David Flack: Belle Coco Republic interior designer 2019

A transformed timber cottage centred around a fig tree, a restaurant turned light-filled gym in the backstreets of Double Bay and a rural-Japanese-inspired ebony café, nestled in Sydney’s Chinatown, are among the illustrious winners of Australia’s most prestigious design accolades, the 2019 Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards.

Hosted by Belle magazine and Coco Republic, the awards attract submissions from the most respected and recognised interior designers around Australia. Raising the bar this year, the categories spanning residential, commercial and hospitality sectors, showcase the very best Australian design has to offer.

Taking out the most esteemed award of the night, the Belle Coco Republic Interior Designer of the Year, was David Flack, of Melbourne-based Flack Studio. His unique approach to visionary design is illustrated in works including the plush showroom of Storey Timber, the eclectic Castorina & Co Fitzroy store and the technicolour residence of a family in North Caulfield. He now joins the ranks of winners known for their unique contribution to Australia’s creative landscape.

Flack’s Caulfield North Residence was also the winner of the Best Residential Bathroom Design award. A bold aesthetic and incredible fusion of textures and colours catches the eye immediately with its ultra-modern mix of class and crazy.

The award for Best Residential Kitchen Design was scooped up by Melbourne-based duo Kennedy Nolan for their stunning work on Caroline House. The delicate play between black, white and cream brings a gentle background to the open planned living space, reducing the kitchens dominance without concealing its essential use.

Winning the overall Best Residential Interior award was Arent & Pyke for Under the Tree. The earthy tones of the renovated weatherboard cottage pay subtle homage to the family’s South African heritage, with textural variations ranging from woollen blankets and boucle to Belgian linen and cowhide.

Emerging Sydney-based interior design practice, Esoteriko won the award for Best Commercial Interior for their dreamy interpretation of Shelter, a gym in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. The pinky hues of fragrant cedar wood delicately balance the cool reflections of stainless steel in this unexpected light-filled sanctuary in a back lane of Double Bay.

The award for Best Hospitality Interior was received by Sydney-based Amber Road for their work on Edition Roasters café in Haymarket. The humble café emulates traditional Japanese rural life, existing in stark contrast to the modernism that surrounds it, the highly textured all-black palette creating a space for patrons to reflect back on simpler times.

Amber Road also took out the award for the Best Work with Colour for their beautifully realised palettes throughout a range of hospitality and residential spaces including Hotel Collectionist and Polychrome House. Their works spans a plethora of hues from sky blue to bright chartreuse in a sensitive balance between liveability and resplendence.

The recipient of the Belle Coco Republic Emerging Design Star was Dylan Farrell of Sydney-based Dylan Farrell Designs. His trademark is the creation of truly unique spaces with bespoke fixtures and furniture, specialising in discrete and detailed boutique design with projects including the beautifully fresh Bayside Modern and bright cosmopolitan Sydney Contemporary Perch.

“Congratulations to all of our 2019 winners,” said newly appointed editor of Belle magazine, Gavin Kirk. “As we celebrate our ninth year, we are honoured to drive these prestigious awards that showcase the very best Australian design has to offer. Year after year we are amazed at the level of creativity and expertise behind some of Australia’s most outstanding design endeavours.”

The awards evening took place at the Coco Republic showroom in Alexandria last night.

WINNERS:

Best Residential Interior – Arent & Pyke, Under the Tree

Best Residential Kitchen Design – Kennedy Nolan, Caroline House

Best Residential Bathroom Design – Flack Studio, Caulfield North Residence

Best Hospitality Interior – Amber Road, Edition Roasters

Best Commercial Interior – Esoteriko, Shelter Double Bay

Emerging Design Star – Dylan Farrell, Dylan Farrell Design

Best Work with Colour – Yasmine Ghoniem, Amber Road

Belle Coco Republic Interior Designer of the Year – David Flack, Flack Studio