“I’m not aiming for a particular look. I am trying to create designs that will outlast trends and be relevant for a long time,” says Melbourne-based English designer Thomas Coward. With a repertoire that spans product and furniture design as well as interior fit-outs, the designer is also interested in how products make people feel.
“Forms can speak to certain people and I feel like I am interested in speaking to a few people directly, rather than a lot of people indirectly. The way a product makes someone feel can ensure it stays in a person’s life for a long time,” says Thomas.
Thomas’s United Products rangeThomas’s United Products range
Having grown up in England’s Cornwall, Thomas cut his design teeth at Ravensbourne, a small Greenwich-based art school that counts Stella McCartney in its alumni. “It’s a specialist art college and I studied furniture design there,” says Thomas.
Moving out to Australia 12 years ago, with an Australian passport courtesy of his Aussie mum, Thomas hasn’t looked back. Originally working as the principal designer at Omvivo and Schiavello for 10 years, Thomas is now the creative director of Artedomus which entails designing their showrooms and in-house products too.
Thomas Coward
“I just completed the Artedomus showroom in Brisbane and I’m also creative director of New Volumes which is a brand that showcases the materials that Artedomus imports,” says Thomas. Using ELBA stone, which Artedomus imports exclusively, Thomas heads up a company created to make things out of the material including bowls, vases, planters and side tables.
Artedomus showroom designed by Thomas Coward
But perhaps his more impressive work is his range for bathroom brand United Products. The super stylish collection of design-led bathroom fittings has a clean, minimalist and understated feel. Sustainability underpins the brand too – the entire United Products range is made from a combination of natural minerals and resins.
United ProductsUnited Products
The United Products range has a sculptural feel which is why it’s no surprise to learn that sculpture is one of the designer’s main sources of inspiration. “I’m very interested in the sculptors Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. The forms that these sculptors created really speak to me in a way and I’m trying to do that with my products.”
After 15 years working in the tile industry, the Mornington Peninsula’s Kate Walker launched her own design company KWD in 2013, initially specialising in hard finishes. “The reason why I’m so passionate about hard finishes is that they form the foundation of the design aesthetic for any project,” says Kate of her passion for tiles, timber flooring, natural stone, carpet and stone masonry.
But now, six years on, the KWD business has grown into a full-service design studio where Kate employs a team of design professionals who help bring her visions to life. “As KWD has grown and matured, we have been able to offer a higher-level design service and we are now an end-to-end interior design business,” says Kate.
Kate Walker
Reluctant to label her personal design aesthetic, I think it’s safe to say that there’s more than a touch of Hamptons in the mix but it’s not as simple as that. “Travel really influences my style – in particular North America. I get a lot of inspiration from contemporary and more traditional American design, and one of my newest sources of inspiration is New Zealand architecture – I love the materiality,” says Kate who regularly looks to mother nature for inspiration too; texture is another design hallmark.
A recent KWD projectA KWD recent project
Longtime readers may remember that we have profiled Kate’s own home before – its traditional American meets Chinoiserie style made it one of our most clicked-on posts of 2017. While popular with readers, it also remains one of Kate’s most beloved projects. “I’d have to say my own home renovation, Beechwood, was one of my favourite projects. To become a KWD client gave me such an insight into how the KWD team functions, and what we are capable of.”
Kate at home at ‘Beechwood’
Kate’s work on Beechwood also earnt her a coveted finalist place in the 2019 Dulux Colour Awards. “I have been fortunate enough to win a number of awards, but that one was the most significant this year. I love working with colour so to be acknowledged in this way encouraged me to continue incorporating beautiful colours into our designs, in interesting and innovative ways,” says Kate.
It’s not hard to see why Kate’s glorious home ‘Beechwood’ was a finalist in the 2019 Dulux Colour Awards
And as for recent business developments, Kate has just launched a sister brand to KWD, called KWD & Co, which is designed to make interior design more accessible.
“Whilst I absolutely adore the custom projects that we work on, I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to have a beautifully designed home they can be proud of,” says Kate. The new business arm provides clients with a carefully curated collection of hard finishes, grouped into popular design styles, with discounts should they purchase the materials.
