Karmin Kenny always loved Indian furniture and homewares, but she just couldn’t make them work in her own home. The wood was just too dark and the bright colours just that little too much, especially living on the coast. Then she had a brainwave: to transform the antiques using an all-white palette.
“I’ve learnt that refinishing everything in a palette of whites, greys and bleached timbers creates a look that is light, modern and calm,” explains Karmin. “The best part is that it works with most interior styles. I’ve decorated three very different homes in the look – a heritage Queenslander, a beach house and a fishing shack. It worked equally well for all.”
Karmin
Finding her aesthetic, Karmin decided to share it with the world, opening lifestyle store Alabaster Trader. With both a retail space in Noosa, Queensland and an online presence, Karmin travels to India and sources every piece herself. “I focus mostly on one-off antiques from Rajasthan and Gujarat and I have every one of them refinished to achieve the Alabaster look. When I see a piece that speaks to me, I visualise what the best finish would be – white, whitewash, grey, bleached or natural.”
The range also includes textiles designed by Karmin and made in a small village in India, using the ancient art of wood block printing. In line with the rest of the collection, the tablecloths, cushions and quilts are available in a palette of soft neutrals hand-printed on natural fibres.
Only opening its doors late last year, Karmin didn’t know how the concept would be received. Turns out, she didn’t have to worry. “I had to rush back to India just five weeks after opening to source more stock! Customers have been really surprised at how different ethnic furniture looks when refinished in a light palette. It’s like magic.”
From saris to spices and semi-precious jewels, India is often associated with vibrant colour which is what makes the latest IKEA range SVÄRTAN so interesting. An exploration of India’s urban life, the collection is a monochrome affair that was designed by the Swedish fashion and textile designer Martin Bergström in collaboration with a select group of Indian fashion students.
The SVÄRTAN collection
“My idea was to create a modern interpretation of India and its heritage, a country with designs that are perceived in the West as colourful, golden and shiny,” says Martin of the textiles, paper items, glassware, ceramics and metal objects that are made in India too.
SVÄRTAN mouth blown glassware
“When I came to India, the first thing I noticed was the light but then I started seeing other things. I saw the beauty beyond the obvious – the amazing patina of surfaces, the textures of walls and the patterns created by the monsoon rains. These imprints felt like the true India. Both abstract and organic, as well as modern and traditional.” Martin produced the range alongside 25 students from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi.
An Indian fashion student at work on the range
The students derived inspiration from unexpected, seemingly mundane places including distressed walls and dangling cables hanging over the streets. The design phase produced over 2,000 drawings that were refined to produce the 15 patterns of the collection.
Gorgeous patina abounds in India
“Martin Bergström and the NIFT design students have found beauty in the unexpected. They have taken something you would normally walk by, like a tree, a shadow and even power lines, to show that beauty can be found anywhere. The contrasting inspiration from both natural and urban landscapes in India, has led to the creation of an incredible range that is all about small details and handmade touches,” says IKEA interior design leader Christine Gough.
SVÄRTAN side tables or stools
The mouth blown glassware is particularly beautiful with its angular, imperfect look. The metal tray table is easy to fold away and features a gorgeous abstract embossed pattern on the top. The wooden side tables have a lovely handmade quality too – you could also use them as stools.
SVÄRTAN metal tray table
The SVÄRTAN sketchbooks contain thick paper and are manufactured by an Indian company that has been in business for over 300 years. The posters are our top pick – they come in two sizes and four different prints and slot right into an IKEA frame.
SVÄRTAN poster
Shop the range in store and online from September 5, 2016 until sold out.
While trekking through the Sahara Desert on her gap year nine years ago, Harriet McMicking had an idea. One day, she told herself, she would start a homewares business that would bring the magic of travelling home. So seven years later she did just that.
“I thought about this dream day in and day out to the point I realised I had to take the punt,” explains Harriet. “It has taken me a long time to get the business up and running, but it’s the most rewarding thing I have achieved in my life.”
