Megan Robinson, founder of Melbourne styling company Cooper Robinson, has drawn from her almost 20 years of experience to create CACHET — curated furniture collections transforming homes into everyday escapes.
Frank armchair
The line of small-batch interiors will release in collections that work together. Keeping it accessible and straightforward, they provide a range of future design classics that aim to stand the test of time. A smooth dispatch and delivery system from Melbourne will allow you to enjoy their new pieces in days, not months.
Sunday armchair
CACHET’s considered pieces, from modular lounges and occasional chairs through to lamps and cushions, are inspired by various design and artistic movements, and made with the best materials.
Brando side table
Megan’s vision to designing a home isn’t just about comfort, luxury, or style — it’s about creating a space that restores, rejuvenates and invigorates. CACHET looks to shine a light on how transformative a well-designed home can be for overall wellbeing, and to elevate everyday spaces in a holistic way.
Piper floor lamp
Steer collection
Megan believes that investing in design is investing in your wellbeing, and every choice you make for your home matters.
With the market for pre-loved designer fashion goods enjoying a COVID-led boom, it was only a matter of time before we saw the same thing happen in the interiors realm. Enter Collécte, Australia’s first end to end marketplace for pre-owned, authentic designer furniture. The brainchild of interior designer Melissa Giuffrida, the online platform was set up to service what Melissa says is a real need for a dedicated marketplace for pre-owned, authentic designer pieces.
Collécte founder Melissa Giuffrida
“With the flooding of cheap replicas and low-quality pieces in the market (on other platforms), consumers are confused and don’t know if they are buying real or fake or quality goods. Collécte is committed to selling pre-owned authentic designer furniture where items can be bought and sold with confidence,” says Melissa who has a real desire to support the livelihoods of designers and says that every piece on Collécte is guaranteed authentic.
The Ligne Roset Curule chair is one of Melissa’s design favourites
Her motivation to set up the platform was also underpinned by Australia’s rather concerning furniture consumption habits that see our major cities dispose of approximately 50,000 tonnes of low-quality furniture annually. “The Australian consumer has not been offered viable options on how to deal with the issue of replica furniture in the past. The online market is confusing for consumers to know what they are buying. Is the pre-owned piece real or fake? Collécte was created to solve this problem for consumers.”
The environmental impact that fast furniture poses, is becoming more and more important for consumers too. “People are much more aware of the environment and the amount of furniture that ends up in landfill. I think we are all starting to focus on quality and long-term use rather than cheaper furniture that is useless after a few years,” says Melissa.
Kartell chairs
The platform can be used easily by sellers and buyers alike. Sellers follow a simple three-step process to list a product before it gets sent to Melissa for approval while buyers can browse the marketplace, message sellers, negotiate prices, and make offers on products. Shipping and payments are organised through Collécte and local pick-up is offered where possible.
“As the marketplace is set up to be fully automated, I have kept sellers’ commissions low which means buyers will benefit from more competitive pricing. Most pieces are 50-to-70 per cent off the retail price. There are some items that are basically brand new that are 15-to-20 percent off,” says Melissa.
Moroso Klara chair
As for the most popular pieces on the site, Melissa explains that the most iconic designer items are the ones that sell most swiftly. Popular items include the Arflex Strips Sofa, USM units and Tufty-Time Sofas. “These pieces will usually sell within one to two days of listing,” says Melissa who cites the Flos Arco floor lamp, DCW Editions Mantis Wall lights and Ligne Roset Curule chairs as some of her most coveted pieces.
The DCW Editions Mantis wall light is one of the most popular pieces on the site
And while even pre-owned these pieces don’t come cheap, Melissa explains that buying low-quality pieces equates to replacing that product 10 times or more compared to investing in an authentic piece that will last a lifetime.
“When considering the investment over a lifetime, buying quality offers a much better outcome. Not only do you experience the joy of authentic design, but you also support the designers of the product and the environment. I have always had a passion for authentic design, and Collécte has allowed me to create a place where authentic design can be enjoyed by all.”
By Fiona Gavan I am an avid believer in the beauty of vintage furniture — good quality, well made and well-loved pieces that have stood the test of time and…
Three Rooms Sydney have welcomed interior stylist and furniture designer, Sarah Ellison, to their European-inspired apartment accommodation experience in Potts Point.
III Rooms Sydney combines European style apartments with discreet urban living. Sarah, Cult Design and MCM House, have each curated their own luxury apartment to accommodate even the most discerning guest. Located within an iconic heritage building on the corner of Macleay Street and Challis Avenue, the building was formerly owned by the Hemmes family and recently purchased by Potts Point local Tony Benjamin.
