Profile – GOLDEN

Known for designing spaces that are emotive yet highly functional, Melbourne interior design studio GOLDEN has recently reached a significant milestone – approaching 10 years of crafting expressive interiors.

Grounded in striking differences yet subtle parallels, GOLDEN directors Kylie Buhagiar and Alicia McKimm create designs that are distinct while revealing a nuanced understanding of the way physical environments impact wellbeing. “We talk a lot about the feeling of the space – a space that makes you feel good and a space that feels functional,” says Kylie. “So instilling that into an interior as well as instilling a level of longevity and innovation in our designs has always been the crux of what we do.”

Their approach to interior design is grounded in dichotomies – something they think improves their work.

Today, GOLDEN is a team of eight, with an extensive portfolio of residential, hospitality and workplace projects that are layered and meticulous, showcasing a deep understanding of place, people and function. The duo has been working together now for almost a decade. “We had one or two [interior design] classes together and followed each other in various jobs, so when the opportunity came to potentially partner up, it felt like a natural fit,” says Alicia. While the collaboration felt seamless, their approach to interior design is grounded in dichotomies – something they think improves their work.

While Alicia studied interior design from the outset, Kylie’s background was in visual arts before she did a degree in interior design, “so I come at things with a conceptual focus”. “We can be similar but we are also complete opposites at the same time,” adds Alicia.

“We’re project-specific and driven by individual briefs, so rather than having studio favourites in terms of materials or furnishings, it is always about questioning what is right for the client.”

The duo joke about the fact they sometimes come to work wearing the same shirt, but their differences also shape their successful collaboration – Alicia is practical, whereas Kylie is more of a visionary. “I think it is really important to have that push-and-pull duality in order to find the right balance,” says Alicia.

GOLDEN prides itself on its genuine relationships with clients, a principle that contributes to the studio’s strong holistic approach. “It’s not about us,” says Alicia. “We’re project-specific and driven by individual briefs, so rather than having studio favourites in terms of materials or furnishings, it is always about questioning what is right for the client,” notes Kylie. However, robust and honest materials seem to align with their clients and projects. “We love being able to steer clients towards more natural materials, materials that are functional and have longevity,” says Kylie.

“It is important to have a mix, and while we both have backgrounds in residential, our ability to create spaces that make you feel good is really relevant to the corporate space.”

Similarly, neither has a preference when it comes to designing for commercial, residential or hospitality. “It is important to have a mix, and while we both have backgrounds in residential, our ability to create spaces that make you feel good is really relevant to the corporate space,” notes Alicia. GOLDEN’s commercial projects, such as Buff Nail Studios in Brighton and Willow’s latest Melbourne flagship store, perfectly encapsulate a brand’s DNA. “We have worked with a lot of brands that come to us to understand their brand further and we translate that into their interiors,” notes Alicia.

Meanwhile, GOLDEN’s most recent residential project, Elm Residence in Melbourne’s Glen Iris, is an authentic showcase of the studio’s practice in terms of the balance of materials, the flow of the spaces and collaborative nature. “We took a very holistic approach and the end result is a very happy client,” says Kylie. “The client still emails us photos of the space when the light is flooding through it.”

“Moments of colour come through moments of surprise, but the studio still sits within a timeless space.”

But it’s their own Melbourne studio that the duo are most proud of. “We believe our studio’s design harnesses all of the principles that are important to GOLDEN,” says Alicia. The space is flooded with natural light, has cross-ventilation from both sides, features custom joinery from Assemble and draws on honest materials that are offset by warm elements created through colour, texture and other luxury surprise elements. “Moments of colour come through moments of surprise, but it still sits within a timeless space,” says Alicia.

GOLDEN is inspired by tangible reward – creating spaces that feel good and seeing the client happy. “I get excited once I see a project documented and think, ‘Wow, okay, this is actually going to happen,’” says Kylie. For Alicia, continuing to create for the next 10 years is what is most exciting: “It feels amazing creating physical spaces for people to enjoy – it’s that simple.”

Stone supplied by Signorino.