The intersection of historical and contemporary.
Flow and pause.
Instinct and intelligence.
Ethereal and bold.
It’s here where you’ll find us.
ABOUT US
We Are Helena Nikola Interior Studio
But you can call us HNIS.
We create custom homes to tell the story of a life well-lived.
By reshaping residential design as a piece of art not just to live with, but to live in, we blend emotion with design, detail with craftsmanship, and rhythm with space to tell design stories layered in experiences, intelligence, and history.
Our interior design work extends into the realm of interior architecture and we can take care of everything from the design of your kitchen, to completely redesigning your home and placing all your furniture for you before you move in.
The Ethos We Live + Create By
Partnership
We’ll be beside you to laugh, brainstorm, and awaken your vision of ‘home’. Because truly emotive design is born from collaboration. The coming together of multiple perspectives. And many shared coffees.
Integrity
We bring our knowledge, imagination, and signature éclat to tailor-make a design story that speaks to who you are and what you believe in. Our work is a reflection of who we are as people.
Honest. True. Thoughtful.
Avant-Garde
We challenge the status quo. Welcome the unexpected. And work beyond the field where your wildest dreams grow. We push the boundaries of convention to create a home as original as you are.
“Bring your humanity to your art. Bring your art to your humanity.”
— Maxime Lagace
BEHIND THE BRAND
Meet Helena Nikola
Loving mama and creator of warm, unique interiors, passionate about good design never going out of style.
Helena Nikola, founder and creative director of HNIS, is a Perth-based interior architect and designer creating multi-layered and emotive design stories with her signature flourish of élan.
With academic training in Interior Architecture and over 17 years of hands-on experience working alongside some of Australia’s most renowned architecture firms, Helena brings intelligence, technical brio, and invaluable insights to every collaborative partnership.
But what makes Helena truly one-of-a-kind?
Is the way she blends her specialised design knowledge with her innate instinct, zestful passion, and a certain je ne sais quoi.
“Design is so layered. Just like life. It’s about the experiences that unfold in a space – that is what makes a home truly special.”
We shape our homes. Then, our homes shape us.
True Living
At HNIS we believe that the essence of beauty is in the act of living. And true living? Happens at home.
Where memories, conversations and keepsakes combine into the kind of beauty that isn’t just seen but felt. And it’s the search for that beauty that makes Helena so passionate about creating homes that grow with you.
Depth Through the Details
Our design language is a comprehensive one.
Through layering earthy materials and colour, delicately balancing form and function, and always finding a way to play with natural light – we create spaces that gracefully reject trends and tell a compelling story through a stimulating sensory experience.
Because truly good design?
Isn’t anchored in fashion. It’s a language in itself.
From their mouths, not ours…
Helena’s personal style, product knowledge and attention to detail are second to none.
We’ve worked with numerous architects and interior designers over the years and now, Helena is the only one that we trust to design our properties.
We look forward to a continued, exciting and inspirational working relationship with Helena in the future.
— STEVEN R
Never again will I hesitate to work with an interior designer — or should I say Helena.
After working with an architect for 2 years, Helena took one look at our plans and transformed our home to work for our family. It was like magic.
Engaging her was the best investment we made in our home and I shudder to think how bad it would have been without her. You’re a star H.
— CHRIS J
We worked with helena to renovate our home after the arrival of our third child — we needed some more room to move.
The end result blew us away.
We’re so grateful that we found Helena and after working with her for over two years feel lucky enough to now call her a friend.
You better believe that if we are ever crazy enough to do this all again, she’ll be our first call.
— JESSICA O