With an atelier approach, Studio McGilp has been transforming Australian homes since 1952.
Providing high-end, individually tailored residential interior design and decorating services, Studio McGilp is a powerhouse. Spearheaded by Alisha McGilp, this proud Australian business is one of the longest family-run furnishings and interior companies in the country. “I am the third-generation director of the McGilp family business,” says Alisha, Studio McGilp’s director and principal interior designer. “We have more than 70 years of collective expertise in all aspects of interior design and decoration.”
An interior spatial planning and interior detailing specialist, Studio McGilp works collaboratively with architects, builders and all trades, bringing comprehensive knowledge of interior planning and forward thinking to ensure each interior fitout is considered and implemented during construction, rather than as an afterthought.
Studio McGilp handles the project management for new residential builds and renovations, as well as providing kitchen, bathroom and joinery design. Alisha and her team take care of it all. With a strong focus on incorporating special and unique soft furnishings into each project, Studio McGilp consider the furnishing response to be of equal importance as the hard design component in creating a cohesive finish. “We are specialists in automation and concealed window furnishing systems for both internal and external applications,” says Alisha. “We have extensive experience in the finer detailing of soft furnishings including custom made window furnishings, upholstery work and furniture restoration, new furniture, procurement of curated artworks and decorative interior pieces and lighting.”
Furthermore, Studio McGilp’s iconic design studio in Kew houses a rare and extensive collection of artisanal fabrics, wallpapers and interior products which the family business has been developing for more than 70 years. “Some of my earliest childhood memories are around my love of colour and beautiful fabrics,” Alisha recalls. “I used to sit in the McGilp Furnishings showroom as a little girl and admire all the beautiful fabrics and wallpapers. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be surrounded by this beauty for the rest of my life. I suppose it’s in my blood, and it has certainly always been my passion.”
Founded in 1952 by Alisha’s grandfather, Robert Alexander McGilp, the company’s inaugural moniker was “McGilp Furnishings”. Under Robert’s leadership, the company quickly became one of the first specialist soft furnishings and furniture firms in Melbourne.
As a pioneer in the world of interior decoration, Robert brought distinctive interior decorating services to Melbourne and established a custom furniture manufacturing factory in Harwood Place in the Melbourne CBD, in addition to a soft furnishings workroom. Robert’s son, and Alisha’s father, Ian McGilp, became director of the family business at the tender age of 27. He ran the business successfully until his retirement in 2021, when Alisha officially took the reins after 17 years of service.
Far from being a “nepo baby”, Alisha has worked and studied hard for her position at the helm of Studio McGilp. With a Bachelor of Interior and Exhibition Design (hons) from the National School of Design at Swinburne University, Alisha has been a member of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) for more than a decade. She lends her voice as a Councillor of the Melbourne Scots society and is an active member on several private committees. With more than 20 years’ industry experience, Alisha has worked as a television set designer for the Nine Network (GTV9) and led designs for large-scale public and private corporate events. She has even mentored Interior Design students at RMIT and the Mercer School of Interior Design (now Collarts), and contributed as an admissions panel member for the Bachelor of Interior Design at Swinburne University. From speaking at careers nights to making an address with the League of Extraordinary Women, Alisha lives and breathes interior design.
For all her industry experience and higher education, Alisha cites familial fieldwork as her wellspring of inspiration. “I learned my most valuable lessons from working for my father,” she shares. “He taught me how to relate to clients with dignity and respect. He taught me all the intricacies of design principles and decoration detailing that no course could ever possibly cover. ”
Committed to providing individually tailored responses to every client brief, Alisha and the Studio McGilp team are equally skilled at approaching contemporary, period and heritage homes and welcome all individual aesthetics between.
Alisha plans to continue creating inspiring interiors across Australia, as well as tackling international projects. Indeed, her passion seems boundless. “Design is transformative and for this I will always love being involved in a discipline that helps people achieve their creative desires,” she reflects.
For more information