The concept was conceived by him and Chrissi James, who were inspired by the iconic 3 Rooms Paris – self contained accommodation curated by fashion designer Azzedine Alaia as well as The Apartment by the Line in New York and Los Angeles. Their aim is to offer a special genre of accommodation for those who appreciate the unique and perfectly imperfect detail, akin to living in an apartment in Paris or Milan.
From $650 per night, each light-filled apartment features high ceilings, original artworks, luxurious furniture and unique architectural characteristics. The interiors exude style, personality and a few design surprises to delight guests, who can even shop the look and order their favourite elements for their own home.
The newest addition, Sarahhas brought her “warm-minimalist” approach with a relaxed luxury feel which her brand is well known for. The design is informed by the location, a contemporary take on an Art Deco style, playing with the history and architectural significance of the building.
On the walls, Sarah has chosen a selection of black and white photography by Akila Berjaoui and canvas art by Saxon Quinn whilst integrating The Visuals’ metal sculptural pieces throughout the rooms and layering different tonal textures and materials. There is an obvious lean towards a more decorative, feminine vibe whilst being experimental and fun, with earthy toned rugs by Armadillo & Co.
Just beyond their apartment’s front door, guests can join the kaleidoscope of life and energy that being in the heart of Potts Point brings, moments away from Sydney’s best restaurants, new favourite French Bistrot916, the iconic Italian Fratelli Paradiso, sophisticated wine bars, stylish boutiques and bohemian coffee shops.
This hotel alternative in the perfect location, allows guests to try the latest furniture designs before they buy.
Serviced apartments Sydney: Three new design-led ones
Based on a similar concept in Paris, III Rooms Sydney has just launched, offering serviced apartment accommodation with a super stylish twist. Fittingly located in the Paris end of Potts…
Brosa is a new and exciting designer furniture retailer where you can explore Australian designed pieces online. With a great range of unique designs in premium Warwick fabrics, Brosa has made access to designer furniture easier than ever before.
The business has just launched Design-A-Bed, a simple online tool that helps you effortlessly create a bed frame that reflects your own unique style. Everything is easily customisable to your own taste with the click of a button, including size, style, and fabric. Don’t spend another moment in a showroom hunting down the perfect bed – create it hassle free in your own home!
Once you have completed your Design-A-Bed, you have the option to refine and fine tune your design in case your design was a little too ambitious! Not only can you make a bed that fits flawlessly into your home, the price of your custom bed won’t break the bank.
Brosa is excited to announce that one lucky reader will win their very own designer bed of their own design using the Design-A-Bed system. Entering is simple: to win, just fill out the form here. Competition closes 5 pm on Thursday 3rd March.
Brosa launches three new furniture designs a week, with a combination of classic pieces and modern flair from local and international master craftsmen.
Brosa is proud to make designer furniture a reality for Australian homes – by operating differently to traditional retailers. Expensive markup from importers, wholesalers and high-end showrooms are eliminated entirely to keep the cost to the consumer down. With Australia wide shipping and a seven-day no questions asked returns policy, your purchase is guaranteed to be stress-free.
Opening on 19 December in the heart of Surry Hills, the new HAY store will boast 250 square metres of contemporary furniture design spread over two floors.
HAY was founded in Denmark in 2002 with the ambition to create contemporary design, innovative technology and quality materials in combination with clean and straightforward aesthetics.
Much like its flagship store in Copenhagen, HAY Sydney will also include a permanent installation of the HAY Mini Market concept on ground floor, offering a wide selection of accessories, from lighting and textiles to stationery and glassware.
Replicas are absolutely everywhere, and when you’re under the impression that the real thing costs an arm and a leg… well I don’t exactly blame some of you for going with the cheap option. However, sometimes the real deal isn’t actually that exy and when they last a lifetime (versus a year or two) and support the actual mastermind who created the design, it may just be worth investing. Below we fill you in on how much seven commonly copied pieces of furniture actually cost. And some are less than you’d think!
At $220, the familiar Componibili 3 Round (front left in the image below) available through Space Furniture, is surprisingly affordable. Coming in many colours and configurations, the 30-year-old design from Kartell is flexible, functional and practical. Slotting into any home setting, be it the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen or living room, it is also displayed at The Museum of Modern Art in New York and at the George Pompidou Centre in Paris.
Originally designed for Carl Hansen & Son in 1949, the CH24 Wishbone Chair (Jen’s favourite) is a light, sculptural dining chair that is also suitable for relaxed sitting away from the table. The seat is hand-woven in paper cord (unbleached/natural or black) and the frame is available in a variety of hardwoods and coloured finishes. Prices start at $1,100 per chair, and can be purchased through Cult Design.
Not convinced it’s worth it? See how much work goes into one chair in this video and you may change your mind!
The Adnet Mirror by Gubi is the epitome of luxury. Designed in the ’50s, the distinctive, round leather mirror with equestrian-inspired detailing comes in three sizes and three strap colours (black, olive or brown). Available from Cult Design, prices start at $1,020.
