NICKOLAS GURTLER

NICKOLAS GURTLER

Cienne Société
Nickolas Gurtler is the founder and principal of Nickolas Gurtler Office, a Melbourne based multi disciplinary interior design studio that currently works across Australia and the United States of America. With a background of working alongside fashion houses such as Gucci and Chanel, Nickolas is one to deliver high end luxury interiors with an attention to detail.

We also wanted to congratulate Nickolas on his recent win for the Interior Design Excellence Awards 2023 with his Ocean Cosmetics project, this is a huge achievement.

Join us as we deep dive into getting to know Nickolas and how he’s gotten to where he is today.
 
Image via Timothy Kaye.
 
Tell us who you are?

I'm Nickolas Gurtler, dog dad, political nerd and Francophile. 
 
What do you do? 
 
I'm the principal of Nickolas Gurtler Office, an interior design firm working across both commercial and residential sectors.
 
  
Image via Timothy Kaye.
 
How did you get to where you are now? 

8 years of hard work, sweat, sleepless nights and pure determination. I was raised in wine country Western Australia as a child. We moved around a lot and eventually back to the city. Moving all the time meant setting up our house over and over which I think contributed to my love of interior design.
 
After leaving school to pursue it as a career, I got sidetracked working in luxury fashion for Gucci, Tiffany & Co and Chanel, visual merchandising with beautiful objects - it was kind of like interior design on a really tiny scale. I decided to go back to university and study interior decorating and then commercial interior design. After I graduated, my university lecturer sat me down and told me he thought I had a unique perspective and that I should start my own business rather than work for someone else. I relocated the business to Melbourne in 2018 and am now working across the country in WA, NSW, VIC and also in the United States of America. 

What’s your best piece of business advice? 

Treat every client how you would like to be treated. Also, charge your worth and your time. Never apologise for billing for you work. 

What’s your favourite book, podcast or playlist? 

This one is so tough! I love the New York Times daily an Jonathan Van Ness' podcast Getting Curious. I collect books so I couldn't choose a favourite!

What’s your dream travel destination? 

Somewhere I haven't been? Marrakech. I'm heading back to Palm Springs in January which is one of my favourites, and of course, France. 
 
 
Entrecote, Greville Street. Image via Entrecôte website.
 
Tell us your favourite place to eat or drink? 

Entrecôte on Greville Street. 

Who is your style crush, interior or fashion? 

Dan Levy is my fashion muse. Interiors? Kelly Wearstler always. 
 
 
Cienne Plaster Side Table 1.03
 
What’s your favourite piece from the CIENNE. collection?

Cienne Plaster Side Table 1.03
 
"Rift" dining table by Andy Kerstens. Image via StudioTwentySeven.
 
If you could have one piece of furniture in the entire world, vintage or new, what would it be? 

The "Rift" dining table by Andy Kerstens is my current obsession but it changes all the time. we just designed a travertine and orange onyx bed for a project and I kind of want one for myself!
 
Find Nickolas.
 
 
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