With a recent Belle / Coco Republic Interior Award design for his firm Alexander&Co's well-received redesign of Sydney's Watsons Bay Beach Hotel, we thought it was time to catch up with architect and interior designer Jeremy Bull.

Where do you seek (and find) inspiration?  Tell us a little about your creative process.
It's a really exciting process for the team and I, and although all our design work is process driven it always starts with open (and passionate!) discussion at our round table. As creatives, I think the whole team are naturally idea collectors and our inspiration and solutions in turn come from just about anywhere we can imagine. Inevitably, I am inspired by so many experiences and relationships around me; the works of my colleagues and mentors, travel, my amazing clients and always my beautiful family.


Elizabeth St house. Image by Murray Fredericks.

How do you approach designing for family homes, given the need to balance practicality and good looks. Which comes first, and how do you find the balance?
My focus always starts with the need to solve the brief first, but a well-solved brief usually has it all; practicality, good looks and hopefully plenty of magic. As such, we are never looking for a trade off but more a way to 'have it all'. Having my own family (of three kinetic sons) has also brought plenty of reality to balancing the practicalities of life with the needs of an aesthete! I believe you can have it all.


Brisbane St house. Image - Murray Fredericks

How would you describe your personal style? Does this evolve with your work?
Personal work is really just the opportunity to experiment without repercussion! My home has often been where I have first formed ideas and tried them out before using them on others. I think in this way it is equal parts experimental and familiar, and deeply personal.


Image - Murray Fredericks

What do you think is/are the key interior element/s a home decorator should focus on getting right?
Honesty first. A home is such a personal space; it's the most important ingredient. Just make sure you are designing your own space and not just someone else's pretty picture. Focus on getting your own story right, on pursuing your own interests and challenging your own expectations, there is no wrong answer and the elements will reveal themselves as they need!


The Print Room. Image - Jeremy Cresswell.

You need to think about multi-function spaces in your work for commercial and hospitality operators. How does this flow through to your thinking about residential design?
Hotels and commercial projects are often built around a story, brand, or the opportunity to take someone on a journey and sometimes to suspend disbelief.  Homes are very different insofar as they need to celebrate the everyday, they need to make magic sometimes out of the mundane! On the other hand space, is always valuable as is human experience. This is a constant across all projects.


The Watsons Bay Beach club. Image - Murray Fredericks

Your work on the Watsons Bay Hotel has garnered lots of attention and was the winner of the Best Hospitality Award in the Belle / Coco Republic Interior Design Awards this year. What did you enjoy most about this project?
Watsons Bay Hotel was a really special site for a really special client. I guess I personally loved all of it and I feel like I can vouch for the whole team. The extent of the project allowed us to pursue so many different ideas and working within such an iconic building on Sydney Harbour's edge provided constant inspiration. There are not so many projects which can offer such a satisfying personal journey.


Headquarters for Calida. Image - Jeremy Cresswell.

What are your hopes for Alexander&Co? What would be your dream commission?
I think we work on our dream commissions everyday (seriously). Our project roster is so varied and challenging; resorts, hotels, private houses, and high-rise. My vision is to maintain our journey, its lessons and excitement, with the same enthusiasm and belief that we have tackled everything to date.

Quickfire questions:
Design icon: Le Corbusier
Favourite cuisine: Anything cooked by my partner Tess
Pet hate: Lack of process
Local secret: anything at Craig's Cheese Shop, Birrell Street Bondi Junction
First job: Bakers Delight sales assistant!

 Want more? Visit the Alexander&Co website or follow the team on Pinterest or on Instagram @alexander_andco