A bit about me and my why

My work is grounded in the belief that good design should not just look beautiful. It should make everyday life easier, calmer and more connected. A home should understand the people inside it — how they gather, rest, entertain, move through the day and connect with the landscape around them.

My path into building design began with a simple intention: to gain new skills, formalise my knowledge and open up new possibilities. What I did not expect was how much I would love the process. Studying building design gave structure to instincts I had always had — creating moments within a home, understanding proportion, working with light, responding to landscape and designing spaces that feel natural rather than forced.

It also brought together two long-held passions: architecture and the Australian landscape.

Through my studies, I developed a deeper appreciation for mid-century architecture, passive design principles and the way a building can sit quietly and confidently within its surroundings. Large eaves, natural materials, sunlight, shade, cross-flow ventilation, native planting and honest connection to place are all ideas that continue to influence my work.

A defining moment for me was being trusted by a close friend to design her family home. By taking the time to understand how they lived, gathered and used their home, I was able to create a space that was functional, warm and connected. Seeing the home come alive — family lunches, friends gathering, people moving easily between inside and outside — confirmed what good design should do. It should support real life.

That project helped me realise that I could deliver not only what a client asks for, but also the things they may not yet know they need.

Today, SLJ brings together building design and interiors in a more complete way. My work is especially drawn to homes with character, mid-century bones, natural materials and strong connections to garden, trees, sunlight and view. I love working with clients who care about how a home feels, not just how it looks.

My process is personal, thoughtful and collaborative. I take the time to understand who you are, how you live and what you want your home to become. From there, I develop clear concepts, practical layouts and considered interiors that respond to both the client and the site.

In the end I love to create homes with warmth, function and soul — spaces that feel connected to their landscape, honest in their materiality and deeply human in the way they are used.