Australia’s Best-Kept Interior Design Company Secret

An Australian interior design company that designs and builds its own furniture, works by private appointment and was established in 1981 is one worth knowing. The phrase “best kept secret” is a light way of saying its work deserves to be better known.

It forms part of our wider guide to interior design companies: a guide to the services offered. This article tells the story of Mark Alexander Design Artistry, and of its  luxury interior designer, furniture designer and manufacturer, Mark Alexander.

What Is the Story Behind This Australian Interior Design Company?

The studio was established in 1981, and its story begins with its interior designer’s early talent for art, style, drawing and woodwork. That combination of eye to hand still shapes how it works.

From an early age, luxury interior designer, furniture designer and manufacturer, Mark Alexander, showed a natural talent for drawing and woodwork. Mark Alexander trained in French polishing and furniture manufacturing. Those skills mean he understands furniture as both a design and an object that must be built.

Starting with making gives the studio an instinct for what will work in wood, fabric and finish. Drawing and craft develop together, so each informs the other.

How Does an Australian Interior Design Company Design and Build in Australia?

The studio designs and manufactures its own furniture in Australia, so the people who draw a piece are closely tied to the people who build it. Design and manufacturing work as one process.

The studio describes itself as Australia’s only interior designer with in house furniture manufacturing. For clients, this means the intention in the first drawing carries all the way into the finished piece. The design is not handed on and reinterpreted along the way.

For a closer look at how this differs from a decorating model, read how an interior design company that manufactures differs from one that decorates.

What Does Every Piece From This Studio Have in Common?

Every item is custom made and bespoke, drawn for a particular room and client. Furniture can be bought as designed or fully custom made. 

The range spans sofas, dining tables, chairs, dining  chairs, console tables, sideboards, wall units, bedroom furniture, office furniture and outdoor furniture. The studio also works with lighting, mirrors, fireplaces, curtains, rugs, tile, parquetry, art and sculpture. That breadth lets a whole room be planned together.

Because each piece is drawn for one room, a sofa in one home will differ from a sofa in another, even when the style is shared. That individuality is deliberate.

Each piece follows the same principle. It starts with the space, and the interior designer visits every room before drawing, so each piece is drawn to the room’s real dimension before being 

.What Does a Private Appointment Model Mean for Clients?

A private appointment model means your first conversation is focused entirely on you, your space, your lifestyle, and your ideas. It gives both sides time to understand each other before anything is decided.

The studio offers private appointments and in-home consultations. A home visit lets the interior designer see the light, the proportions and the way you use each room. That first look guides every drawing that follows.

Nothing is rushed, and no decision is expected on the day. You can ask questions about how furniture is made, how decisions are approved and what happens next. The conversation is yours to lead.

How Does the Studio Begin a Project?

The studio begins with a conversation, then asks you to share your vision through photos, floor plans or inspiration images. These two stages set the direction for everything else.

The first conversation can be an enquiry, a phone call, an online meeting or a home visit, whichever suits you. Then you share what you have: images you love, plans of your home, notes about what you want to change. The studio uses these to prepare a clear, itemised proposal tailored to the space.

For a fuller view of the stages that follow, see the design process page.

Where Does Mark Alexander Design Work?

Mark Alexander Design works in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. Its commercial work includes Cartier, which you can read about on the Cartier project page.

Whichever city you are in, the first step is the same: a conversation. To learn more about the interior designer and his approach, visit the about page. To see how those values guide each project, read the philosophy behind our interior  design approach. For a wider view of what defines strong interior design companies, read what a true luxury interior design firm delivers.

How Do You Book a Private Appointment With This Australian Interior Design Company?

Call 1300 133 326 to book a private appointment or in home consultation with Mark Alexander Design Artistry. You can begin with a phone call, an online meeting or a home visit.

Come with questions and ideas. The studio will listen first, then explain how it can help. Nothing is rushed, and you decide the pace of the conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions About This Australian Interior Design Company

When was Mark Alexander Design Artistry established?

The studio was established in 1981. Luxury interior designer, furniture designer and manufacturer Mark Alexander trained in French polishing and furniture manufacturing, and the studio designs and builds its own furniture.

What does bespoke mean at the studio?

Bespoke means each piece is designed and custom made for a specific room and client, not adapted from a fixed range. Every item is custom made, and furniture can be bought as designed or fully custom made.

What happens after my furniture is installed?

Delivery is white glove, with pieces placed and styled to the vision.Followed by, the studio offers care guidance and styling help for future additions.

Is the studio’s furniture designed to last?

Yes. The studio designs pieces to serve for generations. That intention shapes construction, finish and material choices from the first hand drawing.

What is an in-home consultation?

It is a first meeting held at your home, where the interior designer sees the space and hears your ideas. It is one of the ways to begin, alongside a phone call or online meeting.