Instagram story viewer> @hehedesign> Posts

Erin Fairmaid | Interior Designer

@hehedesign

5.4K

followers

1392

following

▫️Designing collaboratively within the Passivhaus, high-performance and sustainable building space 🌿
▫️Creating colourful, functional + cosy homes 💚

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

Erin Fairmaid, founder and interior designer at HèHè Design @hehedesign crafts emotionally attuned homes, shaped by routine and mood—translated into sustainable, Passive House–minded interiors.

Tap the link in bio to discover more ✨

Photo 1 @bechaycraft
Photos 2 – 10 @marniehawson
Interior styling @hannahnowlan by @hehedesign

3

18

a year ago

H E Y 🌟

I’ve recently ticked over 3000 followers which is a pretty exciting milestone to have reached! Thanks so much for following along and for the support I receive from you. It continues to drive me in doing what I love! ✨

I’m on a mission to transform spaces into functional, cosy homes for my clients, getting to know how they live and move through their world, to curate a design that ticks all their functional boxes, addresses their aesthetic preferences and put a little Hè Hè spin on it! 💫

I’m a full service interior designer. This means something different to everyone, but to detail what that means for me and my clients is this:

I work on new builds, extensions and significant renovations, with a particular passion for passive house, high performance and sustainable building and I simply love working alongside a dedicated team of collaborative peers, using a client and team centric approach to help guide our clients on their design and build journey. These projects can be anywhere from 6/12/18 months out from an anticipated build start date. A typical project would see me work with clients from the very beginning, reviewing floorplans, developing concepts, refining designs, curating specifications, detailing documentation, and then consulting through the build phase to ensure integrity of the design implementation. As a solo designer, I can only take on so much at a particular time, so getting in early is key. Good design also takes time, so having time up your sleeve to explore options and make decisions is a really great way to do things. We have fun with the process, making the design journey enjoyable and taking the stress out of what can be an overwhelming time. We’re in this together every step of the way! 💛

And when I’m not designing, you’ll find me indulging my love for cats, baking, exploring the great outdoors, attempting to build/nurture/grow a veggie patch, and cherishing quality moments with family and friends. And reading interior design books because let’s face it, I’m obsessed 🤩 by @hehedesign

147

12

3 years ago

I recently had a chat with two of my absolute favourite people who are making such a positive impact in the building industry.

I’ve had the pleasure of working on multiple projects with @sanctumhomes and @carlandconstructions and I’m so grateful for the value they place on working with interior designers. It can often be such a challenge to explain to people what role we actually play and why we are such an important part of all successful projects.

I’m so thankful for their continued support and approach to collaboration with all professionals on their projects. And of course for the platform to perhaps help educate people on what we do, in what I can only describe as a really confusing industry full of misinformation and lack of regulation.

Thank you to anyone who has had a listen, and if you haven’t, go check it out along with their other episodes! They’re awesome 💫 by @hehedesign

65

6

2 years ago

Not every home we work on needs to be a certified Passive House, and sometimes the smartest move is finding the sweet spot.

Our Young high efficiency upgrade is a good example of that. The goal here wasn’t certification, it was getting the biggest gains in comfort and running costs for the budget, without pulling the whole house apart to get there.

We double glazed every window, insulated the external walls and battened them out, and went back through the ceiling and underfloor to fix the insulation that was missing, slumped or never installed properly in the first place. Then we went looking for the draughts, sealing up the gaps and leaks that let warm air pour out all winter, because insulation only does half the job if the air is still leaking straight past it.

The finished fit out is beautiful, but most of the work that makes this house perform is the stuff you’ll never see behind the walls, floors and ceiling. The difference you feel walking inside is huge, because the house holds its temperature, the draughts are gone and the heater doesn’t have to fight to keep up. taken in Seddon by @hehedesign

99

8

5 days ago

Kangaroo Ground feels like its own world; a quiet retreat tucked amongst rolling hills and removed from the chaos of city life.

The original home on this property had its own distinct charm, but it was in need of some serious love. Extensive termite damage throughout ultimately provided an opportunity to rethink the home from the ground up.

Alongside Sanctum Homes, we set about creating a new home that could not only sit comfortably within its setting, but perform exceptionally within it too.

Sanctum Homes brought their extensive experience in high-performance building to the project, creating a highly insulated and carefully sealed home designed in response to the realities of the Victorian climate. Thoughtful orientation, glazing, shading and ventilation all work together to create a more stable and comfortable internal environment throughout the year. Our focus was on creating functional spaces to support the day-to-day life of a busy family, incorporating warmth, character and a sense of place within this high-performance building envelope.

It is in stark contrast to the leaky old home that once stood here. An airtightness result of just 1 ACH on blower door testing demonstrates the level of care that went into the build, helping to create a home that is more comfortable, energy efficient and resilient to the changing climate conditions.

Aesthetically, the home takes its cues from the simplicity of the Australian farmhouse, with natural materials, lots of texture and a restrained palette allowing us to create a warm and inviting family home that feels like it has always belonged here.

A home that feels distinctly of its place, while quietly delivering a much higher level of comfort, performance and durability for our clients who are so lucky to call this home.

This is another wonderful collaboration with Sanctum Homes, with whom we make building better, beautiful.

