Tag: timber furniture

Win $3000 to spend on unique, Australian designed furniture

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date July 15, 2021
6 Comments on Win $3000 to spend on unique, Australian designed furniture

Why timber vanities can cope with your wet bathroom

By Alison Collins The bathroom is traditionally the most stark space in any home filled with materials such as tiles, glass, mirror, ceramics and polished concrete. Adding timber to the space,…

2021 Australian Interior Design Awards shortlist announced

Always a hotly anticipated awards fixture in the Australian interior design scene, the shortlist for the latest Australian Interior Design Awards has been released and it is filled with original…

Tags Australian designed furniture, ecommerce, furniture, melbourne furniture, oak furniture, rj living, rj living richmond, sustainable furniture, timber beds, timber furniture, timber tv units

Design Furniture

Custom furniture online: Made By You making it easy & green

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date July 14, 2020
No Comments on Custom furniture online: Made By You making it easy & green

Anna Wright-Hands thinks it’s time customisable furniture became more accessible to the masses and she’s hoping to change that with her new business Made By You. What’s more, she’s doing it in a sustainable way, right here in Australia, using real timber.

Made By You founder Anna Wright-Hands and her dog Roo

“If the timber furniture industry was restaurants, we’d be the really good cafe between fast food and fine dining; basically flatpack furniture that looks high end, but without the price tag, and everything is customisable online!”

Anna, a former TV producer, wants her brand to be the friendly all-in-one online furniture hack for getting something to fit your space perfectly. Her pieces (TV units, hallway tables, bedside tables, bookcases and desks) are 100% Australian made and start at $250. You order online (to your custom size) and they send it right to your door in beautiful, GOTS-certified eco packaging.

The simple, modern designs are just timber and screws. “While screws keep our furniture strong, we use matching insert nuts in all our pieces too, to make sure it’s just as easy to assemble, disassemble and reassemble (no annoying dowel) for when you move,” she says. “We use the least amount of machinery and shipping necessary to make our pieces which saves money and energy. Less cost to you, less cost to the environment.”

It’s fun, easy and sustainable furniture you’ll want to keep forever, says Anna, who started Made By You when she couldn’t find what she wanted for her own home and ended up down at her local timber yard, making it herself!

“I grew up working in my dad’s power tools and machinery business in Wollongong, and we always had a project on the go,” she says. “I’ve been handy on power tools from the youngest of ages, so always making furniture for nooks and crannies in my various share houses and apartments over the years, and now home in Sydney’s Inner West.”

Every piece is made from Paulownia, a strong, lightweight, termite-resistant timber which, unlike hardwoods (that can take up to 100 years to grow), only takes 10 years to reach maturity, making it more renewable.

“We use 100% Australian grown plantation timber which is important in avoiding deforestation and the destruction of wildlife habitats,” Anna says. “Being lightweight also helps keep our shipping costs low. All furniture is then finished with pure Tung Oil which is non-toxic and 100% natural.”

Made By You offer a base collection for you to either order as is, or customise for your space. All pieces have proportions of 280mm (depth) x 42mm (timber thickness) but the rest is up to you.

“I believe your space is your sanctuary,” Anna says. “It’s not just where you live, it’s where you live. And all the spaces I have ever occupied, have changed with my evolving sense of self. The 11 year-old girl who would rearrange her room every week sometimes just because I needed the most amount of dancing room, still treats her space and the things I keep around me with a sense of wonder, fun and awe.”

She adds: “I truly believe no one knows their space better than you, so why try and fit someone else’s furniture into it? Make it what you want, then make it you by displaying meaningful, collected objects from your travels, extensive Virginia Woolf collection, or an embarrassing amount of succulents!”

Anna has worked all over the world as a TV producer in advertising, music videos and commercials, which she says is a surprisingly good background for running a small business. “It’s actually a really great and transferable skillset: having to manage projects the whole way through – on budget, on time.

“But I’ve always been a multi-disciplinary maker too; always painting, illustrating, designing, making furniture, revamping vintage finds, writing screenplays, making movies – I always have a side project on the go from as young as I can remember. I’ve always been a little creatively frustrated as a producer, as you’re producing other people’s vision.”

