Darren Palmer in town to talk all things design at Vero Galleria

Posted on 2 June, 2026

He’s one of Australia’s most in-demand interior designers, authors, and television personalities, best known as a judge on the Nine Network’s reality renovation series, The Block.

Now Darren Palmer is bringing his stylish eye to Canberra.

In town for a special event on all things design with a focus on the use of marble and stone in the home, Darren will be making an exclusive personal appearance at Vero Galleria in Queanbeyan on Saturday 13 June.

He is passionate about stone and loves the concept of Vero Galleria, which is the only marble and stone showroom in the region to display full-sized slabs – allowing members of the public, as well as design teams, to come in and experience the magic of each piece of stone.

Images courtesy of Yourtown (note this is not Darren’s kitchen)

For Darren, the idea of touching the marble and seeing its full size is a massive gift for the homeowner or renovator.

“In my experience, natural stone is pivotal to the design,” he says, with colour and texture setting the tone for other elements of the room.

“There’s thankfully such variation that you can either work with an existing palette of materials and colours in cabinetry and link it to a natural stone that suits, or you can start from the perfect slab of stone and build your colour and material palette around it. In either instance, natural stone, especially those with colour and pattern variation, is something that easily elevates a design.”

In Darren’s mind, there is no room that does not benefit from the elevation of marble or stone.

“Bathrooms, kitchens, joinery, furniture, fireplaces, hearths, staircases – really anywhere that you want natural movement and colour variation. The only place I would suggest it’s not appropriate is where you expect something that’s soft to touch, like a bedhead or seat for example.”

“Whether you’re aiming for interest, a trend focus, or something monumental, the stone you choose says a great deal about your home’s aesthetic and adds much more than most other singular materials or inclusions can add.”

Having been in the trade since founding his own design studio in 2006, Darren has amassed considerable knowledge about approaching an install, particularly the all-important kitchen bench.

His list of Dos

• Choose with your heart, what excites you or feels right, is right.
• Take a risk with natural stone. Nothing delivers natural, colourful beauty quite like it.
• Look for variation in colour and pattern. It allows stone to patina over time without looking worn.

And Don’ts

• Settle for plain. It’s safe, but safe rarely excites.
• Over-seal or over-maintain natural stone in an attempt to preserve it. Patina is part of the value, not a sign of neglect.
• Match your benchtop too precisely to surrounding materials. Stone earns its place by standing on its own.

Having recently finished his luxe Bondi home, Darren’s preference leans towards drama.

“In my own home, I used a pink and beige stone that added a layer to the scheme nothing else could have delivered. In other projects, I’ve worked with stones rich in browns and greys and burgundy, white and ochre. I love most colours in natural stone, though blue and green need careful navigation, but can look beautiful in the right slab.

“What I’ve found consistently is that for every palette, however simple, there’s a natural stone that will elevate it. You just have to know where and how to look.”

Darren will be in conversation with HerCanberra’s Emma Macdonald at Vero Galleria on Saturday 13 June from 2 pm.

The event is free but guests must register their place here.