Originally designed for exterior use in French bistros, the Tolix Stool 65cm is perfect for breakfast bars (though we’re a little sick of seeing replicas everywhere on account of how mass produced and cheap they’ve become). With a rigid stackable design, lending itself to a variety of applications, it comes in a large range of finishes and colours. Available through Thonet, prices start at $390. And the real deal is so much nicer and less disposable!
A classic piece of mid-century furniture, the Eames Moulded Plastic Side Chair with Eiffel Base DSR ($615) from Living Edge is as stylish and useful today as when it was designed in 1950. The organic shape and sophisticated lines of the chair, with the streamlined Eiffel Tower wire base, work anywhere in the home. The shell seat has a high, flexible back, a deep seat pocket and a waterfall front edge, so you can sit comfortably even for extended periods. A multitude of colour choices can be paired with a chrome, black or white base. Beware the cheap replicas whose screws fall out. Many are actually quite dangerous!
Widely considered one of the most significant designs of the 20th century, the Eames Classic Lounge & Ottoman also comes with a significant price tag, $7,990 to be exact! That said, this is a substantial piece of furniture. In continuous production since its introduction in 1956, this timeless design is constructed to last lifetimes. Entirely hand-assembled, the seat is balanced on a five-star, die-cast aluminum base with adjustable stainless steel glides for uneven floors. It is available in a range of finishes from Living Edge.
Noguchi himself described his Coffee Table as his best furniture design, no doubt because it is extremely reminiscent of his bronze and marble sculptures of the time. Designed for Vitra, it has a glass tabletop that rests on two identical wooden elements placed at right angles. Available in three finishes from Space Furniture, prices start at $3,470.
We hope you liked this list. Let us know what you’d add!
It’s the never-ending debate, replica versus original, and now four of Sydney’s most exciting design brands — Arthur G, Euroluce, Workshopped and Luxmy Furniture, have joined forces to protest against the replica furniture market.
Creating a dynamic and thought-provoking installation designed by Design by Toko as part of Sydney InDesign 2015, the finished product is a sculptural ‘bonfire’ of replicas, called the Hill Street Bonfire.
A creative statement against increasing designer copies, they hope to draw focus to the iconic pieces, which are mass-produced and sold in various high street replica stores without repercussion. “It takes thousands of dollars and a huge amount of creativity and hard work to produce original design,” explains Priyanka Rao of Luxmy Furniture. “After all the prototyping, tooling and marketing expenses involved in commercialisation, it is heartbreaking to see works from our collection and fellow local businesses ruthlessly ripped off with no respect for the designer or manufacturer involved in bringing that product to life. It’s time to take a stand!”
Each business, Arthur G, Euroluce, Workshopped and Luxmy Furniture, is based firmly on a proud tradition of quality design and make, and where true craftsmanship lies at the very core of the collections they present.
Arthur G is an Australian based furniture designer and manufacturer established in Melbourne over three decades ago, with Euroluce arguably Australia’s leading distributor of high-end lighting solutions sourced largely from Europe. Joining them is Workshopped, which specialises in creative industrial design and interior pieces made in Australia, and well-known for championing many up and coming local designers, while Luxmy Furniture is the licensed manufacturer of corporate furniture collections including Woodmark and Paustian.
Hill Street Bonfire is located in the Hill Street design precinct of Surry Hills and will be on display until Sunday. For more information.
Who doesn’t love a bargain?! I’ll level with you, I’m not the upcycling type. I don’t do craft, I’ve (enthusiastically I hasten to add) tried a few spray painting furniture projects and it has not gone well at all. I have nothing against an excellent pre-loved find though, and who knew Gumtree was home to designer chairs and more? Well, you do now!
I bought a gorgeous secondhand Coco Republic find (in fantastic condition) and sold my old Ikea armchair (don’t get me wrong, I love Ikea, but it’s less and less of a feature in my home the older I get). Winning at savings of hundreds of dollars! While I was there and doing some digging, I was pleasantly surprised by how much cool stuff people list on there.
Bought a secondhand Coco Republic chair
Sold my Ikea chair
I’ve always been a fan of waiting to buy great quality brands on sale rather than cheaper impulse buys. And you can’t beat the thrill of the good deal, right? I feel the same if I find a great used goods bargain online. My vintage marble-topped coffee table which cost me a mere $65 is still one of my favourite and most commented on pieces of furniture. A modern version (which wouldn’t have half the character or quality) could easily cost 10 times as much.
Yes, you can list unwanted items on Gumtree at bargain basement prices to get rid of them quick sharp, but you can also sell decent stuff you just don’t love anymore and put the cash towards things you really want. Which is pretty much like free money, right? You have to look really hard but when you strike gold, you get that rush of excitement at being the bargain queen!
