Chilean-born, now Sydney-based interior designer José Chandia has an artist’s sensibility. Through his interior design practice, a throughline connecting the cosmopolitan energy of cities with the grandeur of the natural world serves as a unifying creative ethos. 

For Australian Design Review’s (ADR’s) Designer Selects series, Chandia shares the pieces that inspire his elegant, dramatic, timeless designs that effortlessly fuse contemporary Australian style with an international lens.

Grande Papilio, by Naoto Fukasawa (2009, B&B Italia)

The Grande Papilio is the lounge chair of the Papilio Collection by the renowned Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa. This piece represents everything I appreciate in design: simplicity, timelessness and comfort. The armchair’s versatile design allows it to seamlessly integrate into a wide range of interior styles and it’s available in fabric and leather finish. The name “papilio” means butterfly in Latin, referencing the fluid and light shape. A truly classic piece of furniture.

Rings by Michael Anastassiades (2024, Mutina)

The Rings Collection by Michael Anastassiades is a wall/floor covering system made from four “cross-cut” oak squares joined together. The modules can be ordered with a brass piece, adding a more complex texture and luxurious look. I’m captivated by the simplicity of the design and the innovative twist on traditional long planks, which create a strong visual tension along the floor. The square-based module of Rings forms a neutral pattern that is visually stable, helping to induce a sense of relaxation and coziness.

Imaginary Geographies, GT2P

This coffee table by the Chilean design studio GT2P fascinates me due to its physical and conceptual beauty. The piece occupies a unique space between art and design, representing the Andean High Plateau in the Atacama Desert. Crafted using CNC carving techniques on Lenga wood, it blends artistry with craftsmanship. The central round piece, made from black basalt, evokes the salt lakes trapped in the mountains. Its materiality also serves a functional purpose, acting as a tray for placing food and drinks.

White Fantasy Quartzite, BC Stone

Last year, I completed a bathroom renovation project in a heritage house originally designed by Hugh Buhrich in the 1960s in Point Piper, New South Wales. The main bathroom faces the harbour, and the entire house is closely connected to the sea. I selected this stone for two reasons: first, because it evokes the turbulence around the rocks when you view the ocean from the cliffs, and second, because quartzite performs exceptionally well in wet areas. We chose a sandblasted finish, which leaves a slightly irregular, leathered texture depending on the stone’s density.

76 Series, Bocci

I discovered Bocci at Milan’s Salone del Mobile in 2013, and since then, it has become my favourite lighting brand. The 76 Series deserves special mention: an experimental design created with two layers of blown glass, one of which is white glass blown through a copper mesh. The result is an organic, whimsical and alien-like form, designed to work as clusters and illuminate both small and large spaces with exuberant beauty. Each piece is meticulously handmade.

Negozio Olivetti by Carlo Scarpa (Venice, Italy 1958)

I added this building to my list because it exemplifies the flawless integration of interior and architectural design. When I first visited the Olivetti showroom in Venice, designed by Carlo Scarpa, I was speechless. The cinematic use of natural light flooding the space, the combination of raw concrete and stucco with hand-carved timber and brass, and the seamless transition between furniture and structure, all contribute to a masterpiece that serves as both a reference and an inspiration for all my designs. Futuristic and timeless at once, it captures elegance and drama at its finest.

Premium Collection, Kave Home

In recent years, I’ve closely followed the evolution of the Spanish brand Kave Home. This year, they launched the Premium Collection, a collaboration between the Kave design team and renowned studios from Europe. The collection features a series of meticulously crafted chairs and tables that remind me of classic pieces of the Midcentury Modern, Scandinavian and Japanese movement. The collection emphasises environmentally friendly materials and high-quality craftsmanship. My favourite piece is the Granite armchair, which will be featured in my latest project in Point Piper. The The collection offers exceptional design and quality construction at an affordable price.

Sydney-based Chilean interior architect José Chandia founded his design firm in 2021, following the completion of his Master’s in Design at UNSW. With more than ten years of experience across academia and entrepreneurial ventures in the design industry, Chandia has worked in diverse markets, including Chile, Italy and the USA. His international background and expertise led him to Sydney, where he has since focused on refining his career in high-end residential interior design, delivering exceptional and tailored spaces Team. His expertise in innovation and luxury design allows him to craft thoughtful and aesthetically striking solutions for every space.

For more inspirational selections from leading Australian designers, check out the Designer Selects series.