For more on Made By You

Furniture hacks: the essential roundup of products to hack your IKEA pieces

Who doesn’t love IKEA’s budget-friendly, simple, timeless designs? But sometimes you’d like your piece to look a little less mainstream. Well, we have some great news! There are plenty of…

Rattan furniture trend: Our top 8 statement chairs!

The rattan furniture trend is certainly one with legs. We first wrote about its mass resurgence back in 2017 and the look has remained a constant in our Pinterest and…

Tags Anna wright hands, custom furniture, customisable furniture, customisable furniture online, design furniture online, flatpack furniture, made my you, sustainable timber, sustainable timber furniture, sustainably furniture, timber furniture

Expert Tips Furniture

Choosing a dining table that will evolve with you

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date September 9, 2019
No Comments on Choosing a dining table that will evolve with you

By Don Garvan

When deciding on the perfect dining table for a space, there are many things to consider to make sure it’s a piece that will evolve with your style over the years. Before you begin your search, here are a few things to think about to make sure you choose a dining table that will become a centrepiece within your home.

CONSIDER YOUR LIFESTYLE

To begin your journey to finding the perfect dining table, it’s important to consider the lifestyle you aspire to live within the space. If you find that your dining table is a place for family gatherings then you will need a piece with plenty of room and seating for everyone. Compared to if you’re living in an apartment where space is limited, you may prefer a smaller dining table that is round in shape with seating that effortlessly stores underneath to maximise your space.

TIMELESS DESIGN

Once you’ve identified your lifestyle essentials, it’s time to consider the design of your table. This is an essential feature that will influence the overall look and feel of your space. It’s important to select a design that will evolve with your style over time, instead of tying you down to a trend. We recommend a timeless design featuring simple lines and a neutral colour palette that can be adapted with decorative pieces. This will give you the freedom to transform your style over the years without feeling the need to introduce an entirely new piece everytime you want to redesign your space.

AUTHENTIC MATERIALS

To ensure the longevity and functionality of your dining table, we recommend investing in a table that is crafted from high quality materials, such as solid oak. We also suggest choosing materials that have been ethically sourced to support regeneration, biodiversity and the protection of native fauna. Investing in a dining table crafted from authentic, high quality materials will ensure your dining table is a functional piece that will stand the test of time.

FLAWLESS FUNCTIONALITY

The next step in purchasing a timeless dining table is to ensure it will be a functional piece that creates an unencumbered look and feel within your dining space. A simple way to make sure the dining table you’ve choosen will fit effortlessly within your space is the map out the dimensions on the floor with masking tape. This will help you to easily visualise how different shapes and sizes will fit within your space, while guiding you as to whether or not your new piece will be a functional and enjoyable part of your home.

–Don Garvan is CEO and founder of Totem Road, makers of authentic, sustainable furniture, with a showroom in Sydney’s Paddington. You can also shop online.

Tags dining furniture, dining table, don graven, furniture, investment furniture, sustainable furniture, timber furniture, Totem Road

Bathrooms Designers Expert Tips Furniture

Dispelling the myths – the affordability of custom furniture

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date June 10, 2016
1 Comment on Dispelling the myths – the affordability of custom furniture

With increased concern for the environment, many consumers are looking to more sustainable options when it comes to furniture and, while custom furniture has long been associated with a hefty price tag, there is a new generation of Australian designers and makers who are challenging that perception.

Ingrain Designs

“Custom made is more affordable in the long run and people are cottoning on to the longevity you get out of a custom piece,” says Ben Purchase of Melbourne’s Ingrain Designs, who highlights the environmental impact of buying mass-produced, ‘fast furniture.’ “We’ve seen a rise of handmade and a growing concern for the environment. We’re more conscious now of where our furniture is coming from: how it was made, what it’s made out of and who made it,” says Ben.