“The next step up is KWD Access where clients can book a one-hour, one-on-one consultation with the KWD design team at a fraction of the cost of our full design service.”
As is often the way with creatives, Jono Fleming’s career took many twists and turns before he found himself where he is today – an accomplished stylist and interior designer. “My goal was to work in a big fancy firm and do lots of beautiful high-end homes and I was very set on that being my only path. Then after about five years in the industry, I found myself a bit lost and not really approaching my work with my original passion,” says Jono who is based in Sydney and graduated with a design degree from The Whitehouse Institute of Design.
Jono’s glorious lounge room. Photo by Jono Fleming
Jono’s career has taken him to unexpected places including a stint food styling in Italy. “The last six years have been a series of pivots and swerves, with a side hustle in cooking and food styling which landed me in Italy, cooking behind the scenes for a TV show.” He then landed a job at online retailer Temple and Webster where he worked his way up to senior stylist before moving into magazines.
“I was running the studio and learning everything I could about studio photography and from there I was approached by Inside Out magazine to take on the role of style editor, my absolute dream job. Two years there and the timing felt right to branch out on my own and I’m now working on a series of interiors projects with my own clients. It has come full circle,” says Jono.
Jono Fleming. Photo by Esteban La Tessa
As for his signature style, he likes to keep his work inspirational but achievable. “Design and styling can sometimes seem unreachable and impossible to achieve a certain look without spending lots of money. I find my best received work is a mix of low to mid-level pieces, it’s just the way of putting them together that can elevate a room.”
Describing himself as a curated maximalist, “it’s not clutter or junk as I very carefully choose which pieces I want but the stylist in me always adds one extra piece here and there.” Jono adds: “It’s organised chaos and it’s not for everyone. I feel it’s important as a designer and a stylist to be mindful of your client’s needs.” He often creates a more edited or diluted version of his own personal style for other people. “It’s totally understandable, and probably more practical too.”
One of Jono’s mood boards. Photo by Will Horner, courtesy of Inside Out magazine
When it comes to inspiration, Jono looks to a wide range of disparate places including Pinterest, film and the great outdoors. “Piecing together a room is to tell a story. What are the key pieces and where were they sourced? Does the wall colour remind you of a trip away somewhere or did you see something in a film you want to recreate? Inspiration is endless!” says Jono who describes himself as equal parts nature lover and pop culture junkie. “Half my time is spent hiking and exploring outside, and the other half is holed up watching old 1980’s films and bingeing shows, so I bring the world outside of interiors into my work a lot.”
Photo by Kristina Soljo, courtesy of Belle magazine
And speaking of Pinterest, one of his most ‘pinned’ projects is his parents’ farmhouse which was published and put on the cover of Inside Out magazine. Grateful for the trust his parents put in him, the process also taught Jono the value of relatively ‘simple’ design – no doubt an interesting lesson for a design maximalist. “What the process showed me was that design doesn’t have to be complicated, with all the bells and whistles, to connect to an audience. The simple black and white bathrooms we designed have been shared across social media constantly and it’s truly humbling to see people looking to this work as inspiration in their own homes.”
Jono’s parents’ farmhouse lounge room. Photo by Anson Smart
He adds: “It was a deeply personal project. I designed it for my father, it’s his dream house and the time was right for him to be able to take the opportunity to build it. The trust my parents gave me to put forward their vision is something I’ll always be thankful for.” When they sold the family home of 30 years and bought a new forever home last year — a downsizer apartment with water views– it was perhaps no surprise they trusted their son once more, along with Strutt Studios, to design it. In another coup, just this week, it was published in Belle.
Jono’s parents’ much-shared farm house bathroom. Photo by Anson Smart
And as for the latest interior trends, while Jono does his best to shirk them, he admits to noticing a huge rise in the 1980’s/1990’s aesthetic of late. “Whilst I try and avoid trend talk too much, this is one I’m so on board with! Big curvy shapes and chubby furniture; it’s the 80’s but in a much more designed and curated way. It’s a very comforting and welcoming aesthetic; furniture that hugs you! Don’t go overboard though, you only need one or two pieces as a statement.”
