Designing Hotel Bathrooms That Feel Like Home, With Abi Interiors’ Co-Founder, Luli Farrell
Creating high-quality, thoughtfully designed products that stand the test of time lies at the heart of Australian architectural fixtures company ABI Interiors. As one of the brand’s three founding siblings, Luli Farrell has shaped ABI’s creative identity, from its showrooms to its award-winning product ranges. Her natural eye for form, materiality, and atmosphere has elevated bathrooms and communal spaces from purely functional zones to curated, immersive design experiences.
For Luli, design is as much about feeling as it is about function. “Design begins with feeling — how do I want to feel in this space? How do I want to feel when I’m using these products?” she says. “Every choice, from the curves of an edge to how light falls across a surface, is about enhancing that experience. Light is everything: it’s what gives you that warm embrace when you walk in. Colour, artificial lighting, even the path of the sun — all of it matters.”
This sensory approach shapes ABI’s products and the spaces in which they live. “How can we soften the curves to make something more comfortable to touch? How does the light hit a surface? Every decision should evoke comfort, calm, and connection,” Luli explains.
ABI applies this philosophy consistently across its brand, showrooms, and products, ensuring every detail feels deliberate and intuitive. What began as a specialist brassware brand has evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem of brassware, aesthetic basins, highly functional showers, and premium accessories, enabling designers to craft interiors that feel cohesive and purposeful. “When we launched ABI almost a decade ago, coastal architecture was at its peak on the Gold Coast,” Luli recalls. “Our open, light-filled homes resonated globally. People in the UK, New Zealand, and beyond were seeing these airy, open-plan spaces, so different from the compact, colourful homes they were used to, and they wanted that.”
While ABI has evolved beyond its early coastal aesthetic, openness, light, and connection to nature remain central. “Australian living is aspirational: large open-floor plans, abundant light, and a sense of ease,” Luli says. “Having our products globally lets us see how people live in spaces differently, and that perspective informs how we design everything.”
Behind ABI’s aesthetic lies quality craftsmanship and innovation. Advanced PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) technology ensures exceptional colour durability, while stainless steel reinforces longevity. Each finish, from brushed brass to brushed gunmetal, is refined for tone, texture, and tactility, which embodies Luli’s belief that simplicity endures. “There’s so much beauty in simplicity,” she says. “When you pull back all the unnecessary, the end result never fails.”
In hospitality, where bathrooms and communal spaces shape the guest experience, ABI’s philosophy translates into intuitive, sensory, and timeless products that enhance comfort and aesthetic impact. Luli draws inspiration from architecture, travel, and natural materials. “I love blending sharp and soft forms, new and old materials,” she says. “Architecture often leads global trends, and travel makes you appreciate how people live and move through space differently. This global exposure teaches us to design smarter, more thoughtful products.”
Natural materials provide another rich source of inspiration. “The rawness of timber, the texture of stone, the light on limestone in Croatia — these are all opportunities to translate nature into design. Inspiration is everywhere; you just have to be present to appreciate it. Design starts with seeing, really seeing, what’s around you.”
As ABI expands internationally, Luli reflects on the brand’s approach. “We’re constantly evolving and improving. We watch design, fashion, and tech trends, but we never chase them,” she says. “Our ethos is deeply rooted in simplicity, emotional connection, and intuitive design. Whether it’s a hotel or a home, we strive to create spaces that feel aspirational, inspiring, and timeless.”
For hospitality, that means designing spaces that feel homely, where guests move comfortably and naturally. “In our showrooms, we always aim to evoke the feeling of home,” Luli says. “When you feel at home in a space, whether it’s a hotel, restaurant, or bathroom, you feel more relaxed, connected, and at ease. That’s the power of thoughtful design.”
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