Designer Q&A | Woods and Warner

Can you tell us a little bit about the history behind the company? What inspired you to start the business and how has it grown since then? 
We established our practice in 2007 after we met working together at Living Edge. We saw that our skills were vastly different however if combined would make a perfect combination to be successful in the design world. We wanted a practice that crossed over into both design and decoration for clients who have a desire for bespoke furnishings and finishes. Our look is very diverse and spontaneous and as the business has evolved we have become more dramatic, tending to explore new techniques and finishes. Our practice is still boutique with five employees and we have are now more focused on designing homes from the ground up. 

What type of projects do you work on?
We are primarily residential interior designers. If past clients approach us with commercial projects we certainly pursue. We offer services from new builds and renovations through to the final decorating details of our client’s homes.

Can you describe your design development process? How do you/your team come up with ideas for each project and where do you get your inspiration?
Our practice is a team of four main designers. Once Sonia and I have had the chance to debrief together and provide concepts we plan a group meeting. We firstly discuss the theme of the house, how it relates to the client and the end goal of what our client is trying to achieve. Loose ideas are thrown around and we create a plan of attack. The number one priority is ensuring plans are drawn up, and to scale, so we can see how our floor plan is relevant to the end scheme. Much time is spent sourcing and researching items for the project and heated discussions in the studio are often present trying to find the best solution for the client! Once we are all in agreement, the presentation is finalized and a concept meeting is arranged.

What are your current favourite fabrics to work with from Mokum?
Our current favourite Mokum fabrics are a combination of the Essenza and Interstellar collections. We love the bold watercolours of Magnolia paired back with the subtlety of Celeste’s spheres. Romantic, yes, however when combined with deeper jewel tones on the walls and heavier timbers in furniture and joinery, the collaboration is stunning.

Describe your day-to-day roles in the business?
Director - tick, designer - tick, client liaison - tick, accounts manager - tick, site manager - tick, marketing - tick! With small business, designers are basically a jack of all trades! One day you will be on a construction site in boots chatting to a renderer, the next you are installing the most beautiful interior of fabulous furniture and are in absolute awe of the job that you have worked on for a year.

What do you love about working in the design industry?
Our industry is constantly changing and it’s always providing and satisfying our love for great design. It keeps you on your toes and keeps us always striving to complete better work. We see the latest and greatest in design and have the privilege of selecting the collections we see, for our clients. We implement their wishes into reality. Not a day passes whereby we don’t stop and think how lucky we are to have a job that brings our creativity to life and we end up making our clients love their homes!

What are some of your top sources of inspiration that you reference regularly?
Inspiration now is more accessible than ever before! Obviously our homes are filled with the latest magazines - AD, Habitus, Belle, Vogue Living and House & Garden, however Instagram is proving to be a great source. Our hobby is design so being able to jump on to our phones and see the latest and greatest updated every second is extremely inspirational. We follow Yellowtrace, The Design Files and Design Addicts to name a few – they are all amazing blogs that are filled with endless resources and inspiration for us.

What other designers, peers and creatives in general do you admire?
Our combined inspiration is David Hicks and Kelly Wearstler - both of these designers have a beautiful sense of coordination and their work is faultless. Sonia loves Massucco Warner Miller whereas I (Jacinta) love everything by Fiona Barratt. Architecturally we are in love with Tribe Architects – someone once said to us “simplicity is the most complex” we feel their practice defines this statement and they are true inspiration.

Which of your most recent projects are you particularly proud of?
2016 was a big year of projects for us. We were proud of our adaptability in a number of projects as our aesthetic is based on the client, the style of the home and aspects of our homes as we move in and out of styles. In particular; St Ives - our glamorous play on Hollywood regency, Forestville - our love of the Hamptons, Avalon - our coastal chic and Waverley our sophisticated and sleek interior. Each project is so different in its execution however each client resembles their home – it’s been a very rewarding year!

What exciting things can we expect to see from Woods and Warner in the future?
We would like to continue to build our portfolio and work with great high-end clients. We want to focus more on creating custom designed furniture and build a brand that is recognisable in the industry. We are continuing to travel the world and be inspired to ensure our designs are contemporary and refreshing for our clients. On a recent trip to Palm Springs the innovation and appreciation of affordable design in the 50’s has opened our eyes to blending efficiency and creativity in design, so perhaps we are softly engineering ways to improve our designs on a more influential and striking manner.

To see more projects by Woods and Warner, you can visit their website or follow them on Instagram.