Recently, I read an article on Architectural Digest ‘This is your home on GLP-1s’ by Elyse Moody. Moody explores how GLP-1s are beginning to reshape our homes - and I need to unpack it here, with you.

I’m unsurprised we are seeing this shift, in fact, as an Interior Designer who works directly with clients on their homes day in, and out, I have noticed us edging towards wellness and longevity becoming a centre priority of home design.

What I write about today will be based on the thought starters throughout Elyse Moody’s piece, but I’ll be extending my thoughts and observations based on what I’m seeing, predicting (and currently designing) as an Interior Design professional. To me, the consideration of GLP-1s in home design is the biting headline, but really, it falls into the same big optimised basket as wellness and longevity-maxing, so you’ll see both these themes intertwined and combined throughout.

Wellness spaces as priority #1

Before the GLP-1 revolution we were already seeing a shift in priorities when it came to a client’s dream home wishlist. Last decade, you may have heard a client say ‘we’d love to put a spa outside if we’ve got the space’, that sentiment slowly shifted to; Do you think we’ve got space for a sauna? Now we are seeing clients increasingly prioritise spaces for wellness over more traditional rooms like a formal dining or sitting room, even foregoing additional bedrooms for these dedicated wellness spaces. GLP-1s have just added another layer to this and have undoubtedly put a rocket up the designing for wellness era we have been seeing slowly take shape.

Decentring the kitchen

Is the ‘Heart of The Home’ becoming less relevant? This is a shift I’ve been monitoring with interest for a few years now to see where it would lead or, if the concept would fizzle. As the ‘traditional’ and predictable daily schedule ( you know the one where we worked a clean 9-5 and the day revolved around 3 home cooked meals, shared at the dining table) becomes obsolete, The way we use the kitchen fundamentally changes too. The decentring of the kitchen is more easily spotted in inner-city living, apartments and the homes of executive couples. This demographic is less likely to cook - if at all - they probably order take out most night for dinner, and buy lunch at work. They still of course, use the kitchen and it’s design and function remains important. But the primary function has entirely changed. This is beginning to extend out to all types of homes, importantly, for those who are on GLP-1s and are rediscovering their relationship with food are probably finding they also have a newfound relationship or view of their kitchen. The way it supports them to achieve their health goals needs to change to align with these new values.

The private home pharmacy

In Elyse's article, Susana Simonpietri of Chango & Co. Design Studio is quoted saying “The fridge is a staple of most primary bathrooms now.” It cannot be denied that this is an entirely new direction for bathroom design, with GLP-1s - and the like - the direct contributing factor to this new piece of bathroom equipment. The private home pharmacy is here.

Dual principle bedrooms

Two primary bedrooms are going to become more in demand, normal and a top priority of home renovations as we prioritise recovery and sleep optimisation for longevity. Couples are going to have separate bedrooms that are equally ranked as the homes ‘primary’ bedroom (no size or expense spared from a renovation priority point of view) and will part ways for their evening routines and sleep schedules in the name of longevity and rest.

Shrinking Clothes, Growing Wardrobes

If people are getting smaller you might think naturally the need for wardrobe space would shrink too, however it looks like the contrary will be true. Suddenly, the joy of getting dressed is returning, people have bodies they want to show off and dress up and they are ready to invest in whole need wardrobes to celebrate.

So, what do I think is coming next?

We are all very aware of what we are putting into bodies, the ingredients, nutrients, how much protein we should be having a day. I am confidently predicting a focus on healthy interior performance is coming. This is the next chapter in designing for wellness as we begin to question the materials, finishes and chemicals we are building our spaces with and the daily interactions we have with them and how these materials can support (or hinder) the health of our families and ourselves. More thoughts on this soon.

*Read Elyse Moody’s Article Here

Cover image: Soft Serves’ Butter Furniture

Speak soon,

Brie

I share this list with you not because I think everyone needs to own, use or consume them, but because they've genuinely brought me joy, sparked an idea or reminded me why good design, in all its forms, matters.

Pilz Pendant: - This stopped me in my tracks. Designed by Melbourne’s Volker Haug decorative lighting studio, this pendant was a collaborative effort between the studio and Murano artisans - who hand blow each piece in Murano, Venice. I love it’s curious spirit.

