About Us

We are passionate about the work we do and excited about how it benefits our clients.

Our Story

Traditional Values

Meli Studio’s success is proudly founded on a traditional values system of integrity, respect and hard work. It’s not good enough to just deliver. We do what is required to a standard we can be proud of, motivated by quality outcomes and by providing an exceptional service experience that has seen long-term client relationships and unprecedented referrals.

Led by the highly experienced and awarded Julie Ockerby, our shared values bond an incredibly seasoned and talented team of design professionals and project managers. With training and accreditation in arts, interior and spatial design, coupled with acute commercial intuition – we intrinsically understand the market, not only what our clients expect.

With more than 20 years’ experience, Julie has worked with some of the most innovative global designers and hoteliers. Originating her career as Director of Marketing Australasia, opening the Sydney office for Design Hotels in 1999 - Julie worked closely with the esteemed founder, Claus Sendlinger. Playing a pivotal role in interpreting and rolling out the consumer experience for the portfolio of signature and boutique hotels globally, Julie thereafter became highly sought after for her ability to unlock the marketability of boutique hotels.

Combining her background as a Registered Nurse, together with her experience in the hotel industry, Julie’s approach is unique. She has transformed the aged care living industry for the better by pushing the boundaries to achieve better outcomes for our ageing population, and as a highly regarded leader, has become a change agent who sets the benchmarks for her peers.

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Integrated and highly personalised service is synonymous with our brand.

Our Misson

Interior design at Meli Studio is focused on people and how they live. Our goal is simple and yet challenging; to make the world a better place one space at a time. We achieve this by being innovative, transparent and collaborating in our client partnerships. We never lose focus on our end user.

Our Values

Meli Studio incorporates the values of people + partnership + performance + pleasure + planet into everything we do on every project. Our responsible and ethical operating style is the cornerstone of who we are and how we conduct ourselves in our business relationships. We are people helping improve the lives of people that will enjoy our created living environments.

Our Vision

As a multi-award winning studio we are focused to maintain, develop and expand our loyal client base to a wider geographic and global audience. This will be achieved by continued exceptional service in delivering attractive and practical living environments on time and on budget for our network of professional developers and project managers.

Our Approach

Our innovative approach balanced with our experience in the design industry means that you can be assured of a professional project that embodies your dreams and vision when creating inspiring surroundings. Through our unique and personalised processes we will take care of the important elements of expectation, process, managing time and budget and delivering outstanding results.

When it comes to interior design our focus is on you and the space that you wish to create, to suit your exact needs and requirements.

Our Process

We commit and we deliver, every time, because our proven project delivery process is absolutely transparent and highly collaborative, at every step. Our approach is balanced with creativity and function in order to guarantee that our client’s vision is realised through smooth project delivery.

  1. Meet & Agree

    Project Brief & Concept

  2. Collaborate

    Research & Program, Design Direction

  3. Inspire

    Ideas, Mood & Feel

  4. Concept

    Design Presentation

  5. Specify

    Design Scheme with Specific Features

  6. Documentation

    Documentation & Design Development

  7. Develop & Construct

    Finalise Design Specifics, Collaborate with Builders & Fabricators

  8. Procurement

    Tender & Purchase Management

  9. Installation

    On-site Installation

  10. Completion

    Interior Styling & Handover

Our Success

Integrity and Passion

Meli Studio is an award-winning interior design firm. For over 15 years, we have delivered excellence through innovative and sophisticated projects that are always on time and within budget.
Integrated and highly personalised service is synonymous with our brand. We collaborate on all design principles to ensure a truly special outcome that hinges on enhancing lifestyle. Particularly in our industry leading aged-care work, we are passionately driven by bringing dignity and refinement to the residents.

Our Awards

Our passion for innovative and sophisticated design has resulted in Meli Studio establishing a solid reputation and becoming a highly awarded design firm on the global stage.

Meli Studio was awarded with ‘Design Firm of the Year” by the Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards 2020 which recognises the firm’s culture and values for design excellence in the aged care space.

Our projects have also been acknowledged for excellence in design with recognition from DrivenxDesign, IDEA Awards, Workspace Awards, Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards, and The Urban Developer Awards.

In her own right, Julie Ockerby has been recognised as a global change agent and thought leader. In 2018, Julie was coveted with the Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards as a Global Trailblazer in recognition of her multi-disciplinary leadership in ageing, and inspiring change in her home country. Most recently, Julie is listed as a Top 50 Small Business Leader by Inside Small Business, Australia.

Globally, Julie was acknowledged as ‘Entrepreneur of the Year – Business & Professional Services 2019’ receiving a Gold Stevie by the International Business Awards. In that same year, Julie was also awarded a Silver Stevie for ‘Woman of the Year’. The judges, a global panel of 250 prominent business leaders, described Julie as having ‘an extraordinary humanistic idea’ with ‘enormous impact on the future of all people’ and Meli Studio as an ‘exemplary business giving its clients dignity as well as value’ for our work in the Senior sector. In 2018 in NYC, Julie was the only Gold Stevie award recipient for Australia, bringing home the Women in Business Awards, Female Entrepreneur of the Year Gold Award for Australia, New Zealand & Asia.

