To celebrate Incy Interiors’ 10th birthday, founder Kristy Withers has relaunched the brand’s iconic Spindle bedroom range. Previously sold between 2015 and 2019, the Spindle collection was a common fixture in celeb homes and even made it into our publisher Jen’s son Sebastian’s baby nursery!
The collection consists of the Penny Single Bed ($999), Penny King Single Bed ($1,199), Jude Bookcase ($599) and Jack Side Table ($499), all handcrafted from New Zealand pine.
Flashback: Jen used the Spindle change table in son Sebastian’s nursery back in 2015 in a custom aqua colour. It has followed him through various bedrooms since as a dresser, until deciding to share with his brother Charlie this year.
Followers of the leading Australian kids’ furniture brand have long been requesting the return of the popular design and it seemed fitting to re-launch the range during a milestone year. The Spindle bedroom range extends upon the classic Spindle Georgia Cot and Lucy Change Table.
Faced with challenges from health restrictions during the pandemic and lockdowns, Incy returned to its roots to pull off this product launch, working outside locked down LGAs. The campaign was shot in Orange NSW, where Kristy and her family live.
“It was serendipitous that due to Covid lockdowns we were forced to do the photoshoot in regional NSW where we did the original Spindle shoot,” said Kristy.
Incy Interiors’ new kids range: so stylish you could steal it!
You know how there’s those kids labels – be it fashion, homewares or furniture – where you just need to have it all, except you’re an adult and alas, nothing…
Like many parents, before I had kids I envisioned a toy area filled with lovely looking wooden toys but sadly, the reality is somewhat different! In fact, sometimes I feel like I’m literally wading in plastic which is why I was rather captivated by the story of the newish children’s furniture brand ecoBirdy whose stylish speckled wares are made from 100 per cent recycled plastic toys sourced from Italian kindergartens and schools. What a fabulous idea!
The lovely ecoBirdy collection
“We found ecoBirdy last year at the Milan fair because they stood out – they had something to say about sustainability but the narrative was so fun and creative,” says Erna Walsh of KFive, the Australian distributor for the Italian brand.
“The ecoBirdy founders Vanessa and Joris told us that the range is the result of two years of very intense research and studying on plastic, plastic toys and their recycling and upcycling. They found out that plastic toys are among the most intensive users of plastic of all consumer goods. Children grow fast and their abilities and interests shift even faster, therefore toys are abandoned,” says Erna of the collection that, while made from recycled plastic waste, can easily be recycled again too.
The gorgeous Charlie chair. Thanks to a speckled look, the pieces are both eye-catching as well as being recognisable products of recycling.
Comprised of four designs, the collection includes a chair, table, unique kiwi bird-shaped storage container and rhino shaped lamp. Taking inspiration from rhinos, the latter piece aims to raise awareness, not only of sustainability, but also of this species’ endangered status.
The manufacturing process includes sorting, cleaning and grinding of old toys to ensure that the end result is clean, safe and free from harmful chemicals. Rounded edges and a smooth surface make the pieces pleasant to touch and easy to clean too which is important for a kids’ brand.
Extending its eco-consciousness even further, the brand also produces an accompanying storybook and school programme that has been designed to introduce youngsters to the circular economy and sustainability.
Italian children recycling their toys for the brand
And unsurprisingly, the brand has collected a swag of awards since its inception. “It’s really made an impact on the international scene winning the Good Design Award, Australian German Design Award and the Henry van de Velde Award which is Belgium’s most important design prize. Its also been exhibited at incredible venues like the V&A Childhood Museum in London, who loved the pieces so much they kept them permanently,” says Erna.
Not having children, I must admit highchairs don’t exactly get my heart racing, however what does, is good design, and the TOWER Chair certainly ticks that box.
First popping onto the scene when Country Road used them in their one-of-a-kind lifestyle cafe (if the tastemakers at Country Road like them, you know they’re good!) the TOWER Chair is a revolutionary, contemporary, Scandinavian-styled highchair.
Brought to Australia by Dane Studio, the highchair, with its sleek lines and beautiful profile, can be folded almost entirely flat, is wall mountable and easy to store. Designed by architects, it is crafted from the highest quality genuine leather, steel and wood and is a durable investment piece, designed for many years of use.
Also recently added to Dane Studio’s offering is the equally stylish Changing TOWER. A contemporary change table made from a sleek coated metal frame with natural leather detailing, it features two wooden storage boxes with acrylic dividers so you can store and organise all your change-time essentials.
But the coolest part is the change table can be transformed into a tent-like cubby house once your baby has grown! The tent cover features a whimsical forest print by famed French illustrator Audrey Jeanne, exclusive to the TOWER range. We love.
Each week we shine the spotlight on some of Australia’s best designers, artists and stylists and have them share with us what’s making them tick; anything from the best gift they’ve ever received to their favourite holiday destination. Today we chat to Kristy Withers, founder of designer kids furniture brand, Incy Interiors.
