This week on our Home Life Series, we’re welcomed into the colourful world of one of Australia’s most celebrated interior designers, Anna Spiro. Known for her joyful approach to colour, pattern, and layering, Anna’s home is a true reflection of her signature style — rich in detail, deeply personal, and full of life.
Every room tells a story, where bold florals, playful prints and treasured pieces come together in a way that feels both elevated and inviting. It’s a space that celebrates the art of living beautifully, and the magic that happens when you create a home that’s entirely your own.
Keep reading as Anna shares the inspiration behind her signature style, her lifelong love of colour, and the stories woven throughout her home.
Hi Anna, thank you so much for welcoming us into your beautiful home. Can you share a little about who lives here with you and how you found this space?
I live here with my 2 sons, Harry 23, Max 15, my husband Luke and our 2 golden retrievers, Walter & Betty.
Your interiors are instantly recognisable and brimming with personality. How would you describe your interior design style, and what elements feel most essential to this?
I never like to be predictable or contrived and I think my work portrays this. I love rooms that invite me in and tell me a story about who live there and what it is that they love. Layers of interesting fabrics, collections, art and furniture spark a sense of emotion and when curated with confidence, in a unique way, create a sense of magic.
I am also a great believer in using colour to convey how you want your home to make you feel. For example, bright colours make you feel joyful, soft, pastel colours make you feel calm.
Colour is such a signature element of your work. Where does your love of colour come from, and how do you go about building a palette for a space?
Colour is deeply connected to emotion. Our mood can be influenced by the colours we are surrounded by. I grew up going to the beach on Stradbroke Island in Queensland every weekend where I was surrounded by the varying colours of the ocean and surrounding environment. This repeated, joyful experience has had a lasting effect on colours I like to surround myself with in my home. All shades of blue, aquamarine, pinks, yellows, greens - they all form the mainstay of colours I use as they make me feel the happiest.
Building a colour palette for a room greatly depends on where that room is for example a room in the country might be centred around a warmer palette of yellows, browns, greens, oranges taking inspiration from the landscape. Whereas a palette in the city might be more sophisticated for example whites, creams, greys and say a hint of something surprising like yellow. It also depends on what colours you love.
One of my first questions always when I’m getting to know a new client is - what colours do you love and what colours do you really dislike.
You’re known for mixing patterns in a way that feels both bold and balanced. What’s your approach to pattern layering, and do you have any go-to rules (or rule-breaking tips)?
Creating an interesting layering of pattern and colour in a room is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. All the pieces need to fit together in a balanced way. There is absolutely a way of doing it and it isn’t just throwing in a bit of this and a bit of that.
I think you have to take a very considered approach and if you tip it too far one way or the other, it can turn into a mess. If you are unsure, start slowly and take your time. Choose the larger upholstered pieces in fabrics that are not so bold and keep the bold choices for the smaller items in your room such as a stool or cushions.
If you find it all too overwhelming just call us and we can help create something magical for you.
Can you take us back to the beginning of your creative journey? How did you find your way into interior design, and what did those early days look like?
I’ve always been interested in fashion and interiors and remember back to when I was very young decorating my bedroom with a Ken Done doona cover and a white chunky tube bed! It was quite the thing back in the 80’s! I used to read a lot of my mother’s Vogue living, Arch Digest and World of Interiors magazines and became obsessed with interiors in my early teens.
I was extremely lucky to get a job through my grandmother with Brisbane decorator John Black. I joke these days with my team that I have only been for one job interview in my entire life as I ended up staying with John, going into partnership with him and then eventually taking over the business to form Anna Spiro Design as we know it today.
You’ve built such an iconic career. Looking back, are there any pivotal moments or turning points that really shaped who you are today — creatively or personally?
I think the whole thing has shaped who I am today. It’s been a massive journey of learning both professionally and personally. I was just a young girl with not a lot of life experience when I started with John at the age of 17. I was very naive. 31 years of working very hard through the ups and downs of running a small design business in Brisbane has been both rewarding and exhausting. I am very proud of what I have achieved so far, 2 books (with a third on its way), a successful design business, a fabric and wallpaper line that is sold internationally, various collaborations, amongst other things.
The fact that I’m still here doing what I love every day and I have a wonderful group of loyal, trusting clients that keep on supporting me, as well as an amazing team, what more could I ask for….
We’re so thrilled to be working together on this special collaboration. What about Kip&Co’s colourful world resonated with you, and what makes this partnership feel like such a natural fit?
Kip&Co is a homegrown Australian business run by 3 amazing, very hard-working and committed women. That in itself aligns with my ethos. To be able to collaborate with an Australian brand that has grown and supported other Australian designers and artists such as Ken Done, Jenny Kee, Mambo etc is very exciting.
I’m so honoured they approached me to create a fun and fabulous, bright and colourful collection of things for the home.
