Design Anatomy

• Top 5 Places Where Designers Find Great Art

  Art can transform a room faster than any sofa swap, and today we map the exact places we rely on to find pieces that feel personal, joyful, and within reach. We start with the VCA Art Grad Exhibition, a friendly doorway into original art where you can speak to creators, learn what moves you, and buy before prices climb. Then we head to Leonard Joel for the thrill of the auction: weekly catalogues, known names beside hidden gems, and a smart path to works on paper that deliver character without the premium.From there we zoom in on accessible curation. Studio Gallery makes discovery simple with transparent pricing and an easy-to-browse stockroom across Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. For budget-savvy walls, we lean on The Poster Club and Paper Collective: beautifully curated prints, multiple sizes, and framing options that look elevated, not mass-produced. And because flat art isn’t the whole story, we champion ceramics and sculpture from Pepite and Craft Victoria to add texture, shape, and depth to shelves, consoles, and dining tables.If you’re craving bold colour, Fenton & Fenton curates expressive, playful work that suits lived-in homes. For a wider view, the Affordable Art Fair and Melbourne Art Fair offer a mix of approachable and high-end galleries in an open, energised setting where conversations come easy. We also share how to read gallery pricing with confidence and why many spaces now list costs online. To wrap, we demystify commissioning: how to brief an artist on size, palette, and budget so you end up with something made for your light, your scale, your story.Whether you’re buying your first print or commissioning a centrepiece, the rule is simple: collect what you love and you’ll never tire of it. If this guide sparked ideas, follow the show, share it with a design-loving friend, and leave a quick review to help others find us.Bree is now offering a 90-minute online design consult to help you tackle key challenges like colour selection, furniture curation, layout, and styling. Get tailored one-on-one advice and a detailed follow-up report with actionable recommendations—all without a full-service commitment. Bookings now open - Book now Join Lauren online for a workshop to help break down the Design steps to run your project & business a little smoother with the Design Process MasterClass, opening 15th October! For more info see below The Design Process MasterClass ONLINE

  --------  

  26:42

  --------

  26:42
• The Home of Lauren Egan: A Masterclass in Colour & Material Harmony

  What if your home felt like the first moment of autumn—warm, grounded, and quietly fresh? We sit down with colour-obsessed designer Lauren Egan to unpack how a single, emotive brief can guide every choice, from timber and tile to paint and furniture, and deliver a space that breathes. Did we mention it appears in the latest issue of The Design Files magazine?Lauren’s new home is a masterclass in material harmony: spotted gum floors and panelling from one supplier for continuity, pink travertine with beautiful movement, and a glossy burgundy tiled island that’s equal parts durable and nostalgic. She explains why stark white can fight with warm timber, how “dirty” colours with brown or black create calm, and why ceilings painted to match walls can make square-set spaces feel seamless. If you’ve ever stood under fluorescent lights choosing a “white,” you’ll love her undertone method—A4 swatches, side-by-side comparisons, and decisions guided by light, not labels.We also explore the human side of design. Lauren starts with who lives in the home and builds three themes to steer concept and colour. She shares furniture obsessions (hello, lounge-worthy sofas), the art of balancing caramel warmth with fresh greens, and practical wins like colour-matched grout and sealed tile tops. Her surprising path—from ice cream innovation to interiors—reveals a process-driven, sensory approach that turns brave palettes into livable rooms. Through Designologists & her creative partnership with designer Alison Lewis , she teaches the crucial middle: how to run a colour consult, select stone and tiles, and style with intent.This is a warm and deeply practical guide to colour confidence. If you’re ready to rethink white, embrace cream, and let your materials lead, press play. Subscribe, share with a design-curious friend, and leave a review telling us the boldest colour you’d try at home.Web & Socials for Lauren:Lauren Egan Design + @heylaureneganDesignologists + @designologistsBree is now offering a 90-minute online design consult to help you tackle key challenges like colour selection, furniture curation, layout, and styling. Get tailored one-on-one advice and a detailed follow-up report with actionable recommendations—all without a full-service commitment. Bookings now open - Book now Join Lauren online for a workshop to help break down the Design steps to run your project & business a little smoother with the Design Process MasterClass, opening 15th October! For more info see below The Design Process MasterClass ONLINE

  --------  

  56:16

  --------

  56:16
• Inside Spectra: The Art of Transforming Space Through Colour with Rowena & Geoffrey

