How unbelievably stunning is local textile designers, Bonnie and Neil’s new Melbourne store? I think I’ll go as far to say it’s the most impressive homewares store I’ve ever seen. Just gorgeous!
Patterned from floor to ceiling with Bonnie and Neil designs, the store, positioned in front of their Brunswick studio, has been designed to showcase current products as well as featuring prints from their archival collections.
Cushions, tableware, ceramics and timber products can all be found on display in store as well as a new limited edition range of paper prints inspired by Bonnie Ashley’s (one half of Bonnie and Neil) years working as a florist. The shop also stocks a select range of products from other brands including candles and hand cream by Maison Balzac, ceramics by Robert Gordon Australia and solid timber bird sculptures by local artist Rob Bast.
Also announced as part of the store’s opening is their partnership with local furniture manufacturer Grazia and Co, both as a retailer of Grazia and Co furniture but also offering customers the ability to customise upholstered pieces with Bonnie and Neil hand printed fabric.
The back wall of the shop is glass which faces into the studio itself, giving customers a glimpse into Bonnie and Neil’s production process.
Located at 121A Donald Street, Brunswick 3056, the store is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9.30am until 5.00pm or by appointment on request.
Selling their handcrafted textiles and accessories that are inspired by native flora and fauna (in a completely tasteful way!), Utopia Goods will be holding a Christmas pop-up shop in Sydney’s Surry Hills.
Opening the doors to their studio for a magical, festive-themed two weeks of shopping, you will be able to get your hands on their locally designed home furnishings, tableware, limited-edition bedding and bags.
Perfect for gifting, the 100% cotton and linen designs pay tribute to Australia’s unique environment, with the prints and patterns creating easy-layering and occasionally clashing.
Complimentary gift-wrapping and icy refreshments will be flowing and every customer will go into the draw to win a door prize valued at $350!
The Christmas pop-up runs Monday-to-Friday from 9 December to Christmas Eve at 67/61 Marlborough Street, Surry Hills.
To celebrate the launch of Australia’s Zara Home online store, we’ve rounded up the brand’s best buys. Affordable, elegant and on-trend, we’re impressed!
Round metal and mirror table (set of two), $299
Competitively priced, the elegant lines of this table set remind us of Hollywood Regency design and the Art Nouveau period in equal measure.
Seaweed print cushion, $39.95 (cover only)
We’ve seen much more expensive iterations of this cushion and the watercolour finish is particularly elegant.
Coral cut glass tumbler, $7.95
Inject some colour into your entertaining with these bright, bohemian tumblers.
Imperial cutlery, from $9.95
What isn’t there to like about this cutlery set? Apart from the hue of course, we love the design’s Art Deco feel.
Wooden ladder towel rack, $119
Ideal for renters, this little number injects a bit of organic splendour into your washroom while serving a useful purpose too. We give it the thumbs up.
Golden toned basket with diamond-shaped plaiting, $89.95
This baby could house anything from dirty laundry to clean towels. We love its tribal vibe.
Scored ceramic bathroom set, individually priced from $15.95
This set looks a lot more expensive than it is and is a gorgeous seasonal update for the powder room.
Raised design stoneware set, from $19.95
With more than a nod to 1970s Scandinavian ceramics, this tea set, with its chalky white tone, is a super cool take on retro design.
Round sticks stool, $239
Solid, organic and earthy, this stool brings the outside in. Ideal as a side table or when extra seating is required.
Golden star coasters (set of four), $19.95
Stars are always in fashion and we love the fabulous price-point too.
An iconic Australian brand, Sheridan is synonymous with superior quality and timeless design. Whether it’s a grandmother, brother or neighbour that you’re looking to buy a present for, Sheridan’s enduring and broad appeal makes it the ideal stop to sort out your Christmas gift list. Here are our top 10 picks this festive season.
Wategos beach towel
Named after an iconic Australian beachside getaway, the Wategos beach towel features on-trend woven Turkish cotton, tassels and a personalisation option too. Add a name or initials for a truly original gift.
Riedle Bay Sarong
An ideal gift for someone you don’t know that well. From the beach to the plane or as a throw on the couch, the Riedle Bay Sarong is very much multi-purpose.
