The Australian design community gathered at the Seymour Centre in Sydney on November 28 for the 2025 Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) gala. The event celebrated the country's most innovative and inspiring projects, showcasing exceptional talent across the industry.
Designer Rugs was proud to sponsor the Colour category, an award that recognizes projects demonstrating an outstanding and creative use of colour to enhance an interior space. This year, the coveted award was presented to Bar Julius, a stunning project by the acclaimed firm SJB with Joseph Gardner.
Bar Julius captivated the judges with its kaleidoscopic and richly layered interiors. The design masterfully layers colour across various elements, from fittings and furnishings to subtle accents. The space is a complex composition of blue-grey details, red-toned marbles, and the natural warmth of Australian timber, drawing inspiration from classic bistro design to create a truly unique dining scene.
The project was praised for its thoughtful and sophisticated colour strategy, which creates a dynamic yet harmonious atmosphere. SJB’s work on Bar Julius stands as a testament to how colour can be used to define a space, evoke emotion, and craft an unforgettable experience.
Congratulations to SJB on this well-deserved win. The judges also gave high commendation in the Colour category to The EVE Hotel Sydney by SJB and Tombo Den by DKO—each project showcasing inventive and expressive approaches to colour in contemporary interiors. Well done to all the finalists for their exceptional contributions to Australian design.
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