Last Thursday saw the ninth IDEA Awards by the team at (inside) magazine, celebrated at The Ivy Room and The Ivy Lounge in Sydney. As usual, the event was sold out and the spectacular after-party continued until the wee hours of Friday morning.  Without saying too much, we may or may not be aware of a number of bleary eyed revelers crawling into work late on Friday... no naming names! Winners this year were a welcome mix of large International practices and emerging, smaller firms - a heartening indication that the Australian Interior Design Industry is very much alive and better still: thriving.  The fact that the shortlisted and winning projects ran the full gamut of budgets, scale and time-frames was proof more-so that the local talent pool is abundantly rich and fiercely creative in the face of the recent economic downturn. Having had a hand in designing the venue for the awards night itself: The Ivy, Woods Baggot celebrated their win of the "overall best design" category for the breathtaking Hilton South Wharf in Melbourne's docklands precinct. Coupled with the integrated convention center, the project had already won them the category for Best Institutional Design, Best Hospitality Design as well as The National Award for Public Architecture at the recent Australian Institute of Architects Awards.  It seems Woods Baggot have demonstrated their international design prowess with every facet of this immense project.  Capitalising on the latest in local and imported designer fittings to furnish the world class facility, Woods Baggot specified striking Ferrari red Round Bar Stools from Christophe Pillet and EMU, Italy - A punchy addition to the public bar.  As well as this, restaurants were fitted out with the Carlotta Chair from Andreu World, combining luxurious upholstered seats with fine wicker weave back rests in a timber frame.  A study in pure refinement. Luchetti Krelle were duly rewarded for their intensely productive two years since the firms inception.  Having picked up the Best Emerging Practice Award in 2009, Rachel and Stuart were back on the podium this year triumphantly but no less humbly collecting their People's Choice Award for Designer of The Year...  not bad for a two year old! Michael McCann and Dreamtime's Victor Churchill Fine Family Butcher was unsurprisingly the big Retail Design winner this year.  The incomparable project was a sure-fire winner as one of the most amazing retail fit-outs Australia has ever seen with Italian Calacatta marble stone floor and Himlayan salt brick walls. The Major Commercial Category was a win for HASSELL and their ANZ Centre in Melbourne.   The vast 84,450 sqm commercial complex was given life with stunning geometry, an uncluttered sense of space and a riot of colourful breakout areas infusing a sense of playfulness and intrigue.  Very much at home within this brief were the bd Love Bench and bd Love Lamps by Ross Lovegrove and Spain's bd Ediciones. All in all, the Awards were again a celebration of local talent and best practice.  We look forward to seeing you all next year!