YSG Studio’s transformation of a modest warehouse in St Leonards into the flagship showroom for Australia’s premier home accessories brand, Cultiver, is a masterclass in gestural design and chromatic storytelling. Drawing inspiration from the elegance of Italian villas and subtle antipodean references, the project reimagines two levels of space as an immersive theatre for textures, hues, and tactility.
At ground level, arched loggias and bordered checkerboard marble floors establish a rhythmic dialogue between tradition and modernity. Tourmaline-hued stones – each hand-painted on poured concrete with trompe-l’oeil grouting by long-term collaborators Creative Finishes – imbue the space with a sense of aged sophistication. Shouldered arches, hand-drawn pinstripes, and scalloped detailing echo Cultiver’s iconic Cedar Stripe linens, while gumleaf grey-blue joinery and textured leaf-imprinted splashbacks nod to both natural motifs and the brand’s socially responsible fabric philosophy.
Upstairs, recessed arches and partial-height walls frame domestic vignettes, integrating furniture and rugs in vintage and velveteen textures. A warm salmon terracotta tone on arches and floors visually expands the lounge and kitchen zones, offering an intimate yet expansive setting for client interactions and product engagement. Rounded forms – from rattan dining chairs to travertine coffee tables – complement the tactile softness of Cultiver’s linens, creating a space where colour, materiality, and heritage converge into a sensorial experience.

Casa Maiora by Studio Andrew Trotter: Flowing Haven

Studio Andrew Trotter’s first departure from the archetypal white vaulted houses of Puglia results in a villa that marries coastal elegance with understated simplicity. Drawing inspiration from the region’s historic seaside villas, the design celebrates grand colonnades, earthy lime-washed walls, and artisanal craft, evoking the palette and textures of centuries past.
Perched on the southernmost edge of the site, the house captures panoramic sea views, while its east–west orientation ensures sunlight permeates both winter and summer months. A vast veranda, draped in thick cane reminiscent of Marrakech souks, offers shaded respite for mid-afternoon siestas, al fresco dining, or quiet relaxation, seamlessly linking interior spaces with the surrounding nature.
Inside, expansive open-plan volumes are framed by windows that invite the landscape and winter sun into the home, reducing reliance on air-conditioning. Warm, earthy tones persist throughout, harmonising with a mix of built-in furniture and curated antiques sourced locally, creating a serene, tactile environment.
Materials and details underscore craftsmanship: the kitchen features a bespoke terrazzo island, bathrooms are fitted with locally made sinks, and wet areas are adorned with cocciopesto. Constructed from tufo sandstone, with limestone floors in variegated greens and yellows, and powdery pink lime-washed walls, the villa is a nuanced interplay of materiality, light, and texture. Vintage furnishings, ceramics, and contemporary design pieces complete a home that is at once timeless, tactile, and deeply rooted in its Puglia context.

Fondation Cartier by Jean Nouvel: Sustainable Modernism