Gregory Mellor Design Wins Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year 2023

WORDS Gina Dionisio PORTRAIT Hayley Nixon PHOTOS Greg Cox (Kalk Bay House, Zwaanswyk); Elsa Young (Victoriaa Court); Henrique Wilding (Sunset Cove)

Cape Town-based interior design firm Gregory Mellor Design has been named as the winner of the prestigious Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Awards 2023. 

Founded in 1996 by Martin Waller of the esteemed global design house Andrew Martin, the Andrew Martin Interior Designer of the Year Award is the highest honour an interior designer can achieve on an international level.

Interior design icons such as Kelly Hoppen, Axel Vervoordt, Thomas Pheasant, Nicky Haslam and Jamie Drake, are all previous recipients, with Gregory Mellor now joining this esteemed group of winners. Gregory is just the second South African (and African) to win the prestigious Award, making this a momentous accomplishment for the African design community.

With a global portfolio spanning more than two decades, he has developed a penchant for bringing comfort and craft to the fore.

Reflecting on being awarded the coveted Andrew Martin Interior Designer of the Year Award, Gregory says: “It is undoubtedly a crowning accomplishment to be acknowledged with this wonderful and esteemed accolade, and for us to humbly join the ranks of our long-admired design heroes. We are genuinely pinching ourselves in disbelief… and we are thrilled. It is also an opportunity to showcase what the interior design community can achieve here at the southern tip of Africa and, importantly, to be able to help shine a light on the incredible workmanship and quality of the suppliers and workshops with whom we collaborate.”

He continues: “We focus on how our clients want to LIVE in their space so that the interior relates comfortably in all ways – to its inhabitants and the context. To achieve a timeless quality, we aim to work with authenticity and produce an authentic result. I hope our work encourages, enhances or contributes to the lifestyle of our clients. We have a predominantly traditional approach to our work but are unafraid to incorporate disparate elements. We are a happy and dedicated team; everyone gives their all with passion and integrity. I think this is felt intrinsically in the work we produce.”

Andrew Martin’s founder, Martin Waller, presented the Award at an exclusive ceremony held in Johannesburg on 7th November. “Gregory Mellor’s super relaxed look is so much more difficult to achieve than it looks. Effortless style requires discipline and precision. Mellor nails it,” he says.

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