Studio

Alena Smith Interior Design is a Sydney-based studio creating interiors that are calm, refined, and deeply considered. We design spaces with a quiet confidence, grounded in warm minimalism and a commitment to wellness, sustainability, and context. Our process is both intuitive and exacting—combining emotional intelligence and creativity with a highly technical, detail-focused approach. Clients are drawn to our ability to distil complexity into clarity—resolving every element with care while maintaining a sense of ease and authenticity throughout. With a focus on lasting beauty and meaningful connection, we create interiors that not only support how you live, but elevate it—elegantly, thoughtfully, and with intention.

 Alena studied Architecture (B.Arch Hons) at UNSW Sydney, with further academic grounding at KTH Stockholm and the Architectural Association in London. Her professional journey has seen her lead interior teams within some of Sydney’s most respected design studios, delivering projects across private residential, multi-residential, boutique commercial, hospitality and seniors living sectors. Her work—defined by a warmth, elegance and a deep sensitivity to material and context—has been featured in Belle, House & Garden, Habitus Magazine, and EST Living.

 We work with clients primarily on residential projects, as well as multi-residential, hospitality and seniors living spaces. Our services are tailored to the scale and ambition of each brief. This can include master planning, council applications & working with consultants right through to detailed interior design such as kitchens, bathrooms, bespoke joinery, furniture and decorative elements. Our process is both rigorous and collaborative, beginning with discovery and research to define a meaningful brief. We then translate vision into form—developing concepts, refining materials and layouts, and resolving every detail. We are precise in our documentation, rigorous in our standards, and deeply invested in resolving every element with clarity and care. During delivery, we work closely with skilled contractors to bring the design to life, ensuring quality & accuracy. Our aim for each project is to craft warm minimalism and a commitment to sustainability, creating interiors that feel timeless, personal, and uplifting.

Sustainability

Sustainability is not an add-on—it’s embedded in everything we do. Our proprietary Sustainability Playbook, aligned with the principles of WELL, Greenstar and the Living Building Challenge, guides every project. This ensures rigour from the materials we specify to the air quality we protect—supporting both environmental and human health.

Planning
Good design starts with good planning. We take an architecturally grounded approach, focusing on structure, layout, and function. We prioritise passive design—optimising sunlight, natural ventilation, and passive heating & cooling use to reduce energy demand. Biophilic elements, like views, greenery, and a connection to nature, are integrated early to support calm, intuitive spaces that feel effortless.

Carbon Reduction
We reduce environmental impact through deliberate material and product choices. This means prioritising low-carbon, natural, and recycled materials; specifying energy- and water-efficient systems; and encouraging renewable energy solutions like solar. We source locally wherever possible to lower transport emissions and support regional makers. We also guide clients toward a “buy once, buy well” mindset—creating interiors that are both responsible and refined.

Wellness
Wellness is central to our work. We design interiors that foster physical health, mental clarity, and emotional balance—balancing function with feeling. Connection to the space, colour considerations & biophilic connections are all core elements. We specify low-tox, ethical materials to improve indoor air quality and long-term wellbeing. The result is a restorative, considered space—designed to elevate daily life.