My Bed: I truly adore our bed, and I’m getting more use than ever as I move from 2nd to 3rd trimester. We’ve just moved house and our walls are painted a warm - almost antique - white. And it has really brought the bed to life in the room, I swear it almost glows.

Wallflowers: A birthday gift from Me, to Me. I purchased these for the nursery but the more I think about them I think maybe they should live in the living room. Made to order in Melbourne, I bought all 3 of the flower types and I am counting down the days until they arrive

Candles: These are just fun, playful and have a little bit of whimsy - all things
I’m actively trying to lean into at the moment.

Vintage Sun/Moon Candelabras: I purchased these a couple of years ago and I’ve recently bought them out of the cupboard to live on our dining table and I just love them so much, the scale is perfect in the space, they almost double as sculpture.

Clock: You heard it here first, clocks coming back are going to be part of my 2027 trend forecast. This one is obviously exquisite

Wallpaper: Slightly psychedelic, but somehow also subdued and chic (depending on the colour you select). I always gravitate back to this one by Dedar. I presented it to a client this month and it was very well received.

Cashmere & Wool coat: Hand on Heart I’ve worn this at least 20 of the last 30 days.

Ring: Adore this. Only haven’t purchased because my hands are swelling from pregnancy so I have absolutely no size what I am

Eye Patches: One of my beloved clients gifted me these and unfortunately they are the best and unfortunately for my wallet I’ve had to buy them again (and again).

Speak soon,

Brie

The concept grew organically through the endless requests for furniture recommendations I’d receive from friends who were decorating their own homes. ‘Brie, I need a new rug, are there any you’d recommend?’

This series comes with a promise I am proud to uphold; I won’t recommend you anything unless I would happily put in my own home, or ask my clients to hand over their hard earned money for and put it in theirs.

I am so passionate about good design being accessible to all, thus ‘Interior Designer Approved’ was born.

Part One: Floor Lamps

1. Joanne Odisho Pillar Lamp ($2660)

   A functional object that is interesting enough to be considered a piece of art or sculpture in a room is something I always love to see. Joanne is an Australian designer / maker and is on my list of designers to watch.

   

2. Zachary Frankel Floor Lamp Big ($5720)

   Australian Made, aluminium, walnut & hemp fabric. There is something about this lamp that keeps be coming back to it over and over again. It’s one of my favourites on this list. It’s dimmable and as the hemp covers the bulbs you get this incredibly ambient glow.

   

3. Marlo Lyda Toile Lamp ($3800)

   Another Australian made piece. The Toile Lamp comes in three sizes and two materials (medium in calico pictured). I recently met Marlo at Melbourne design week and we had a great conversation about these lamps. The fabric is sourced from offcuts and waste meaning that each colour and style is an extremely limited run.

   

4. Frangere Fun Guy Lamp ($2838)

   Made in New Zealand, Handmade coloured glass shade and metal base. I’ve shown the brushed nickel here but I absolutely adore the brass too. I originally came across Frangere when we sourced their wall sconce for a client - These lamps are going to make any room feel a little more exciting and playful.

   

5. Nicole Lawrence Oro Lamp

   Made in Australia. Sadly from the time I selected this lamp to writing this newsletter it has been archived and is no longer in production. Still, I feel it deserves it’s place on the list.

   

6. Parcta The Standard Lamp ($1478)

   Another Australian Made selection (Aus Made is a recurring theme throughout the Interior Designer Approved series). I love that this lamp is compact and lays low. Perfect for a small living room where you want ambient lighting without staring at a bulb or using the overhead lights.

   

7. Vitra Akiri BB3-33S Floor Lamp ($5820)

   Part of the iconic Akiri light sculpture collection designed by Isamu Noguchi (yes, THE Noguchi, the same designer as the iconic ‘Noguchi’ coffee table). This lamp is handcrafted in traditional Japanese Washi paper. Honestly, I could have included any of the Akiri lights in this collection, but I just love the shape of the BB3-33S. A close second pick is the UF3-Q.

   

8. Wretched Flowers Chainmail Lamp ($POA)

   This lamp truly broke the interest - well, my algorithm, anyway - when Wretched Flowers first launched it a few years ago. I really don’t need to explain why this piece has made the list, it’s breathtakingly beautiful.

   

9. Ellison Studios Belle ($849)

   An incredible floor lamp if you are looking for some visual interest in your space or if you have less art on your walls than you may like, the oversized shade is going to pull focus. So versatile, I can see this working in so many spaces.