Forming TIPI interiors, the travel-inspired homewares range aims to encourage people to create an environment that reflects their travels, personal style and life story. “The furnishings I am developing are all inspired by travel. Just like those moments on the road that stay with you forever, the TIPI pieces will remind you of places you have once visited, places that you aspire to discover and the captivating beauty of artisanal work.”
With her debut collection including director chairs, deck chairs, stoneware, cushion covers, rugs and table linen (tablecloths, napkins and tea towels), all the pieces were inspired by the beauty of India. “We currently have two production teams in India. The table linen is blockprinted by hand in Sanganer and the furniture and rugs are all hand-made in Jodhpur. I love India but my aim is to expand the collection to cover other regions of the globe.”
Made for those who want to know the stories behind the stylish, artisan-crafted pieces, TIPI’s wares are designed and developed with a strong focus on heritage and craftsmanship. Through close connections with the artisan producers, TIPI is creating timeless boutique pieces for everyday living.
READER DISCOUNT
See something you love? We have a special 20% off discount for our readers using the promo code TIPIWELCOME. Valid on ALL products until Sunday 29 November.
If there’s something we love as much as great homewares it’s a good old-fashioned love story, and today we bring you both! Aussie textile and graphic designer Jemma Bell moved to India for love and as an added bonus, has ended up starting her own textiles business with some gorgeous results!
The globetrotter was previously living in London and each year, she would meet her sister Phoebe (of homewares store Sage x Clare) in India for her annual designing and buying trip. “During our trip early last year, we decided to treat ourselves and see India from the air. We took a hot air balloon flight! After the flight, I met the man who is crazy enough to actually start and run a balloon company in India, a fellow Aussie called Paul. We spent a few days having dinner with him and then I went back to London. But Paul and I kept in contact and not long after, he came to London for eight days to visit. And about five days in, he asked me to move to Jaipur! Turns out I’m just as mad as him. I made the big move in July last year. Scary, daunting, challenging, but very rewarding!”
Jemma Bell
Starting Soda + Stitch was somewhat of a natural progression with Jemma always having wanted her own textiles business. She had been freelancing as a graphic and textile designer and gotten restless designing for other people and their businesses.
“It did take me a little while to find my feet in India,” says Jemma. “Everything in my life had changed! But I slowly started working on finding suppliers, making decisions on branding and the process of creating patterns and designs. I have to admit, the creative process took some time. It’s hard to be your own critic and make decisions when it’s just you!” But she got there and Soda + Stitch was born in April.
Jemma is the third member of her family to make the move into homewares but her background was perhaps the most relevant! Sister Phoebe’s background was in law before she became a stylist for Country Road and then started her online homewares store. “Her experience with Sage x Clare has given me a massive helping hand, especially with sampling and production here in India,” says Jemma. “But the funniest twist in the family has been our Dad, Brian. He was always a corporate, suit kind of guy, but is now the man behind Twiggargerie. Some sort of creativeness must run in the family!”
Starting a business in India has of course had many challenges. “It’s the simple stuff: haggling with tuk tuk drivers, couriers, fabric merchants and so on. One day I might pay $10 for cotton, the next it will magically go up to $15. And I can barter until I’m blue in the face and sweaty with frustration and I’ll only get it down to $14.50! It took me two weeks to find envelopes for sending product and a month to get just the right shade of blue. And the electricity always seems to go out when I really need that afternoon cup of tea! I’ve learnt you just got to take what you can get, roll with the punches and be very, very, very patient!”
The advantages are many too though.”There’s a huge amount of amazing techniques at my fingertips: hand block printing, screen printing, weaving, embroidery, and moments of inspiration that constantly spark new ideas. And at the very least, when you’re in a traffic jam because you’re stuck behind a huge painted elephant, you get a good laugh!”
Soda + Stitch initially launched with a range of textiles that are sold by the metre and children’s bedlinen was added last month. “When I first started designing the prints and patterns, I really tried hard not to look at what was already on the market. I wanted the designs to feel new, playful, colourful and cheeky,” Jemma says. “I think I’ve come up with a debut collection that is just that. All our fabrics are also block printed completely by hand, but in a very different style to the Indian block printing you may have seen before. I’d say we definitely shake off the norms of block printing, without losing out on the texture, quality and colour that comes with it.”
