Leaning on design to brighten the cooler months with Mitchell & Eades

Earthy and pastel hues, brass accents, curvaceous chairs, statement striped lounges, one-of-a-kind floor-to-ceiling artwork, and those expansive glass windows…

Even in the depths of winter Beverly retains its Cali-cool charm, which is thanks in part to Mitchell & Eades, who are behind our signature California-meets-Melbourne aesthetic.

Established in Melbourne by Hayley Mitchell and Samantha Eades in 2020, the award-winning interior architecture studio now services clients in seven global cities, and their portfolio spans projects with Six Senses Fort Barwara, One Playground North Sydney, Elysium Resort Noosa, and of course, Beverly to name a few.

We recently caught up with one half of the founding duo, Samantha (right)to discuss the pair’s shared passion for human-centric design, the creatives and materials they’re currently loving, key industry trends they’ve spotted of late – including the shift away from trend-led design to longevity, and advice for injecting spaces with warmth despite cooler temperatures (hint: texture, tone and light are key).

How did you both meet, and where did the inspiration for Mitchell & Eades come from?

We met through industry friends who thought we should collaborate. Hayley comes from a luxury hotel background and I come from a hospitality design background.

From my time in New York, I was fascinated with the challenge of creating a dynamic food and beverage space within hotels. We quickly recognised a shared appetite for hospitality, storytelling and spaces that make people feel something. Mitchell & Eades was born from a desire to create design with depth and human-centricity.  

From the beginning, we were interested in the emotional side of design. Hospitality has this wonderful ability to heighten everyday moments. A drink at sunset, a long lunch, a hotel lobby that makes you exhale the minute you arrive, those moments are powerful. Our studio grew from wanting to design spaces that hold that kind of human experience.

How would you describe your design process?

Our process is very intuitive, but also highly considered and functional. We begin by understanding the spirit of the place: the location, the guest, the operator, the commercial ambition and the emotional tone we want the space to carry.

From there, we build a narrative that guides every decision; from spatial planning and materiality through to lighting, furniture and the smallest detail on the table.

We bring a very human and strategic lens to the process, thinking about how a venue should feel, how people will move through it, and how the design can create a sense of belonging, theatre or intimacy. All decisions are made with commercial sensibility.

The best projects happen when both instinct and rigour are present. A space must work beautifully, but it also needs a little magic.

What have your most memorable or rewarding projects been over the years, and why?

We have been fortunate to work across hotels, restaurants and wellness projects both locally and internationally, and each one teaches us something different. The memorable ones are not always the biggest or most glamorous; they are the projects where the client is brave, the concept is clear and the guest experience is deeply considered.

For us, success is when people don’t necessarily notice every design detail, but they feel the sum of them. They linger longer. They return. They remember how the place made them feel.

Six Senses Fort Barwara was a real honour – to convert a 600-year old forte into an ultra luxury hotel. A 10-year project, it was a labour of love that really shows when you are there!

What would your recommendations be for injecting a little warmth, energy and/or light into spaces during the cooler months?

Winter is a beautiful time to think about atmosphere. Warmth does not need to mean heavy or dark; it can come through texture, tone and light.

Layered lighting is key. You need a low, mid and overhead light source to provide soft pools of light which creates intimacy. A table lamp, a wall light and a feature pendant is a great combination when used in balance.  

Materials also do a lot of the work – timber, textured fabrics, linen, leather, aged metals and handmade ceramics all bring a sense of tactility and comfort that relaxes your guest.

Colour can be subtle but still warming. Earthy neutrals, deep greens, ochre, rust, tobacco and warm stone tones can shift the mood of a space immediately.

And then there are the simple rituals: floral arrangements or branches, a beautiful rug, a fire if you are lucky enough to have one, and music. Atmosphere is never just visual, it’s all the senses working together.

Which creatives, materials and so forth are you loving right now, and why?

We are always drawn to creatives who understand emotion, craft and longevity.

Designers like Paola Navone, who is eclectic, global, collected and travel-informed provide a great basis for crafting a warm, relaxed hospitable experience. And then there is Dimore Studio who are moody, fashion-adjacent, layered and unexpected – more dramatic and exciting.  

Materially, we are loving pieces that feel imperfect, handmade or touched by the human hand. Natural stone with movement, textured plaster, timber with grain, woven fibres, ceramic, bronze, parchment, linen and richly upholstered pieces. There is a growing appetite for interiors that feel soulful rather than overly polished, or collected rather than contrived.

Which practices or trends do you see shaping the future of design?

We are seeing a shift away from trend-led design and towards spaces that offer meaning, wellbeing and longevity. Guests are more design-literate now, and they can feel when a venue has been created for a quick photograph versus when it has been designed with true care.

Wellness will continue to influence hospitality, but in more subtle ways. It is not just about spas or treatments; it is about how a space supports us as humans and puts us at ease.  
Sustainability is also becoming less of a separate conversation and more of a baseline responsibility.

The future of design will be about creating spaces that are commercially intelligent, emotionally resonant and materially responsible. Beauty alone is no longer enough, thank goodness.

How does working internationally inspire what you do?

Working internationally keeps us curious. It forces us to look beyond our own habits and assumptions and to understand how people gather, host, relax and celebrate in different cultures.

Travel sharpens your eye, but it also deepens your sensitivity. You notice rituals, materials, pace, service, light, climate and the way people occupy space. That feeds into our work, even when we are designing locally. We are always thinking globally, but the outcome must feel grounded in its specific place.

How did you bring the brief for our Beverly space to life? What are your favourite features?

Beverly had such a compelling starting point: a rooftop setting with extraordinary views across Melbourne that no other venue has! It is stunning from daytime to sunset to evening. The brief called for a space that felt elevated, glamorous and transportive, but still relaxed enough for people to settle in and enjoy themselves.

We wanted the design to feel like a Californian rooftop escape: sophisticated, warm and slightly cinematic. The view was always the hero, so the interior needed to frame it rather than compete with it. We used materiality, tone, lighting and spatial layering to create a sense of softness and atmosphere that would carry through beautifully from day to night.  

Some of our favourite features are the artwork painted onto the walls by Scanlon & Makers, the Palladiana travertine flooring that reminds me of a Palm Springs home in the 70s, and the gorgeous host desk on arrival makes you feel like you are arriving somewhere fabulous and glamourous.

What’s next for Mitchell & Eades?

We are continuing to grow our work across hotels, restaurants and wellness-led hospitality, both in Australia and internationally. Branded residences is an interesting space we are seeing more of, where a hotel and home integrate with one another.  

The next chapter for Mitchell & Eades is about expanding our creative reach while staying very true to what we believe in: considered, highly detailed spaces that elevate how people feel.
We are excited by the future of hospitality because people are seeking richer experiences, more meaningful connections, and places with a real point of view.

Find out more

Visit the Mitchell & Eades website
Follow the studio on Instagram
Join us at Beverly to view the team’s work in person