About

From Baker Street to Brunswick

My obsession with small-space living didn’t start in a interior design studio; it started in student accommodation on Baker Street, London.

In the summer of 1998, I was living in empty student accommodation in London. It was just a roof, a bed, and a shared kitchen. Later, I moved to the YMCA in Wimbledon—another tiny room with nothing but a wardrobe and a sink.

I loved it. I loved the simplicity. There was nothing to worry about except how I wanted to spend my day. It was my first taste of carefree living, and it taught me a vital lesson: you don’t need a sprawling floor plan to have a big life.

The “House Mindset” Trap

When I returned to Melbourne in 2012 and launched Grace Interior Designs, I began working on apartments across the city—from 1-bedroom apartments in Brunswick to 3-bedroom penthouses in Docklands.

I noticed a recurring problem: many apartment dwellers were stuck in a “House Mindset.” They were trying to cram “big house” furniture into “smart-space” layouts. They were overwhelmed by endless choices, stressed about spending hard-earned money on pieces that didn’t fit, and tired of making expensive mistakes. They viewed their apartment as a compromise until they could get a backyard.

I’m want to change that mindset.

Accessible Design for Every Resident

I started The Design Basics in 2020 to prove that apartment living is a choice, not a consolation prize.

My mission is to make professional interior design accessible to everyone through two clear paths:

• Weekly Wisdom: Practical tips, tricks, and hacks to resolve every “apartment conundrum”—from creating kitchen counter space to building a vertical garden.

• Curated Apartment Furniture Sets: I’ve removed the “decision fatigue” by curating cohesive, affordable mid-range apartment furniture packages. Each set features at least six essential pieces designed to fit perfectly and look stunning, so you can shop with confidence instead of anxiety.

An Apartment is Not a Compromise

Apartment living is about quality over quantity. It’s about feeling lighter, living more sustainably, and focusing on the experiences outside your door because you aren’t tied down by the maintenance of a house.

Good design belongs to everyone. Let’s stop thinking about what we’re “missing” and start celebrating the freedom of living small, with big soul.