Wardell Travel Set
Perfect for the intrepid traveller in your life, the Wardell travel set is a stylish and practical gift that will never date.
Bath towels
Sheridan’s classic bath towels are so enduring they often get passed down generations which is no small achievement in this disposable age! Available in many crowd-pleasing shades, these are a no-brainer gift.
Albie Hooded Baby Towel
The perfect present for the little person in your life, this super soft terry towelling hooded bath towel is fast-drying and transitions nicely from beach to pool.
Candle
Scented candles are universally adored and they’re the ideal gift to take to a friend’s house over the festive season – you’d spend more on flowers and a candle will last much longer.
Watson beach bag
Perfect for the beach-lover in your life, this beauty is big enough to store a towel, sunscreen and flip flops. Plus, it’s reversible too.
Beach escape hand gift set
An ideal gift for the person that has everything – beautiful hand wash and lotion never goes astray.
Bath robe
Equal parts cuddly and luxurious, spoil your mum with a brand-spanking bath robe for a fail-safe choice.
Eltham toiletry bag
There isn’t a family member that wouldn’t enjoy the Eltham toiletry bag – it’s size makes it great for a weekend getaway.
See Sheridan for more festive buys and to shop online.
A calming antidote to the fast-fashion approach to interiors, the new cushion collection from Queensland design studio These Walls has bold yet timeless appeal.
“Our products and collections are designed to last. Each design and colourway is made to be around for a while in protest against seasonal throwaways,” says These Walls designer Sarah Hingle.
The Australian-made cushion collection combines hand-painted designs in a colour palette of mustard, navy, black, sea foam and cerulean blue.
“The designs are inspired by the extremes of the ocean and the desert and feature bold and textured line work,” says Sarah.
Linen, exposed brass zippers, rust-coloured buttons and a touch of velvet work to give the range an heirloom quality – the small-batch runs ensure this too.
There’s nothing stuffy or provincial about the super stylish curation of French designer wares, available exclusively online at Bastille and Sons. After a 20-year career in marketing, and relocating to Sydney from Paris, Toulouse native Valerie Moreno decided to establish the company with a view to introducing design savvy Australians to the delights of contemporary French design.
Honore Croisette armchair, $1,050
“We want to open a window on the bubbly French contemporary design scene and share the understated French aesthetic without the French provincial clichés,” says Valerie.
Florence Bouvier vintage linen cushions, $150 each
With products sourced from several French regions, you can expect to find traditional textiles such as linen interpreted in an entirely fresh way.
Honore Deco Fruity Brass mirror, $90
“Far from the French provincial clichés, every product is the combination of talented, creative designers and the savoir-faire of highly skilled craftsmen,” says Valerie.
Maison de Vacances throw, $680
We love the Florence Bouvier vintage linen cushions and the fruity brass mirrors in particular. C’est bon!
Celebrity landscape designer Jamie Durie has teamed up with The Block favourites The Canvas Workshop to create a range of framed art prints, canvases, outdoor acrylic panels and indoor/outdoor cushions.
Jamie Durie x The Canvas Workshop is inspired by the vast Australian landscape — the designs celebrate all that is beautiful about our great land. From organic, muted tones to bright pops of colour, the range is perfect for revitalising outdoor spaces (and indoor ones too!).
“My collaboration with The Canvas Workshop is all about infusing the essence of al fresco design and representing this aesthetic in the form of art and decor. This collection reflects my passion for quality design, style and bringing the essence of natural living into the home,” says Jamie.
The collection of art (including outdoor wall art), decor and cushions is available online with prices starting from $59.95.
In news that will delight interiors obsessives, Zara Home is opening a Sydney flagship store today (Thursday 3 December), together with an Australian online presence too.
Located in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall, Zara Home’s Australian flagship store will be housed inside a 500 square metre space that will run across two levels and feature all the Zara Home collections alongside Zara Home Kids.
Shoppers can expect a stylish and on-trend offering of home textiles, bed, bath and table lines in addition to select furniture, tableware, cutlery and decorative accessories including loungewear and gift items. Consistent with the rest of the world, the Sydney store will present two collections each year, with new stock arriving twice weekly.
