In Conversation With: Caroline Choker – ACME Design Studio

For the first entry in our In Conversation series, I took a moment to reflect with Caroline Choker — co-founder and creative director of ACME, the architecture and interior design studio behind some of Australia’s most beloved spaces.

I’ve long admired the way Caroline and her partner, Vince Alafaci, approach material and light. They bring a softness and understated opulence to even the most expansive spaces, many of which have become industry icons.

Take Gimlet, for example — my favourite restaurant in Melbourne, and my go-to for a special night out. I love sitting at the bar, signature cocktail in hand, watching the people and the room hum around me. There’s a sophistication and warmth to it – full of life, even in a space as grand as the 1920s Cavendish House.  That’s the feeling ACME captures time and again – spaces that make you feel held. 

So naturally, I was thrilled to collaborate with Caroline and Vince when we connected through the Supernormal Brisbane project — my first with ACME, and their fourth with restaurateurs Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann. It was a project shaped by landscape, climate, and rhythm — and a chance to explore new materials and ways of working with light and form.

Creating authenticity in a space where every detail is carefully curated is no easy feat. But ACME has a unique ability to balance proportion, tone and texture to craft spaces that feel deeply considered but never overworked. It’s a kind of alchemy — and a joy to be part of.

SN: You’ve described Supernormal Brisbane as “an evolution in storytelling”. 

What story were you trying to tell, and how did that shape the design?

CC: Brisbane marked a new chapter in the Supernormal story — it was a continuation, but also a departure. We wanted it to reflect the subtropical riverfront setting, while still capturing the origins of the brand. For it to feel original yet familiar. The space unfolds as a journey, where rhythm, light and atmosphere all guide and define the experience from the moment you arrive.

SN: This is your fourth collaboration with Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann. 

How did it feel different from earlier projects?

CC: Over time we’ve built a deep trust and a beautiful dialogue together, like a kind of shorthand. We understand their sensibility and work to capture their vision and bring it to life. In Brisbane, that meant evolving the language of Supernormal, making it feel more attuned to the riverfront landscape and climate so that the interiors, the menu, the service all felt like it belonged together, working in harmony.

“Lighting is everything… It sets the mood and tone, making a room feel welcoming and alive” 

SN: The Fibre Sconce Series we developed for Supernormal was a bit of a departure for me — working with a new material and considering how the light could settle into the  landscape to create the right mood within the restaurant. How important is lighting to you in shaping a space like this?

CC: Lighting is everything and something we really harness in our spaces. It sets the mood and tone, making a room feel welcoming and alive, or creating contrast and energy. In Brisbane, the triple sconce became more than just a functional piece. It was sculptural and cast a beautiful glow and warmth at eye level, giving the room both grounding and presence. It’s these moments that give a space atmosphere.

SN: How do you create harmony across different materials in a large hospitality space like this?

CC: Harmony comes from composition. It’s about how materials meet, and how they are experienced through a space rather than focusing on any single element in isolation. Instead, we think in layers: texture, proportion, light. We look to create rhythm through tactility and balance, and natural materials and lighting are central to that — they seem to have their own rhythm. When this works, the space feels connected, calm and whole. That’s when people feel most at ease.

SN: How does your process shift between residential projects and hospitality venues like Supernormal?

CC: The heart of it is the same — we’re always designing for how people feel in a space. But a home is more intimate, more about the individual, while a restaurant is about collective energy, without overwhelming the senses. The scale, pace and function change, but the focus on atmosphere and storytelling stays constant. Above all, it has to feel authentic, never staged.

SN: What design values are guiding you most strongly now?

CC: Authenticity and longevity, always. We’re shaping spaces that can evolve over years, so we’re drawn to materials that age well — natural and sustainable finishes that are chosen for the character they gain and integrity that remains over time. We also look for balance. A room should be filled with energy, but also allow for stillness, giving people space to pause and connect.

 SN: The Fibre Sconce Series we developed for Supernormal was a bit of a departure for me — working with a new material and considering how the light could settle into the  landscape to create the right mood within the restaurant. How important is lighting to you in shaping a space like this?

CC: Lighting is everything and something we really harness in our spaces. It sets the mood and tone, making a room feel welcoming and alive, or creating contrast and energy. In Brisbane, the triple sconce became more than just a functional piece. It was sculptural and cast a beautiful glow and warmth at eye level, giving the room both grounding and presence. It’s these moments that give a space atmosphere.

SN: How do you create harmony across different materials in a large hospitality space like this?

CC: Harmony comes from composition. It’s about how materials meet, and how they are experienced through a space rather than focusing on any single element in isolation. Instead, we think in layers: texture, proportion, light. We look to create rhythm through tactility and balance, and natural materials and lighting are central to that — they seem to have their own rhythm. When this works, the space feels connected, calm and whole. That’s when people feel most at ease.

SN: How does your process shift between residential projects and hospitality venues like Supernormal?

CC: The heart of it is the same — we’re always designing for how people feel in a space. But a home is more intimate, more about the individual, while a restaurant is about collective energy, without overwhelming the senses. The scale, pace and function change, but the focus on atmosphere and storytelling stays constant. Above all, it has to feel authentic, never staged.

SN: What design values are guiding you most strongly now?

CC: Authenticity and longevity, always. We’re shaping spaces that can evolve over years, so we’re drawn to materials that age well — natural and sustainable finishes that are chosen for the character they gain and integrity that remains over time. We also look for balance. A room should be filled with energy, but also allow for stillness, giving people space to pause and connect.