Australian designer Greg Natale creates classic interiors that are sleek, decadent and indulgent to the senses — and now we can all take a leaf out of his book. His latest work, The Tailored Interior, showcases some of his interiors and offers an overview of his design philosophy and approach. “I’m asked for advice on matters of interior design so often, and I know how overwhelming people can find the whole thing,” he says. “To me there’s a great deal of common sense to it, and when I work with clients, I try to guide them through the process step by step.”

The interior designer has what Jonathan Adler describes as “mathematical precision” in his approach to creating cohesive rooms. “I take care to curate every piece and every finish so it relates to the next and holds its own special place in the mix,” Natale says. “I hope the advice in this book can help people become a bit braver about creating their own interiors.” We asked Natale to share the nine design steps he swears by.

1. Find your starting point. Knowing where to start with your design can be overwhelming, especially when various ideas are in contention with one another. Natale suggests that you home in on one idea or inspiration, make that your starting point and from there build your concept.

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