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Designers Homewares

Dinosaur Designs celebrate landmark 30th year

With a three-decade career designing iconic homewares and jewellery under their belts, Dinosaur Designs‘ creative directors Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy, have today launched their latest collection, Rainforest.

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An evolution of their previous collections, which have referenced birds, flowers, seeds, earth and stones, Rainforest evokes the moisture and warmth of the tropical rainforest, with bright accents and tonal greens, and the solid earthen tones of wood and stone from the forest floor. “Nature has always been a core inspiration,” explains Louise. “So it only seemed fitting that a collection inspired by rainforests — a lush environment full of wonder and full of life — should mark our anniversary.”

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The homewares collection is dominated by very large-scale bowls, platters and servers, and by popular demand, the signature ‘pebble’ pepper grinder returns, this time accompanied by a salt grinder. The jewellery is a delicate balance of boldness and finesse, with accents of gold and brass, and exciting new cuff and drop earring styles.

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The Rainforest collection also reflects Louise and Stephen’s deep respect and concern for the future of rain and old-growth forests. The world’s rainforests are home to 50 percent of the earth’s plants and animals, and act as the planet’s thermostat by regulating temperatures and weather patterns. Highly endangered, Dinosaur Designs have decided to help support rainforest preservation by donating a percentage of the collection’s sales to the Australian Conservation Foundation to support their Great Dividing Range Campaign.

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Rainforest is available in store and online from today.

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Categories
Homewares

Dinosaur Designs’ new Red range

Dinosaur Designs’ Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy have launched their new showcase colour range, Red. I’m not usually a fan of red, but we’re talking much more subtle than in-your-face Valentine’s Day red. Phew! Speaking of which, Happy Valentine’s, lovers!

Red collection Shell Wrap vase
Red collection Shell Wrap vase

The palette varies from deep reds and bright oranges to soft peaches, complimented by accents of cream and gold, which create harmonious colour relationships. New art range colours have also been developed, combining powerful reds and an earthy tortoiseshell.

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Interiors Addict

Bid on a work-of-art chair for a good cause

Some seriously stunning one-off, work-of-art chairs are up for grabs this weekend, in an auction to raise money for Legacy.

My personal favourite, by paper artist James Gordon
My personal favourite, by paper artist James Gordon

The 30 original chairs, designed and created by key Australian personalities from the worlds of television, radio, fashion, design, interiors and politics, including one from Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s family, go on public display at The Grounds of Alexandria this weekend.

The Take a Seat campaign has been devised by online homewares retailer Temple & Webster. Participants include Sunrise and Dancing with the Stars presenter Edwina Bartholomew, renowned artist and designer Stephen Ormandy (of Dinosaur Designs), stylist and interior designer Shannon Fricke, makeup artist Napoleon Perdis and many more.

Stephen Ormandy's chair. Image courtesy of Olsen Irwin Gallery.
Stephen Ormandy’s chair. Image courtesy of Olsen Irwin Gallery.
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Interiors Addict

Video: Behind the scenes at Dinosaur Designs

Ever wondered how they make all those gorgeous vases, bowls, bangles and more at Dinosaur Designs? I’ve been lucky enough to see behind the scenes in person and the amount of work that goes into each truly individual piece, all by hand, is quite staggering. Take a look yourself in this new video featuring co-founders Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy at work.

Behind the Scenes at Dinosaur Designs from Dinosaur Designs on Vimeo.

Categories
Furniture

Dinosaur Designs branch out into furniture in their signature resin

Dinosaur Designs co-founders Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy have released their first furniture collection: side tables in the brand’s signature resin.

Stephen's collection, Collage
Stephen’s collection, Collage

Having cemented themselves in the Australian design industry, the introduction of these larger pieces is perhaps a natural progression. Louise and Stephen have each designed a collection of side tables, celebrating their individual design sensibility, all which are one of a kind and have been handmade in their Sydney studio.

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Interiors Addict

An earthy new collection from Dinosaur Designs

Safari is the latest collection from Dinosaur Designs, available from today. If you’re more into earthy neutrals than pops of colour or pastels, this could be right up your street.

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We might be heading into summer but I’m loving these autumnal colours! The collection is a team effort by Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy.