As 2025 came to a close, we stepped away from the studio and into something a little more tactile, a small tradition we’ve come to love at Principle Design.

We started the day at Daughter in Law, sharing lunch across the table, with bold flavours, vibrant colour and the kind of warm, heritage-rich atmosphere the restaurant is known for. It was the perfect way to pause and reflect on the year: the projects, the wins worth celebrating, and the steady work that happens quietly behind the scenes.

From there, we leaned into a little quiet chaos with our annual Bad Santa gift exchange, a staple in the studio calendar that never fails to deliver. Strategic steals, questionable presents and great energy!

To close the day, we headed to Tuft Tea, a creative studio where we each designed and tufted our own rugs. A new medium for all of us, and one that felt strangely familiar. Colour choices, composition, texture, shape, all the elements we work with every day, just in a new form, and in a setting that encouraged play over perfection. There’s something deeply satisfying about making things by hand, watching ideas take shape in real time, and embracing the imperfect moments as part of the process.

It was the perfect full stop to a big year. It was a meaningful reminder that design is ultimately about people. The ones we collaborate with, create for, and get to build alongside.

Thank you to our team for the care, creativity and collaboration they bring to the studio every day, and to the meaningful partnerships that shaped 2025.

As we head into the Christmas break, we’re grateful for what’s been and excited for what 2026 will bring.