Studio Kelly-Marie
About Me
Who is
Kelly-Marie?
I’m an Australian-Dutch interior designer now based in Cairns, having recently returned from the Netherlands. Born in Marree in outback South Australia, I grew up in Adelaide and have lived and worked across Asia and Europe before returning home.
In 2016, I founded DutchByDesign, an online interior design studio where I developed a strong foundation in creating cohesive, functional, and thoughtfully considered spaces for a wide range of clients. While my work was primarily online, I also worked with expats in the Netherlands, helping them settle into their homes with clarity and confidence.
My work in Australia blends European design sensibility with the relaxed, tropical lifestyle of Cairns. I focus on creating interiors that feel calm, balanced, and intentional, with an emphasis on natural materials, subtle colour, and a more considered way of living.
With a strong awareness of detail and environment, I create spaces that feel organised, grounded, and easy to live in.
You can explore past work and glimpses from my time in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe on Instagram, giving you a sense of what I can bring into your home.
Bringing
A Global Approach To Design
My work is shaped by years of experience by mostly living in Europe and somewhat in Asia, where design is deeply connected to lifestyle, architecture, and atmosphere. Rather than following a single style, my approach moves fluidly between contrasts, drawing from a range of influences and adapting to each space.
I have completely absorbed how design can shift between the countries I have lived in, from the darker, more architectural interiors of Northern Europe, where the home feels warm and cocooning and life is lived largely indoors during the colder months, to the lighter, sun-filled spaces of the Mediterranean, with their lime-washed walls and relaxed, effortless atmosphere. There is also a layer of nature-inspired living drawn from Japan, echoing the softness of traditional homes where trees, birds, and landscape scenes are subtly woven into the interior through painted walls and delicate finishes.
In the Netherlands, design often leans towards a more moody and structured aesthetic, shaped by a rich history of art and craftsmanship. With roots connected to the Old Masters, common ones you might have heard of such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Vincent van Gogh, and further influenced by architectural innovation and designers like Piet Mondrian and Rem Koolhaas, Dutch interiors carry a strong sense of depth, contrast, and composition and many homes will have their windows open for all outside to see, they have nothing to hide, but like to show off how beautiful their home is. Dutch people are house proud and it shows from every class of citizen. Many homes in the Netherlands date back as as the 1700s, with some reaching over 400 years old. Their Designing within these spaces requires a thoughtful and sensitive approach, balancing historical character with the demands of modern living. A key focus was ensuring that old and new elements blended seamlessly, allowing original features to sit comfortably alongside contemporary updates.
Working on interiors like these often called for creative, outside-the-box solutions, adapting layouts and functionality while respecting the integrity of the original architecture. . Spaces feel intentional and grounded, balancing modern lines with warmth and comfort, while layering antiques, art, and contemporary pieces to create a home that feels both considered and lived in. Dutch design is often understated, yet it quietly shapes many of the styles and influences seen globally.
Moving toward Southern Europe, interiors become softer and more relaxed, with natural light, earthy materials, and an organic, lived-in feel. Greece in particular is a place I’m continually drawn back to, where I find endless inspiration in its simplicity, warmth, and connection to outdoor living. This influence is reflected in my own work, where I sometimes incorporate limewash paint, a finish rooted in Southern European design and still not widely seen in Australia
Then there is a touch of Asian influence, shaped by the years I spent living in Japan in my younger days, where I worked as an English teacher. During that time, I would often travel in my free time, staying in some of the oldest ryokan in the countryside or in quiet coastal areas where life felt slow and deeply connected to nature. Evenings were often spent walking through small villages, where incense would burn at stone tombstones, creating an atmosphere that felt almost otherworldly. It was a magical experience that stayed with me over several years.
I was particularly drawn to traditional homes such as Minka and Kominka, where key features include tatami mats, shoji sliding doors, exposed timber beams, and softly painted paper walls.
These spaces are designed with a deep sense of calm, balance, and connection to nature. Elements such as filtered light, natural textures, and a more minimal way of living have strongly influenced how I approach space. Rather than replicating these interiors directly, I reinterpret them in a contemporary way, using features such as nature-inspired wall murals to create atmosphere, and tactile materials like a large jute rug to bring a sense of grounding and softness underfoot.
All of these experiences have shaped my vision into a more relaxed and effortless approach to design, balancing beautifully with the structured depth of Northern Europe. Bringing this perspective to Cairns allows for a more layered and considered approach to interiors, blending colour with softness and creating spaces that feel both refined and easy to live in.
