Global influences shape award-winning Newtown home

A NEWTOWN family home inspired by years of living and travelling overseas is in the running for one of Australia’s top interior design honours.

Known as Bronze Valley, the 935sqm residence has been shortlisted in the residential decoration category of the 2026 Australian Interior Design Awards, placing it among 26 finalists nationwide.

Designed by Melbourne-based studio Sally Caroline, the home draws on the owners’ international experiences, blending influences from cities including London with more relaxed Caribbean-inspired spaces to create a home centred on family life and entertaining.

 

Creative director Sally Knibbs said the home’s furniture, art and object selection was deliberately curated to reflect the owners’ personal story.

“We approached the home’s furniture curation as a narrative thread – an Australian base layered with pieces that quietly reflect the homeowners’ travels and treasured global outposts,” Knibbs said.

The structured elegance of the kitchen and formal lounge references London architecture, while lighter, more playful spaces, including the pool house, take inspiration from Caribbean living.

 

The home was conceived as a welcoming place for family and friends, with spaces designed for entertaining, displaying an extensive collection of art, books and wine, and providing quiet retreats from daily life.

The furniture and artwork throughout the residence include pieces by French artist Damien de Medeiros of Hermentaire, alongside vintage finds sourced through Nicholas & Alistair and Graham Geddes.

Contemporary designs from Cassina and Kartell also feature, together with collectible works by Pierre Yovanovitch and Laura Gonzalez.

 

“Each selection was intentional, balancing designer pieces with unexpected vintage and collectible finds to create a home that supports the way they live, while elevating the everyday and giving the home a sense of character that feels both personal and timeless,” Knibbs said.

Among the home’s standout features are an oil-treated brass kitchen detailed by Ore Design, a marble island bench paired with Sally Caroline’s Lunetta Perch stools, and a climate-controlled wine room concealed behind bespoke emerald steel doors and finished with custom octagonal stone tiles.

 

The materials used throughout the home include Venetian plaster, patinaed brass and bronze, linen drapery, herringbone timber flooring and natural stone, complemented by Moroccan zellige tiles and lacquered joinery.

While Bronze Valley is now being recognised on a national stage for its interior decoration, the project’s craftsmanship has already been celebrated locally.

 

The home was a major winner at this year’s Independent Cabinet Makers (ICM) Geelong Cabinetry Awards, where its custom joinery and detailing helped secure the Best House Lot award.

Judges praised the consistency of the design throughout the residence, from the sculptural kitchen and atmospheric bar to the wine room, wardrobes, bathrooms and living spaces.

“This home demonstrates exceptional design cohesion across multiple spaces,” judge Frank Iaria said. “From the sculptural kitchen and atmospheric bar to the wine room, robes, bathrooms and living areas, the joinery is a work of craftsmanship.”

 

He praised its originality, emotional impact and strong whole-house design narrative.

Bronze Valley’s kitchen was also recognised in its own right, winning the Best Kitchen Over $50,000 category.

Judges described the space as “an exceptional example of restraint, refinement and architectural elegance”, praising its dramatic marble features, sculptural island and carefully considered material palette.

The Australian Interior Design Awards will be presented this evening (Friday 12 June) in Sydney.