Benefits of Hiring An Interior Designer and Interior Architect
Have you thought about the key benefits of hiring an interior designer and an interior architect? If you want to transform your space, create functional beauty, and increase your property value, then hiring a design studio that specialises in both interior design AND interior architecture will be the perfect option. But why?
Modern Brutalism: Create Bold Decor That’s Surprisingly Achievable
Brutalism, a bold and raw architectural style that emerged in the mid-20th century, is characterized by its unapologetic use of concrete, steel, and an almost monolithic aesthetic. This style, often misunderstood as cold and uninviting, can be transformed into a stunning and comfortable living space with a modern twist. Here’s how.
The Reading: Find Your Interior Design Archetype in Three Minutes
The Reading is a free, three-minute diagnostic quiz created by Plush Design Interiors that identifies your interior design archetype — the underlying personality driving every room you love, every pin you save, and every safe beige decision you've immediately regretted.
It's built on three behavioural axes (Restraint ↔ Abundance, Meaning ↔ Sensation, Rooted ↔ Roaming) and maps your answers to one of eight archetypes.
Unlike style quizzes that assign you a trend label, The Reading identifies a psychological position — one that doesn't expire when the algorithm moves on.
Who Are You Really Designing Your Home For?
Somewhere along the way, “timeless” became code for “please don’t notice me”. People were sold the lie that a safe, all-neutral home is the only path to good taste and future resale. The result is a plague of white-on-white kitchens, oatmeal sofas, pale timber everything, and not a single shimmering risk in sight.
Adopt This White Paint Guide; Your Walls Really Need It!
In this white paint guide, we'll delve into the nuanced world of white paint, exploring the differences between various shades, how to test them on your walls, what to watch out for, and ultimately, how to select the perfect white paint for your home.
We demystify white paint and help you find the perfect shade for your home renovation. Adopt this white paint guide; your walls really need it!
White paint may seem like a straightforward choice for your walls, but any experienced interior designer will tell you that not all whites are created equal. The subtle nuances in undertones and finishes can drastically alter the mood and aesthetic of a room.
Room Decorating Ideas for Small Versus Big
When it comes to room decorating ideas, most people want to know how to make a space appear either bigger or smaller. That's the way of the world so I've got a few tricks up my sleeve for you.
Successful decorating often revolves around trying to trick the eye. This includes visually manipulating the size of rooms and to hide architectural features or perceived defects.
Why We Love Living Room Fusion… and You Should Too
Living room fusion is what happens when you stop apologising for having more than one taste. Hollywood Glam and Art Deco in the same room? Absolutely. Southern California ease layered with ornate antiques? Why not. The design world will tell you to "pick a style and commit" — which is useful advice if your personality fits neatly into one box and wildly unhelpful if you're a more interesting person than that.
The Biggest Interior Design Mistake You Don’t Even Realise You’re Making
Your home is not a waiting room for the life you're planning to live one day. It's not a showroom for buyers who might come along in seven years. It's not a safe, inoffensive backdrop designed to offend nobody and delight nobody in equal measure.
It's where you live. Right now. Today. And it should feel like the most honest room in your life — the one place where nobody else's opinion gets a vote.
The biggest design mistake is choosing everything from fear. The fix is choosing one thing — just one thing — from joy instead. Start there. See what happens.
Your House Isn't a Gender Reveal Party (And Great Design Never Plays by the Rules)
The rooms that stop people in their tracks are never the ones where everything matched. They're the rooms where something unexpected happened — where someone made a choice that shouldn't have worked and committed to it so completely that it absolutely did.
The rough plaster wall in the otherwise polished apartment. The Victorian chaise in the mid-century living room. The deeply saturated ceiling in the otherwise pale space. The antique in the renovation.
Tension isn't a risk. Tension is the point.
Your home is allowed to be complicated. So are you.
No-Vanilla Archetypes: Why Your Home Has a Personality, Not Just a Style
For years, the design world has sold you styles — Hamptons, Japandi, Mid-Century, Coastal, that one with all the boucle — as though your home were a costume you choose off a rack. Pick a look. Copy the look. Hope the look still feels like you in eighteen months when the algorithm has moved on and your "warm minimalist" lounge suddenly reads as a dental waiting room.
A style tells you what to buy. It never tells you who you are in a room. And that, my darlings, is the entire problem. So I built something better. Meet the No-Vanilla Archetypes.
Tips for Creating A More Luxurious Bedroom
A more luxurious bedroom may not make you sleep better, but it will make you feel better abut being awake. A luxury bedroom is only a few designer tips away. Intimate and highly personal, your bedroom is the perfect sanctuary for luxurious and relaxing touches. However, a more luxurious bedroom should be personal, restful and functional. No matter the size of your bedroom, try these interior design tips for a luxe look.
Creating a Focal Point in Every Home Space: Essential Design Tips
In the world of interior design, establishing a focal point in every home space is a fundamental principle that transforms good design into great design.
A focal point draws the eye, adds interest, and serves as a foundation around which to build your decor. Here’s how you can effectively designate and accentuate focal points in various spaces within your Australian home.
