Top interior designers and home stylists of the Sunshine Coast region
From award-winning kitchens to commercial sites and bathrooms, meet the Sunshine Coast’s top interior designers helping property owners create the perfect spaces.
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Years of experience and immeasurable passion bring together these interior designers who have created gorgeous forever homes and stunning businesses across the Sunshine Coast.
Whether it is conjuring the perfect style to sell a home, renovations or composing a classy restaurant from scratch, the top designers of the region are using their creative flair to live their dream jobs.
See the best interior designers on the Sunshine Coast:
Blink Living
Blink Living director Dianne Conley has been working in interior design on the Sunshine Coast since the late 90s and founded her company in 2008.
“Blink Living was the first property styling company on the Sunshine Coast. We have now grown to be the largest and most successful styling company and our clients continue to achieve great results,” Ms Conley said.
Ms Conley has since moved into semi-retirement and she has a team of 10 people including interior designers Jessica Brown and Shana Warner.
Ms Brown has been with the team for nine years as an interior architect and lives on the Sunshine Coast with her husband and three children, Ms Conley said.
“Jess works in the private home and holiday home space with clients from around the world and locals alike,” she said.
Ms Warner is a “local girl” but worked at Three Birds Renovations in Sydney prior to completing her Interior Design studies.
“Shana came to us as a property stylist but soon discovered her passion for creating beautiful interiors for clients and continues to lead the way curating the most beautiful interiors for her clients,” Ms Conley said.
Ms Conley’s business works with property styling and furnishing private and holiday homes with designer brands as well as large scale commercial developments.
Adrian Ramsay Design House
Building and interior designer Adrian Ramsay has been designing homes for more than 20 years with a history in swimwear and activewear fashion.
Mr Ramsay said it was discovered he was dyslexic at the age of 14, which eventually helped explain his success in all creative subjects excluding writing.
He said he turned to clothing design, not being able to pursue his initial dream of being an architect through university.
He focused on women’s swim and activewear with a love for sports and the outdoors and worked with major sports teams and adventurers throughout his fashion career, he said.
Mr Ramsay eventually decided to return to his “first love” of architecture and interior design and moved from England with his wife and set up his design business.
In his 20 years in business, he has been able to create homes in Africa, India, the US and New Zealand as well as his Sunshine Coast and Australian clientele.
Mr Ramsay said he loves interior design because it supports how clients live.
“It shapes their lives everyday. This, done well, nurtures their well-being and in a great way, changes the lives of their families and beyond,” he said.
“Good design to live in is a gift that keeps going.”
Mr Ramsay also runs a podcast about his design philosophy named TALK Design.
Meluka Design
Melissa Gardner, 42, has been running Meluka Design for nine years with more than 20 years experience in the property styling industry.
Her love for interiors and how things looked, felt and functioned started at a young age and eventually led to a dream job of styling prize homes for charities.
“This then led me into home staging and renovations, which has further evolved over the years to a more holistic direction, with Feng Shui, house whispering, energy clearing and healthy home consultations,” she said.
“As we start to expand our way of thinking and honouring our health, there are so many ways our homes can become healing sanctuaries if we know how.”
Ms Gardner said she specialises in teaching people how to maximise their space and enhance features.
“I love the transformation that interior design offers, shifting a simple canvas into a space that creates warmth, style and functionality,” she said.
“I believe we can be inspired for our interiors through natural landscapes and my own personal interior design style is ‘rainforest’, as I love the natural textures and organic materials.
“I believe that our homes spaces can be healing centres, allowing us to reset each day.”
Ms Gardner said she was awarded Stylist of the Year for South East Queensland in 2018 by Domayne.
Kate Anderson Design
Principal designer and owner Kate Anderson said her business is for the “dreamers,” with a strong interest in home renovations and known for the kitchens.
“Every great design begins with an even better story and we love to listen,” Ms Anderson said.
“We’re passionate about shaking up a dated kitchen industry with innovative thinking and inspired interiors drawn from our love of our local landscape on the Sunshine Coast.”
With 17 years of experience, the business covers residential and commercial needs from developers and architects to home builders and other individuals.
