SA creatives share their interior trends
South Australian creatives let us into some of the spaces they’ve recently designed, and chat about trends and their wish list items.
Sandra Chambers
Terrace Floors + Furnishings
Explain the space you’ve chosen to share and what makes it so special?
This new build in Tennyson sits just a stone’s throw from the beach. A solid concrete structure anchors the home, and natural light pours through from every aspect.
We had the pleasure of working with the owner, Steve Brouwer, and Architects Ink across several elements of the home, including the carpet selection in the home theatre, along with a considered selection of rugs and outdoor coffee tables for other areas of the residence.
The home theatre called for something with confidence, and the final selection was a tip-sheared carpet from RC&D in copper, a bold choice that proved ideal for the room.
Its vibrancy and depth of colour sit in beautiful contrast against the textured concrete walls. The brief was to find a subtle carpet texture that could speak to the concrete, and that quiet conversation between materials is what gives the space its character.
Strong colour does the rest, lending the room a warm, moody ambience that makes it the perfect place to relax.
What are some of the trends in design and building you’re seeing this year?
There is a quieter mood running through interiors at the moment. When the world feels unsettled, people retreat to warmth and comfort, and that is showing up in the choices clients are making. Autumnal, earthy palettes are dominant, and there is real appetite for soft, considered greens in carpet.
Architecturally, curves are gaining ground, whether in timber panelling, venetian plaster, or generous archways. The harder, more angular design language of the past few years is softening.
In flooring, timber is dominant across the main living areas where it can take the wear, and carpet runs through the bedrooms, where softness and acoustic warmth matter most. The natural textures of timber and carpet add depth and interest without ever overpowering the room.
What item is on your wish list for your own home?
The Ercol Lugo dining table and chairs. There is a clarity and restraint to the design that I cannot see ever feeling out of place.
What is a style or house item that never dates?
Mid-century. After 35 years in the industry, from curtains and textiles through to the last 15 in flooring, it is the one language I keep coming back to.
The old becomes new again, and its vocabulary, clean lines, bold colour on walls or floors, and the warmth of considered timber, sits remarkably well alongside contemporary architecture.
It is a style that has earned its place in every shifting trend cycle, and I cannot see it going anywhere.
Rebecca Wood
Group director, BoConcept SA/QLD & Transforma
Tell us about this space and what makes it so special?
One of my favourite spaces I have completed this year is for my best friend of more than 30 years, Jess.
Jess married her forever person, Stephan earlier this year in a magical Byron Bay wedding. Combining their families of five children and two dogs, they wanted to create a large, calming, yet practical family space where they could all be together comfortably. The brief was light and bright and a included large modular sofa where they can come together as a family.
Jess loves lightness and brightness and has always been a fan of mustard tones, so we incorporated these colours into her scheme with some curvy statement Sweet Art swivel chairs designed for BoConcept by Helena Christensen.
The fabrics we selected had to be hard-wearing for their busy household and bring colour into the space.
We selected designs from both BoConcept and Transforma, focusing on Australian and Danish made pieces to bring a bit of the Nordic design elements to the space. The ceramic tabletop for the coffee table also provided excellent durability.
To bring the layers and colours together, we commissioned custom original artwork by South Australian artist Lola Bezor. It is a stunning piece and sits beautifully above their Milano modular sofa.
What are some of the trends in design you’re seeing this year?
Statement living is all about creating a living room that reflects your personality through Danish design. It’s where sculptural sofas, iconic armchairs, and refined materials come together to shape a space that feels both expressive and comfortable.
Every sofa and armchair is designed to support daily life, whether you are relaxing, entertaining, or simply enjoying your living room. With a focus on craftsmanship, comfort, and timeless aesthetics, these designs bring lasting value to your home.
Configurable comfort is flexible, stylish and tailored to you – modular design is set to define homes this year.
As the demands of modern life grow and our homes become increasingly personal, designers are creating pieces that evolve with your needs and style. This approach is one the Danes have practiced for generations, and the art of living Danishly is about surrounding yourself with design that reflects who you are and how you want to live.
Lastly, in Denmark, hyggekrog is the name given to a cosy corner where you can escape the noise of the world. We’re going to see many more at-home retreats designed into a space.
What is on your wish list for your home?
A La Marzocco Linea Mini R Dual Boiler Espresso Machine in white.
What is an item that never dates?
