Harley Anstee FDIA

Harley Anstee has been an Interior Design practitioner since 1963 and a member of the Nexus Designs team since 1975. Harley’s work at Nexus Designs over his five-decade career has been instrumental in establishing the fundamental principles of the studio and advancing the overall Australian design vernacular. With an approach predicated on timelessness and a passion for celebrating the beauty of our natural environment, Harley also has an expert knowledge of Australian and international furniture design and contemporary Australian art.

He has worked actively throughout his career to improve the recognition of the interior design profession and elevate its professional standards, and been instrumental in mentoring many of today’s successful interior design practitioners.

Drawing inspiration from Australia’s natural beauty he has determined the colour palettes and finishes for many Australian building products, most notably BlueScope’s COLORBOND®steel. He has also helped to develop new products and define product ranges from iconic brands such as Boral, Laminex, Dulux, Armstrong Nylex, Sheridan, Haymes Paint,  PGH Bricks, Johnson Tiles and Viridian Glass.

Harley was appointed a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia in 2007 and in 2023 he was inducted into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame for his contribution to the Australian Design Industry.

Throughout his career, Harley has co-authored books on Interior Design including The Making of a House, Living and most notably Using Australian Colour, a renowned reference book for practitioners of design that has been published in three editions.

Outside of work, Harley is passionate about gardening, cooking and his love of art particularly the Renaissance period and travelling to Tuscany, Provence and the English countryside.

Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia
Member of the DIA Hall of Fame