ML Interior Design

Just landed in the USA for High Point Market, but first stop… La Jolla 🌴☀️

Easing into the trip with a little sun, beach time and (let’s be honest) some very intentional house spotting.

Taking in all the details… materials, textures, that effortless indoor-outdoor flow California does so well.

It’s a bit of a whirlwind two weeks ahead, but these slower moments at the start always spark the best ideas. I already know I’ll be coming home feeling inspired, refreshed and ready to pour that straight back into my client projects 🤍

Next stop: High Point Market and all the sourcing, styling and inspiration that comes with it ✨

If you’re planning a home renovation or new build in Australia, you’ve probably noticed something, construction costs are rising, and budgets aren’t stretching as far as they used to.

And while that can feel overwhelming, it doesn’t mean you need to scale back your vision.

It means you need to approach your interior design, building process, and renovation planning differently.

Here’s what I always recommend to clients early in the process:

-Define your renovation priorities before selecting finishes
-Finalise your interior design decisions before construction begins
-Have early budget conversations with your builder and designer
-Understand how every design choice impacts your overall build cost

Most budget blowouts don’t happen because of “bad luck”, they happen because key decisions are made too late in the process.

When you get clarity early, you gain control over:

-renovation costs
-build timelines
-design outcomes
-decision fatigue

Good design isn’t just about how a home looks, it’s about how smoothly it comes together.

If you’re planning a new build, renovation, or home extension and want to avoid costly mistakes, DM me “BUILD SMART”

Every finish in this project was chosen with one thing in mind: the market.

When working on townhouse developments, design decisions carry weight beyond aesthetics. Each material, colour, and finish needs to be intentional , balancing visual appeal with commercial viability.

For this Cranbourne development, we worked across four townhouses, with a mix of properties being leased and sold. This meant our focus was on selecting finishes that:

• Align with what the local market expects
• Remain cost-effective and within budget
• Offer durability and low maintenance for long-term performance
• Still deliver a cohesive, considered aesthetic across all dwellings

Before selecting any finishes, we researched the local area to understand what’s currently being offered, ensuring we weren’t overcapitalising, while still positioning the homes competitively within the market.

This is the difference between simply designing a space… and designing a development with purpose.

When your design aligns with the market, you’re not only creating homes that look beautiful, you’re making strategic decisions that support stronger returns and a more successful outcome for the project.

At ML Interior Design, we work with developers who value this level of thinking, those who understand that great design is both creative and commercially strategic.

If you’re planning a development and want to ensure your finishes are working with the market, not against it, I’d love to connect.

A hallway cupboard… but make it smarter.

When I’m working with new clients, I often ask questions around how they live, what their routines look like, what their lifestyle feels like, and what parts of the day feel rushed or a little chaotic.

Because these answers are more than just conversation… they’re a glimpse into your everyday life.

They help us design homes that make the small moments easier.

The morning rush more manageable.
The everyday flow feel effortless.

In this project, we created a dedicated space for a robot vacuum, a simple detail that keeps floors clear, reduces clutter, and allows the home to function beautifully behind the scenes.

Thoughtful interior design is about more than how a home looks.

It’s about how it works every single day.

If you’re building or renovating, these are the details worth planning early. Smart, considered design always pays off in the long run.

We create homes that feel cohesive, functional, and completely aligned with how you live.