Practice

State of Kin is an interdisciplinary design practice delivering bold and considered pro­jects across the residential and commercial sectors. Our team of architects, interior de­sign­ers and construction professionals bring their diverse expertise to projects of all scales, interpreting the client’s vision through a fine-tuned sensibility for outcomes that set new standards of excellence.

Our work is built on a foundation of research, detail, and expansive thinking. We start by understanding the personal, cultural and geo­graphic context of each project, from which we build a design framework that considers the client, the site features, and the typology of the site surrounds. Close dialogue and collab­oration across our team of experts occurs at the outset and throughout our pro­jects, enabling us to test big ideas early in the process, opening up new possibilities and ensuring smooth execution.

Architecture

Our architects are driven by a simple ethos: parameters create possibilities. A rigorous process of due diligence and development defines the parameters of each project we undertake, fostering the space to dream, to test experiment­al thinking and to find new ideas. Once our vision is defined and tested, we en­gage with the relevant authorities and navi­gate the planning process, before our projects are brought to life through detailed technical drawings and the work of trusted master builders who translate our concepts.

Interior Design

Our interiors team works in tandem with our architects, both responding to and inspiring project briefs through considered design decisions. We start by envisioning the func­tion and experience of a space, which is then brought to life through materiality, lighting and spatial organisation. From the broad strokes to the fine details, we favour unexpect­ed materials, artisanal quality, and thoughtful curation of furniture, objects and artwork. We want the spaces we create to feel cohesive, liveable, and intentional.

Construction

Our construction arm brings decades of know­ledge and experience to each project, providing confident solutions for ambitious design and the polished refinement that sets our work apart. Our expertise spans project management, quantity surveying and site supervision, which we employ alongside our long-standing relationships with skilled, reliable tradespeople, specialists and artisans. With more than 90 years of combined ex­perience behind us, we relish the opportunity to tackle new challenges and expand the capa­city of our craft.

People

Founded in 2016, State of Kin is a dy­namic team of architects, designers and construction professionals who bring passion and rigour to every project.

• 

  Ara Salomone

  Director / Architecture

  Ara Salomone is a registered architect with 20 years of experience. Before co-founding State of Kin, she led a team of design pro­fessionals in a leading Perth-based practice, working on residential and comm­ercial projects locally and internationally. Ara’s design approach balances her creative vision with an expert command of practical ele­ments to produce confident and unexpected outcomes. She applies a refined point of view to a range of projects, honed through her experience working on commercial and residential buildings of varying scales. As our director of architecture, Ara oversees all architectural projects from concept to completion.

• 

  Alessandra French

  Director / Interiors

  Alessandra French is an interior designer with more than 15 years of experience working across the residential and comm­ercial sectors. Growing up around her family’s long-standing construction com­pany, she gained exposure to the industry from a young age, and went on to cut her teeth in the fields of styling and visual merchandising before pursuing interior design. This background enables Alessandra to draw on influences from a range of dis­ciplines, balancing a distinctive flair with timeless design choices and a sharp eye for art, objects and furniture. As co-founder of State of Kin, Alessandra heads our interiors department and sets the overall creative direction of the practice.

• 

  Steve Salomone

  Director

  Steve Salomone is a registered builder with more than 40 years of experience. Prev­iously, he owned and operated a prominent Perth construction and development com­pany for several decades. Steve’s wide-ranging expertise encompasses all areas of construction, from project management and site supervision to quantity surveying and compliance. He brings this knowledge to State of Kin as an invaluable strategic advisor. Steve’s technical expertise is match­ed only by his long-standing appre­ciation for art and design, ensuring a cohesive, practice-wide commitment to realising creative vision with­out compromise.

• 

  Gino Salomone

  Director

  Gino Salomone is a trade-based builder with more than 50 years of experience. Having previously owned and managed several cons­truction and building companies with his brother Steve, he has extensive know­ledge of organisation skills, construction practices and an in-depth understanding of Perth’s building industry. Gino leverages this on-the-ground experience in his expert man­age­ment of State of Kin’s cons­truction arm.

• 

  Donny Salomone

  Registered Builder & Construction Manager

  Donny Salomone is a registered builder with more than 20 years of experience. His career stems from spending time on building sites with his father, Gino, from a young age. With expertise in construction manage­ment and site supervision, Donny has a well-honed ability to orchestrate large teams to success­fully deliver complex, large-scale commer­cial and residential projects. In addition to his work on the ground, he has an eye for detail and understands the intricacies of bringing a design concept to life. Donny enjoys collaborating with the design team to explore different forms of architecture that push him to develop new ideas and ways of working.