   

10. Lana Launay Modular Launay Lamp ($10800)

    With only 11 made each year this is a true investment piece. I would be willing to bet that this lamp is going to go up and up in value.

    Each component can be swapped and changed in order so you can play and create a unique configuration. This is again, equal parts sculptural art piece and lighting object.

    

Please let me know which category should be next, I was thinking maybe coffee tables or vases?

Speak soon,

Brie

If you’ve landed here for the first time, Welcome. For a brief background on what The Renovation Mentor series is all about, head over to this post. And, if you’ve just come from there, thank you for trusting me to be your Renovation Mentor.

It’s never been more expensive to renovate, and there has certainly never been more noise about how to do-so online. Not to mention, there has absolutely never been more ‘inspiration’ images (AI or otherwise) of what a dream kitchen should look like.

Decision fatigue and general overwhelm are among the top cries for help I get. So, if you are currently planning or undertaking a Kitchen renovation use this list as your expert guide for getting the important things right. Because a functional kitchen is the one that feels good to be in.

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So, if I was your Interior Designer and I could only prioritise 10 things when designing your kitchen, here's what they would be:

1. I would prioritise a ‘safe set down' of 300 mm minimum on either side of your heat cooking. This ensures that you can easily and effortlessly handle hot trays, pans and pots without scrambling to make space when they are already in your hands. It’s also important for family safety as it means you can keep heat in one place and not need to spin around to place something hot on the island (particularly important if you are sharing the kitchen with someone else while you are cooking).

2. I would prioritise a Bin /Sink /Dishwasher triangle over the traditional triangle. The traditional ‘kitchen triangle’ is an iconic kitchen design reference where Fridge / Sink / Oven are all set within a working triangle, with the idea being this allows for an efficient workflow when preparing meals. Now, no one can seem to agree on it’s exact date of inception, however it was somewhere between the 1920s-1940s. Since then, the way we use the kitchen has changed. The traditional triangle works well for one person - the homemaker - to work solo in the kitchen. Naturally, I find that our client’s kitchens need to be more dynamic. More people are preparing food, the type of food varies (smoothies, cheeseboards, lunchboxes no longer hot home cooking at every meal) and, importantly, many of us order-in frequently. And so, I will always prioritise a Bin / Sink / Dishwasher working triangle in every kitchen I design.

3. I would prioritise a basket waste and a pull out faucet in your sink. In my opinion this is an absolute non negotiable in kitchen design as it creates the most functional sink for food prep, dish rinsing and waste clean up.

Read more

One of the driving reasons I started - and continue to - share design education, tips and advice online is to speak to the consistent flow of people who reach out to work with my interior design studio, but find that our professional services simply don’t fit in their renovation budget.

These are people who care about design and want to get their homes right. The understand the value an interior designer would bring to their renovation and, if budget allowed, would happily have engaged a professional knowing it would result in a better outcome. And if you’re read this far, chances are I’ve just described you.

Once of my core beliefs is that great design should be accessible to everyone. Teaching you how to approach your renovation like an interior designer would feels like one small way I can make that possible.

So, I thought we could start at the beginning, consider this somewhat of a teaser, a taste and most importantly, a helpful starting point you can save and refer back to.

These 20 questions across 5 key categories that should be asked, pondered and answered before you’ve opened Pinterest and, dare I suggest, even before you’ve set a budget.

PLANNING

1. What is the main objective of this renovation?

2. If I could only afford to make 3 changes to this home, what would they be?

3. Do those three changes align with the main objective of the renovation?

4. How much of the existing home can I keep?

5. How much do I think this is going to cost? Does this align with the average cost per m2 for a renovation in my city/area?

DUE DILIGENCE

1. What council and/or strata approvals will be required for this?

2. How long is the approvals process for each approval required?

3. Do I need additional home insurance to cover the renovation works?

4. Are the renovations I want to achieve going to be compliant on my land?

5. Do I have enough money to set a contingency fund? (a minimum of 10% of total project budget)

FUTURE PROOFING

1. How long do I want to live in the home?

2. Will the renovation plans sufficiently support this timeframe and the way my family will grow and change throughout that period?

