All images of Spiro’s work from her website.
Today’s Design Soulmate comes from the land of kangaroos and boomerangs. Colorful design genius Anna Spiro of Anna Spiro Design, based in Melbourne, has been a favorite of mine since I swooped up her coffee table book Absolutely Beautiful Things early in my coffee-table-book-collecting career.
The ever-changing landscape of my coffee table usually includes Absolutely Beautiful Things, bottom left. Available on Amazon.
In her words, her work is “a curation of disparate objects brought together to create an interesting, layered and inspiring space that defies the boundaries of dull yet respects the basic principles of classicism.” I am jumping up and down! This is why Spiro is my soulmate.
Photo: Jared Fowler
Spiro feels the most successful spaces are the ones that are “layered and imperfect.”
I loved this entire question and answer from The Design Files:
How would you describe your design aesthetic generally, and also specifically in relation to your new range of textiles?
I am a traditionalist at heart, but I also like a bit of quirkiness thrown in. I don’t like things being too perfect, but a bit of perfection is important! I don’t like anything that is mass-produced. I love antiques and bespoke custom made soft-furnishings. Detail is very important. I like pieces that are unique or one-off, and I love to use beautiful patterned fabrics in the rooms I create. I always think that fabric can change the face of a room in an instant.
Describe your design aesthetic in three words.
“Colourful, maximalist and high-quality.”
“It’s my constant desire to design spaces that are rooted in tradition, yet unique in their execution.”
On her Buy Once, Buy Well philosophy:
“I really loathe waste – I believe it is worthwhile investing in good, well-made furniture. And if you can’t afford to do it all at once, then stage it out, instead of buying a whole lot of cheap, badly made, mass-produced furniture that you will likely end up throwing or giving away in a few years. I try to encourage people to buy pieces they love that are good quality, and then they will never want to throw them out.” - Anna Spiro, The Design Files
She is perhaps most well known for her work with Halcyon House, the luxury Australian boutique hotel loved by, well, everyone. Elle Decor, Vogue, AD…Each of its 21 rooms are uniquely designed by Spiro, as is its stunning restaurant Paper Daisy and its spa . In 2019 Conde Nast included the hotel on its Gold List. It is definitely on my Gold List, and at the top of my bucket list.
One of the 21 uniquely designed rooms
Her signature eclectic style is around every corner.
The Spa at Halcyon House, also designed by Spiro. Sign me up.
Paper Daisy, the restaurant at Halcyon House.
Paper Daisy, the restaurant at Halcyon House.
Ultimately, it might be Spiro’s office that speaks to my soul the most. I spy several loves of mine: Bridie Hall Alphabet Brush Pots, a Lacquer Company “Belles Rives” tray by fellow design soulmate Rita Konig, a Balineum Flora wall mirror…I identified and named these sources off the top of my head because, ME TOO, ANNA. ME TOO.
Spiro’s office: a perfect vignette to capture classicism meets FUN.
Spiro’s office: playful powder room featuring Balineum’s Flora Wall Mirror.
The most gorgeous design office in the world, probably.
Alphabet Brush Pot by Bridie Hall, from Pentreath & Hall.
Small Belles Rives Tray by Rita Konig for the Lacquer Company.
The dreamiest binders.
If you want to bring a little taste of her playful-yet-classic style to your own desk, Parvum Opus out of Michigan makes several irresistible accessories. Sticky note folios, Moleskin jackets, and more!
Parvum Opus makes the most beautiful things, and are based out of Michigan!
If that’s not enough (it’s not), you can bring a little bit of Spiro into your home, too. Her fabrics and wallpaper are available to browse here and for purchase locally through Houston’s James showroom.
And if that’s still not enough, and you just really feel a soul connection to Spiro too, you can join her for her 2020 Interior Design Workshop at her private home in Brisbane on May 30th. Tickets are a cool $1,365 per person to get an insight into her creative world! Tickets sold here. Anyone wanna book a trip to Australia with me?