Photo by Kristina Soljo, courtesy of Belle magazine
Looking to the future, Jono has aspirations to connect with a wider Australian audience with a view to educating them about their homes. “I’d like to teach people to elevate their personal style and get their homes looking the best they can be without buckling to the trends. At this point, I have a lot of ideas but I’m approaching things one project at a time. Ideally, people will eventually look to the Jono Fleming brand as a source of achievable inspiration, maybe with some product of mine they could buy at some stage.”
“My father was an interior architect in New York, where I was born and raised. I literally grew up in a playroom that had a 2.5 metre long drafting board in it, prepared for the large-scale interior renderings that were one of my father’s specialties,” says interior designer Dylan Farrell of his early life that proved fertile ground for a future in design.
Interior designer Dylan Farrell. Image by Kristina Soljo, courtesy of Belle Magazine.
Dylan’s father came from the school of mid-century modern architecture and wrote several books on art, design and design practice and as a teenager Dylan worked alongside his father giving him invaluable exposure to running a small design business. “My grandparents also owned and ran a specialty art gallery and supply store so art and design were a part of every fibre of my upbringing, whether I wanted it that way or not,” says Dylan.
Dylan’s ‘Contemporary Perch’ project. Photography by Felix Forest.
But the designer’s path wasn’t a typical one – a self-confessed “rebellious youth,” he found himself dabbling in street art and singing and writing for an industrial rock band in the mid-nineties before enrolling in industrial design at the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York. But for him, formal study certainly wasn’t an instant love affair.
“By the end of my freshman year, I was failing design school, despite a blessed exposure to and training in art and design. My focus at the time was simply in other places – mainly fine art, music composition, performance, and the resulting party that always ensued. By the second half of my five years of study however, I turned a corner and started to see glimpses of the practitioner I wanted to be, graduating with honours,” says Dylan.
‘Contemporary Perch’ project. Photography by Felix Forest.
Dylan’s unique journey continued after university when he took a job in antique restoration and acquisition which he juggled alongside a job teaching architectural drawing at Pratt Institute’s school of interior design. “The flexibility of these two positions allowed me to take on the oddest of additional jobs, all the while continuing to pursue music and fine art,” says Dylan who nonetheless continued to build relationships with prominent New York interior and furniture designers, contacts that would prove important in the years to come.
‘Sydney Transitional’ project. Photography by Prue Ruscoe.
“I found myself at a crossroads of sorts – deciding whether I wanted to live the life of an artistic gypsy or find roots in a more focused endeavour. It was exactly at this time when I met my wife and now business partner, Nicolette, who was an interior designer,” says Dylan. The couple worked independently and collaboratively for several years in New York before moving to Sydney in 2009 where Dylan became Creative Principal at Thomas Hamel & Associates. He and Thomas even designed a furniture range, Hamel Farrell Collection, together. Dylan started his own practice almost three years ago.
‘Sydney Transitional’ project. Photography by Prue Ruscoe.‘Sydney Transitional’ project. Photography by Prue Ruscoe.
And despite less than three years trading under his own name, he has been turning heads in the Australian design world of late with many accolades coming his way. “We are finalists in the 2019 Andrew Martin Interior Design Review and the winners will be announced in December. And last week, we were handed the Emerging Design Star award in the 2019 Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards,” says Dylan.
‘Beachside Modern’ project. Photography by Dylan Farrell.‘Melbourne Hills’ project. Photography by Dylan Farrell.
As for his aesthetic, he believes that ‘classical proportions’ and ‘technical detail’ are hallmarks of his work, but he thinks a hefty dose of fun and curiosity are paramount too. “I find style should be akin to enjoying food. I would not want Italian every night; I wouldn’t want to live without vegetables; and although I was vegetarian for many years, I would not want to completely give up meat. So why not traditional design on Tuesdays, modernism on Wednesdays, post-mod on Thursday, and a party platter on Fridays?” he says, which sounds fabulous to me!
