basil bangs – The Interiors Addict

9 beautiful Aussie tablecloths to liven up your home

Confession: I don’t own a tablecloth. In fact, prior to writing this article, I thought of tablecloths as the festive monstrosity that came out during family Christmas! But turns out, sometime in the last few years, they become cool, very cool! From abstract artworks to beautiful linens (and everything in between), tablecloths have become a unique way to express your personality and liven up your tabletop.

Martinich&Carran Paradise Island Tablecloth: Bringing to life the art of Melbourne based artist Rowena Martinich, this summery tablecloth is full of turquoise, frothy whites, apricot and pink. Printed on Belgian linen, it retails for $290.

4 Leaf Clover Ficifolia Corymbia Tablecloth: The perfect way to add a uniquely Australian touch to your table, this tablecloth celebrates the beauty of our native flora and fauna. Designed and made in the NSW Southern Highlands from 50% linen and 50% cotton, it retails for $230.

Aqua Door Designs Black Ink Splatter Tablecloth: The Brisbane brand is dedicated to creating unique and colourful homewares the traditional way – by hand. This tablecloth features black ink spatters, screen printed on off-white linen. Coming in two sizes, prices start from $159.

Linen House Nimes Olive Tablecloth: Stone-washed and ever-so-soft, this pure linen tablecloth is perfect for casual or formal settings and will soften beautifully over time. Available in three sizes and a range of colours, prices start from $99.95.

Alabaster Trader Indian Summer Tablecloth: This tablecloth has been hand block printed in India with a delicate floral paisley design. It strikes the right balance between neutral and interesting and is made from 100% Indian cotton. $79.

Bonnie and Neil Kooka Waratah Rose Gold Tablecloth: Known for their botanical motifs, bright patterns and tributes to Australiana culture, every product is produced by hand in their studio in Melbourne. Made from 100% oat linen tablecloth, this tablecloth features a kookaburra and waratah design in rose and gold. Available in two sizes, prices start from $230.

Dandi Eucalyptus Tablecloth in Mood Indigo: Inspired by the beautiful round leaves of the Silver Dollar Eucalyptus, this tablecloth is printed in Sydney on 100% cotton. It is available in a white and snow colour variation, plus three sizes. $89.95.

AURA Home Vintage Stripe Tablecloth: As timeless as it is chic, this charcoal tablecloth is luxuriously tactile and woven from the highest quality linen (60%) and cotton (40%). Available in three colour ways, it retails for $149.

Basil Bangs Geometric Powder Tablecloth by Sarah Ellison: The Sydney label has married the superior Teflon technology with their beautiful outdoor canvas to create a tablecloth that looks and feels like a fabric, but with all-star stain resistance! This print has been designed exclusively for Basil Bangs by stylist Sarah Ellison and features a textural watercolour wash background. $179.

We hope you liked the list. Let us know what you would add!

How Basil Bangs made beach umbrellas seriously cool

Beginning as a passion project to re-imagine the humble beach umbrella, Basil Bangs was started by surfer and industrial designer Mike Durante and one of his oldest and dearest friends.

Both loving vintage beach umbrellas, but wanting to bring them into the now with advanced fabrics and quality fixtures and finishes, they began designing. And, as the cliché goes, the rest is history!

Five years on, Basil Bangs have now grown to include a range of high quality outdoor umbrellas, outdoor cushions and picnic rugs, whilst also servicing the commercial sector with a range of Go Large umbrellas for cafes, bars and hotels.

Now run by Mike and his wife Krista Huebner, the duo are on a mission to update all the must-have items for the outdoors. “The outdoor focus came about because we started with beach umbrellas and the rest of the range evolved from there,” explains Krista. “I think too that Australians also have such an inherent love for being outside — whether it’s by the pool, in the garden or at the beach — so why not have some gorgeous and practical products to encourage it happening more?”

Featuring fabrics full of colour and pattern, their just released Summer 15/16 collection was inspired by artists and designers they love, such as Rothko, Sottsass, Klee and Jeffrey Smart (among others) and design periods that spoke to them: “A bit of art deco-meets-Memphis-modernism, pop art and patterning.”

The collection also features a range of designer collaborations, with Kip & Co, Lucas Grogan and Gray Malin to name a few. “While we design everything ourselves, from our fabrics down to all of our fixtures and fittings, we do love partnering with artists and designers on special prints,” says Krista. “We figure why not work with the people who we admire and can do it better than we ever could (and it’s also a lot of fun!).”

The collaborations have also given way to some of Krista’s favourite pieces, with special mentions going to the Lucas Grogan Dome rug and the Kip & Co Bananas rug. “Choosing a favourite is like asking me to choose between my children, but I have been rocking the Dome and Bananas rugs lately so they would be in front this week. Hands down I use one of our Love Rugs (picnic rugs) everyday, either inside on the floor as a play mat, outside at the park on wet grass, or on the beach as our beach mat. I’ve also personally tested them and they’re red wine proof, so good for any adult party animal and/or cheese fiend!”

Embodying what we all love in life: laughing with friends and family, spending lazy summer days outside and beautiful design, Basil Bangs is quintessentially Australian and we love it!

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