Philia
Magazine
Nickolas Gurtler
Nickolas Gurtler is an Australian interior designer and the founder and principal of Nickolas Gurtler Office, a boutique practice established in 2015. Over more than a decade in interior design and decoration, he has developed a distinctive approach spanning residential, multi-residential and commercial projects across Australia and the United States. His work is defined by a discerning and thoughtfully edited sensibility, with each project conceived around the experience of inhabiting a space rather than its visual impact alone.
Drawing from a wide field of references encompassing history, film, fashion and product design, Gurtler brings together different cultural and creative influences to form interiors with a strong sense of identity and atmosphere. His practice is also closely connected to contemporary Australian design, with an ongoing commitment to supporting emerging makers, local artisans and locally produced work. Through Nickolas Gurtler Office, he continues to develop a body of work that reflects both an international outlook and a strong connection to Australia’s creative community. In 2025, Gurtler was shortlisted for Designer of the Year at the IDEA Awards.
Studio Kallang
Faezah Shaharuddin is a Singaporean multidisciplinary designer and founder of Studio Kallang, whose practice explores the relationship between nostalgia, cultural identity, and contemporary design. Working across furniture, objects, and visual communication, she creates pieces that reinterpret familiar forms through a refined and playful lens, balancing functionality with narrative and emotional resonance.
Trained at the University of Washington School of Art + Art History + Design, Shaharuddin combines a strong graphic sensibility with a material-driven approach to design. Through Studio Kallang, she develops collectible furniture and objects distinguished by thoughtful craftsmanship, subtle cultural references, and a timeless aesthetic, while collaborating with international brands and presenting her work at exhibitions including Milan Design Week and the Asian Civilisations Museum.
Colección Estudio Picks From Philia Collection
Based in Mexico City, Querétaro and San Francisco, Colección Estudio creates objects at a slower pace and with a more humane process that fosters long-lasting emotional connections with the spaces you inhabit. Inspired by stories and techniques rooted in Mexican culture, we translate them into limited-edition furniture, accessories and collectible design for your home. Colección Estudio is made up of three Mexican designers, Andrés Cacho, Daniel Martínez and Manuel López who found a common interest in exploring the intersection between art, design and craftsmanship.
Studio ŪMA
Studio ŪMA, founded by Michelle Song and Amber Pan, draws deeply from Eastern philosophy and the aesthetics of imperfect beauty. Their work embraces time’s subtle marks oxidised metals, weathered wood, softened edges as signs of life rather than decay.
Each element is quiet but intentional, layered with contrast: stillness and movement, weight and air, the seen and the suggested. Whether it be through the convergence of different textures, or the artful juxtaposition of mid-century furniture, entwined tree vine, and tribal utensils sourced from around the globe, their designs embody a harmonious fusion of elements coming from various cultures and origins.
Their services include architectural planning, listed building consent consultancy, planning application consultancy, remodeling, interior architecture design, and art advisory.
Julian Mayor
Julian Mayor is a British artist and designer whose work explores the relationship between digital technology, craftsmanship, and sculptural form. Working primarily with welded sheet metal, he develops pieces through a unique process that combines advanced computer modelling with meticulous hand fabrication. The resulting works balance precision and spontaneity, transforming industrial materials into fluid, light-filled forms that blur the boundaries between sculpture, furniture, and functional design.
Educated in Industrial Design at the University of Northumbria and later in Design Products at the Royal College of Art under Ron Arad, Mayor has developed a distinctive practice that merges technological innovation with a deep sensitivity to material and making. His works have been exhibited internationally in institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, and MUDAC in Lausanne. Through objects, installations, and public commissions, he continues to investigate how digital processes can give rise to expressive and deeply human forms.
Fernando Mendes Picks From Philia Collection
Fernando Mendes is a Brazilian architect, designer, and woodworker based between Rio de Janeiro and Vale das Videiras. Working primarily with wood, he creates furniture and objects that combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, balancing technical precision with a deep sensitivity to material and form.
After more than two decades in design carpentry and over thirty years of close collaboration with Brazilian design master Sergio Rodrigues, Mendes has developed a distinctive practice that embraces the natural character of wood, including its textures, imperfections, and unique qualities. His work has received numerous international awards, and he currently serves as president of the Sergio Rodrigues Institute.
Linda Boronkay
Linda Boronkay is a London-based interior designer known for her emotionally driven and richly layered interiors. Born in Budapest, she developed an early passion for design through her family background in architecture, art, and antiques before originally training in fashion design in Paris.
Having lived across Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, New York, and Paris before settling in London, Boronkay draws inspiration from travel, art, fashion, cinema, and craftsmanship. Prior to founding her own award-winning studio, she served as Design Director at Soho House, leading projects across Europe, Asia, and the UK.
Today, her studio is recognized for creating immersive and emotionally resonant spaces, and her work has been featured in House & Garden’s Design 100 and Country & Town House’s Best 50 Interior Designers.
