When I started top3 by design 24 years ago, it was born from a deep passion for beautifully designed objects. The small things, perfectly executed, intentional pieces that brought joy to everyday life. I was 26, a new mum, and genuinely frustrated by how hard it was to find design that had meaning in Australia. Design that solved problems, told stories, and stood the test of time, which I kept seeing overseas.
I didn’t come from a furniture empire, but looking back, it looks like I built one brick by beautiful brick, object by considered object, sofa by exquisite sofa. Top3 was never about selling stuff. It was about curating a better way of living, buying less and buying better and sharing design that sparked emotion and made people feel something.
A love for the little things has grown into something far bigger. Today, top3 by design is a unique, visionary space. A destination for interiors, furniture, and spatial storytelling. Our showrooms aren’t just places to shop. They’re environments created to uplift, inspire and discover. Because I believe great design doesn’t just make a room look good — it transforms how you feel in it.
Embraced by the Bauhaus philosophy... "A great environment fosters great thinking". And if we can change someone’s mood, or shift their energy the moment they walk in the door... then we’ve done something truly meaningful. That’s the work I want to do. That’s the life I want... to help inspire. To build one space, one story, and elevate one person at a time.
But let’s be clear, this has never been a solo effort. I’ve had the privilege of connecting and collaborating with so many incredible designers and interior gurus along the way. I truly love that part of what I do, and genuinely look forward to each workday... spent engaging with these design-led individuals, no matter how big or small their practice may be!
Together with my husband, Bernd (a trained German designer with a mind like an architect and the patience of a saint) we created something rare: a business driven by curation, not just commerce. A retail experience that feels human, not transactional.
Our youngest son, Zac, is now a driving force behind our e-commerce. He is sharp, strategic, and bringing his own energy to the brand. And our eldest, Jay (and his girlfriend Jenn) now based in London, cheer us on from afar. They’re a huge part of this journey in their own way... and that means everything to me.
And then there’s our team - the brilliant, design-loving crew who live and breathe top3 every single day. From the showroom floor to behind the scenes, they are the heartbeat of what we do. Their creativity, care, and commitment shape the experience we offer our clients. So, to Team Top3: a heartfelt thank you! Thanks for having my back - on the good days ... and the tough ones.
I am proud of our history, top3 became the Australian launchpad for brands like Muuto, back before “Scandi” was even a thing in Australia (and they tell us we are now their largest Australian retail partner). Over the years I have enjoyed hanging with Tom Dixon in Milan. A particularly special moment was hosting an intimate lunch for Rosita Missoni lunch in our Sydney Showroom.
And more recently, we’ve forged exclusive partnerships with the best of German design, Rolf Benz, Freifrau, Janua, Moeller Design, Draenert, Decor Walther, not by chance, but because they saw that I understand and foster the essence of thoughtful, enduring design.
Through these very personal relationships I have now had the pleasure to meet with Sebastien Herkner (from Offenbach, near where Bernd grew up in Germany!) , Birgit Hoffmann + Christoph Kahleyss, Stefan Knopp (the wood whisperer!) and young up-and-coming designer, Ilja Huber.
Beyond the showroom, I’ve spent over a decade as a judge on the Australian Good Design Awards, helped shape the early seasons of Australia by Design on national TV with Mike Chapman, and even crossed the globe to be a guest judge at the US International Design Awards in Chicago. Not for the spotlight — but because I care deeply about where design is going. And I’m not afraid to ask, “That’s beautiful… but why does it exist?”
And of course, like in any business, here’ve been setbacks, - like surviving the GFC, closing our beloved Canberra showroom during Covid, and the constant pushback from shopping centres that never really understood what a true design destination could be... But the vision? That’s never wavered.
Because I’m not just building a business.
Together, we’re redefining how we live with design.
In lots of ways I feel I’m only just getting started,..
If our journey has inspired you, or if a piece you’ve discovered through top3 has brought lasting joy to your home, we’d be so grateful if you’d share that story.
Here are three simple ways you can help us grow and keep doing what we love.
