Design a Home in a Day with Lucy Glade-Wright
We handed founder and designer behind Hunting for George, Lucy-Glade Wright, the keys to our brand-new Gallery Showroom in the heart of Melbourne with a simple brief...
To design an entire home, inside and out, in a single day.
From facade materials to interior finishes, Lucy had one day, hundreds of options and absolutely no limits – AKA, what we call an interior designer’s dream!
So, what did she choose? Watch the full video below to find out or keep reading for more tips and insights into Lucy’s design process.
The brief...
"To put this whole design a home in a day thing into perspective," Lucy begins, "this is a process that would normally take months, multiple visits to various showrooms and waiting for samples."
For anyone who has navigated a renovation or build on their own, the design process can be a big and complex undertaking. Weekends spent chasing samples, hours deliberating over different shades, not to mention the constant challenge of trying to visualise how it all comes together.
It’s a process that some find fun, but it definitely isn’t for everyone.
"If you can choose everything in one place, then that could be a gamechanger for anyone building a new home," Lucy continues.
And that's exactly what the Simonds Gallery offers. One location. Hundreds of samples from Australia's most renowned suppliers. Everything you could need for your new home, all under one roof.
When Simonds customers visit our Gallery space, they're guided through all of their selections, from roofing and brickwork to paint, cabinetry and tapware, by an expert Simonds interior designer. They'll also meet with electrical and lighting consultants, flooring specialists and heating and cooling experts, ensuring every corner of their home is as functional and durable as it is beautiful.
So, after going through the new Simonds Gallery, here are Lucy's 4 biggest design tips from the day.
Design tip #1
Direction
Arrive prepared with your favourite reference images to help establish your design direction.
This is a big one. You don’t have to have your whole style nailed down. But some simple reference images from Instagram, Pinterest or even snaps on the go from your local neighbourhood will go a long way in giving you a starting point on the day.
“It’s very easy to come into a place like the Simonds Gallery with everything in front of you and get really excited. But if you have a vision and a really clear direction of where you’re going, it makes choosing finishes a whole lot easier.”
This is your sign to start that Pinterest board!
Design Tip #2
Getting Started
Select one hero material first and let that guide the rest of your design choices.
Every great home has a focal point and for Lucy, it was the Antikella from Caesarstone as the hero surface for her kitchen.
"I love the combination of warm and cool colours [in the Antikella]. There was already a comprehensive colour palette in this benchtop, so I'm going to use that as a base and then let that advise the rest of my choices."
She also made a deliberate choice to pair it with something a little more unexpected. "I saw the Antikella featured with more of a lighter, oak timber but I wanted to try it with a darker timber like a walnut."
It's exactly this kind of experimentation that the Simonds Gallery is designed for, giving customers the ability to play with different combinations, test ideas and see what truly works before committing to anything.
Your hero material doesn't have to be a benchtop. It could be a statement splashback tile, a bold pendant light or a striking feature paint colour. Whatever it is, don't be afraid to embrace colour and texture.
Design Tip #3
Consistency
Choose 2-3 materials that remain consistent throughout your home.
"The key with consistency is not that you want every room to look the same, but you do want your home to feel cohesive," Lucy notes.
This can be as simple as repeating the same metal finish across tapware and hardware, or carrying a cabinetry finish from the kitchen through to the bathroom. In Lucy's design, rich walnut tones can be found in the Knotwood garage door through to the Sepia Walnut Laminex cabinetry, connecting the outside to the inside in a way that feels considered and intentional.
One of the most effective ways to test your selections? Lay them all out together in a flatlay and see how the tones and textures interact.
"Chances are, if it looks good here [on the flatlay] it'll look good in your home," Lucy says.
Design Tip #4
Depth
Avoid visual flatness by mixing and matching different finishes to create an inviting interior.
If you know Lucy, you'll know she doesn't shy away from colour and texture... and for good reason! Both are powerful tools for adding depth, character and warmth to a space.
"A common mistake that people make when it comes to choosing finishes is choosing the same type of finishes as it creates what we call a visual flatness, which we want to avoid because if every surface looks the same, it's very clinical and not very inviting — so don't be afraid to mix it up a little bit so that your interiors look really rich."
In Lucy's flatlay, the rich greens of the Paloma Moss Green from National Tiles sit alongside the deep, muted tones of Otway Green and Pewter River from Haymes Paint, while the rustic, weathered texture of the Aged Red brick from Austral brings an earthy, tactile quality to the exterior. Each element plays with light differently and together, they create a space that feels layered and rich.
There's plenty of ways to experiment with colour and texture in the Simonds Gallery — and if you're ever unsure where to start, your consultant is always on hand to help!
Most importantly, have fun with the design process and get excited to bring your dream place to life.
Want to explore more of the Simonds Gallery? Just head here.