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What Our Clients Say

Julie and her firm have completed a number of well received and significant aged care projects, leading a dynamic and well respected team. Innovative and holistic solutions are often put forward in response to traditional problems, which translate to comfortable, restful and thoughtful environments focused on the individuals wellbeing.

Our work together has challenged the traditional aged care environment, effectively re-setting the benchmark for future developments.

Mark Boffa, Principal Boffa Robertson Group

When I first started working in the aged care sector, buildings were not resident centric and the aesthetic was not considered a critical part of the equation. Some of these practices continue today. However, it is becoming harder for providers to maintain this model. One of the main people responsible for this positive change is Julie Ockerby.

Julie faced a lot of resistance, as she does today, but her passion and vision are irresistible. She inspired others to follow suit and what started as a small insurrection in a vast sector has become the standard by which others judge their work. It is true that others also played a part in this revolution that has benefited so many of our elderly, but at the forefront of the barricades back then, and continues today, was Julie Ockerby.

Jason Falinski, Australian former politician and Member of Mackellar

Julie’s commitment and hard work has been a testament to her success, she has brought extensive expertise in healthcare, hospitality and interior design to the ever-growing and adaptive residential aged care industry.

Julie is able to effectively adapt her designs to meet her clients briefs and operational models within set budgets. Witnessing peoples’ reactions and responses to her well thought out and planned homes is both inspiring and rewarding to be a part of.

It goes without saying that Julie has changed the industry for the better, she has continued to push the boundaries and continues to strive and achieve a better outcome for our ageing population.

David Arguelles, Director, Linear Project Manamement

In my more than 20 years in the aged care sector, I have rarely come across a business partner of Julie’s energy levels, customer focus and alignment to our Vision.

With her uniquely diverse background experience across hospitality and healthcare and being a registered nurse, Julie has been able to respond to our Design Vision in both challenging and broadening our thinking on the ways it can be achieved.

David Armstrong, Non-Executive Director, former CEO of Allity Aged Care

Meli Studio has outfitted the interior of Estia Health’s three premium, greenfield homes. As Head of Sales, I have personally worked closely with Julie and her team and can commend them on their outstanding service delivery. They are responsive and always step up to the challenge. I have requested some extraordinary last minute requests from the Meli Studio team and they never disappoint ! Julie is keen to support the sales team to ensure the homes are presenting at optimum for open day events. Julie has personally worked long hours to ensure all is in play for key events. I highly recommend team Meli Studio for their professionalism, agility and keen eye for detail.

Tammy Ridgeway, Group Head of Client Relations, Estia Health

It is not often that one experiences the extraordinary ... working with Meli Studio was a milestone and truly joyous experience in my life. I needed to transform my late parents' Mosman apartment into a dream home - and the result is beyond all my expectations!

Throughout the whole process and renovation, the team at Meli Studio were beyond outstanding in translating this brief into a reality. Their knowledge, ideas, range of quality builders, sub-contractors, trades people, design, colour, hard and soft furnishings, lighting, window treatments, art installations and more ... is exceptional. Their project management skills are exceptional and to the highest standards.

The result is simply the best and extraordinary! The apartment fills me with joy, happiness, sentiment and comfort. The functionality, ambience, design and decor are just superb.

How lucky am I? The outcome is beyond expectations and a masterpiece with a soul.

Jill Eggerton, Mosman residence

Julie and her team have exceeded our expectation of how a well-built aged care facility can be further transformed into a welcoming, elegant, warm, cosy, and beautiful nursing home.
They had understood our needs from our cultural perspective and the final product reflected this.
Throughout the design and delivery process, they were able to provide cost effective solutions, in an extremely demanding timeline, without compromising on the quality or aesthetics.
They certainly did not fail to “WOW” us.

Ada Cheng, CEO Australian Nursing Home Foundation ( ANHF)

Meli Studio presented well in the tender process, proving on paper that they had the experience and skills
to complete the task at hand.
When it came to completion of the work, they did not disappoint. I found their team to be professional and friendly, willing and able to help when needed.
I was impressed with how well their proposed schemes worked. I consider Meli Studio as my ‘go to’ interior designer.

Michael Robinson, Development Manager NSW, Regis Aged Care

Julie’s dedication to achievement
and ‘can do’ attitude coupled with fresh ideas, understanding and meeting the expectations of the clients brief, requirements and outcomes make Meli Studio a pleasure to work with.
I would not hesitate in recommending them Meli Studio.

Dane Nolan, Senior Development Manager, Estia Heath

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