Kristy and her children Oscar and Polly
1. Who is your favourite musician?
Okay this is super embarrassing but it would have to be Garth Brooks. You can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl!
2. What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
I know it is cliché, but it would be my children. They are my entire world and they have taught me to be patient, honest and, after a recent $300 iTunes charge, why I need internet security!
3. What is your favourite cafe?
The Old Mill, Millthorpe. It’s in my little hometown and the owner trained with Adriano Zumbo and she does the most amazing cakes. It isn’t ideal as it’s only two blocks from my house.
4. What’s your go-to recipe?
Playdoh! As I always have the ingredients and it keeps my daughter Polly entertained for hours.
5. What is your favourite piece of furniture?
My son’s Oscar bed as it was the reason I started Incy Interiors in the first place. My son still sleeps in our original sample.
Each week we shine the spotlight on some of Australia’s best designers, artists and stylists and have them share with us what’s making them tick; anything from the best advice they’ve ever received to their favourite holiday destination. Today we chat to Chloe Brookman, one half of kids furniture business, Olli Ella.
1. What is your favourite cafe?
Tigermottle in Paddington. Killer coffee, delicious breakfast (my favourite meal) and nestled amongst gorgeous Paddington terraces. It’s also walking distance from our home!
2. What is your favourite holiday destination?
Costa Rica. Although last time we went there we chose a little eco lodge on a beach called Playa Nicuesa, which the locals lovingly refer to as Mosquito Beach! We didn’t find that out until we were actually there unfortunately.
Costa Rica I love for the food, the proximity to both beaches and rainforests and the people. It’s an untouched paradise.
3. What three people would be at your perfect dinner party?
Oscar Wilde, Stevie Wonder and Stephen Hawking.
4. What’s your go-to recipe?
Homemade spinach pesto pasta. It’s delish (the whole family loves it) and it’s the only way I can get my kiddies to eat greens without some serious molecular gastronomy!
5. Who is your favourite musician?
Billy Bragg for his folky melodies that you can sing along to at the top of your lungs, driving with the windows open and the kids covering their ears in the back.
Oh to be a child again!This beautifully designed and handcrafted Playhouse Mini by RAW Sunshine Coast is the perfect accessory for your kids room; giving your little one somewhere to play and yourself, the chance to be stylist.
The perfect blank canvas, each playhouse is made from unpainted, 100% environmentally sustainable plantation pine, meaning you can either enjoy its raw beauty or paint it yourself.
High tea or chill out space? You’re only limited by yours and your child’s imagination when it comes to styling and functionality. Style with fairy lights, garlands, tulle, throws and cushions to add personality.
With hand selected lengths of timber, with minimal knots and imperfections to ensure maximum strength and durability, every edge of timber has been pencil rounded so that there are no sharp edges and the high-pitched roof allows for plenty of room to jump around.
Assembly couldn’t be simpler. With the playhouse arriving partially assembled, with easy to follow instructions to join the remaining pieces together.
Last year, we brought you 10 of the best online finds for kids room. The post proved very popular, so for 2015 we decided to do it all over again. So, without further ado…
Back in my day, you’d get in trouble for drawing on your belongings, but at Dear Diary, it’s encouraged! Their Scribble It range features cushions, wallpaper, soft toys and pencil cases, perfect for creating unique keepsakes and works of art. Their cushions retail for $59.95 and are available in neon pink or classic black.
Keton Kids’ debut collection of 12 prints are fun, original, on-trend and affordable! Designs measure 50x70cm and cost $48.
The vintage inspired alphabet chart by My Bearded Pigeon is both useful for your child and a beautiful piece for your wall. With a chalkboard like background and beautiful old school fonts, it clearly shows the full alphabet and numbers zero-to-nine. Also available in black, the wall hangings measure 86x61cm and are $72.
The too cute handmade watermelon stool from The Timba Trend is the perfect eye-catching addition to your kids room. With a unique design and pastel colours, it’s 42cm high and retails for $80.
The Wall Sticker Company‘s new range of removable wallpaper and decals celebrates all things tribal. Their pack of self adhesive three teepees is a lovely way to add colour to your child’s room and they’re easily removable. The fun fabric stickers come in any three colours and retail for $39.95.
Ink & Spindle’spyramini floor cushions offer an option for kids furniture that doesn’t have to be hidden away. At $95 they come in a range of handprinted fabrics and can be filled with your choice of beans, foam or eco fibre.
These gorgeous paper storage bags by Mon Petit ZoReol are made in France and available through BabyDonkie. The panda images are hand illustrated and applied with stickers and each paper bag costs $20.
Designed with a solid colour background and peppered with a handful of colourful triangles, the teepee geo rug by Olli Ella looks beautiful in the living room, playroom, and of course, your kid’s room. Handmade in Nepal and made from 100% wool, the rug comes in three colourways and retails for $499.