Jemma hopes selling her fabrics by the metre offers something a bit new too, for all the craft lovers and creatives. “But if you’re not much of a sewer, all our textiles can also be stitched into custom or bespoke products just for you and your home. We can also print existing designs in different colours or on different base materials. And if you’re feeling really adventurous, we can create a whole new design that becomes yours and only yours.”
Inspiration can be found everywhere. “It could be a bit of embroidery on a piece of vintage fabric here in Jaipur or even the carpet in an airport! I’m a big fan of geometrics, but geometrics that aren’t perfect, and I love hand drawn patterns. I really like to find little marks that come from sketching and playing around, that can be altered and transformed in some way.
“And being in India is a big inspiration. There’s never a dull moment. Life is full of hustle and well, more hustle, loads of colour and plenty of crazy moments!”
Find Soda + Stitch online. If you’re interested in becoming an Australian or New Zealand stockist, contact Jemma via her website.
DISCOUNT
Jemma’s offering a 10% discount for our readers. Simply use the promo code IHEARTINTERIORS at checkout for the next 6 months.
Fancy a trip to India but can’t afford the airfare? Well the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto may just have the next best thing.
In celebration of the release of the hilarious The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel to DVD, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and the InterContinental have launched The Marigold Suite.
Styled by interior designer Kali Cavanagh (of The Stylesmiths), the Junior Suite at Melbourne’s InterContinental has been transformed into a grand Indian-inspired hotel room. Influenced by her own trips to India and by the film itself, Kali has used vibrant and textured fabrics, golds and brass pieces and lots of flowers and plants to create a space that embodies the feel of a luxurious Indian hotel room.
Furniture standouts include an antique Indian ladder, an orange velvet bedspread and cushions, Baroque antique tables in brass, antique accessories from Orient Express and a Marigold weave rug from Armadillo & Co. The stunning flowers, palms and pots used bring the whole space together and work to make the room really pop with all the colours and excitement of the film.
The Marigold Suite can be booked until the end of August from $360 per night. For more information.
Last month, Shelley Boyd, founding director of leading Australian interiors wholesaler Boyd Blue, ventured to North India for her annual 10-day trip with employees Georgia Anderson and Elizabeth Hemlin. They visited the artisans and factories producing the handcrafted exclusive collections for Shelley’s own Boyd brand and to source customised hand-knotted rugs and product for Boyd’s 2016 catalogue. They also managed to squeeze in a trip to the majestic Amber Fort and a celebration with their local friends at the exquisite Bar Palladio.
In Shelley’s own words:
“The buying trips to India are always deeply inspiring and moving and I am, and have been for many years, passionately in love with the place. It is such a wonderful and diverse destination, filled with colour, magic and greatly talented craftsman. Whilst exhilarating, it can also be a frightening and physically demanding experience. The days are long with vast distances travelled on pretty horrible roads with drivers who have a different interpretation of “safe” to those of us in the western world. Couple this with sometimes uncomfortable conditions and the chance of a tummy upset and you can see why the journey is always what you would call up and down.
That said, the spirit of the Indian people and their constant optimism in the face of adversity certainly puts things into perspective.
Our trip this time was primarily to source traditional rug makers for Boyd’s new hand-knotted range, to view prototypes for some very special product for our 2016 catalogue, and to catch up with our key artisans, some of whom we have been working with for close to a decade.
As part of this process, we based ourselves in Jaipur and visited a handicrafts trade fair to help source new handmade product for our collections. This involved hours of trawling through stands, looking at product and talking to craftsmen. Some of what we saw was exquisite and some was what I would describe as less than inspiring! As part of this visit I have been able to hand pick unique and globally themed pieces for our clients, which will be available in our 2016 catalogue. We are very excited about what we found; gorgeous new hurricanes in glass, leather and rope, nautical accessories and fabulous timber and glass pendants.
