Anna Spiro’s unique interpretation of ‘sea, sun and sand’ was inspired by the love of her native Queensland coast – in particular, Stradbroke Island, southeast of Brisbane and the Great Barrier Reef, both famously known for their marine beauty. The project unfolded within the grand rooms above her office, in an old Spanish mission building in Brisbane’s inner city, creating a display apartment for clients to experience first-hand her captivating work. ‘It is hard for some people to comprehend how a space can make you feel when it is all “on paper”. To be able to visualise it in its true form is a huge benefit,’ she says.
For Anna, the connection with the ocean runs deep. Having grown up in South East Queensland, she is well acquainted with the tropical ‘beach vibes’ of the area with Stradbroke Island of ‘paramount importance’ to Anna, so much so she calls it her true home. Here, she lives and breathes the island’s unspoilt natural landscape with its endemic flora and fauna – and magnificent beachscapes. Anna viewed the project – dubbed ‘Island Garden’ – as an opportunity to express her love of this coastal paradise while at the same time drawing influence from a recent visit to the Great Barrier Reef. As such, the Reef’s spectacular underwater scenes and the oceanic colours she loves to be surrounded by are reflected in the design.
Given an open brief from de Gournay, Anna wanted to move away from the brand’s traditional design style to create an unconventional, naïve-like paper. She explains, ‘I wanted to create one that would wrap me up in the world I know and love.’ Collaborating on a project that involved creative narratives informed by two very different hemispheres presented its fair share of challenges. Although excited by the concept, de Gournay’s expert painters were unused to Australia’s more robust birds and indigenous wildflowers, such as the Banksia, resulting in more than a few rounds to master the ‘Island Garden’ scenes. Once Anna and her team had conceptualised the project, images, illustrations, sketch types and provided Pantones to de Gournay, had discussions via Zoom and sent colour samples across the globe. The design came together pretty quickly and, as Anna rightfully says: ‘de Gournay nailed it.’
With extraordinary options on offer, Anna chose Chinese rice paper, which offered the right look and feel for the project. The ‘Island Garden’ scenes were hand-painted with the design made to fit around the space. The papers were made-to-measure by de Gournay and sent to Australia for installation, a complicated procedure to accommodate the number of windows and doors.
Anna believes the design of an interior should reflect the surroundings that the building inhabits. ‘It is about the environment that a house or a room sits in that determines what we do with it. The space that my office sits in is awful. We had to make the interior incredibly beautiful and inspiring, as there is nothing to look at on the outside.’ Today, the interior is informed by a bold use of pattern and colour, which is challenging to pull off successfully. ‘It is all about the balance and how you play it. But it is a fine line playing with pattern, and one must be careful not to tip it over the edge,’ says Anna.
Colour was layered throughout the room to create a space that feels as if one is ‘diving into a wonderland.’ Floorboards were painted in soothing green, complemented by soft-toned furnishings and gentle chartreuse on the woodwork. Anna has created a space to remind her of all her favourite places. In which to feel happy and comfortable, with colours to inspire. ‘Every room should have a little touch of yellow; it is a bit of sunshine and happiness.’
Written by Carol Chamberlain