With no room left on the mantelpiece, 2018 is proving quite the year for the multi-award-winning Sydney-based design firm Alexander & Co. “We kicked off in January with The Frame awards in Amsterdam where we took out the award for Best New Restaurant on foreign shores – that win was exhilarating. We were then honoured to win Best Hospitality and Best Residential Interior at the Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards and I was overwhelmed at being named Interior Designer of the Year too,” says principal Jeremy Bull, who also won Best International and Best Hospitality Design at the AIDA Awards a couple of days later. “It was a big week!”
Jeremy Bull
A university trained architect, Jeremy spent the first part of his career working in various small architectural practices before heading out on his own where his aesthetic is firmly rooted in the artisanal. “In our practice, we describe our aesthetic as trying to find ‘the spirit of place’. Our aesthetic is one of being human made, that it’s the many hands and crafts of the humans involved that allows this spirit to thrive. You find within our work a handmade, artisan craftwork which ties the various project stories together,” says Jeremy.
Palm Beach House project – kitchen
As for finding inspiration, he doesn’t discriminate. “Oh wow, it’s just everywhere. We are surrounded by an infinite array of landscapes, forms, cultures and human beings. The role of storytelling is to find the truth in your topic and filter it through your lens. Whatever makes you feel something big is a qualifier!”
Queens Park House project – bedroom
A passionate, restless creator, Jeremy struggles to choose a favourite project. “I usually love everything before its realised, whilst it’s an idea. Our relationship with a project ends once it matures into form. Maybe if this is the case, my favourites are always those on our proverbial drawing boards, which is all of them, until they grow old enough to fly the nest,” he says.
Queens Park House project – bathroom
“It’s hard to define our five-year trajectory, though our plan is to continue to create a practice which will be globally relevant and be absolute leaders in our field. I am also a huge believer in advocacy and our social interest is central to our company vision. Perhaps then, our next five years will see us cementing this marketplace presence with a team of advocated and supported practitioners who are passionate about our global village and finding the spirit of place in everything we do,” says Jeremy who has exciting plans to expand Alexander & Co.’s world-domination by opening a New York office later this year.
Palm Beach House project – lounge
But in the meantime, the accolades keep rolling in — the company has been shortlisted in three international awards including the Best New Restaurant category in the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards plus nominations in both the Dezeen and Surface Awards. “They’re three really significant international platforms. It’s an incredible testament to the talented Alexander & Co. team and all the artisans we have the privilege of working with,” says Jeremy.
“I grew up in a family of builders with a passion for quality and workmanship. These traits have been passed on and form a part of my ethos, though with an arts focused education I was always better with a pencil than a hammer!” says James Goodlet, the director of Alter Eco Design – a Melbourne design business he established a decade ago.
‘Cottesloe Drive’ project
“After coming up with an idea and a suitable name for the business I started on our dining table – an old recycled dunny door! The idea was to create sustainably focused residential design. Fast forward 10 years and we have a fully established design studio supported by a team of eight plus our office dog Cooper.”
‘Gladstone St’ project
James spent nine years running the business on his own before bringing in additional employees to allow for growth. “I spent nine years running and operating a growing business on my own. Finally I took the plunge and put a team around me that offer the support I need to allow me to focus on what I’m good at (designing stuff!) and propel us into our second decade,” says James.
James with the firm’s dog Cooper
The growth of the business eventually saw James’ wife Claire join the team. “The biggest change in the business structure was when my wife joined the team. Some people would quiver at the thought of a married couple in business together, however I’m comforted by the fact that we are on this journey together. We are like yin and yan in a working environment, which thankfully results in balance. We both have an awareness of where our skills lie and support and respect each other in that way,” says James.
‘Capel Sound’ project
While the work of Alter Eco spans both urban and rural settings, there are common aesthetic threads that run through the work – modernism, minimalism, timber and concrete abound. “The natural and tactile nature of materials like timber and concrete, balanced with an otherwise clean palette, provide the framework for the personality of each client to shine through,” says James of his design ethos.
