Finding your Style with Jenni Robin
March 2025
The Australian interior design industry is ever evolving, with many diverse styles achievable depending on your unique interests and project parameters. As an interior designer I look to use the architectural context to inform choices in addition to applying the clients’ preferences to create a tailored home.
Design trends come and go, however, there are a few styles that will forever endure, whether building from new, renovating or altering furniture and décor specifications. Knowing the obvious and subtle differences along with the role door hardware plays, can assist in narrowing down your style preference, aiding in the decision-making process.
Matte Black hardware is stylish and cutting-edge.
Sleek and sophisticated, Matte Black allows the interior to shine – working perfectly with styles that are inherently monochromatic. Match door furniture with tapware and cabinetry handles for a modern interior.
Biophilic Design
Biophilic design connects natural elements and the living world into the built environment. Achieve this style by selecting materials such as wood and stone, using organic shapes and forms, and incorporate plants, earthy textures and colour. Always consider the connection from inside to out; link this style with Matte Black for a grounding base colour.
Scandinavian
Characterised by a minimal, clean approach that seeks to combine functionality with beauty in simplistic forms. This treatment tends to be neutral with touches of nature, often in the form of timber flooring, cladding and furniture with minimal colour injections. Matte Black hardware will act as a great anchor to the home and link to other monochromatic elements chosen.
Industrial
Not a cold and uninviting space, the Industrial design style can bring such personality and great city vibes. Whether it is exposed architectural elements such as bricks pipes, or raw concrete slabs. Embrace the materials and architectural junctions; why not add bold Matte Black hardware to leave a strong impression.
Elegant and eye catching, Satin Brass is striking and is making a comeback to Australian interiors.
The injection of warmth that Satin Brass brings to a project is so delightful, it connects with design styles that bequeath quality such as Hamptons, Haussmannian and Mid Century.
Mid Century
Mid Century design is celebrated with connection to outdoors, site orientation, exploration of new building materials and construction methods. Usually these homes are modest and built for affordable living after World War 2. Cedar and teak timbers were widely used in Australia during this time, so why not embrace and enhance the warmth of these timbers with Satin Brass handles and accents.
French Haussmannian
Parisian apartment opulence and grandeur, featuring elaborate chandeliers, herringbone and chevron parquetry floors, high ceilings and large windows with wrought iron balconies or balustrade, elaborate wood and plaster mouldings on ceilings and walls. Embrace this French chic style and opt for Satin Brass hardware to compliment the other highly detailed elements.
Hamptons
A sophisticated New York beach house, the Hampton design style is not losing any of its charm and popularity. If you love grand home estates with white walls, wall panelling, with hints of blues and greens this trend could be for you. Think of mixing Satin Brass with a white and blue kitchen with warm timber flooring for a timeless interior.
Flexible and elegant, Satin Chrome adds brilliance and shine to an interior.
A versatile finish that works well with crisp colours; choose Satin Chrome to embody a sense of calm, perfect for Coastal, Farmhouse and Futuristic interiors with abundance of natural light.
Farmhouse
Rustic and stacked full of charm, a Farmhouse interior will have you relaxing by a cosy fire with a wonderful view to the outdoors. The authentic Satin Chrome is a timeless finish that will work tirelessly in this style of home alongside chunky timbers, mud rooms and brick flooring.
Modern Coastal
Not to be confused with Hamptons or Nautical, this design style is for easy and relaxed living, embracing organic materials such as rattan, jute and linen with an abundance of natural light, with references to sand and surf. A calm and inviting colour palette that is easy on the eye and fresh, which works perfectly with the Satin Chrome hardware.
Victorian
Decorative yet approachable, Victorian interiors are typically not open plan. Consider variances in each room with wallpapers, ornate fabrics and bold colour drenching. Bright Chrome hardware can be the link between each space showcasing quality and comfort.
Satin Graphite’s deep tones imbue quality and strength into interiors designed to make a mood-rich impact.
The Satin Graphite finish with its rich colour is a perfect base for layering textures. Consider specifying alternative metals, timbers or raw concrete to create the flawless tonal interior in the styles of Japandi, Modern Australian or Brutalism.
Japandi
With roots in alternative geographies, the Japandi style embraces both Japanese and Scandinavian paired back design aesthetics. This style embraces imperfection, and is a celebration of everyday rituals and connection to nature. The Satin Graphite finish is the perfect link to this style contrasting against lighter tones on walls or floors.
Modern Australian
The celebration of comfort with local craftsmanship techniques, the Modern Australian home shifts to more raw imperfect materials and an increased use of the colour green, reflecting our connection to nature and our love of indoor plants. Use the Satin Graphite hardware to add an unusual metal into the colour palette.
Brutalism
When architecture embraces its original form, this tends to be Brutalism. Think of the strength and bold forms of raw concrete, steel and glass. Human scale can shrink, as the architecture is monolithic and grand. To align with this style, add a bold and robust material palette therefore opt for a Satin Graphite handle to complement the style.
Alluring and fresh, Bright Chrome creates a gleaming connection to tomorrow.
The Bright Chrome finish is a quality all-rounder, enhancing the vivacity of an interior. Additionally, the finish is readily available in other architectural fixtures such as lighting and tapware.
Futuristic
Embracing technology, forward social thinking, and current ideologies such as sustainability. Inject Bright Chrome hardware to truly draw upon the light and hope of new and exciting frontiers. Keep other design features understated with emphasis on function.
Minimalist
The minimalist interior focuses on functionality, clean and crisp lines and shakes away over consumption ideals of modern living. Pair a simplistic yet refined interior with Bright Chrome hardware for an inspired fresh space.
Nautical
This style focuses on maritime and navigation elements, therefore be sure to embrace bold navy blue and white stripes, anchors, maps and ropes. The Bright Chrome hardware will draw light and a sense of airiness into a Nautical interior.
Steeped in tradition, Aged Brushed Copper brings rich depth of colour to interior spaces.
Use this finish to add charm and authenticity to your interiors, linking styles that are more elaborate with architectural detailing such as Art Deco, Federation or Maximalism.
Art Deco
The decadence of the 1920-30’s brought geometric patterns, metals, highly textured fabrics and lacquered surfaces. Soften these striking design elements with the feminine tones of Aged Brushed Copper hardware. Consider black and white bathrooms, checkerboard floor patterns, mixed metals; brass, stainless steel and copper.
Federation
A design trend originated during the early 1900’s, as Australia unified it’s states and territories to form our country. This style is being reinvented with modern appreciation and dedication to embrace history, character and charm of yesteryear. A Federation home will often be constructed of red brick featuring connection to outdoors with beautiful verandas. Add Aged Brushed Copper to enhance the warmth of other materials.
Maximalism
Embrace layering with bold colour, pattern and excess in this design style which directly moves against stark, cold, and empty interiors. Combine different aesthetics to create a truly unique space, however it should be intentional and carefully curated. Given the ability to mix so many ideas into this trend, why not add Aged Brushed Copper to liven up your doors.
From contemporary, modern and industrial to mirror-like Art Deco, Japandi or Hamptons, Gainsborough has a finish to enhance your personal style.
Written by Interior designer Jenni Robin