To coincide with the bricks and mortar launch, zarahome.com will make its online debut in the southern hemisphere too, which is great news for those outside Sydney.
Australian shoppers will be able to purchase online for the first time and to celebrate the launch, the brand is offering free delivery for the first week and a special shopping bag while stocks last.
Visit Zara Home at Sydney’s Pitt St Mall or see Zara Home for more.
Last month, Hunting For George celebrated their fifth birthday, no mean feat for a small business that started in co-owner Jo Harris’ spare bedroom!
Jo and Lucy
An online homewares business specialising in everything from pure cotton bed linen to handmade clocks, Hunting For George entered the eCommerce market in a time very different from today. “Five years ago, online retail was dominated primarily by larger companies,” explains Jo. “The challenge for us in the early days was working out how to be relevant next to the big players. This forced us to find our own point of difference, zero in on our key strengths and present our own voice in the industry.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”sRrcUGyFwQsWhHlA8QWsLXKh4LGw4w0o”]So present their own voice they did, harnessing Jo’s skills in management and her sister/co-owner Lucy Glade-Wright’s in graphic design. Initially selling brands they liked, they later started designing themselves, however all the products shared the same commonality: a realness, an energy and a quintessential Hunting For George feel. “We wanted to transfer so much of our own personality and energy into the site that when people found us online they felt like they practically knew us,” says Lucy. “The shopping experience ultimately comes down to how we like to shop, the things we like to buy and the way we like to be treated. And it’s that realness that we have created that our customers have responded to the most.”
As a small business, in the early days, nobody knew who they were. As a result, they had to work a lot harder, so the support from one another was never more important. “Whilst we love what we do, running your own business is really hard,” explains Jo. “I think the reason why we are still here though and still relatively sane, is due to the support we give one another and the support we now receive from the team around us. There are always times that cause you to doubt yourself and doubt is a dangerous thing. When it creeps up on you, you’ve just got to tell it to get the fuck back and keep moving forward. Pardon my French!”
It’s that attitude that’s seen the sisters reach so many milestones, one of the biggest being the success of their debut bedding collection, that not only gave them an incredible amount of confidence as designers, but also as entrepreneurs. “That was overwhelming,” says Jo. “We had styles sell out within weeks and we found ourselves scrambling to arrange reprints. At the time, it was a huge gamble as we put everything on the line with that collection. Luckily though, it paid off!”
However, their latest highlight — which they’re still beaming over — was being nominated as a finalist for the ORIA Best Small Online Retailer 2015. “We are so proud of this achievement,” explains Lucy. “Our team is a small one and we all work so hard to make Hunting For George the best it can be. To receive that level of recognition from the industry at such an early stage is a huge hats off to our team and the terrific work they put in.”
While the sisters are proving small businesses can thrive in today’s homewares industry, there’s no doubt many others are struggling. So what’s their secret? Turns out they have three. “Firstly, we worked out at the beginning who we were and what made us different. Create, don’t imitate! Secondly, we have the right people on board and surround ourselves with people smarter than us. For example, we’ve hired a good bookkeeper! And thirdly, we always keep a healthy supply of wine at the ready!”
Bringing their online store to life, Ten Things will be holding a pop-up shop this festive season in Sydney’s BRANCH3D gallery and shop space.
“It’s been two years since our first Sydney pop-up so we’re incredibly excited to be doing it all again,” explains owner Libby Carr. “The festivity and bustle of December makes it the perfect time of year and we love having the opportunity to meet customers and engage with our community.”
With everyone’s favourite products for sale, there will be Japanese enamel teapots from Noda Horo, designer clocks from Japan, the playful textiles of Kauniste, Finland and the colourful prints of Charley Harper.
Big supporters of handmade products and independent design, look out for scarves from Israeli textile designer Lee Coren and hand-carved wooden utensils from Warang Wayan, Bali.
And for something new, Ten Things are excited to have selected some beautiful ceramics especially for the pop-up, including pieces from Sydney’s It’s a Public Holiday and Melbourne’s Dot & Co.
The Ten Things pop-up will run from 2-to-20 December, Wednesday-to-Sunday, and will offer the perfect finding spot for that unique Christmas gift.