While staying in Jaipur, we visited my all time favourite entertainment spot, Bar Palladio, with our dear Indian friends. The interior decor here reflects serious style and the attention to detail is breathtaking. The finely hand painted murals and enormous hand carved marble bar sit alongside an absolutely beautiful garden setting, and it was the perfect place to say thank you to our valued Indian suppliers. Catching up with the artisans we have worked with for so many years in Jaipur and continuing to nurture these relationships really makes my heart sing as we have worked long and hard to find the best India has to offer and are so grateful for these connections. On a previous trip, I had the privilege of sharing a fine meal with one of my longest standing suppliers in the private dining room of the Amber Fort. I was pretty thrilled to learn the last guest to entertained in this private room before me was Richard Gere!
A key highlight of this journey was the discovery of a wonderful group of craftsman in Bhadohi, a small rug-making village two hours out of Varanasi. The rugs are of superior quality and their makers use ancient techniques. We were so moved watching them cycle past us on their push bikes towing wagons filled with absolutely beautiful rugs. The Boyd Blue team and I are really excited to bring these rugs to Australia exclusively for our clients and are also really excited about what will be on offer through our 2016 catalogue.
All items will be available through interior designers and as one off retail purchases from our showrooms throughout Australia for Interiors Addict readers. We look forward to sharing this trip and others with you via Interiors Addict and our Facebook and Instagram.”
If you’d like the opportunity to buy from Boyd Blue’s latest collection, usually reserved for trade and wholesale customers only, please call your closest showroom and mention Interiors Addict:
Designed on the shores of New Zealand and woven by hand on a loom in India, the second collection of rugs from Nodi is fluid and bold, inspired by the organic and imperfect lines created by natural light.
Reflecting both the balance and the imperfections of nature, the collection, aptly titled Organic Lines, uses contrasting textures, shapes and a dynamic colour palette to create natural yet structural designs. Handmade using a mix of jute, cotton and banana silk, two master weavers work together in perfect harmony to create a textured, flat weave rug that is foldable and robust.
All Nodi rugs are 100% ethically made; with the factory using fair trade practices and complying with the international good weave standards, which provide a safe, clean work environment that supports the fight against child labour.
Running the successful Queensland boutique Kova Lifestyle, saw director Bianca De Luca be inspired to start her own range, One in Six.
Described as a little bit vintage mid/century modern with an eclectic twist, Bianca began the design process after struggling to find pieces for her store that fit her aesthetic completely.
“One in six was founded out of a desire to source exclusive products for Kova,” says Bianca. “I also found myself wanting to tweak the pieces that I could find so I decided to bite the bullet and finally do a range.”
Offering an assortment of products ranging from bone and hone inlay furniture, hand-sewn throws and quilts and pressed metal pieces, they are all handcrafted by artisans in India. Currently stocked at her store (both online and bricks and mortar), Bianca is in the process of building a One in Six website.
Founded in 2013, Bianca is keen to keep the label growing, having truly fallen in love with the design process: “I design most of the collection which is the part I enjoy the most. Seeing one of my drawings come to life is always a thrill.”
It’s a big change from Bandhini Homewear Design’s usual mix of neutrals and textures but this latest collection is no less beautiful. I saw the cushions for myself last month and they really are stunning.
Designer Tai Schaffler admits she was nervous about the change. “But it was time for us to get out there and positively surprise our clients. We still have some beautiful classic black and beiges this year (we wouldn’t be Bandhini if we didn’t). The response so far has been incredible. There has been a lot of love for our yellow and velvet cushions.”
The collection, which was shot at the Mary McDonald-designed LUXE Hotel in LA, has been inspired by the cultural differences between America, where the products have been sold since 2010, Australia, where everything is designed, and India, where it is made.
Phoebe Bell threw in her job as a stylist for Country Road to pursue her dream of an online homewares store with an emphasis on the handmade, bohemian and artisanal.
I already want half the things she’s selling, and when they’re as beautifully styled and photographed as this, it’s very easy to buy into the look! The store is only a week old, so my advice is to get in quick before everyone wants one of everything!
