Details are our poetry—quiet, soulful gestures that speak volumes. We craft with care, curating a tableau for the life you want to live.
WHO WE ARE
Eleanor Kirkham’s journey into interior design began with a passion for fine arts. After studying Art History at the Australian National University, she gained experience in the arts sector through roles at the National Gallery of Australia and the Australian Institute of Architects.
Driven by a desire to practice design, Eleanor retrained in interior design and subsequently completed a Master of Architecture. Over the past decade, she has worked with leading Canberra architecture firms—including Clarke Keller, Collins Caddaye, and Stewart Architecture.
In 2021, Eleanor founded STUDIO TABLEAU to pursue her vision of crafting bespoke residential interiors and boutique hospitality and retail spaces. She brings a curatorial eye, a passion for detail, and a deep appreciation for both heritage and contemporary design.
Eleanor holds a Bachelor of Arts (Art History and Literature), a Diploma in Interior Residential Design, and a Master of Architecture. She was awarded the DJAS Graduate Prize and shortlisted for the Cox Student Architecture Prize.
OUR DESIGN SENSIBILITY
We love exploring the interplay between old and new, heritage and contemporary; marrying unique one-off pieces that tell stories of place, of lives lived - antiques, vintage collectables, treasured keepsakes - with the latest in contemporary Australian and international design. We champion Australian artists and makers, often using their work as a conceptual anchor around which the interior design takes shape.
Our inspiration is drawn from diverse sources: fashion, art, landscape design, place. We have a particular affinity for heritage homes, unearthing the character and soul of the home and how this speaks to its residents.
Equally, we relish the challenge of working on new builds, crafting something utterly new, bespoke and unexpected for our clients and potentially collaborating with other established architects and designers.
A STUDIO TABLEAU interior is always elevated—sophisticated, eclectic, and deeply bespoke. Rich in materiality, texture, and detail, yet never too precious. There is space for joy, for whimsy, for the unexpected. We design with soul, crafting spaces that reflect the lives within them.
We think big picture, but we’re most passionate about the details, the exquisite junctions between joinery materials, the dialogue between objects...how does a blown glass 1930s Louis Poulsen light speak to a contemporary Jardan Valley sofa upholstered in rich green velvet? Stone washed linen curtains with sisal carpet paired with the Curbusier Wiggle Chair?
Wherever possible, we advocate for investing in quality – whether it’s natural finishes and fittings that gracefully patina over time or iconic design pieces that endure and can be passed down through generations.
OUR SERVICES
We view interior design and decoration as inseparable elements in creating a truly finished home. That’s why our full-service offering integrates both—from concept development through to documentation, construction, procurement, and installation.
FULL-SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN & DECORATION
Our INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICE takes projects from project initiation and concept design through to tender documentation, and construction services. This includes a vision for the interior space that encompasses all elements of the design, from spatial planning and flow, to joinery design and documentation, through to the selection of all finishes and fixtures...right down to the door handles and skirting profiles! We work closely with builders, trades and suppliers during the tendering and build stages to help bring the design vision to life.
Our INTERIOR DECORATION SERVICE includes detailed furniture and styling floor plans, along with the selection of key pieces such as furniture, rugs, lighting, soft furnishings, window treatments, and decorative objects. We liaise directly with our trusted trade suppliers, organise quotes, and—if engaged for Design Management Services—can oversee procurement, delivery, and installation. Where possible, we leverage our supplier relationships to secure interior design trade discounts.*
With Director Eleanor Kirkham’s background in Art History and her experience at the National Gallery of Australia, we bring a curatorial eye to every project. Our Art Curation Service allows us to source original artworks by collaborating with galleries, artists, and makers—ensuring each piece is meaningful, authentic, and tailored to your home.
STANDALONE DESIGN SERVICES
We also offer stand-alone Interior Design or Interior Decoration services if you need assistance with only one aspect our design service. This can be a great option if you have already engaged an architect but need help with the interior design or interior decoration side of the project. We recommend engaging our services at the outset, along with the architect and the rest of the consultant team, to ensure a collaborative approach and cohesive design outcome.
THE ‘SIGNATURE DESIGN SESSION’
We offer a standalone Signature Design Session if you are not sure you need or want the full Interior Design & Decoration Service or Standalone Service.
We tailor these sessions based on a client questionnaire and initial one hour phone or video consultation. You then receive a design package tailored to your needs. Examples may include:
Kitchen, Bathroom and Ensuite material palette suggestions
Loose spatial planning review for kitchens and bathrooms and possible internal renovations
Decoration advice and suggestions for specific room styling
Identifying what is and isn’t working about your current interior scheme or spatial planning
*Interior design discounts are at the discretion of STUDIO TABLEAU.
DESIGN COLLABORATIONS
For larger projects requiring architectural design—such as new builds or extensive renovations involving planning approvals, construction documentation, and contract administration—STUDIO TABLEAU collaborates with the talented Sydney/Canberra practice, FOUNDSITE ARCHITECTURE.
While STUDIO TABLEAU and FOUNDSITE ARCHITECTURE are independent design studios, we work in close association when engaged on the same project. FOUNDSITE ARCHITECTURE leads the architectural scope, while STUDIO TABLEAU focuses on interior design and decoration. This collaborative approach ensures a cohesive and integrated outcome from concept to completion.
We are closely aligned with FOUNDSITE Director Imran Radin’s design sensibility and approach, both studios having deep respect for carefully detailed architecture and interior spaces.
Imran is a registered architect in Canberra and NSW, with extensive experience across residential and commercial projects.
VISIT FOUNDSITE ARCHITECTURE.
CONCEPT RENDERS BY FOUNDSITE ARCHITECTURE. COPYRIGHT OF FOUNDSITE ARCHITECTURE REPRODUCED WITH THEIR PERMISSION.