Mardi Doherty from Studio Doherty
Studio Doherty design director Mardi Doherty shares her interiors journey—the values that guide her studio’s creative approach, and how she finds balance between pushing creative boundaries, testing new ideas, and refining thoughtful details.
Photos SEAN FENNESSY, DEREK SWALWELL & DAVE KULESZA
Eleanor House by Studio Doherty. Photo: Sean Fennessy
‘As a designer, I’ve always looked for ways to push myself and our team creatively,’ says Mardi Doherty, Studio Doherty design director. Photo: Sean Fennessy
Hawksburn House by Studio Doherty. Photo: Derek Swalwell
South Yarra House by Studio Doherty. Photo: Sean Fennessy
“[We have] a constant hunger to make each project better than the previous—to always be testing out new ideas and pushing ourselves.”
Hawksburn House by Studio Doherty. Photo: Derek Swalwell
Brook House by Studio Doherty. Photo: Dave Kulesza
Hello Mardi—can you introduce yourself?
Mardi: I’m Mardi, design director of interior design firm Studio Doherty. We’ve been designing spaces for 10 years and have a team of talented designers. I’m married to a builder and have two teenage daughters, Chilli and Bonnie.
Let’s start at the beginning—what first drew you to interior design?
I grew up in a mid-century designed home that had a bright red laminate kitchen and a bedroom that was painted in wide diagonal navy and white stripes. My parents owned motels and we were often renovating the motel rooms, designing play equipment for the playground at our motels. I was surrounded by design from a young age, and felt really comfortable with colour, space and light. At school I considered studying commerce because I loved maths and business, but once I visited the interior design department at RMIT I was hooked. Four years of immersing myself in the creative field was amazing. I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to combine my love of business and design.
How would you describe Studio Doherty’s creative approach in three words?
Brave, considered, collaborative.
Tell us about a moment in your career when you took a creative risk that paid off…
I wouldn’t call it a ‘risk,’ but as a designer, I’ve always looked for ways to push myself and our team creatively. We take pride in making sure each project that comes through our studio has its own character, with thoughtful detailing that sometimes challenges us and our fabricators, hopefully resulting in spaces that feel unique and memorable.
What’s one design element—be it colour, texture, or light—you find yourself favouring and returning to again and again?
Always an abundance of natural light. I’m constantly drawn to how light moves through a space—the impact of windows, doors, and skylights can’t be overstated. It’s something we consider in every project.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you—from first coffee to final email?
I wake at 5.30AM, take our dog Bailey for a walk and do an hour or so of work, so that I can quieten my brain, and make space for creative thoughts and the day ahead. I am then free to have breakfast with our kids, and to help them prepare for their day. Work is a 20 minute drive from home, so I crank up some tunes on the way and then look forward to seeing our team.
We work at the studio on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays, so the first 3 days of the week include lots of project planning, creative workshops with yellow trace and finishes sprawled on our meeting room table, meetings with clients and collaborators etc.
We usually have lunch together and chat about the weekend, food, and the latest Netflix shows. We try not to have meetings on a Monday so we can get a good solid run on the week. My days are often punctuated with site meetings—the sense of anticipation and the problem solving nature of building continues to excite me.
Is there a piece of design advice you’ve been given that you return to again and again?
Always try and create the right balance between drama and calm in a space. Years of working with Chris Connell taught me to constantly be straddling the tightrope of theatre and relief. Striking that balance is different in each project, whether it be a small home or a large commercial space.
Eleanor House by Studio Doherty. Photo: Sean Fennessy
Eleanor House by Studio Doherty. Photo: Sean Fennessy
“Always try and create the right balance between drama and calm in a space. Years of working with Chris Connell taught me to constantly be straddling the tightrope of theatre and relief—something I carry into every project.”
Eleanor House by Studio Doherty. Photo: Sean Fennessy
Brook House by Studio Doherty. Photo: Dave Kulesza
South Yarra House by Studio Doherty. Photo: Sean Fennessy
South Yarra House by Studio Doherty. Photo: Sean Fennessy
The most rewarding part of your job?
There are so many rewarding parts of this industry. It’s seeing our team connect with our clients, seeing our clients open to being pushed out of their comfort zone, and then seeing a project completed and them using the spaces.
How do you keep creativity flowing—what fuels you outside the studio?
A constant hunger to make each project better than the previous, to always be testing out new ideas and pushing ourselves. This creativity is absorbed in many aspects of life outside the studio, for example last week we went to a furniture launch by grazia & co.—afterwards our team wandered throughout the Botanical Gardens at 9PM and marvelled at the light that was filtering onto the trees and lake after a dramatic Melbourne storm.
What does success look like to you—not just in terms of the work, but the way you work?
Success is measured in lots of ways, and whilst designing successful projects is one way, I also see success by seeing our team working together to come up with a great design idea, or resolve a problem, and seeing clients trusting in our design process and allowing us to truly collaborate with our immediate team, and also extended the team of architects/engineers/and builders we work with. Success to me is also about building strong relationships with clients and collaborators.
The design industry can feel fast-paced and visually saturated. How do you stay grounded in your own voice?
There is a lot of visual noise in the industry so having confidence in our style and relationships is important. We are constantly looking outwards for inspiration, but also coming together as a team to focus on what we do best.
What’s been your proudest work moment at Studio Doherty so far?
Rebranding to Studio Doherty in 2022 was a big moment—it felt like a clear consolidation of everything we’d built, while also marking a new chapter and propelling us into the future. Celebrating our 10 year anniversary last year made it all the more meaningful.
Any new directions, collaborations, or personal projects on the horizon?
We’ve recently completed our own renovation which was challenging and amazing! We’ve also got some really exciting residential projects underway, including a great collaboration with Tom Robertson Architects. We’re also feeling really energised by the idea of working on more regional projects, especially in hospitality. A wine bar is definitely on our radar.
Finally, what’s bringing you joy—design-related or otherwise—at the moment?
Seeing our daughter Chilli pursuing a creative course at university, and loving it!
To stay up to date with Studio Doherty visit their website or follow @studio.doherty on Instagram.