Ms Anderson said she won the People’s Choice Kitchen Design award in 2021 and the Housing Industry Association Kitchen Design of the Year for Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay
She was also named New Designer to Watch by Kitchen and Bathroom Quarterly in 2022, she said.
H&G Designs
H and G Designs was established nine years ago by Hailey McGinty, 36, and focuses on “full start-to-finish” projects for commercial, residential and holiday spaces.
She moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2008 and previously lived in Western Australia.
“I love seeing progress and the transformation of spaces, I particularly love the building stage - being onsite and seeing the transformation is my happy place,” Ms McGinty said.
“All of our projects have a modern twist to the style and the goal is always to create something different to things that have been done before.”
Her love for interior design was ignited when she completed her first renovation with her partner, Ms McGinty said.
She was formerly a part-time school teacher and started her current business on the side, but had to choose between the two as her side gig grew.
“I do miss teaching but I absolutely love design, the clients I get to work with and the forever changing work, there is never a day that looks the same in my business, which I love,” she said.
Ms McGinty is particularly proud of Noosa venue Alba by Kuruvita, a project for which she worked together with Danuza from Studio Shibui.
“It was one of those projects that involved the best of trades from the coast coming together to create something a bit special on an incredibly tight deadline,” she said.
“Everyone really hustled in such a positive way to get the absolute best outcome for the client and developer.”
Ms McGinty said the venue was shortlisted for the Australian Interior Design Awards and also the Eat, Drink, Design Awards.
Kitchen Design Co + Interiors
Kitchen Design and Co + Interiors owner Trudi Newman began her career working with cabinet maker to learn from the ground up before gaining the knowledge and confidence to start her business three years ago.
She previously spent numerous years in a corporate role within the mining industry and decided to re-evaluate her path, Ms Newman said.
“After spending time abroad to consider my options, I realised that throughout my journey I had always enjoyed the process of home renovations, perhaps a few too many,” she said.
“While most people found this stressful, I couldn’t wait to get started and consistently gravitated towards the heart of the home: the kitchen.”
Ms Newman specialises in kitchen, bathroom, wardrobes and offices but also offers a full interior design.
“As the kitchen is the centre piece to any home I get a chance to create a space that brings family and friends together as well as increasing the value of the home,” Ms Newman said.
“I love getting to know my clients and how their particular needs can be met and create an individual space just for them.
Revive Interior Design
Revive Interior Design owner Karen Artis said her business offers to create a “fresh fit” for property owners.
Ms Artis said her business had a “sustainable” approach with repurposing existing furniture, procuring items locally and considering its life cycle.
“Rather than relying on trendy labels to assign a particular design style, the preference is to work with the owner to create their unique look that is beautiful and functional for their way of living,” she said.
Ms Artis moved to the Sunshine Coast in 1989 after falling in love with the region while she was studying, and she began designing interiors for construction and development companies soon after.
She launched her business in 2016 after her own home renovations and helping friends and family with their design decisions.
RJP Design And Decor
RJP Design and Decor owner Rosanna Pappalardo has been working in interior design for about 22 years.
Ms Pappalardo said she loves to challenge herself and is inspired by nature as well as Japanese styles and their “simple way of life”.
“I do love mid-century design, art deco, Japandi and nature with ‘exposing’ ourselves to its beauty within our homes,” she said.
Ms Pappalardo loves helping people “enjoy their life” and seeing someone’s home transform into a space “reflecting more of them” to become more relaxed, she said.
“Home is our sanctuary where we can be with our family and friends; and be ourselves,” she said.
Ms Pappalardo studied interior decoration and design while working full time and eventually “took the plunge” to fire up her own business.
She is a founding member of the Interior Designers Association and secretary at the KBDi Queensland committee since 2021.
She was a finalist in Queensland All Kitchens, Queensland Kitchen Plus and HIA Residential Interior Design, she also won the KBDi Designer Small Kitchen Queensland award in 2018.
She said a project she was most proud of aside from her own home was a Golden Beach kitchen project she put her “blood, sweat and tears” into, after the birth of her daughter, which earned her the 2018 award.
Box Clever Interiors and Box Clever Staging
Box Clever Interiors and Box Clever Staging owner Hilary Sharp, 47, has spent 20 years in the design industry.
Box Clever Interiors launched in 2015, followed by Box Clever Staging in 2019 to help real estate agents maximise a property’s potential, Ms Sharp said.
