Designer Series | Balancing beauty with purpose
“The home is such a personal environment, and the way it is designed can completely transform daily routines and experiences."
– Matthew James
Finding the right balance between aesthetics and functionality is no small feat—but for creative director Matthew James of Matthew James Interiors (MJI), it is this challenge that fuels his passion for design.
“What excites us most is finding that balance between aesthetics and function, creating interiors that are visually refined, but also intuitive and effortless to use. Over time, this developed into a passion for materiality and detail, and for producing spaces that feel calm, cohesive, and enduring”, says Matthew.
Specialising in kitchens, bathrooms, and full-home designs for renovations and new builds, MJI is an award-winning boutique studio renowned for designing interiors that balance beauty with purpose.
For the Strathmore Residence project in Melbourne, MJI demonstrated how thoughtful materiality and refined detailing can elevate a project beyond functionality, delivering an aesthetic appeal that will last for years.
Because durability was a key consideration, particularly in high-use areas like the kitchen and alfresco zones, MJI turned to Smartstone’s Sintered Collection surfaces to achieve the perfect combination of resilience needed for a busy family lifestyle and elegant aesthetics of natural surfaces.
“Another aspect that drew us to Smartstone was its strong replication of natural stone. Bianco Angelico and Cemento Bianco bring a depth and authenticity that we haven’t seen replicated at the same level from other suppliers,” Matthew notes.
With an emphasis on natural light and the integration of indoor and outdoor living, MJI chose Bianco Angelico for kitchen benchtops as well as the fireplace ledge which flowed to the concrete-style Cemento Bianco surfaces for the alfresco area. Both surfaces provide the heat resistance required for these applications.
According to Matthew, working with Smartstone has always been seamless due to the consistent product quality, thoughtfully curated range, and reliability, which give them confidence when specifying for clients.
Operating across Melbourne, Sydney, and beyond, MJI creates interiors that foster connection, enhance daily routines, and reflect contemporary refinement. Influenced by contemporary minimalism, modernist restraint, and the quiet luxury of architectural design, MJI delivers a distinctly Australian expression: timeless, tactile, and effortlessly sophisticated.
Designer: Matthew James Interiors
Project: Strathmore Residence VIC
Featured Stones: Bianco Angelico, Cemento Bianco
Application: Kitchen benchtops, fireplace, outdoor barbecue
Cabinetmaker: MTR Designer Cabinets
Builder: Layton Homes
Photographer: Damien Kook
“It’s reassuring to know that the surfaces we choose will not only meet the demands of everyday life but also elevate the overall design. From a designer’s perspective, that combination of practicality and refinement is invaluable and allows us to focus on creating spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful, without compromise.”
- Matthew James
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