Outer’s first ever dining collection has arrived in Australia just in time for summer. To celebrate the launch, they teamed up with Queer Eye’s design expert Bobby Berk to put a refreshing twist on dining al fresco. Aussies can now enjoy the most innovative outdoor dining furniture that doesn’t compromise on comfort, durability or sustainability. It’ll set you back at least 10 grand though!
Outer is on a mission to solve all of the pain points of traditional outdoor furniture. The brand is raising the bar by creating sophisticated, durable and sustainable outdoor living products that last a lifetime – and this dining collection is no different.
Perfect for the harsh Aussie climate, the new dining tables are made from aluminium and teak that won’t overheat, ensuring a pleasurable outdoor dining experience. The table is also outfitted with the innovative OuterShell protective cover to prevent debris from building up when the table is not in use.
Expecting a large party? Outer’s extendable dining table has you covered, with built-in expandable leaves to accommodate up to 12 guests. To perfectly complement the tables, the director’s chairs are a timeless design that are made with all-weather Textilene fabric that repels water and resists mildew and fading.
On the collection, Bobby said: “I like that Outer has taken the best elements from their seating collection, like the clean lines and timeless materials, and translated it into an equally stylish dining collection. These pieces have a lot of versatility and could work on a small deck, a large patio, or even a balcony. And the best part: the table has a built-in extension so that whether you are dining for just your family or a larger group everyone has a seat at the table.”
Terry Lin, co-founder of Outer, said: “We’re thrilled to launch our dining collection in Australia. Not only was this collection designed to withstand the infamous Australian weather, but also to make it easier for people to spend more time dining, working or relaxing outside.”
From his perceptions of Australian style to how we can feel happier at home, I thoroughly enjoyed my Zoom interview with American interiors icon and my favourite Queer Eye host, Bobby Berk.
Photo by Luke Fontana, courtesy of Bobby Berk
Bobby Berk’s a global name thanks not only to being the face of his own successful design business and furniture range, but one of the popular hosts of Netflix show Queer Eye. His first and only visit to Australia however, was to film an episode of the makeover show in the NSW farming town of Yass, sparking many riffs on their catchphrase “Yass queen!” That was clever!
Queer Eye season 5
While he may not have see the best of Australian interior design on that trip to Yass (which later experienced a tourism boom!) in 2018, Bobby says he loves our style, and thinks it’s come a long way.
“It used to be that people I met from Australia said please bring your stuff over here because we don’t have anything good design wise! But in the last five-to-10 years, I’ve noticed some of the best design coming out of Australia.”
Bobby mentions “beautiful” brands like Jardan as standouts, and says he’s been insta-buddies with stylist Jason Grant for years. “I absolutely think Australia’s at the forefront of design with some beautiful neutral and natural palates, it’s quite like the relaxed California vibe to me.”
His own furniture line has been stocked here at Max Sparrow since the start of the year and has been well received. “They do a great job with the design of their stores and I love the way they present my pieces. That’s really important to me.”
He hopes to come back when he can, revealing Australian followers are the third largest in number on his social media.
Of course, I had to ask Bobby for some tips for our everyday homes, especially with us all spending so much more time in them since Covid. For many, this has meant being frustrated with our spaces not working as well or looking as good as they could! “I think the best thing you can do first is get on top of your organisation,” the self-confessed minimalist says. “Often people think they need to add to make their homes better, but in reality they need to get a lot of stuff out of there! So start organising and donating what you don’t need. Start small with something like your junk drawer and it will be less overwhelming.”
Bobby says bathrooms are commonly frustrating rooms for people with overflowing medicine cabinets and a mess of unused products. “We start and end the day in these rooms and if they’re a mess, that’s reminding us day in, day out, that we haven’t achieved what we want to, and makes us feel like failures.”
Other top tips for making your home happier include splurging on quality bedding (even when he was “dirt poor” Bobby says he saved up to buy quality linen). “It’s so important. It’s so nice to crawl into a bed that feels like a luxury hotel bed at the end of the night. It’s so mood-boosting.”
Another tip is to move around things you already own, like art, to other rooms in your home, to create a fresh feel.
Bobby, who usually has a hectic travel schedule for Queer Eye, admits that he hasn’t found spending so much time at home lately a chore. “I’m pretty low key. I’m certainly not someone going to Hollywood events, and bars and nightclubs aren’t fun anymore.” While Bobby loves his fans, being so well known means it’s hard to spend time with his friends in public places and actually get to talk to them, because he gets approached so much. Added to that the pressure of not wanting to seem unfriendly or ungrateful, it can be a tough balancing act.
That precious time off has become increasingly hard to come by as the popularity of Queer Eye has exploded across the globe. And Bobby admits being the name and face of his brand can be overwhelming at times. “I felt that way even before Queer Eye,” he says. “I always said when the store became successful that I wish I’d come up with a different name,” he jokes. “But when your brand is your name, if it fails, there’s no coming back from it.”
Equally, when the show started, he still tried to keep across every aspect of his business before quickly realising that just wasn’t possible anymore. “I had to know every little thing. I micro-managed and had no life at all. But now I have a great team and I’ve learned to let go.”
Queer Eye season 5
One thing that never gets tired is his part in making over the homes of the people featured on Queer Eye, revealing he gets the same budget, no matter the space, so can often have more fun in small spaces. “These can often be more satisfying because you have to get creative, plus a little bit of design can make a big impact.”
The show’s makeovers are living proof that our surroundings at home go further than just aesthetics and can really affect how we feel. “If you’re surrounded by chaos, it’s chaos in your mind, ” he says. “It’s so important for our mental health to keep our homes together and nice, and being surrounded by things we love can really make us feel happy.”
