Design with Passion – Tom Mark Henry
Led by Directors Cushla McFadden and Jade Nottage, interior design studio Tom Mark Henry takes an adaptable and expressive approach to design.
Known for work that is authentic, impactful and, above all, versatile, “our style is quite diverse, as we bring a unique response to each brief,” Cushla says. “We provide a value-oriented, client-focused and tailored service to each project.”
Cushla and Jade originally met at university. After graduation, Cushla moved to New York and worked at an interior design and architecture practice while Jade worked at a firm in Sydney. The pair eventually re-joined forces in 2014 to found Tom Mark Henry, a name inspired by those close to their hearts. Based in Sydney, the award-winning studio is made up of a multi-disciplinary team. “We’re results driven,” says Cushla, “so it means collaborating with multiple consultants, stakeholders and creative agencies to get the best outcome for each project.” With experience across both residential and commercial design – including hospitality, retail, hotels and office spaces – it is this collaborative and adaptable approach that has led to many of the studio’s most memorable projects.
“Some of our favourites tend to be restaurants,” Cushla reflects, “where we can then enjoy the space as a team and keep coming back, time and time again, as customers of our clients.” Two projects that stand out for Tom Mark Henry are The Gidley and Cucina Porto – most specifically, the working relationships that developed with the teams behind them. Completed in 2019 and 2020 respectively, the two venues exemplify the unique and site specific outcomes that Tom Mark Henry seeks to achieve. The Gidley revels in a moody palette,with soft velvet textures, unexpected prints and luxurious finishes; utilising space to its fullest potential, The Gidley is curated with an intriguing allure. On the other hand, Cucina Porto is an intimate exploration of layers, offering lavish comfort in the form of pink hues, warm materials and a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional details.
Starting with an in-depth concept design stage, Tom Mark Henry breaks down the process into two parts – the return brief and the vision.
Both venues highlight how the studio excels in constructing holistic experiences that speak to place, function and emotion, with an emphasis on engaging the senses and expressing layer upon refined layer, calibrated to reflect the client’s brand, customer and site. Starting with an in-depth concept design stage, Tom Mark Henry breaks down the process into two parts – the return brief and the vision. “Once the vision is approved by the client, we focus on working with the wider project team to document and deliver he project,” Cushla says. Such results are achieved through a deliberate and structured approach to interpreting any given brief. “The most important part is really understanding the brief and what the problem is that we are trying to solve,” she explains. “Only then, once we have answered that, can we come up with something exceptional.”
Emphasising human connection and cultural impact, Tom Mark Henry has built a reputation on spaces that evoke, stimulate and inspire. With a considered hand, every project is underpinned with a passion for design that is enriching and enlivening in equal measure.
