Brad Swartz Architects and Henry Wilson for Laneway Glass House, New South Wales.

Residential Decoration Award
Flack Studio for Troye Sivan House, Victoria

Commendations
Fiona Lynch Interior Design for Burnley House, Victoria Arent and Pyke for Legato House, New South Wales YSG Studio for Soft Serve, New South Wales Fiona Lynch Interior Design for Sorrento House, Victoria.

Best of State Awards for Residential Design
Australian Capital Territory – Red Hill Residence by SJS Interior Design
New South Wales – Brad Swartz Architects and Henry Wilson for Laneway Glass House
Queensland – Alcorn Middleton for Toowong Lighthouse
South Australia – Studio Gram for Rose Park House
Tasmania – Tanner Architects for Mays Point
Victoria – Clare Cousins for Stable and Cart House
Western Australia – Iota and Studio Roam for Lewis House

Interior Design Impact Award
YSG Studio for Edition Roasters, New South Wales

Emerging Interior Design Practice Awards
Brahman Perera, Victoria
Pattern Studio, New South Wales