A practical, yet stunning dining table that is classic, yet durable for everyday living with a busy household. Dining chairs not only need to look the part, but should be comfortable to sit in while enjoying a family meal. Whether this be upholstered or well-designed to provide long sitting time.
Sophia Leopardi
Director, Design by WBL
Tell us about this space and what makes it so special?
RS House is one of those rare projects where time, trust, and a genuine friendship between client and designer creates something that transcends a brief. This is a heritage home we’d worked on previously, so this latest chapter was about completing an earlier vision while weaving in the personalities of its current owners in a much more personal way.
Former chefs with a deep love of art and entertaining, the kitchen naturally became the true heart of the home, with everything else radiating outward from that point.
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What makes it special is the immense trust and openness that developed, along with giving the project genuine space and time to breathe. The result feels inevitable, like it could only ever have looked this way. The muted, layered materiality exists almost as a backdrop to their rotating art collection, which was a central directive of the brief. It’s a home that is completely and unapologetically theirs.
What are some of the trends in design you’re seeing this year?
I’ll be honest – we don’t really think in terms of trends. What I find more interesting is what the collective consciousness seems to be reaching for at any given moment, and right now I think people are craving authenticity and permanence.
There’s a real fatigue with spaces that photograph well but don’t actually feel like anything. What we’re seeing is a hunger for homes that have genuine soul – that reflect the people living in them rather than a mood board or a moment in time.
People are also thinking more carefully about longevity. Not just sustainability in a materials sense, but emotional longevity – will I still love this in 20 years? That’s a question we’ve always asked, but clients are now arriving with it already on their lips.
Layered beneath that is something relatively new – a growing uncertainty around laying roots in the one place. There’s a real conversation happening around creating something deeply personal and right for the people living there today, while also holding long-range appeal should life take them somewhere else. The answer is almost always the same – invest in quality, invest in timelessness, and resist anything that speaks only to this moment. A home designed with that integrity will always find its next custodian.
What is on your wish list for your home?
My home is honestly a series of ongoing and incomplete projects – but its new shape is starting to take form. Over many years I’ve developed a lens for finding beauty in incompleteness, and I’ve made a kind of peace with that.
But much like so many of our clients, what I’m really trying to build right now is more inherent calm and quiet into our family’s daily flow. So, if I could wish one thing into existence, it would be a re-work of my micro laundry – a space I move through multiple times a day. I know exactly what needs to happen. I just need to will it into being.
What is a style item that never dates?
Natural materials. The variation, the weight, the way they hold light differently at every hour – nothing manufactured has ever truly replicated that. They connect a space to something much older and slower than design trends, and that quality is timeless by definition.
Lauren Zwaans
Co-managing director, Craig Linke
Tell us about this space and what makes it so special?
This space incorporates a beautiful all-weather alfresco with an outdoor kitchen, a sizeable multi-purpose pool pavilion with an en suite, and a landscaped garden centring around the sparkling new pool and deck.
This space was created for special clients, who are friends of ours. The space has a resort-style feel – it’s a space for celebrations and gathering, but equally, to relax and breathe.
The alfresco is perched above the garden and pool with a stunning outlook, and the selections make the space perfect to enjoy year-round. The ambient lighting exudes warmth, while the sculptural concrete bench to the outdoor kitchen and off-form concrete steps to the pool and alfresco create interest.
What are some of the trends in design/building you’re seeing this year?
One of my favourites is wellness spaces, whether incorporated into the home or separate studio or pavilion spaces. The real focus is that spa-like feel at home.
We’ve long been proponents of biophilic design through incorporating natural materials into homes, but the push to bring the outside in and create connection with the natural world through seamless indoor/outdoor transitions is stronger than ever.
Other trends include dark woods, especially dark timber floors and joinery, and rich, deep tones including burgundy, olives and moss hues, browns, and clay.
More seamless tech integration is another priority for a lot of our clients. Think finger-print scan at the front door, lighting and security controlled via apps.
What is on your wish list for your home?
So many things are on my home wish list! A new outdoor living space is probably at the top of my list at the moment, but I also have my eye on a few special home decor pieces. We will have more to share on this soon!
What is a style that never dates?
Homes and home decor that leans classic doesn’t really date the same way as more trend-driven, modern aesthetics. Think floorboards, wainscotting and classic light marbles, which will always have their place.
This article first appeared in the 2026 SALIFE Premium Property magazine.
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