Ms Sharp said she loved “giving clients a wow moment” and “exceeding expectations”.
“In particular, I really enjoy the problem solving on the pre-build service we provide and being involved with the design team from the get-go,” she said.
“This way, the interior scheme can be fully incorporated into the build.”
Ms Sharp created her first floor plans at the age of nine, with her mother also trained in interior design, but she started her career path in economics, taking after her father.
“Design constantly niggled at me, and in my mid-20s I decided to retrain,” she said.
“I never realized that visualisation was a gift and that quite simply some people just can’t visualise from 2D plans or empty rooms how they could look.
“It is such a pleasure to help people along that path.”
Born and raised in Dublin, Ms Sharp fell in love with Australia while backpacking and upon her return to Dublin, also fell in love with an Australian man she met at a building site, she said.
Ms Sharp is a volunteer lifesaver since a leg injury ended her running career and she moved to swimming.
Green Earth Homes and DDK Consulting
Nathan and Grace Staal have owned Green Earth Homes since 2006, marking 17 years in business.
As custom home designers and builders, the pair work closely with designer Debra Kistler from DDK Consulting to help bring mood boards to life.
The business work as sustainable builders focusing on passive solar design, eco and sustainable materials, increased insulation and low-voc paints, with Mr Staal holding a green building accreditation.
“We love custom designing our clients’ home so they allow the family to live in harmony with a home that has been designed to suit their needs as a family unit, the block, the environment and their budget,” Ms Staal said
“Anyone can build a home but a home that has been designed correctly and built well will be a beautiful home to live in.”
“This is a really fun part of the build where they see it all come to life – the tiles, the flooring, the cabinetry, the paint colours, the special individual features that make it their own,” Ms Staal said.
The business won the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay HIA Bathroom and Sustainable awards as well as the Queensland HIA Sustainable Home of the Year awards in 2022, Ms Staal said.
Kate Cooper Interiors
Kate Cooper, 40, started her business in 2014.
Originally from Toowoomba, Ms Cooper said her natural design style led her to the coastal life and aesthetics so it feels “meant to be”.
Ms Cooper said she enjoys sharing her love of design and meeting new clients, suppliers and other designers also gives her joy.
“I love creating a design concept from nothing but a client brief or vision then seeing the concept transform into full design followed by the construction,” Ms Cooper said.
“I will never lose the spark and excitement of watching the transformation of a space that I have created.
Prior to interior design, Ms Cooper worked as a school teacher.
“I’ve worked hard to create my dream job but it was worth it,” she said.
She collaborated with Watermark Constructions and OGE Architects on her most recent project to reflect the client’s bold personalities, Ms Cooper said.
“It has attracted the interest of national magazines and I couldn’t be prouder of the result,” she said.
My Oasis Designs
Lisa Watts, 48, opened her business My Oasis Designs in 2019 as part of her “love and flair” for interior design.
Specialising in holiday apartments on the Sunshine Coast, Ms Watts said she offers everything from renovation advice to project management and furniture packages.
“The business is all about bringing my coastal style with a fresh, light holiday vibe to homes and apartments across the coast,” she said.
“Making our clients happy with and seeing them enjoying their new surroundings is what drives me and makes the design industry rewarding.”
Ms Watts grew up in Queensland and interior design was her dream since she was a teen, she said.
After working in the surf clothing and hair care industries for years Ms Watts created her business with the help and support of her husband Rick who works in finance.
“It’s hard work but because it’s my passion, most days doesn’t feel like work at all,” she said.
CLO Studios
Having grown up in Noosa, Chloe Tozer, 28, could not wait to return to start her business after finishing her studies in Brisbane almost eight years ago.
“I’m a very visual person, so I love the concept phase of design work where you interpret your client’s brief and dream up possibilities,” she said.
“I love days spent in our atelier pulling materials together from our library and developing palettes.
“I love art history and have a collection of old design books on art and architecture, that I love to read and be inspired by.”
Ms Tozer opened a jewellery studio and homeware retail business at the age of 21 and with the support of her mum, eventually began offering full interior design services.
“My dream job was to be an artist and I feel I’m living my dream, doing what I’m doing today,” Ms Tozer said.
