For the People – Mariah Burton and Chris Polain of Folk Studio

Since its launch in 2018, Folk Studio has made a gentle yet notable mark and laid firm foundations for an enduring interior design practice. Based on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the studio’s rapidly expanding portfolio encompasses residential and commercial projects along with inclusive brand extensions and experiences, all shaped with the end users’ wellbeing in mind.

“Having a well-designed space that makes you feel good will enhance your day-to-day. I’ve known that for so long, and it will always drive me,” says Mariah Burton, Co-Founder and Co-Director, who established the studio with Chris Polain.

Folk Studio favours local manufacturers and Australian furniture and homeware brands that encapsulate the nation’s prevailing natural, casual aesthetic. Mariah and Chris’s allegiance to home-grown design is deeply set – they met whilst working together for the sustainable furniture brand Koskela. “We talked about the studio for a long time before starting it,” Mariah explains. “We wanted to make sure – being the perfectionists we are – that it was very much on-brand for us and an extension of our personalities.”

An undercurrent of Japanese design inspiration washes through Folk Studio’s work, observed in the skilful balance of functionality, natural materials and beautiful simplicity.

This authentic, value-driven approach filters through all that Folk Studio does. The ‘folk’ in the studio’s name reflects their central focus: people. “What we do is about nurturing the human condition and looking at how we can improve someone’s mental and physical wellbeing in a space, rather than focusing only on what looks good,” Mariah describes. Opposed to delivering trend-based design in a prescriptive fashion, Folk Studio works in partnership with each client, fostering a connected and collaborative relationship that leads to truly personalised spaces. “It needs to be about the client and them feeling like we have really listened and also picked up on things they haven’t verbalised,” says Mariah.

Folk Studio’s design language is inflected with calmness and an inviting tactility. “Chris will laugh and say my favourite material to work with is American oak, all day, every day. It’s my go-to timber,” says Mariah, who is the principal designer, whilst Chris oversees the studio’s operations. Two junior designers round out the team. “We also gravitate towards having a great array of tiles in all of our projects. I love introducing hard materials in a creative way.” It is not unusual for a scheme to feature eight or nine different tile styles across two wet rooms, “but it never feels busy or too much.” Mariah’s penchant for fixed design details led to a collaboration with the hardware retailer Lo & Co and the release of a Folk Studio brass handle range in early 2023. Titled Karu, the Japanese word for curl, the range’s sculptural forms are inspired by the curve of a wave, lending subtle, stylised movement to any joinery scheme.

Salon HER hair salon in Darlinghurst, Sydney, exemplifies the studio’s ability to manifest statement-making commercial spaces that bring a business’s brand to life.

An undercurrent of Japanese design inspiration washes through Folk Studio’s work, observed in the skilful balance of functionality, natural materials and beautiful simplicity. “My mum lived in Japan when she was young, and our home’s interior was very Japanese. It influenced me early on,” says Mariah, adding that Chris’s affinity for Danish design also shapes the studio’s creations. Within this aesthetic framework, each unique outcome is highly tuned to the specifics of the client’s brief.

Folk Studio’s largest project to date is a two-storey new build on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, designed in collaboration with the architectural studio TRIAS. The warm and timeless interior features exposed brick walls, tactile handmade tiles and fresh furniture selections that encapsulate the requested holiday-at-home feeling. “Curl Curl House was a highlight for us,” Mariah shares. “The project took three and a half years, and the relationship with the client was unmatched. It was a relationship that every designer dreams of.”

“Beautiful things flourish from difficult times, and everyone is excited to see the new wave of design talent.”

Croydon Cottage, completed in 2023, proves that the studio is equally comfortable renovating historic homes. Heritage details sit alongside contemporary elements, respectfully bringing a century-old building into the modern day. Meanwhile, the recently completed Salon HER hair salon in Darlinghurst, Sydney, exemplifies the studio’s ability to manifest statement-making commercial spaces that bring a business’s brand to life. “We are on an amazing trajectory with commercial work. It is really fun,” Mariah shares.

True to its ethos of being ‘for the people’, Folk Studio started running online design masterclasses during the pandemic, which have now developed into face-to-face workshops. “I am an open book when it comes to design tips, and I want to share what I know,” says Mariah. In line with this welcoming spirit, complete immersion in the Folk Studio universe may soon be a reality for travellers and holidaymakers. “We are working on creating Folk accommodation,” says Mariah. “It’s been in the works for about five years, but we will eventually get it off the ground!”

Considering all that Folk Studio has achieved in its short life to date, there is no doubt the holiday stay, plus many more inspiring projects, will enthusiastically flow from Mariah, Chris and their growing team. Addressing the industry-wide hardships related to material shortages and financial constraints, Mariah remains positive about the future, saying, “Beautiful things flourish from difficult times, and everyone is excited to see the new wave of design talent.”

Folk Studio’s design language is inflected with calmness and an inviting tactility.