DESIGN PROFILE: GOLDEN Interiors duo Alicia McKimm and Kylie Dorotic balance aesthetics and functionality

A delicate balance between aesthetics and functionality defines this duo’s solid success

Alicia McKimm and Kylie Dorotic had a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve when they started Golden in 2013, after a decade of working in some of Melbourne’s most respected interior-design studios. “We wanted to create contemporary, timeless, functional spaces that are deeply felt, and to build a business focused on great work and client relationships,” says Alicia. “Golden is about a feeling. It describes a space that is harmonious, resolved and makes you feel good. You walk in and it just feels right. It functions well, it’s aesthetically beautiful and it’s not over-designed.”

What sets Golden apart is its reductionist approach. The team review and eliminate elements within a design that don’t serve a true purpose, ensuring the final result enhances the quality of life for the user. “We question and challenge why everything is there,” says Alicia. “We want to ensure everything has a purpose.”

This dedication to excellence has earned Golden recognition from its peers. In 2016, the studio won the Emerging Interior Design Practice gong at the Australian Interior Design Awards, and were shortlisted for Designer Of The Year in the 2020 Interior Design Excellence Awards. Stand by for more, especially with their understanding of evolving workplaces in the COVID era. “We love that people are paring back their purchases, and the spaces they live and work in,” says Alicia. “People have become more engaged with their personal space because they’ve spent a lot of time in it and used it in different ways – to live, work, study, exercise and so much more.”

Fortunately, the Golden team have always prioritised the improvement of everyday life through their work. “We predict an even greater focus on health and wellbeing, with residential and commercial spaces designed to be places of calm and retreat,” says Kylie. “We believe design should be clever and intriguing, and offer an element of surprise or discovery.”

See more at designbygolden.com.au or @designbygolden

CLOCKWISE (from top left) The Seen Skin salon in Prahran and this Brighton home are two of Golden’s greatest hits. Designers Kylie Dorotic, at left, and Alicia McKimm also devised the Viktoria & Woods boutique at Westfield Doncaster (left) as well as the V&W Chadstone store. An ethereal capture of the Brighton home (below).