#australianinteriors #highperformancehomes #interiordesignmelbourne #australianfarmhouse #countrystylehome taken in Kangaroo Ground, Victoria by @hehedesign

33

13

10 days ago

A bit of a vulnerable post. I haven’t intentionally posted anything on social media since February. It’s been one hell of a year personally and quite frankly, I have been finding social media (and life) increasingly overwhelming, to the point that it simply hasn’t factored into my day to day in a meaningful way. I have so many beautiful project photos and creative decision making processes I’d love to share, but each time I go to share something, I come up against a huge cognitive block and truthfully, I simply haven’t had the mental energy to put into it. I understand that most people don’t read captions, but I still want to post things that offer value and perhaps even inspire. Instead, I’ve been struggling to find words, and channeling all of the creative energy I have into the projects that are on my desk and in the pipeline, and boy there’s some incredible projects taking shape in both pre-construction and construction. One day I hope to find a way to share a bit more of that, but it’s been hard to show up on social media without needing to expend energy I simply don’t have. Anyway, here are some photos of our beautiful Kangaroo Ground project in collaboration with @sanctumhomes one of my biggest supporters and who I’ll always be so grateful to for our continued collaborations in building better homes that are beautiful to boot 🤎

Interior Design: @hehedesign
Builder: @sanctumhomes
Photography: @marniehawson
Styling: @hannahnowlan

#interiordesignmelbourne #countrystylehome #countrykitchen #kitchendesign #neutralkitchen taken in Kangaroo Ground, Victoria by @hehedesign

3

48

14 days ago

Perfect start to the week, working alongside not one but two of my favourite designers...@hehedesign and @nikkiweedoninteriors !

This Preston beauty was fortunate enough to have @hehedesign responsible for the design and @northern.buildingco working on part of the build. Can't wait to show you the pics from this epic day. Xx taken in Preston, Melbourne by @hehedesign

83

19

2 months ago

People often say building for friends is a recipe for disaster.⁠
⁠
I disagree.⁠
⁠
Over the last five or six years, we've built more than half a dozen projects for friends of mine and my wife. ⁠
⁠
Kyneton is one of those projects.⁠
⁠
Built for our friends Kat and Chris, this Certified Passive House continues to remind us why we do what we do. Every winter, we visit and experience firsthand what high-performance building really means. While it's cold, damp, and often just 5°C outside, the home remains comfortable, healthy, and consistently warm inside.⁠
⁠
This project was another great collaboration with Sven @maxadesign_ and Erin from @hehedesign. We've worked together on multiple projects, and every time the result is something special.⁠
⁠
The best part of this job isn't handing over the keys.⁠
⁠
It's coming back years later, sharing a coffee with friends, and seeing that the home is still doing exactly what it was designed to do.⁠
⁠
That's pretty hard to beat.⁠
⁠
Be part of the community demanding change in the building industry. Get in touch via our website (link in BIO)⁠
⁠
@sanctumhomes We build beautiful, high performing, energy efficient homes.⁠
⁠
🌿Certified Passive House Tradesperson⁠
🌿 Founding Co-Director @sustainablebuildersalliance⁠
⁠
#sanctumexperience⁠
⁠
Builder: @sanctumhomes⁠
Design: @maxadesign_⁠
Interior design: @hehedesign⁠
Painting: @luxacoat⁠
Photography: @marniehawson⁠
Styling: @bellebrightproject⁠
@kynetonhouse⁠
@passivhaus_australia by @hehedesign

74

2

4 months ago

Wrapped entirely in timber, this stairwell stops feeling like a mere circulation zone and starts feeling like an intentional part of the home’s architecture.

A decision to fully envelope the stairwell in timber was made to bring an injection of warmth right into the heart of this home. Timber lining boards on the walls, a simple timber handrail detail, and timber stairs make the connection between floors feel immersive, warm and grounded in a space that is so often overlooked. We saw an opportunity here to create a design statement, and we love how it turned out 🤎

-

Interior Design: @hehedesign
Builder: @sanctumhomes
Photography: @marniehawson
Styling: @hannahnowlan

#interiorarchitecture #stairdesign #timberstairs #australianinteriors #considereddesign taken in Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia by @hehedesign

54

1

7 months ago

The downstairs level of our Treetops project was designed to work hard. It functions as a work from home office day-to-day, but it can also operate as a fully self-contained apartment when needed. Adding a compact kitchenette and bathroom means guests or clients aren’t relying on the main amenities upstairs. It is thoughtfully resolved; enough to make a coffee, prepare something simple, and feel independent without compromising the feel of the space. All while still embodying the aesthetic essence of the main family home. Good design is always about function, and how we can make our spaces work harder for us 💚

-

Interior Design: @hehedesign
Builder: @sanctumhomes
Photography: @marniehawson
Styling: @hannahnowlan

#australianinteriordesign #adaptivespaces #melbournehomes #considereddesign #flexibledesign taken in Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia by @hehedesign

41

4

8 months ago

Our Treetops project was all about contrast. We leaned into darker tones in the ensuite, right down to a black painted ceiling to really embrace the moodiness of the room. This is in striking contrast to the lighter main bathroom which promotes a bright and airy aesthetic. Both using similar materials - terrazzo and mosaics - just at opposite ends of the colour spectrum. And the same matte black accents throughout make both spaces feel united, yet completely different. Which is more your vibe? 🖤🤍

-

Interior Design: @hehedesign
Builder: @sanctumhomes
Photography: @marniehawson
Styling: @hannahnowlan taken in Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia by @hehedesign

55

5

8 months ago

I love bathrooms that feel like a giant hug when you walk in. Running floor to ceiling tiles makes all the difference in creating that vibe, with the whole room feeling wrapped and grounded rather than broken up. In this bathroom, the skylight washes the space from above with natural light, keeping everything soft and bright without glare. My biggest piece of advice is to never skimp on tiling. It creates one of the biggest impacts in a home, and what a beautiful way to start and end the day!🤍

-

Interior Design: @hehedesign
Builder: @sanctumhomes
Photography: @marniehawson
Styling: @hannahnowlan taken in Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia by @hehedesign

63

3

8 months ago