‘Cottesloe Drive’ project
When designing, James derives inspiration from a building’s context. “Rural sites are obvious with the views and natural surroundings – usually the objective there is to enhance the experience of the idyllic surrounds without competing with the view, instead blending in subtle finishes and timber elements,” says James who explains that built-up urban sites often provide more of a challenge. “Urban sites are sometimes more limited and require a more creative response – the answer is often to look within the building to create the hero feature. We are currently working on a long and narrow site in Seddon – we’ve designed an internal courtyard and herb garden to create the focal points. This setting helps bring the outside in and provides the illusion of space in an otherwise tight and potentially restrictive site,” says James.
‘Cottesloe Drive’ project
One of his favourite projects is ‘Cole St’ – an 1850’s bluestone terrace in Melbourne’s Williamstown. “It had a lush backyard with an established green wall that provided so much potential. We relocated some established trees and embraced so much of what the client had laboured to create over the years – the client was a landscape designer so the pressure was on!” says James. The end result was a gorgeous, light-filled pavilion immersed in greenery.
‘Cole St’ project – an urban oasis
As for the future, James would like to further explore his passion for passive house design. “As clients become more open and accepting of this concept, we would love to be at the forefront and look to grow our sustainability principles,” says James who is otherwise very optimistic. “Ultimately I hope the business is just like a good home – still standing, weathering the storms and always full of laughter!”
No doubt many of you are familiar with the modern Australian, coastal aesthetic of the boutique interior styling company The Stables. Their use of soft, muted colours, clean lines and natural light has earned them a plethora of fans and given they recently added a cushion range to their offering (featured in the pics below), we thought it was time we found out more about the lady behind the feed, Catherine Heraghty.
Catherine Heraghty
After studying design at Sydney’s Enmore Design Centre, Catherine kicked off her career by launching a property styling business which she juggled with a number of other jobs. “When my property styling business was in its infancy I had to hold other jobs to support myself. For quite a few years, whilst running it, I was also a studio manager at another design agency in Surry Hills. In another role, I was the PA at a very well-known Sydney based textile designer and I also did quite a bit of assisting on editorial and advertising shoots,” says Catherine who went out on her own once the business could support her.
“I eventually took the leap of faith and worked solely on my own business which is a scary step to begin with but I never looked back!” says Catherine who sold the property styling business 18 months ago with a desire to downsize and get back to basics.
“Whilst I am a qualified interior designer, I classify myself as an interior stylist – this is what I love and I know this is where my strengths lie. So, I just started doing what I loved and The Stables was born! It gained traction very quickly, especially on social media platforms,” says Catherine who now boasts over 100k followers.
A tranquil, accessible and stylish Instagram feed, it’s easy to see why Catherine has carved out a significant following. “I love light and airy spaces and I am definitely drawn towards soft and muted colour palettes. I try and inject as much texture into my space as possible by the way of natural finishes to warm spaces up, for example, timbers, woven products, baskets and throws,” says Catherine.
There’s no doubt that Catherine’s social media following also keeps her very busy. “Instagram is almost a full-time job in itself and the amount of opportunities that this incredible platform can provide you with still amazes me every day. Essentially, this part of the business involves lots of styling which is the fun part! I constantly have to create fresh content for social media to keep it interesting for my followers,” says Catherine who collaborates with brands on a regular basis. “It basically involves styling clients’ products The Stables way!”
As for inspiration, Catherine mostly finds it online but has found herself returning to traditional print media of late. “Given the fast-paced lifestyle we all lead these days, I really love to get inspiration from a magazine as I find this a slower process rather than letting my thumb scroll through hundreds of images in just minutes. I like that print media makes me slow down!” She isn’t a fan of blindly following trends and is careful to always put her own mark on things. “I get so much of my inspiration online like everyone else but the key for me is to try and put my own spin on something rather than just copying a look and reproducing someone else’s style.”
