An independent digital magazine produced in Melbourne, Australia.
Follow Us on Our Socials!
.png){kind=icon}
.png)
.png)
.svg){kind=icon}
There seems to be a growing appreciation for homes that feel lived in rather than simply styled. Spaces shaped by the people who inhabit them, not by fleeting trends, but by the stories they quietly collect over time.
It's a philosophy Sydney-based interior designer Joss Knight and his team have built their practice around. Through STUDIOJOS, his boutique interior architecture and design studio, and his homewares brand KNIGHTLY, Joss creates bespoke interiors grounded in craftsmanship, longevity and a belief that good design should evolve with the people who call them home.
I recently spoke with Joss about designing homes that stand the test of time, the mistakes people often make, and why the best interiors are rarely the ones chasing the latest trend.
Every home has the potential to feel beautiful, regardless of budget. What's one simple change almost anyone can make that instantly elevates a space?
Joss Knight: Lighting is one of the simplest ways to completely shift how a home feels. I always encourage people to move away from relying only on overhead lighting and instead introduce softer layers through lamps, wall lights or even candlelight.
A beautiful lamp on a side table, a warm globe or a dimmer can change the entire mood of a room. It makes a space feel calmer, more considered and more lived in, without needing to renovate.
When people decorate their own homes, what's the most common mistake you see? And what would you encourage people to do instead?
Joss Knight: The most common mistake is rushing to fill a space. People often feel like every corner needs to be resolved immediately, so they buy pieces quickly rather than allowing the home to evolve.
I think the best interiors feel collected over time. I would always encourage people to start with fewer, better pieces and build from there. Understand how you live in the space first, then layer in furniture, art, objects and textiles with intention.
"A home should not feel like it was purchased in one weekend."
Your projects have a timeless quality rather than feeling trend-driven. What does "timeless design" mean to you, and are there any current interior trends you're embracing—or any you think people shouldn't feel pressured to follow?
Joss Knight: To me, timeless design is not about creating something plain or safe. It's about creating a home that has longevity because it feels deeply connected to the people who live there. It comes down to proportion, materiality, quality and restraint. If those foundations are right, a home can continue to evolve without feeling dated.
At the moment, I'm embracing texture, natural materials, warmer palettes, vintage pieces and interiors that feel more personal and layered. I think people are moving away from spaces that feel too perfect or overly styled, which I love.
The pressure I would avoid is following a trend simply because it is everywhere. If colour drenching, chrome or a particular stone doesn't feel true to you or your home, you don't need to force it.
"Good design should feel relevant to your life, not just relevant to the moment."
If someone wanted their home to feel more considered and luxurious without undertaking a major renovation, where would you suggest they invest first?
Joss Knight: I would invest in the pieces you touch and use every day. Beautiful linen, towels, cushions, lighting, rugs and a well-made sofa or armchair can make a huge difference to the way a home feels.
Luxury is not always about scale or cost. It is often about comfort, texture and detail. A room can feel much more elevated simply by removing visual clutter, improving the lighting and introducing pieces that have weight, softness and quality.
You've built long-term relationships with many of your clients, with some returning years later for new projects. What do you think keeps people coming back, and what can readers expect when working with STUDIOJOS for the first time?
Joss Knight: I think people come back because we are genuinely invested in the way they live. We're not just designing rooms to photograph well. We spend a lot of time understanding how our clients move through their homes, how they entertain, how they relax, what they value and what they want their everyday lives to feel like.
Many of our relationships begin before a client has even purchased a home. We're often involved in helping them understand the potential of a property long before the design process begins.
For someone working with STUDIOJOS for the first time, they can expect a considered and highly personal experience. We guide each project from the architectural decisions through to the final layers of furniture, art and styling. The goal is always to create a home that feels beautiful, functional and unmistakably theirs.
I also noticed Knightly, which feels like a natural extension of your design philosophy. Could you tell us a little about the brand, and leave our readers with three design principles you believe every home should have?
Joss Knight: Knightly by STUDIOJOS was created as a natural extension of the studio. Through STUDIOJOS, we're constantly thinking about materiality, texture, weight and how a home feels—not just how it looks.
Knightly allows us to bring that same philosophy into everyday pieces. Our first collection focuses on elevated bath textiles designed to be tactile, enduring and enjoyed every day.
When it comes to creating a beautiful home, I always come back to three principles:
Not everything needs to be a statement. Good design is built on proportion, restraint and allowing a space to breathe.
Texture creates warmth and depth. It's what makes a room feel inviting, layered and lived in.
Most importantly, a home should tell the story of the people who live there. It should hold memories, art, objects and pieces collected over time—not simply decorative items chosen to follow a trend.
After speaking with Joss, I found myself thinking less about trends and more about intention. Perhaps creating a beautiful home isn't about keeping up with what's new, but about understanding what truly matters to the people living within it.
Our homes are where life unfolds. They're where we gather around the table, celebrate milestones, find quiet moments at the end of the day and create memories that stay with us long after trends have passed.
And maybe that's the real luxury—not a perfectly styled room, but a home that feels deeply personal, quietly timeless and unmistakably your own.
Words by Maria Ugrinovski
To explore more of Joss Knight's work and recent projects, visit studiojos.com.au. To discover the Knightly collection, visit knightly.com.au.
As the holiday lights twinkle, Casper Magazine invites you to sparkle with a twist. Your impeccable taste and loyalty have been the pièce de résistance in our journey of showcasing the crème de la crème of conscious living and avant-garde design.
This season, why settle for the same old carols and clichés? Let’s waltz into a world where sustainability meets style, and innovation dances with daring. Our curated selection of stories and brands is the perfect accessory to your discerning palette.
Consider this an exclusive invitation: Join our subscriber list for content that's as bold and cheeky as you are. We're redefining mindful living with a wink and a nod to what truly inspires.
So, pop the champagne and raise a toast to a holiday season filled with more than just good cheer. Here’s to a new year of turning heads and challenging norms, together.
The Casper Magazine Team ❤️