The Easy Secret Ingredient of Homes That ‘Feel Right’
Ever walked into a room and felt instantly at ease—like it just got you? And then walked into another that looked perfect on paper but felt... sterile? That’s the difference between a home that has soul and one that’s just been styled. The easy secret ingredient isn’t expensive furniture, a high-end paint colour, or getting the cushion arrangement just right. It’s emotional design—spaces layered with memory, mood, and meaning.
Metal Magic: Curved Walls, Killer Splashbacks and Seriously Sexy Surfaces
How to use metal laminates, liquid metal and laser-cut screens for walls, ceilings, splashbacks, kickers and more – indoors and out. If you’re here for beige, you’ve taken a wrong turn at “builder basic” – this corner of the internet is strictly for homes with a heartbeat and a slightly wicked glint.
This is part four of my five-part series on finishes with pulse: we’ve already flirted with tiles, seduced you with wallpaper, and romanced you with natural stone .
Today, we’re cranking the dial to “hot” and talking metal skins, veneers and coatings for walls, ceilings, splashbacks, kickers and every overlooked surface that’s dying to misbehave.
FIFTY SHADES OF WHITE: Why I’m Breaking Up With Resale-Obsessed Design
I’m breaking-up with resale-obsessed design because “timeless neutrals” are just code for “I gave up.”
The Interior Design World Has a Problem
And no, it isn’t your unapologetically bold rug or slightly extra lamp. It’s the global epidemic of homes smothered in fifty near-identical shades of white, beige, greige and “stone” — all looking like undercooked porridge in different lighting.
This isn’t calm. It’s design sedation. Somewhere between “quiet luxury” and “minimalist chic”, a dangerous myth crept in: if your home has personality, you’re doing it wrong. Spoiler — that’s utter rubbish.
Why You Should Take an Interior Designer House Hunting (Before You Buy)
You don’t need another “fall in love with the kitchen splashback” article – you need someone to tell you the truth. The most expensive mistake in buying Adelaide property isn’t paying too much for the house; it’s buying the wrong house, and then trying to renovate your way out of a bad floor plan. The candles, cushions and real estate chat will be gone in 30 minutes – but that awkward layout, lack of storage and zero privacy between bedrooms and living? That’s forever.
This is where an Adelaide interior designer strolls in before you sign anything, flips on the lights and shows you exactly what this home can be… and what it will never be, no matter how many moodboards you make.
How to Design a Bold, Authentic Home (from an Adelaide Interior Designer Who Hates Beige)
Vanilla is a fine flavour—classic, safe, sweet. But when it comes to design? Vanilla is the enemy of progress. Adelaide interior designer Penelope Herbert shows you how to ditch beige, break design rules and create a home with a pulse, not a cookie-cutter showroom! In a world where we’re craving authenticity, personal expression, and bold living, sticking to safe, forgettable design is not just boring, it’s creatively bankrupt. No-Vanilla Design is more than a preference; it's a movement. A rebellion against mediocrity. A rally cry for homes that feel like you, not like page 42 of a furniture catalogue.
How To Navigate the Renovation Process: From Architectural Elements to Landscaping
After thorough pre-renovation planning, it's time to embark on the exciting journey of transforming your Adelaide home. The renovation process is where your vision begins to take shape, but it requires careful management and attention to detail to ensure success.
This comprehensive guide will cover key aspects of the renovation process, including architectural elements, lifestyle considerations, lighting, landscaping, communication with contractors, and strategies for staying on track and within budget.
New Year, New Home: How To Turn Your 2026 Design Resolutions Into A Real Renovation
New Year, new home. Stop scrolling and start designing. Discover how to turn your New Year decor and renovation resolutions into a bold, intentional home with a No‑Vanilla designer. New year is the perfect design reset.
The New Year is when people swear they’ll drink more water, go to the gym and stop texting their ex; it’s also the ideal moment to stop tolerating a home that feels beige, tired or vaguely embarrassing.
Why “Cloud Dancer White” Isn’t the Future We Ordered
The 2026 interior trend ‘Cloud Dancer White’ claims to be calm and timeless — but it’s really design-on-autopilot. Here’s why this overused neutral needs a rethink, and how to create richer, warmer spaces with real personality. White has quietly become the answer to everything: calm, resale, minimalism, safety.
But here’s the truth — at this point, white isn’t a design choice. It’s a design default.
Our blog is a treasure trove of knowledge, filled with valuable insights, expert tips, and insider secrets.
We delve into a wide range of topics that cater to renovators of all levels, from the novice DIYer to the sophisticated homeowner looking to transform their space.
Whether you're in the early planning stages or about to embark on construction, our blog covers it all.
Additionally, we keep you updated on the latest building and renovation techniques, as well as innovative products that can elevate your space to new heights.
We believe that informed clients make the best decisions, which is why we take pride in sharing our knowledge and expertise with you.
Our blog is designed to demystify the interior design and renovation process, making it accessible and understandable for everyone.
So whether you're seeking inspiration, practical advice, or a deeper understanding of the art of renovation, you've come to the right place.
Join us on this exciting journey as we empower you to transform your home into a space that reflects your unique style and personality.