Designer Series | Bringing experiences to life at Studio Y

According to Studio Y, design is a form of storytelling, where every material - a tile, a chair, a paint finish - is a narrative device crafted to bring a client’s brand, vision, and experience to life.

"More simply put, we design spaces that feel good", said Tess Speldewinde, Studio Y senior interior designer.

An award-winning interior design agency in Melbourne, Studio Y draws on their intrinsic understanding of hospitality and operations to craft joyful, intuitive and practical spaces that feel good to be in.

When it came time to designing their own headquarters within a three-storey stately heritage building in St. Kilda, Studio Y embraced the opportunity to reflect the layered, welcoming, and slightly "lived-in" aesthetic of the hospitality venues they often design.

The new office was conceived not just as a workplace, but as a three-dimensional portfolio—a space filled with unexpected details and moments with hidden surprises around every corner such as a basement speakeasy bar, striking red marble bathrooms and bespoke finishes.

With colours like bubblegum pink and glossy red, the space highlights the existing historical columns and beams, drawing attention to intriguing architectural quirks such as the mysterious "staircase to nowhere," a favourite feature of the team.

An expression of their own hospitality experience is evidenced in the hidden speakeasy, which is dominated by a large custom round tabletop in Smartstone Calacatta Viola.