The Local Project

LYMT and Smac Studio Occupying a restored Paddington terrace, TheEND’s new Sydney flagship blurs the boundaries between gallery, home and retail through a carefully choreographed interior experience by LYMT and Smac Studio. Throughout the showroom, oversized lighting, sculptural plaster elements and curved openings establish a layered dialogue between old and new. Previously used as a hairdressing salon, the Victorian terrace had sat vacant for several years before its transformation.

Bidgood Located on the rocky coastline of Victoria, British Columbia, Cliffside Residence is shaped by Californian mid-century influence, with an indoor-outdoor sensibility expressed through a timeless earthy palette and playful moments of vibrancy.

Aura is a retreat that feels unmistakably like home, balancing quiet moments of solitude with space for meaningful family connection. A calm counterpoint to the demands of fast-paced working life, it gives its occupants room to withdraw and unwind. “The design avoids unnecessary complexity, instead allowing clarity of space and movement to shape how the home is lived in.” Aura departs from the usual Gold Coast residential typology.

Fresh off an inspiring visit to Milan Design Week 2026, co-founders of Lowe Living Emma and Tim Lowe discuss the ideas influencing the next generation of contemporary living.

Urban Habitats For Adelaide building designer Urban Habitats, The Pearl began not with an addition but with careful subtraction. Rather than expanding the heritage villa, the design reworks what was already there, bringing its light, space and character back to the surface. The Pearl demonstrates the value of restraint, showing how thoughtful design can transform a home not by adding more but by revealing what was already there.

Home to a couple and their children, this three-bedroom Sydney penthouse by Co:Aika reimagines the conventional idea of a family residence in the heart of the city. Co:Aika curated each space with the intention of revealing something beyond its expected function. Honed marble tiles underfoot and timber-lined surfaces at the entry, together with the family’s mirrored gold wall art, set the tone for the grandeur and sophistication that unfolds deeper within the home.

In Toorak, Melbourne, ALESI Group refines an existing apartment through architectural restraint, natural materials and precise craftsmanship, creating a cohesive, timeless home defined by subtlety, clarity and enduring quality. A pared-back composition of natural stone and soft neutrals moves seamlessly across the kitchen, bathrooms and joinery. At its core, the renovation is guided by spatial clarity and material consistency.

Serving as both the headquarters and showroom for furniture and lighting brand Simon James, Keshaw McArthur’s transformation of a warehouse in Auckland’s Mount Eden gives the business a refined new home.

Fortis and Studio Kennon In Melbourne’s Toorak, Fortis has unveiled The Gallery, its first permanent display destination, setting a new benchmark for luxury off-the-plan purchasing in Australia. The Gallery reflects the Fortis approach and gives purchasers a clear understanding of the developer’s design philosophy. For Fortis, the move away from a temporary display model was deliberate. As buyers become increasingly discerning, their expectations have evolved.

Studio Kennon Most family homes start from the ground up. Treetop starts in the canopy. Externally, smooth concrete at ground level transitions to a heavily textured finish above, creating a subtle distinction between the building’s two volumes. This relationship to the site is expressed through two distinct architectural identities. From the street, the house appears restrained and protective, with a largely solid concrete facade that prioritises privacy.