Ingrain Designs’ floating bathroom vanity

“Instead of buying several pieces of furniture over a period of time, you can have that one custom piece in your home, completely customised to your style and specifications, that is built to last and will stand the test of time,” says Ben, who designs and creates a range of custom made furniture from his Collingwood showroom including dining tables, coffee tables, TV units, floating bathroom vanities, bar stools and mirrored timber storage units.

Ingrain Designs

And aside from environmental considerations, there is something beautiful in the bespoke. “I think people are also moving towards custom made to create statement, keepsake pieces that can be shared with generations to come. Dining tables, for example, are one of the largest pieces of furniture in the home and bring together family and friends to be entertained at, feast around and create memories together. And there’s a story and talking point that comes with that table too – from where the timber was sourced to the natural grain within the timber itself.” Ben regularly uses recycled timber to create his designs. “In Australia, we’re lucky to have access to an incredible variety of local and recycled timbers and wholesalers, such as Whelan Warehouse and Urban Salvage. Their range means we can find a timber variety to suit a variety of budgets.”

Ingrain Designs custom dining table

“Everything we make is custom made. So people can walk in and completely adapt a design based on their dimensions, desired timber type (lighter or darker toned boards) and configurations (e.g. how many drawers, doors), or we can work with customers to design something completely different. And we love the creativity and flexibility that gives us,” says Ben.

Ingrain Designs’ floating bathroom vanity

Ben’s top tips for commissioning furniture:

The biggest tip is having an idea, even the smallest idea, of the style you want. This really helps a maker with the quoting and design process.

Always have your dimensions worked out. Whether that is the size of the room or the space you have to work with.

Research makers and what their strengths are. This will make sure they’re a good fit for the style and look you’re after.

Give yourself enough time. Be mindful that our lead time allows for sourcing and ordering timber, hand making each and every piece, and delivery.

Ask questions. You’ll be surprised at the variety of things we can create for your home, office or business. If it’s made from recycled timber, we’ve either made it or can make it.

You can visit Ingrain Designs at their new Collingwood showroom

Check out Ingrain Designs here.

Photography: Shannyn Higgins Photography

Tags bathroom, custom furniture, design, furniture, Ingrain Designs, melbourne, timber, timber furniture

Designers Furniture Interviews

Affordable, raw-look timber furniture at The Wood Room

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date May 19, 2016
No Comments on Affordable, raw-look timber furniture at The Wood Room

The Wood Room produce handcrafted, custom timber furniture in minimalist shapes and natural finishes that feature inside popular Sydney hospitality spots such as all of the Boathouse venues (Balmoral, Palm Beach and Shelly Beach) and the revamped Newport Arms too. Their seaside, Scandinavian aesthetic is a perfect fit for those venues and it’s proving a popular with the public too.

But while the brand’s clean-lined aesthetic has wide appeal, it’s their ‘untreated’ timber finish that has tongues wagging. “There is something very beautiful about raw timber – each variety has its own unique colour tone,” says The Wood Room co-owner Simon Plowman who explains that as soon as you ‘finish’ timber with oil, wax, varnish or lacquer for protection, it automatically changes the colour of the wood. “The colour can go from a blonde pale tone to dark orange in an instant so we decided to work out how we could protect the timber whilst still maintaining its colour.”

After many months of experimentation and testing different formulas, Simon and co-owner Kate Nicholson, came up with a solution that is proving a hit with consumers. “We’ve now perfected the formula and have a finish that still protects the timber, without changing the natural colour of the wood. This finish is by far our most popular with our clients,” he says.

The Wood Room, aside from producing Australian-made furniture, uses a range of Australian timbers – Blackbutt, Tallowwood, Spotted Gum, Victoria Ash and Tasmanian Oak – as well as white and red American Oak, sourced directly from the US.

“We are continually inspired by simplicity and minimalism in design. We love embracing the natural beauty of timber and using the fewest and barest essentials to maximum effect. The clean and simple shapes, in which timber can be constructed into, form our furniture. The ‘less is more theory’ has always applied in our designs. However, at the end of the day, we simply design furniture that we love, in the hope that others will love it too,” says Simon.