3. What considerations do I need to make for aging family members, including multigenerational living? Eg. An uninterrupted path from outside through the front door for ageing parents

4. If I plan of making additional updates to the home down the track, how can I make appropriate allocations now to save cost and complexity later? Eg. Ducted air-conditioning

5. How can I make my home more energy efficient and prioritise quality over quantity

LAYOUT & SPATIAL PLANNING

1. Do my renovation goals realistically align with the size of my home?

2. Is my new layout functional?

3. Does this layout allow natural light to access each space?

4. Does this layout still work once furniture is added?

5. Have I allowed space for storage? Linen cupboards, pantry and sufficient general storage cupboards

The Renovation Mentor will be a series of newsletters, the contents of which will be guided by your renovation topic requests, design elements you’re overthinking and my most frequently asked renovation questions.

The comments are open for your requests, and keep a close eye on the ‘Interior Designer Approved’ feed, as the first full Renovation Mentor newsletter is dropping tomorrow.

Speak soon,

Brie

In 1997, In Juliet Schor’s book, The Overspent American, Schor observed and explored the psychological benefits in purchasing a high-end lipstick from a high-end store in times of economic scarcity. In 2001, Estee Lauder’s then Chairman, Leonard Lauder coined ‘The Lipstick Effect’ describing consumers desire to purchase small indulgences during an economic downturn.

I am a beauty lover, but I’m an Interior Designer first, and recently I’ve been thinking - There must be a parallel in the Interior Design industry. What is our lipstick? And what does ‘The Lipstick Effect’ look like in the world of home decor? Whilst an indulgent candle, seems like the obvious answer, I feel we’ve evolved further in our endeavour to create a curated home, a beautiful candle feels like a home staple, no longer an item of aspiration.

I’ve been using the phrase ‘Micro Luxuries’ for many years to describe small additions to the home that elevate the otherwise mundane routines and rituals - something I’ve noticed we are becoming more willing to invest in as the ask and cadence of everyday life outside the home becomes more demanding - So I guess what I’m saying is… I think we’ve been participating in our version of ‘The Lipstick Effect’ for a while.

As I look around my home and take stock, I thought I’d share my favourite Micro Luxuries with you… and yes, of course all of the links so you can add them to yours.

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Hi and welcome to Interior Designer Approved

I’m a curious person. I’ve always been fascinated by the human spirit, I’m deeply empathetic, and I’m an Interior Designer. Together, these things give me a unique perspective and a deep interest in how we live, what our homes mean to us and importantly, how Interior Design can enhance everyday life - even in the most mundane daily routines and rituals.

I’ve always been so grateful to have a place where I can share my design thinking, my life (usually through a design lens), and connect with my community online. But I’ve always felt there was a gap missing: a space for deeper conversation, more thoughtful design discussions and a place for likeminded, design-curious people to connect in a more meaningful way.

This is why I’m starting a Substack, it feels like the perfect home for all of that - and so much more.

So, what will live here?

I’ll share plenty of recommendations

A new home for my gift guides, Interior Designer Approved furniture and homewares I’d recommend to any of my clients, alongside more in depth recommendations; like how to select a sofa that will last through every life stage, the interior materials I genuinely believe are better for your health, and the products that have earned a permanent place in my home.

Robust Design Conversation

What role does design play in the cultural zeitgeist? (Hint: a bigger one than most people realise).

This is where I'll unpack the trends, principles and cultural shifts shaping the way we design our homes - not just the what but the why.

We will explore what I’m seeing emerge - and disappear - from the design landscape, and why I think you should care, what’s driving our collective desire for more personal interiors than ever before and of course, I’ll share my annual Interior Design trend forecasts.

Travel and City guides for Design Lovers

The best vintage stores in Sydney, where to eat, drink and shop in my favourite cities if you are just as interested in the venue’s interiors as you are the wine list. And travel itineraries through the eyes of someone who plans holidays around great design.

A deeper dive into renovating

I have had a burning desire to create a place for those who are undertaking their own renovation but don’t have direct access to Studio Brie and our Design Services.

Here, i’ll be your Renovation Mentor - Teaching you how to approach a renovation from start to finish, just like I would. We will cover design best practices, planning, budgeting and how to renovate with intention, well as live Q&A sessions where you can ask the questions you wish you could ask your own interior designer.

Behind the Curtain

More of me, my life as I see it (usually through a design lens). How I design an outfit, the playlist I'm currently cleaning the house to. How I host family and friends, what’s inspiring me each month and probably some honest thoughts as I enter motherhood (baby girl due in October).

Speak soon,

Brie