But it’s hands-on design that gives Catherine the most satisfaction, and it’s a side of the business that is continuing to grow. “The first and most important thing to me are my clients. The work I do for each client is extremely varied, some clients come to me with an empty five-bedroom house and want me to furnish it from top to bottom. Others come to be with a two-bedroom unit which they are planning on gutting and engage me to select all the finishes and then furnish it. Others may come to me with problem areas of their home, for example their living room and they want me to transform it for them or make it feel finished,” says Catherine.
While her design career spans TV set design, commercial fit outs and residential projects, Infinite Design director Michelle Macarounas spent the first part of her working life immersed in marketing and communications and living in Europe, America and Australia before taking the design plunge.
Redfern apartment project
“With a long-term passion and consistent study of design in Paris and Sydney, I eventually decided to move my skill set across to design and worked initially in TV set design and commercial fit outs. In 2002, I decided to open my own design company and started out freelancing across Sydney and the US,” says Michelle who now finds herself at the helm of a busy boutique design practice based in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Houseboat project
“From starting out, there has been consistent growth in residential and commercial projects that has taken me from being a design consultant to the studio we opened five years ago,” says Michelle who has built her business based on referrals. “We are now a team of six and have a gorgeously located studio amongst the art galleries in Paddington. We focus on high-end residential, commercial and retail projects and I would credit hard work, determination and a sense of humour to our success – knowing when to laugh is so important,” says Michelle.
Michelle’s lounge room in Coogee
Some of her most memorable projects include a recent houseboat. “It was certainly a beautiful experience and learning curve!” says Michelle of the gorgeous floating home. “But truly, there are so many fun components to each project and what I love the most is the experience of delivering something special to my client,” says Michelle who lives in the beachside Sydney suburb of Coogee. “My home has a contemporary, modern feeling with flashes of art deco seaside design. It’s my family’s little retreat,” says Michelle.
Inside the houseboat project – amazing!
As for the future, Michelle has visions of expansion. “Doing what you love brings so much joy and satisfaction. In terms of the studio, I would love to grow the team as we have so many amazing projects in construction and lots more exciting ones to come,” says Michelle.
Born and raised in Melbourne, AURA Home founder Tracie Ellis was always surrounded by creativity. “I was inspired from an early age by my very talented mother and grandmother, growing up in a creative family of women who excelled at knitting, painting and gardening. Those younger years of inspiration led me to study textile design at RMIT, where I majored in knit design,” she says.
After graduating, Tracie worked in the fashion and textile industry for a variety of major brands including Country Road, Myer, Davenport, Coats Patons, Pacific Brands and Linen House – a path that eventually led to her creating her own line. “In 2000, I decided it was time to put my own stamp on a range of homewares and the rest as they say is history – this year we are celebrating 17 years of AURA Home.”
The range now includes not just bed linen, cushions, throws, bath towels and rugs, but ceramics and a tabletop collection. It’s all designed in Melbourne and manufactured across the globe allowing Tracie to indulge her wanderlust. “Our collections are always inspired by my love of travel, my very passionate team, our dedicated suppliers and of course our customers. I travel regularly, whether for business or pleasure – I travel to Europe, Scandinavia and India, where I have been traveling for over 20 years and have been working with the same suppliers, who are not just business partners but friends,” says Tracie.
Tracie Ellis
The brand has an army of loyal followers, who come to it for its quality and classic designs, including the long-running ‘Maison’ bed linen line. “It’s our ongoing range of linen cotton that we have been running for many years now. Each season we introduce beautiful new tones that coordinate back with the rest of our new collection. Our customers love the purity of the fabric and its timeless style,” says Tracie.
AURA Home’s ‘Maison’ linen collection is one of its longest running
As for her other passions, Tracie is big on entertaining and has just moved from Kew to inner-city Fitzroy with her husband and new puppy. “It’s a big change but so far we’re really enjoying the creative energy of the inner city. We spend our weekends at our farm in Kyneton, Victoria in the Macedon Ranges (it’s beautiful and available to rent). That’s where my soul is, I spend my weekends gardening and entertaining friends and family.”
As for a career highlight, Tracie is most proud of winning the Life In Style lifetime achievement award in 2016. “It was our longevity and commitment to the brand that led to it,” says Tracie.
