IN PICTURES: The winners of the 2015 Australian Interior Design Awards in one amazing gallery

Cho Cho San by George Livissianis is an interpretation of a Japanese Izakaya. The design references contemporary Japanese architecture using a simple minimal pallete of concrete, birch ply, white painted walls & a back-lit ceiling. The design intent was to achieve a Japanese spirit & feeling without using any obvious references. Picture: Tom Ferguson

The Museum Victoria Design Studio is behind this installation. Robyne Latham’s immersive installation Empty Coolamons, honours and recognises the Stolen Generations of Australia. Wooden coolamons were traditionally used by Aboriginal women to collect water and food, and to cradle newborn babies. Latham’s sculptural copper wire coolamons, empty of baby, stand in witness to the Stolen Generations. Picture: John Broomfield

The Melbourne School of the Design for the University of Melbourne creates a new environment for flexible teaching and learning for students, researchers and academic staff that also becomes an educational tool in itself through the considered use of materials and the transparent overlapping of planning and spatial relationships. Picture: Peter Bennetts

Kennards Self Storage by SJB Interiors, NSW, is in the business of boxes, warehouses and storage areas. Our brief was to design a new work environment that encourages further staff interaction and create an interior that says something about the nature of the business. Picture: Tom Evangelidis

A “holiday house in the city”. Whiting Architects aimed to infuse the relaxed “weekender” atmosphere, into an urban family home at Kerferd, Victoria. The interior plays on primal themes of comfort and nesting, with texture and warmth foremost. Archetypal primary forms enable us to relate on a subconscious level putting us at ease instantly. Picture: Sharyn Cairns

DUST by Sibling, VIC, is a multi-sensory concept store. Inspired by the brand’s sigil the Golden Ratio, and a brief that encourages users to question their understanding of Cartesian space. SIBLING uses these principles as the primary structuring devices: grids within grids, disturbing mirrored reflections, luminescent surfaces, spatialised sound and animated screens. Picture: Peter Bennetts

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IN PICTURES: The best designs from The Block Triple Threat

Love the ‘Glacier Hex’ mosaic tiles, love the colour scheme, love the collection of photographs and love the round ‘Flynn’ mirror – a perfect balance between a masculine colour scheme and feminine design elements. Dea and Darren truly know where a lady likes to powder her nose.

It’s one thing to have a wine cellar and it’s another to have Darren and Dea’s creation. The winning room with its filled wine racks and shelves, barrel and bluestone honed floor tiles combined with the clever use of lighting just feels authentic.

Ayden and Jess won kitchen week. And while I have certainly seen enough of the ‘Tractor’ stools from Freedom I loved the ‘Regal Oak’ timber flooring on the walls combined with the country-style, grey cabinetry. Modern, yet provincial!

Seagrass wallpaper certainly caused a stir on The Block. But the ‘Haruki Sisal’ wallpaper in dark indigo is just to die for. Darren and Dea took out master bedroom for a good reason. Charcoal walls, pale grey bedposts and white soft furnishings offer intimacy and pure elegance. The ‘Cloche’ pendant lights add a subtle pop of colour and moody lighting. It works in daylight just as well as at night.

It caused more controversy than any other room on The Block and didn’t earn Darren and Dea a win but how good are those ‘Dome’ porcelain pendant lights and Citta Design American oak stools?

The Block judge Neale Whitaker said: “It looks like a showroom, lacking in soul.” And I agree. But Tim and Anastasia’s choice of artwork by Megan Weston works for me.

Josh and Charlotte take out the living and dining rooms challenge. While I don’t need to see any more of those Tom Dixon ‘Beat” light pendant, I wouldn’t be able to resist ‘Drexel’ dining chairs from Coco Republic

They certainly kept the best for last. Melbourne couple Darren and Dea took out the last room reveal challenge for their “lush” terrace. The space is large, separated into several sections, green and tropical and who could say ‘No’ to those recycled sleepers?

Tuck me in on that sofa any time. The ‘Tucker’ leather sofa from Coco Republic is just my thing. And the ‘Ryder’ chair from the same label make for a great combo. Josh and Charlotte certainly deserved to win for their living area with another pared-back approach that is full of different textures.

It might be just a trend but I’m a total sucker for black and white geometric tiles combined with natural wood. And the oversized art work in Darren and Dea’s stairway certainly make an entrance.

Josh and Charlotte scored with their ensuite design and how could you go wrong with that stunning wooden vanity? Subtle and pared-back and in tune with their overall design approach.

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