A Fruitful Pairing – Richards Stanisich’s Passion for Authentic and Immersive Design

Based in Sydney’s vibrant Surry Hills, Richards Stanisich is the charismatic confluence of its founders’ passion for authentically welcoming design and an immersive methodology. For individually celebrated Directors Jonathan Richards and Kirsten Stanisich, a shared work history and dedication to the craft led to a natural alignment, bearing out a connected identity with the formation of the pair’s own interior design and architecture practice.

Reflecting on the foundational relationship that bolstered their business venture, Jonathan explains how 15 years of remarkable collaboration demonstrated the potential for further growth in Australia’s design landscape. “We started working together in 2002 when Kirsten offered me a position at SJB Interiors in Sydney,” he says. “We worked out pretty quickly that our methods aligned – working hard, enjoying the process and not taking ourselves too seriously. A design partnership obviously relies on a like-minded aesthetic, but more importantly, it relies on common attitudes towards therefore dealing with clients, staff and each other – we quickly realised we had good synergy on these aspects.” This synergy is evident in Richards Stanisich’s impressive portfolio that has garnered industry recognition, including being awarded the IDEA Gold Medal, within the first five years of the brand’s establishment, which Jonathan describes as feeling “extremely rewarding.”

Apparent when listening to the duo reflect on their artistry is a keen sense of adoration for the opportunities empty space holds.

As devotees of shaping emotive design, Kirsten and Jonathan take an involved “hands-on” approach to the design process while inviting collaboration and engagement. “A key reason for establishing Richards Stanisich was to ensure we could control the design results closely,” recounts Jonathan. “Producing work that we love with people we admire is what it’s all about. We continue to learn an enormous amount from the other experts on the projects, especially the builders and craftspeople who care as much as we do to realise our visions.”

Apparent when listening to the duo reflect on their artistry is a keen sense of adoration for the opportunities empty space holds. “We work extremely hard on making spaces feel very liveable – spaces that people enjoy being in, where they feel the texture of the materials and enjoy the quality of light,” Jonathan details. With each project conceived upon Richards Stanisich’s distinguishing cornerstones of intention and integrity, he explains that the sincere insertion of enjoyment “applies to all project types, but it is most prominent – and a Richards Stanisich ‘signature touch’ – to how we address commercial design. We bring a warmth and sense of uniqueness to commercial design that is often found lacking in that sector.”

“We work extremely hard on making spaces feel very liveable – spaces that people enjoy being in, where they feel the texture of the materials and enjoy the quality of light,” Jonathan details.

Moulding fully realised experiences of place for retail, residential, hospitality and commercial projects, Richards Stanisich’s award-winning approach is underscored by pared yet arresting beauty. Resonant moments are created through meticulously coupled materiality and satisfying harmony of scale. The result is a production of poignant spaces that even when unoccupied, pulse with an aura of being affectionately frequented.