A Life in Colour: Marion Hall Best

Marion Hall Best (1905-1988) was an Australian interior designer and influential figure in the Australian design scene of the mid-20th century. She was born in Sydney and began her career as a window dresser at the Anthony Hordern department store in the 1920s. She later trained as an interior decorator and opened her own design firm, Marion Best Pty Ltd, in 1935.

Best was known for her innovative use of colour and pattern, and her ability to blend traditional and modern styles to create unique and eclectic interiors. She was unashamedly modern at a time when other interior designers preferred a subdued palette and period furniture. She often claimed that “gentle soft colours … are not restful, but dreary, sapping the energy and the mind”; by contrast, “bright clear colours challenge the mind”. In the early 1950s, Best said that people were often scared of colour but that “home decoration should be based on colour – one exciting colour stimulating other equally exciting shades”.

Best was also a champion of Australian design and worked to promote local talent throughout her career. She was a founding member of the Society of Interior Designers of Australia and played a key role in establishing the Australian Design Centre in Sydney. In addition to her design work, Best was a collector and patron of the arts, amassing a significant collection of Australian art and design and supporting emerging artists and designers through her gallery.

She sourced and stocked furniture from Australian designers such as Gordon Andrews, Douglas Snelling, Grant and Mary Featherston, and Clement Meadmore, as well as international names like Eero Aarnio and Harry Bertoia. Best was the first in Australia to offer iconic products from Herman Miller and Marimekko in her stores.

Best’s legacy continues to inspire and influence designers today. Her work was ahead of its time and her willingness to experiment paved the way for future designers. The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney held a retrospective of Best’s work in 2019, highlighting her contributions to interior design and her role as a promoter of Australian art and design.