Queer Eye season 5
Bobby says his own home in LA (before moving there in 2018, he lived in New York for many years) is minimalist and neutral. “There’s not much colour. It’s a lot of ivories, black and browns from timber.” While his husband, surgeon Dewey Do, used to give him carte blanche with decorating their home, Bobby says as he’s exposed him more to design, he has started having more opinions! “He didn’t used to care,” he says. “Now I’ve learned to give him three options I like, so he always has a choice!”
Bobby is excited to be giving a keynote speech at this year’s virtual Decor + Design Show (Decor + Design 360 from 28 September) but only wishes he was coming here for real!
Last but not least I had to ask Bobby: is it normal to (like me) cry at every episode of Queer Eye? “Even I sometimes cry when I watch them,” he says. “We aren’t with each other all the time throughout the show, so there are many moments we don’t see. We still watch the show like everybody else and it’s very much a surprise.”
Me interviewing Bobby from LA via Zoom (the new normal!)
Bobby Berk, Abigail Ahern & Martyn Lawrence Bullard at Decor + Design 2020
It’s been heartening to see many of the industry’s favourite events embrace technology and go virtual for 2020 as we all struggle with the uncertainty of where Covid-19 will end.…
Queer Eye: Bobby Berk launches range in Australia
While I love Queer Eye, I usually find myself fast forwarding to the interior makeover segment of the Netflix show. Do you relate? The personal style overhauls are always interesting,…
It’s been heartening to see many of the industry’s favourite events embrace technology and go virtual for 2020 as we all struggle with the uncertainty of where Covid-19 will end. I was so excited to hear yesterday that some of my absolute favourite international interiors celebs will be involved in Decor + Design’s seminar series.
Bobby Berk, Martyn Lawrence Bullard and Abigail Ahern
Bobby Berk, superstar interior designer, best known as one of the fab five on makeover show Queer Eye, is one of them. I am a massive fan. Huge. Speaking of fan girling, UK designer Abigail Ahern is also in the lineup and you all know how much I adore her rule-breaking decorating style. And the amazing Martyn Lawrence Bullard probably needs no introduction to interiors addicts!
American interior designer and Queer Eye starBobby Berk
I’m also delighted to announce that Interiors Addict is a media partner of the event again, in what is now a long-running partnership. Usually attended by 11,000+ visitors at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, this year the show will become a virtual interiors trade marketplace, Decor + Design 360, before returning as a hybrid event in 2021.
Held in conjunction with the Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF), the virtual show be packed full of design influencers, a Trends Networking Lounge and inspirational design products from both exhibitors and the VIVID Design Awards.
Abigail Ahern’s stunning moody kitchen in her London home
I particularly love how D+D attracts amazing speakers from around the globe for the International Seminar Series because it’s great to tap into what’s going on elsewhere in the world, especially when Australia is so physically far away from places like Europe, where many trends start. And with none of us able to travel internationally to soak up those global influences, it’s more important than ever.
You can book tickets (from $50 to $85 each) for the seminars already, which also feature great Australian talent like Greg Natale and James Treble. Another long-running show favourite is trends forecaster Victoria Redshaw from the UK. And I’m looking forward to hearing from Hong Kong hotel designer Andre Fu.
The virtual show will run from Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October. Registration is free and still open to members of the trade only, despite being online. Book before midnight on 12 August to save 15% on seminar tickets.
While I love Queer Eye, I usually find myself fast forwarding to the interior makeover segment of the Netflix show. Do you relate? The personal style overhauls are always interesting, but there’s something about the way the show’s resident interior designer Bobby Berk creates magic out of mayhem, that really draws me in.
So if, like me, you’re a fan of the show, you’ll be thrilled to hear that Bobby has just launched a furniture collection with Australian retailer Max Sparrow. Promising to bring his signature brand of hip, minimal urban luxury to Aussie shores, the range features a gorgeous array of pieces including a statement bar cabinet, and a lovely olive-green upholstered bed and sofa.
Some pieces from the Bobby Berk Max Sparrow range
“I am so excited to see my designs available to Australian customers, I have long admired all the inspirational spaces and designs coming from there, and I believe my design aesthetic will resonate with Australian living,” says Bobby. And while the designer now resides in LA, he spent 20 years working in New York where he refined his aesthetic which, in our view, owes a lot to the city.
The mid-century inspired Jonsi mirror, $795, features inset brass detailing
Standout pieces include the Moller armchair, which reminds us of Thonet’s classic Bentwood chair, save for the welcome addition of tan leather and rattan detailing.
Moller armchair, $795
The Larsen sectional sofa is brilliant for its versatility – the chaise can be positioned on either side. Its textured woven fabric, together with two cylindrical bolster pillows, add an extra layer of cool.
Bobby Berk kicks back with his designs including the Larsen sectional sofa ($3995), Arne cocktail table ($1295) and Arne end table ($1095).
For the bedroom, the Kirkeby upholstered bed caught our eye, as did the matching Gehl dresser and nightstands.
Kirkeby queen bed in moss, from $2295 and Gehl night stand $1195
The Anja vanity desk is a brilliant multifunctional piece that features four drawers, and a centre desktop surface, that flips up to reveal a circular vanity mirror and interior storage area. It would be perfect for a multi-use space.
Anja vanity desk, $1695
The Bauer bar cabinet combines a graphite stain with rattan door fronts. It’s got one large lower drawer, plus two interior drawers and two adjustable interior shelves.
