Designer Carey Maloney and architect Hermes Mallea are the Manhattan-based M (Group). For more than two decades they have been creating classic and chic homes, beautiful and elegant but with wit and charm. Perhaps my favourite room is the Moroccan-tiled, marble-countered kitchen. All those windows – swoon! The inside outside feel and that amazing garden just within picking distance – smitten! All this in a Manhattan apartment. (See more here.)

From the smallest detail to the sophisticated final solution David Lawrence and his studio design homes that not only encapsulate the owner’s style and passion but for all their elegance and luxury are just what they are supposed to be, a livable lovely home. The style is classic and intricate with great details but not loaded with frou frou and floss. Think sophisticated not showroom.

Sometimes things just come together fortuitously. Sometimes co-incidence is freaky. Kim shared the amazing portfolio of Queensland design firm Coop on Monday and this morning as I was stalking my usual real estate site what did I find? A townhouse makeover by Coop now on the market. 3 bedrooms over 3 levels in an eighties shell but completely redesigned as a funky noughties retro modern pad. (Kitchen and dining on ground floor, living, bedroom and ensuite on the first along with a balcony and 2 more bedrooms and a bathroom on the third.) Love the kitchen, love the adjustable screens, love the lighting, love that the otherwise ugly tumbled brick walls are celebrated and suddenly aren’t so ugly anymore. I love it all.

The cool Scandinavian look is sizzling right now and it’s not hard to see why especially when you drool over the hot hot hot portfolio of Swedish interior stylist Sofie Andersson. She’s styled for Elle Interiör, Hus & Hem, IKEA and VT Wonen. Love her work and you will too.

“Serene, calm and sophisticated without being fussy” are words used by Tracey Butler of b. home interior design. Warm neutral colour palettes are layered with textures, spiced up with accents of fresh brights particularly in private areas, mixed with furniture antique and new. It’s a warm, inviting, livable look with just enough luxury to draw you in but not intimidate. Enjoy her extensive portfolio!