I discovered people sometimes list an entire apartment’s worth of furniture on Gumtree for a quick sale. Think interstate career relocation. And you know what? People with money are in a better position to give stuff away (or at a great price anyway), so look out for quality goods at amazing prices if you’re prepared to take several items off their hands.
Check out these three cool items I found on Gumtree…
A legit Eames leather ottoman for $1,200 (worth more than $2,000)…
This unique designer cashmere armchair for $300…
A genuine Philippe Starck Mademoiselle chair for half its original $2,000 RRP…
Zuster’s latest collection, Halo, has to be my favourite yet. Inspired by a high-end restaurant dining experience — but in the comfort of your own home — it is both functional and glamorous.
I personally can’t go past the Halo Storage Cabinet with Palomino Marble Handle and the Halo Tribute Coffee Table with Quartzite Top. Retailing at $6500 and $3500 respectively, they’re no bargain, but my oh my are they special.
Halo Storage Cabinet with Palomino Marble Handle
Halo Tribute Coffee Table with Quartzite Top
On the more affordable side of things are the Halo Hexagonal Lamps, which are seriously cool and start from $250.
Halo Hexagonal Lamp
Mixing different textures and colours, from the deep blue of Italian Quartzite to the pale perfection of Palomino Marble, the collection is pure luxury. Designed by Zuster’s Wilhelmina McCarroll, the collection is handcrafted in Australia.
NOMI, makers of customised designer furniture have collaborated with Interiors Addict favourite Kip & Co, to release the Pala Chair.
Marking Nomi’s first foray into upholstery, the Kip & Co x NOMI collaboration, saw Kip & Co create their own version of the Pala Chair featuring two of their most colourful, original prints.
Extremely versatile, the Pala Chair can be used on its own or arranged in a linear series to create modular lounge configurations for the home, office or anywhere else. The Pala Chair is shipped flat in four components and like all NOMI products, assembly is made simple with no tools required.
Made from solid American Oak, the design draws inspiration from elements of bench seating found in spaces such as airports, together with a modern furniture aesthetic which embraces finely proportioned timber features.
The Kip & Co x NOMI collaboration Pala Chair is available through selected retailers. Visit NOMI for stockists.
Connecting design lovers with authentic designer furniture faster than ever before, new online marketplace West of May, helps you source genuine designer brands quickly and easily.
Just launched in Australia and featuring the world’s finest furniture designs ready for delivery immediately, there are no more long lead times and no waiting months for made-to-order furniture.
Some of the key brands available include: Cappellini, FLOS, Gubi, Dessein, Luxxbox and Designbythem to name a few. Customers can also sign up online to become a West of May member. Benefits include access to special offers and first pick of the latest new products.
Designers and online shoppers can quickly search for items via product, brand, specification, price and location to find exactly what they’re looking for. Plus there’s support via the website’s live chat operators, for the ultimate in customer service on demand.
To help achieve super fast delivery times of between two and 10 days (depending on delivery location), West of May has secured supply from many Australian companies selling authentic global and local designer brands. All purchases are backed by a 100% money back guarantee.
Up to 75% off Louis Poulsen, Alias, Poltrona Frau, Cassina, Verpan, Magis, Emeco, Cappellini and more. 3 days only in Sydney and Brisbane: Friday 11 October to Sunday 13 October 2013, 10am to 4pm.
Locations
Unit 1, 16 Nelson Avenue, Padstow NSW
925 Anne Street, Fortitude Valley QLD
New and ex-display authentic designer furniture, lighting and accessories.
If, like me, you’re working on giving yourself a nice work space, check out Living Edge, where there are currently discounts on their entire home office range.
Favourites like the Herman Miller Aerons and Airia desks, authentic Eames Ali Group management chairs, desks, storage, Hang-it-alls and more.
Sale in store and online until the end of this month.
Ever wished you could get designer furniture and homewares at high street prices? Well you can, thanks to the Alladin’s Cave of pre-owned pieces which is Home Furniture On Consignment (HFOC).
Consignment is basically a trading arrangement where someone sells goods on behalf of other people and takes a commission. “We handle everything from transport to cleaning and minor repairs,” says HFOC owner Scott Faso, who has a showroom in Sydney’s Alexandria and also sells online, shipping across Australia. His business is now in its tenth years and sells to both the public and the design trade.
Everything must go! Dining tables, chairs, stools, sofas, lighting, lounge chairs, outdoor furniture and more, all at never to be repeated prices!
Importer and wholesaler Obodo usually only sells to the trade but this weekend, for the first time ever, their warehouse sale will be open to the public too. There’ll be new, ex-display and discontinued stock at amazing prices.
It’s on now with 20 percent off all sofas, armchairs and easy chairs. Showroom stock only from Cult Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Excludes PP Mobler items and Fritz Hansen Egg chairs.