  Step into Spectra, our favourite kind of transformation story: a Melbourne hotel lobby that shifts from tasteful neutral to living artwork through colour, narrative, and fearless collaboration. We sit down with artists Rowena Martinich and Geoffrey Carran to unpack how a site-responsive palette drawn from bushland greens, clay tones, and marble textures became the foundation for abstract fields, hyper‑real native birds, and crystalline forms that feel born of the place—not pasted on.We dive into the craft behind the magic. Rowena breaks down her layered process—poured paint, broom-wide gestures, wipe-backs, and selective cropping—while Geoffrey reveals how native birds perched on mineral geometries create a dialogue between softness and edge, ecology and time. Then we go underfoot: working with Godfrey Hirst Commercial in Geelong, the team turned carpet into an immersive medium using inkjet technology to deliver colour-rich, compliant flooring that guides how people move and feel. It’s a case study in why art should be briefed early, not sprinkled on at the end.Beyond the lobby, we head out to regional Victoria where silos become story towers. Geoffrey shares the planning, wind-watching, and composition choices behind a 28-metre piece that nods to the Mallee emu‑wren and the science of anthocyanins—those stress pigments that turn plants incandescent—mirroring the resilience of local communities. We talk cultural tourism, placemaking, and why public art expands who gets to experience art in the first place. Along the way, you’ll hear honest shop talk about night-shift ceilings, partnerships that thrive on critique, and the courage it takes to choose colour at home and in hospitality.If you care about interior design, public art, hotels, or simply how spaces can make people feel more alive, this one’s for you. Subscribe to Design Anatomy, share this episode with a colour-shy friend, and leave us a review with the one space you’re ready to transform next.Web & Instagram:Rowena Martinich & @rowenamartinichGeoffrey Carran & @geoffreycarranBree is now offering a 90-minute online design consult to help you tackle key challenges like colour selection, furniture curation, layout, and styling. Get tailored one-on-one advice and a detailed follow-up report with actionable recommendations—all without a full-service commitment. Bookings now open - Book now Join Lauren online for a workshop to help break down the Design steps to run your project & business a little smoother with the Design Process MasterClass, opening 15th October! For more info see below The Design Process MasterClass ONLINE

  --------  

  48:19

  --------

  48:19
• Pendants to Portables: How Thoughtful Lighting Shapes Mood, Function, and Style

  Your home changes the moment the lights come on. We unpack how to design that moment with intention—layering pendants, sconces, table lamps and portables—so evenings feel warm, useful and calm without relying on a ceiling full of downlights. With our shared love of colour, we explain why lighting often matters just as much for mood, comfort and character, and we walk through specific fixtures that deliver both beauty and function.We start with a clear framework: ambient light for glow, task light for clarity, and accent light to draw the eye. Then we get practical.Bree & Lauren share some of their favourite lights from Flos’ Superwire pendant that hides a smart downlight to Time & Style’s refined washi shades, we explore pieces that shift a room from flat to layered. We talk through Articolo’s 12:40 sconce and its clever forward/back glow, Marz Designs’ handcrafted Australian options, and the quiet revolution of portable lamps—perfect for renters, dining tables and outdoor evenings. If you love icons, we spotlight Wästberg’s Chipperfield lamp and the Snoopy table lamp classic for timeless pools of flattering light. If sculpture is your thing, meet Guy Bareff’s illuminated forms. For architectural texture, we look at Volker Haug x Flack Studio’s Bruce. And for daily ritual, the Santa & Cole Cesta lamp delivers a soft lantern glow you’ll reach for every night.You’ll also get budget-friendly strategies: where to hunt vintage, how a simple paper shade can transform a room, and what to watch for with limited-edition collaborations. If this sparked ideas, subscribe, share with a design-loving friend, and leave a quick review—what’s the one light you can’t live without?Bree is now offering a 90-minute online design consult to help you tackle key challenges like colour selection, furniture curation, layout, and styling. Get tailored one-on-one advice and a detailed follow-up report with actionable recommendations—all without a full-service commitment. Bookings now open - Book now Join Lauren online for a workshop to help break down the Design steps to run your project & business a little smoother with the Design Process MasterClass, opening 15th October! For more info see below The Design Process MasterClass ONLINE

  --------  

  33:27

  --------

  33:27
• Designer Revealed: Journey to a Creative Life with Lauren Li

  Ever wondered what goes through a designer's mind when a client asks for a bedroom that feels like "a warm vagina"?  Yes, you read that correctly......In this delightfully candid conversation, this week we chat with Lauren Li to explore her creative journey and unique approach to creating spaces where people truly feel themselves.Lauren takes us back to her formative years, sharing how a bold phone call to RMIT after an initial rejection changed the trajectory of her career. With disarming honesty, she recounts her early influences – from the high school art teacher who first recognized her talent to the architect who meticulously red-penned her drawings. These collective experiences shaped a design philosophy that prioritizes authenticity over perfection.The conversation shifts to her transformative time working in London, where Melbourne's minimalist aesthetic collided with European opulence. This cultural contrast expanded Lauren's design vocabulary and deepened her understanding of how spaces must adapt to different contexts and client needs. Most fascinating is Lauren's profound connection with her clients – particularly high-powered professional women who need their homes to serve as sanctuaries from demanding careers. "I want them to feel like the queens they are," she explains, revealing how creating these restorative spaces fulfills her as a designer.Lauren also speaks candidly about the challenges of creative entrepreneurship. Despite her success, she acknowledges that financial management doesn't come naturally but is something she continuously works to improve. Her perspective on success is refreshingly practical – it's not about accumulating wealth but creating the freedom to do meaningful work while maintaining flexibility as a parent and business owner.Looking toward the future, Lauren shares her dream of expanding  'The Design Society', her platform for elevating interior designers through education and community. In an age where AI tools increasingly influence the design process, she firmly believes in the irreplaceable value of human connection and shared experiences.Ready to be inspired? Listen now and discover why creating spaces where people can truly be themselves might be the ultimate design achievement.Bree is now offering a 90-minute online design consult to help you tackle key challenges like colour selection, furniture curation, layout, and styling. Get tailored one-on-one advice and a detailed follow-up report with actionable recommendations—all without a full-service commitment. Bookings now open - Book now Join Lauren online for a workshop to help break down the Design steps to run your project & business a little smoother with the Design Process MasterClass, opening 15th October! For more info see below The Design Process MasterClass ONLINE

  --------  

  57:16

  --------

  57:16

More Arts podcasts

Trending Arts podcasts

About Design Anatomy