About Design First
Lic No. 404633

Alex Milne, BFet Grad Cert Mgmt
Alex is an accredited kitchen and bathroom designer, a licensed builder (BSA Lic No 404633). Alex’s degree in Further Education and Training, and Cert IV in Workplace Assessment and Training equip him to design and conduct construction industry-based training programs. He has worked in his own business in the housing renovation industry for more than twenty years. These days, Alex puts all that experience into specialised design solutions, including design for people with disabilities, and elderly people. Alex is also an accredited Greensmart Designer who aims to provide the most resource efficient design in every circumstance.

Alex aims to put something back into the housing industry by serving in a variety of volunteer capacities; he sits on a number of industry-based committees and is currently the President of the Housing Industry Association, Queensland.

Jillian Merlot, Dip Arts (Interior Decoration & Design)
Jillian is a qualified and experienced interior designer/decorator whose experience in the industry spans many years. Her past projects range from selection of interior and exterior finishes and colour schemes and the design of kitchens, laundries and bathrooms, to total design concepts for whole of house renovations. Additionally, Jillian has a Cert IV in Workplace Assessment and Training and has spent some time in recent years teaching in a private tertiary college.

Her combination of practical experience with artistic flair enables her to create living and working spaces that uniquely meet clients’ needs.

Our Mission
To provide an independent, complete design and project management service to domestic clients that demonstrates high integrity, is client-focused and offers value for money.

Our Vision
To be the first choice for domestic clients seeking design and project management services and to be highly esteemed by our clients and the broader housing industry because of our integrity, our cutting edge knowledge and our ability to provide outstanding design solutions that meet and surpass market expectations.

Our Logo
The square in our logo indicates the care and precision we use when completing your designs. By placing the words “design first” part in and part out of the box, we are indicating that we always strive to “think outside the square” when coming up with the solutions to your needs.