Designed and hand finished by HEICO in Germany, the original toadstool nightlight adds the perfect touch of whimsy to your kids bedroom. Coming in a variety of colours and sizes, the large toadstool in red retails for $155 from Talo Interiors.
This wooden house shaped shadow box by Bloomingville makes a gorgeous and unique wall display. A perfect home for little trinkets, it is made of veneer and features a natural timber finish on the outside. Coming in four colourways, the lightweight shadowbox from Leo & Bella costs $79.
What are your favourite places to shop for kids rooms? I’d love to hear about them.
Incy Interiors and Kip & Co are two companies who pride themselves on designing products to make interiors unique, playful and anything but traditional. When I found out that they were collaborating on a line of kids’ beds and cots I was extremely excited to see what they had in store, and they didn’t disappoint!
Vibrant and stylish, these unisex kids’ beds ($699) and cots ($999) are made with multi-coloured panels and come in a range of combinations, anything from melon yellow to magenta and rose.
Available from September, Incy Interiors founder Kristy Withers believes this collaboration is a match made in heaven: “I’ve always loved the colourful combinations and unique designs the Kip & Co girls come up with and it’s really exciting to have their input into this exclusive range.”
Kip & Co co-founder Kate Heppell agrees: “Collaborating with Incy Interiors was a natural extension for us. This collaboration proves that the fun shouldn’t stop with just the bedding. We were able to create beds that blend great design, colour and a hint of playfulness, perfect for those cheeky kids.”
The range will be available for purchase online and word on the street is that Incy Interiors are opening a store in Sydney’s Chatswood Chase next month, so you may just be able to pop in and grab them there yourself. Watch this space…
For one-week only, kid’s furniture and linen brand, Lilly & Lolly, are having a mega sale at their Sydney and Melbourne stores.
Starting tomorrow (31 May 2014), bargains on offer will include 70% off clearance linen, 50% off selected sheet sets, 25% off doona covers, pillow cases and cushions and 10% off beds.
Inspired by two mums who wanted to keep their kids’ bedroom doors open, Lilly & Lolly have all the products you need to make a kid’s room chic and sophisticated, and loved by both parent and child.
WHERE?
Sydney : 1st Floor, PYD Building, 197 Young St, Waterloo.
Über stylish and practical children’s brand, Ubabub (pronounced über-bub) is known for its range of ultra-safe, durable and ecologically friendly furniture.
The Booksee is a contemporary and innovative take on the traditional bookshelf. Storing your children’s books neatly away whilst still displaying their covers, means your kids can easily view their favourite books and are encouraged to read.
The Booksee has also been designed with safety in mind, using a slim, smooth profile that helps prevent bumping or mishaps.
Made from clear acrylic, the high lip at the front ensures your kids’ books stay on the shelves. The open ends of the shelves means that when placed side by side, the point where one shelf meets another is barely noticeable.
Sold as a set of two for $199 + shipping. Shop online.
When most people struggle to find the furniture of their dreams they settle for second best, but for husband and wife team Lee Gratton and Emma Clark, that was never an option.
Lee and Emma
Rather, Lee, an old school woodworker by trade and Emma, a journalist turned interior designer, saw a gap in the market and decided to fill it.
Having worked under the title of Gratton Design since the end of 2010, the Melbourne duo assist architects and designers with cabinetry and custom furniture for private homes and the hospitality industry, but it was not until late last year that they launched their own ranges.
“We love making custom furniture pieces for clients and have a million sketchbooks filled with designs, so were very excited to finally produce our own range,” explains Emma. “The furniture range began with one stool that Lee made out of leftover bits and pieces. We refined the shape and materials until it looked great and was comfortable to sit on. We then made a complementary round table in a few sizes, which led to a coffee table and full-size dining table. It was a pretty organic process.”
But the furniture range, or adult range as Emma likes to call it, is not the only one; they also have a kids range inspired by their very own kid, son and chief product tester, Archie.
“The kids furniture came about after we couldn’t find an attractive and practical kids table and chair set that didn’t cost a million dollars but wasn’t the same mass-produced stuff that everybody has,” said Emma. “So we made our own!”
Timber fanatics, the furniture range is made from FSC-certified Victorian ash, recycled Australian hardwood, and American walnut. Entirely handmade at their Melbourne workshop, the pieces are designed for functional, small-space living that can handle daily wear and tear but still be a showpiece for your home.
The kids range similarly has the inevitable wear and tear in mind, made from birch plywood with easy to clean laminated colour tops. They come in a range of colours, with the aim to not only be a fun place for kids to play and eat but also be an item that complements your décor.
For Gratton Design the future looks bright, they hope as the years go by to still be working with architects and clients in making their one-of-a-kind customs but also continuing with their own ranges.
As Emma most succinctly puts it their mission is clear: “To encourage people to choose locally-made timber furniture that will last for 100 years and end up as a family heirloom, rather than mass-produced disposable pieces.”