After a feature on The Block and an array of magazine covers, Prudence Caroline Oliveri had enough courage to quit her day job as a make-up artist, and give painting canvases a red-hot go. However, practicing art full-time was not enough. So, she decided to create a homewares line, which launches today!
With three core collections, the products are a combination of materials that make her heart sing: “velvet, concrete, textured cotton, leather, brass and colourful art!” Most distinctive is Prudence’s textiles range, which is digitally printed with her original artwork. “There are three cushions, a monster floor cushion and a throw. The prints I’ve used on the textiles are of my favourite artworks from the past year or so. The newest is the throw named Three Oh, which is constructed from the sold out limited edition print, Station 30.”
Also on offer is a concrete collection, encouraged by Prudence’s concreter husband, as well as the introduction of her original artworks on paper. “In the concrete collection we have a natural and black stool with hand selected river stones. Plus concrete platters in natural, painted and washed. I have also printed my original artworks on paper – with stamped leather and brass detail logo.”
She came up with the idea for a homewares line after moving house, and motivated by her beautiful new surroundings. “I was inspired by a mix of products in my home and wanted to blend them into things I could offer for others to put into theirs. My concrete home sprung ideas for smaller concrete items and my art brought about the idea of digitally printed art cushions with a velvet reverse and contrast piping.”
While painting is still at the core of what she does, Prudence does admit she’s had a lot of fun with the new homewares line, so if time permits there’ll definitely be more to come! But for now you can get your hands on her current collection, with new original artworks and one-off concrete objects being added each month.
We were really happy when we heard Feliz Home had a new collection to share with us!
Co-founder Melissa Alessi says: “We are so proud of the quality we have achieved and the designs we have added to our core range. Feliz’ designs continue to be playful for kids, with a sophistication and simplicity in our designs for teens and adults.
“Layer as much or as little colour and fun as you wish and enjoy knowing that our designs have been drawn by hand, screenprinted by hand and sometimes painted by hand! Not only are the designs new but the family is growing. We have added a bunch of beautiful new products and styles to the range.”
We particularly like the freehand spots of Sprinkle Sprinkle, which comes in charcoal, fluro pink or gold. Fun pillowcases feature text like buenas noches, siesta/fiesta, yeah/nah, happiness and love.
We think the range is fun without feeling too childish or bright and it’s really up to you how much colour and fun you layer up. We also love how you can mix and match many pieces.
After years of working in product development for large companies and not-for-profit organisations, and the birth of their children, Melissa, along with Jane Forbes, decided there was no better time than to join forces and create something that was truly them. With light hearts and industrious hands they decided to create a brand that reflected how they felt: feliz (happy)!
Using organic and sustainably produced fabrics, their designs are lovingly hand screenprinted using water-based inks, in their studios in Geelong and Melbourne, VIC.
The latest collection from Melbourne-based textile studio Bonnie and Neil showcases the beauty of Spring flowers, featuring pretty blooms, native florals and lush greenery.
Building on their previous collections of nature-inspired designs, Botanical also includes new oil paint patterns and geometrics in emerald, soft pink, cobalt and charcoal. We’re in love!
Inspired by Bonnie’s years working as a florist, the collection introduces a new series of limited edition artworks, a first for the brand. These intricate paper prints are uniquely composed with flowers and foliage individually. Each layer is added intuitively which means no two prints are the same.
This month also sees the launch of Bonnie and Neil’s first ever retail shop, opened at the front of their Brunswick studio. The retail interior has Bonnie and Neil’s patterns all over it from the floor to the timber wall tiles including Grazia and Co furniture which can be customised with Bonnie and Neil hand printed fabrics.
The shop also features glass windows into the studio so you can see the Bonnie and Neil team hard at work printing (and building) everything by hand.
Fashion forward interiors brand Art Club Concept has released their new collection titled Dreamland. The range combines clashing monochromatic black and white patterns with pastel flashes for a cool, modern vibe.
“The dynamic mix of pastel tones, contrasting prints and summer vibes will welcome the warmer weather into your space,” says Art Club Concept director, Ben Lawry.
Self-confessed arbiters of home style, Art Club Concept see their wares as fashion for the home. Just as our wardrobes are updated seasonally, the increasingly affordable interiors scene means we can update our homes with the same frequency.
