Australia’s most beautiful interior design revealed in House and Garden’s Top-50 room awards

A moody blue lounge room with exposed timber beams has taken out Australian House & Garden’s room of the year for 2018.

The brawny space by Louise Walsh Interiors was one of nine honoured in the annual awards, which celebrates some of the most forward-thinking, grand and striking interior design in the country.

According to House & Garden editor-in-chief Lisa Green, more than 160 rooms were submitted for judging and the panel members were “delighted by the quality and diversity” of this year’s entries.

“The line-up of entries was excellent, with style and comfort levels fully explored, and every room in the home represented,” she said.

“The materials palettes and design ideas we are seeing are ever more sophisticated, driven by the lifestyle expectations of increasingly design-savvy homeowners. We love publishing this annual collectors’ edition. It’s a wonderful record of residential design excellence.”

The winning rooms – published to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the magazine feature – included a suave marble bathroom from Coy Yiontis architects, and a crisp, blindingly white and bright kitchen from Studio Prineas.

For taking home the room of the year award, Walsh receives a trip for two to Paris to attend the Maison & Objet Fair in January next year.

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The awards were announced in Sydney on Thursday at a gala lunch held at Vaucluse House, hosted by television presenter and former magazine editor Deborah Hutton. The judging panel consisted of House & Garden’s houses/interiors editor Kate Nixon, interior designer and blogger Dana Tomic-Hughes of Yellowtrace, colour expert Lucy Sutherland and Janey Ridge of Warwick Fabrics.

Judging isn’t quite over for the year, however, with an online vote opening on October 8 to determine the people’s choice award, with the winner to get a $3000 Warwick Fabrics prize package.

House & Garden’s Top-50 Room awards winners

Best Use of Soft Furnishings – Nina Maya Interiors, NSW

Best Use of Colour – Enoki, SA

Best Use of Materials – Madeleine Blanchfield Architects, NSW

Best Indoor-Outdoor Connection – Splinter Society, VIC

Best Use of Lighting – Studio Prineas, NSW

Best Kitchen – Brett Mickan Interior Design, NSW

Best Bathroom – Coy Yiontis Architects, VIC

Best Outdoor Room – Dalecki Design, WA

Room of the Year – Louise Walsh Interior Design, NSW/QLD