Smac! Shona McElroy’s story in design

From a Paddington studio to the streets of Paris, with the odd Irish rural pub in between, the founder of Smac Studio shares her inspiration in design.

Smac! Shona McElroy’s story in design

Photo by Dave Wheeler.

Timothy Alouani-Roby

BY Timothy Alouani-Roby

July 28th, 2025

Tags: architecture, design, hali, Hali Rugs, Hospitality, hospitality design, interior design, interiors, ireland, Paris, podcast, Shona McElroy, SMAC Studio, stories indesign, sydney, The Commons

Listen on Apple here.

Listen on Spotify here.

Having launched her own practice at a relatively early career stage, Shona McElroy discusses her journey through the design world (so far) in this podcast episode. Indeed, the question of when and how to launch one’s very own distinctive design studio is a topic she discusses at this event with Royal Oak Floors in July.

Related: Roundtable on the NSW Pattern Book

Meanwhile, Smac Studio has once again teamed up with Hali Rugs and Smac Studio for a new Icons collaboration designed to bring together elegance, personality and a confident design evolution. The collection features four distinctive designs – Vicenza, Monaco, Seville and Marseille – each available in three colours. Pictured below, the new collection will be available from September 2025.

Listen on Apple here.

Listen on Spotify here.

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