With a small stash of savings and partner Chris’s support, Phoebe headed for India, where she designed and collected homewares and accessories to start Sage and Clare.
Australian soft furnishings brand Bandhini Homewear Designs is seeing fantastic success in the American retail market, now being stocked by big name stores Neiman Marcus and Crate&Barrel.
The range stocked at Neiman Marcus
Sharm Schaffler, BHD’s USA director, says: “The response has been great and not only do the Americans love to deal with Australians, they most importantly find BHD’s Australian designs a refreshing, unique asset to their stores.”
Our journey into the online world began less than 2 years ago, when my mum Debbie and I had the idea of creating a website for her interior styling business. At the time, Mum had just completed a new interior design course and was ready to put her excitement and passion into practice. Up until that point, she had been flying solo as an interior stylist for over 10 years. I found myself drawn to her assignments and our shared love for beautiful furniture and homewares grew deeper.
Natasha and Debbie
While we were pouring out ideas for mum’s new website, we talked about one day having an online store. Talking and dreaming soon became planning and organising. Within a few weeks we had our name, Zohi Interiors, a domain and a logo, and chose a web development company. Within a few months, we began importing from India, Morocco and beyond.
We often get comments that our online store appears polished and looks like it is run by a team of 20, not a team of 2 who have never had any web or retail experience! The truth is, creating an online brand isn’t easy, we are constantly growing and learning to keep improving our business. We would love to share a few tips for anyone who is considering launching their business online.
From one backyard studio in Melbourne – and a few in India – come the beautiful textiles that make up homewares brand, Shakiraaz. The collection of rich and colourful handprinted, painted and woven pieces are a combination of owner Shakira Lima’s designs and others by creatives she finds during trips back home to India
Both her parents were artists and her mother’s “sense of mixing old and new, sketching and painting” started her love for homewares early on. Even while studying a genetics degree, Shakira’s artistic inclination stuck, leading her to study textile design. “I’ve always gravitated towards art, design and beautiful things,” she says.
Maybe it’s the fact that she was once a journalist that makes Bandhini Homewear Design’s Tai Schaffler such a good interviewee. Or maybe it’s as simple as her passion for her business and the dying crafts of the people who hand make her products.
As an 18 year old, “small town Kiwi girl” Tai got a scholarship to study in Thailand, and her love affair with textiles began. “I would drive the other students nuts, fossiking through the Jim Thompson Silk stores. God I loved that silk! Still do,” she tells me. Her writing life started as a Christchurch correspondent for More Magazine.
She left journalism when Geraldine Sethi offered her a job in Perth to re-market and refurb her fashion business, Asaan. With a toddler and her husband in tow, Tai relocated to Perth and started traveling to India with her new boss. “I was hooked on textiles,” says Tai. “Not clothes but cloth for homes.” It wasn’t long before she saw the potential to open her own home textiles label.
These days she heads up Bandhini, now in its 20th year. Key to its success has been the longstanding relationship between the Schafflers and another family, in India. “I met Sangetta and Yuvraj Narain when I worked for Asaan and they were doing a stunning clothing collection called KALAKARI,” says Tai. “We were totally on the same wavelength of quality, cultural and handmade soft furnishings. That was it, I wasn’t going anywhere else! I adore them.”
Both families’ children have now have joined the business, with Tai’s son Sharm and the Narains’ sons Sharan and Karan, heading up the team in the USA. “They have finally got our gusto!” says Tai. “I think they are more business orientated than us. The next generation take it to the next level. They want to keep it on the same page ethically though, that’s important.”
Using a combination of modern technologies and artisan hand skills, WorldWeave take their inspiration from ancient sensibilities and techniques. They exaggerate, collage and reinvent new ways of working, with rugs designed in Melbourne and made in India.
When designer Piero Gesualdi and textile designer Sara Thorn combined their talents and wealth of experience, they ignited a common passion for authentic design and craftsmanship. Piero’s architectural approaches to space and form are complemented by Sara’s decorative approach to pattern, colour and textile techniques.