• 

  Massimo Salomone

  Construction Management

  Massimo Salomone is a highly qualified construction management pro­fessional. His expertise is in scheduling, estimating and contract admin­istration, ensuring our pro­jects remain on track from start to finish. Having completed his studies in both cons­truction management and architecture, Massimo also has a strong understanding of design, making him an invaluable part of the State of Kin team. In addition, he holds qualifications in safety, health, management and quality assurance, ensuring every project adheres to Australian standards and reflects the highest level of craftsmanship.

• 

  Amy Clark

  Senior Designer

  Amy Clark has been a practising interior designer since 2006. With a back­ground in industrial design, she brings a unique pers­pective to all levels of a project, from spatial planning to finer details such as joinery and cabinetry. Amy’s work is shaped by an inter­est in how people inhabit and move between spaces, and she views design as integral in supporting and enhancing daily behaviours. Amy works between our architecture and interior teams, seamlessly translating their vision to artisan makers and trades, result­ing in an exacting level of finish.

• 

  Jessie Vu

  Associate Architect

  Jessie Vu is a registered architect with more than 10 years of experience. Her multi­faceted skill set sees her contribute to the strategic and creative process at every project stage. Jessie excels in translating abstract ideas, emotions and concepts into spaces that harmonise form and function. She brings a particular interest in urban design to our projects, always considering the client’s vision within a broader conversation of scale, proportion, context and connection to create buildings that are generous to their inhabitants and community.

• 

  Jemaya Thompson

  Architect

  Jemaya Thompson is a registered architect with diverse experience work­ing at practices in Melbourne and Perth. Having completed her Master’s in Sweden, she is particularly interested in examining how different cul­tures and environ­ments shape people’s daily rituals. Jemaya honed her experience in the multi-residential space before moving to a firm in Melbourne, specialising in resi­dential and hotel projects. She also has experience in interior design, giving her a well-rounded understanding of realising a project from concept to build.

• 

  Jordan Niven

  Architectural Assistant

  Jordan Niven is completing his Master’s in Architecture at the University of Western Australia. Before joining State of Kin, he spent time in south-east Asia, where the region’s diverse architectural typologies piqued his interest in design. Jordan brings his passion and attention to detail to our team, assisting with all facets of an archi­tectural project. He enjoys developing design concepts and distilling them into single gestures that guide a project’s intent from start to finish.

• 

  Elise Karageorge

  Interior Designer

  Elise Karageorge is an interior designer with a comprehensive under­standing of the design process, having completed studies in interior architecture and inte­grated design. As part of State of Kin’s interior team, Elise is responsible for concept development, sourcing unique materials and procuring furnishings. She also combines her interest in graphic design with the interior realm, explo­ring how a brand’s visual identity can be translated into a space.

• 

  Sarah Woodward

  Office Manager

  Sarah Woodward has been a practising bookkeeper and office manager for 12 years. She is a Member in Practice with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and a Registered BAS Agent. A fixture of the State of Kin team, her day-to-day role involves coordinating the office to ensure everything runs smoothly, from accounts to operations and procedures. Sarah enjoys using her exper­tise to support a creative team in bring­ing new ideas to life.

• 

  Rob Pinna

  Site Supervisor / Builder

  Rob Pinna brings 30 years of building experi­ence to the State of Kin team. His diverse background enables him to expertly manage projects and supervise sites across the residential and commercial portfolios. Rob also enjoys working directly with the architecture and interior teams to ensure construction and trades are aligned with the project vision every step of the way.

• 

  Martin Cooper

  Maintenance Manager

  Martin Cooper is State of Kin’s maintenance manager, working across resi­dential and commer­cial projects. Having previously worked as a carpenter from age 16, Martin’s attention to detail and ability to problem solve ensures every project is completed to the highest standard.

• 

  Tim Campbell

  Estimator

  Tim Campbell is a skilled estimator with more than 20 years of construction industry experience. Starting as a bricklayer, he moved to estimating and spent time in Sydney working on significant projects. Tim’s practical prowess em­powers the rest of our team to realise the technical aspects of a creative vision.

Selected Press

• 

  Australian Design Review 30 Under 30 Judging Panel

  State of Kin was announced as part of a group of experts and industry stalwarts selected to join the panel for Australian Design Review’s ‘30 Under 30’ program.

• 

  We’re So Passionate About ‘Bringing the Soul Back’ to Perth

  “We need more passionate young forward-thinking designers in Perth creating beautiful things. And it’s important to be bold, be smart and let people educate you.”

• 

  Australia’s Top 50 Interior Designers, Architects, Product Designers and Artists

  Our vision centres on innovation, momentum and craftsmanship. Each project is formed from its own nucleus of insight, and tended to with vitality, perception and zeal. We’re passionate about delivering expressive, contemporary spaces, and we focus on the experience of users within the spaces created, reflecting a distinctively character­istic outcome.