And what of the collection’s name? “As a team, one of our core values is to create our dreams and this is what inspired our new Dreamland collection,” says Ben.
A team of creative collaborators, Art Club Concept has a holistic approach to interior design with a particular interest in its effect on our headspace. “Studies conducted by the Queensland University of Technology have found that thoughtfully designed interiors have a direct influence on overall health,” says Ben.
The Tropical Accent Collection is the debut textiles range by up and coming WA creative Megan Guise of Megan Isabella Design.
“These gorgeous botanical designs feature my original artwork and are both printed and sewn in Australia,” Megan says. “This is a handmade, high quality, local product. The Tropical Accent Collection is all about bringing a bit of the exotic indoors, creating a sense of a retreat so that every day feels like a holiday at home. Leave the business of the world behind and be greeted by a beautiful room highlighted by these vibrant soft furnishings.”
Megan likes to bring a little joy and happiness into people’s lives through her products. “I have lovingly poured my heart and soul into this collection, so when a customer purchases from me they don’t just own a cushion, they own a piece of art.”
Boutique bedding label, The Bedroom Society, has returned with a more expansive offering this season, in the form of a Spring/Summer 2015 capsule collection of pure linen and cotton bedding and accessories in shades of charcoal, mint, peach and white.
“It’s a big step up as I have expanded the range so there’s printed sheets, duvet covers and pillow cases,” says designer, Lauren Roe of the collection that is designed to be both trans-seasonal and mixed and matched.
“I’ve focussed on a colour theme of charcoal, mint, peach and white and I really love how it’s all come together. I love to blend different patterns, colours and fabrics together for the overall look,” says Lauren.
The range features screen-printed designs in cute and classic polka dots, herringbone and diamond patterns with a classic touch. In particular, the 100 per cent French flax linen sheets and duvet covers are ultra luxe.
“The reversible pom pom coverlets are quite special as they’re stitched by hand, each pom pom is custom made and both sides of the coverlet are a different colour for contrast,” says Lauren of the range’s standout piece. It took almost six months of sampling before an artisan was chosen to create each coverlet by hand. As a bonus, they’re the perfect weight for use all year round.
“I really hope my customers join me on this design journey – I’ve moved past the bright and fun troppo prints of the past,” says Lauren of the more sophisticated collection. “I feel like my personality is truly reflected in this range and I hope my customers will invest in prints that are more classic and will last longer trend-wise. The pieces provide the perfect base to add new cushions or pillow cases each season,” says Lauren.
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.
Wanting to celebrate all that is wonderful about Australia, MOZI’s brand new collection, Flora Poética, delivers a modern take on Australia’s flora and fauna in a vibrant and bold colour palette.
Paying homage to the poetry of the Australian landscape from desert to sea, the range is perfect for getting you in the mood for summer and the good times that go hand in hand with our laid back lifestyle.
Featuring a combination of home textiles, kitchen and stationery products, summer-inspired fashion accessories, outdoor entertaining products, candles and gifting options; each piece features MOZI’s original illustrations in their signature colours.
“We are big fans of vintage Australiana – the tea towels in our grandmothers’ cupboards, the iconic art,” explains Fleur Harris, MOZI’s design manager. “We wanted to ‘MOZI-fy’ what is great from our past, with a fresh take to suit our current world and how we live, to create original illustrations using our trademark bright and playful colours and patterns. The rule was to go to the ‘edge of cheesy’ and not fall off!”
With a range of prints on offer, all encapsulate that quintessential Australian feel. Highlights include Flora & Fauna, which pays homage to the Australian bush (think cockatoos, galahs and king parrots amongst the gumtrees); Desert Rain, which takes you out into the northern parts of our land; and Australiana, which highlights our finest landmarks, anything from a curious kookaburra to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the trams of Melbourne.
From the bush to the beach MOZI have also captured the smell of summer in their two fragrance stories. Golden Honey transports you to the outback, where you’ll stop to smell fresh flowers in the clean air and Coconut Splice evokes a sense of fun and a youthful spirit.
MOZI’s Flora Poética range is available now. Shop online.
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