“It’s (Noosa) a beautiful place to live and owning a business here is a dream.
“The local environment inspires our work and there is an incredible growing creative community in Noosa.”
Ms Tozer is also collaborating with her team to release new furniture ranges.
Di Henshall Interior Design
Di Henshall knew she wanted to be a designer since she was a little girl, and has now taken part in more than 2400 projects in Australia and overseas over the past 30 years.
Ms Henshall said good interior design is essential for good living “because it gives you joy to be in an environment that reflects your personality, your style, your achievements”.
“Interior design is part of people’s daily lives, whether it is in their own home, their car, their work or in the shops – all of these spaces have had their interiors designed,” she said.
“The favourite part of my job is revealing to clients the end result and seeing their reaction and also seeing how their lives have improved in many ways with their new environment.”
Ms Henshall came to Noosa on holiday from England and ended up moving and starting her business.
Ms Henshall credited her team who work on projects from professional spaces and resorts to homes, apartments and renovations.
“My team is the best – they are incredibly talented, focused and we have a brilliant time together,” she said.
Ms Henshall said she has won about 40 awards in her career including the HIA Women in Building Award, MBA’s Professional Businessperson of the Year, and a citation from the Design Institute of Australia.
She is also a professional member of the British Institute of Interior Design.
Styled4SALE
Kelly-Anne Drew, 52, turned her “dream and passion” into a business one year ago after receiving overwhelming feedback for a home she had styled.
Ms Drew’s bespoke styling business specialises in consultations, advising on furniture and accessory placement and hiring accessories to enhance homes for sale.
“We have purchased, renovated, and sold many homes and my favourite part is always the styling,” Ms Drew said.
“Pulling everything together and presenting a minimalist elegant style that shows off the home and allows the new owner to visualise themselves living in their new home is something I love.
“It is a wonderful feeling when you have styled a home and you take that final walk through, and you feel like you are home.”
Ms Drew moved to the Sunshine Coast with her family seven years ago to enjoy the lifestyle and sunshine.
Renovation Angel
Renovation Angel is a Noosa-based interior design business offering everything from cabinetry design to the final picture.
The business is owned by Monica Kohler.
Carole Tretheway Design
Carole Tretheway Design has been servicing the Sunshine Coast for almost 30 years with a “contemporary take on classical style”.
The Noosaville-based studio has been involved in residential and commercial interior design, residential building design, as well as refurbishments, decorating and colour consultancy.
Design principal Carole Tretheway has been in Noosa for 34 years and studied in the UK after growing up in Sydney.
She has been an Interior Design member of Australia for about 15 years.
Plantation Living Design
Plantation Living Design was founded by Tony Flanagan in 1998 at Noosa after he fell in love with the area.
Every style from a “naturally Noosa” look to contemporary and modern classic is on the table as the business covers every step of the way between consultation and installation.
Gail Hinkley Design
Also running a homeware, gift and fashion store at Hastings St, the interior design business services the Noosa region.
Environmental Building Designs Sunshine Coast
The Woombye-based medium-density building design business was founded in 1993 by Kaarlo Pesu.
Mr Pesu graduated as an architect technician in Brisbane in 1981.
With values in sustainability, the company has worked on non-for-profit projects to million-dollar Sunshine Coast developments.
Showcase Property Styling
Showcase Property Styling specialises in vacant home staging as well as home styling and more.
The business is based in Coolum Beach.
Inhouse Design & Decor Pty Ltd
Nikki Gerbers is the director of Inhouse Design and Decor offering interior design, styling, furnishing, repurposing and colour consultation services.
Ms Gerbers has 20 years’ experience in the industry, having dabbled in renovations from a young age.
She worked with commercial property before launching her own business.
Ms Gerbers grew up in Africa and is now inspired by the Sunshine Coast everyday.
The Shoosh Group
The Shoosh Group is a Sunshine Coast-based refurbishment business with a branch in Melbourne.
They particularly specialise in holiday apartment furnishing.
Sunshine Coast Interior Design
Sunshine Coast Interior Design offers styling and staging as well as interior design and renovations in their service.
Their business covers clients between the Gold Coast and Noosa.
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Originally published as Top interior designers and home stylists of the Sunshine Coast region
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