And with Australian hardwood, hand crafted coffee tables starting from $1,200, their pieces should have a broad reach too. “One of our aims when starting up The Wood Room was to ensure our furniture was affordably priced. It was important to us that our furniture was not out of reach for people. Being affordable also means that hopefully more people can purchase their own piece of custom made furniture,” says Simon who explains the variety of available timbers helps keep costs down. “There is a timber variety to suit every budget,” says Simon.

The Wood Room co-owners Kate Nicholson & Simon Plowman

See here for more.

Tags Australian made furniture, design, furniture, sydney, The Wood Room, timber, timber furniture

Designers Furniture Interviews

Beautiful furniture taking sustainability to the next level

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date November 19, 2015
2 Comments on Beautiful furniture taking sustainability to the next level

It was the words of author Anna Lappé, who said: “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want,” that inspired Don Garvan to start furniture brand Totem Road.

Committed to minimising the impact of our modern throwaway culture, Don began creating a range of timeless timber pieces that not only looked amazing but also made a difference socially, environmentally and ecologically. “If you want to encourage more conscious consumerism you have to create products and a community that people love and connect with,” explains Don. “There’s a lot of talk about sustainability at the moment but for us it goes beyond materials and environment. It extends to the communities and everyone that is involved in every part of the Totem Road process, it’s about giving and taking in equal measure.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”KuNyKFMb6XctsNKzESwbQTdMFQFEIfh4″]From initial idea to final product, careful consideration is taken at every step. On a tangible level it starts at the timber, which comes from sustainable sources with a fully traceable chain of custody, and ends at the packaging, which is made from recycled paper materials. However, for Don, sustainability goes far beyond that. “What really makes Totem Road environmentally friendly is creating pieces that are made to last a life time… or three! Classic simple designs made from high quality and solid sustainable natural materials are more likely to survive those style makeovers and less likely to end up in land fill. That’s really what it means to Totem Road to be environmentally friendly.”

Offering furniture for the bedroom, dining room and living room, the furniture is designed in Sydney and crafted in Vietnam, by a small team of furniture makers whom Don first worked with over 20 years ago! With a definite mid-century, Scandinavian influence, Totem Road use all solid natural materials, creating a connection with nature. “We focus on simple designs that are carefully considered, allowing the materials to speak for themselves and inform the overall construction. Our intention from the start is to create pieces that will enable you to evolve your own personal style and lay the foundation to a space.”

As a business that favours the beautiful and sustainable you would think it couldn’t get any better, but it does. With Totem Road donating 5% of all sales (that’s sales not profit) to a registered charity of your choice. “The charities we are involved with cover all the things that are important to us: people, community and environment. It’s a big part of who we are and part of a commitment to taking and giving back in equal measure. The plan is to eventually set up our own foundation that gives back to the communities involved in the making of our products.”

For more information.

Tags Anna Lappé, design, Don Garvan, environment, furniture, interiors, style, styling, sustainable, timber, timber furniture, Totem Road

Designers Furniture Interviews

Bespoke furniture made from salvaged and found items

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date October 15, 2015
No Comments on Bespoke furniture made from salvaged and found items

A fourth generation carpenter and a plastic surgery nurse (with a knack for finding secondhand gems), Nik Kulas and Olivia Prescott are the masterminds behind new kid on the block, The Savage & Scott.

Offering bespoke industrial furniture made from items salvaged and found; there might be one piece made or there might be 10, but there will never be a million! “The Savage & Scott furniture is limited and custom-made, each piece coming with a personalised name tag and number,” explains Nik. “We see something in what is aged and we see value in what is discarded.”

Having always valued well-made, one-off-pieces, looking back it seems only natural that Nik became a designer. “A while back my mum had bought a mass-produced bookcase which I put together for her again and again as it fell apart. It sat awkwardly in a gap that it didn’t quite fill. So I decided to custom make a bookcase to fit the space.”

Loved by himself and his mum, Nik, who spent the day working for Boeing building aircrafts, started to spend his nights crafting furniture. After a year of juggling both, he was ready to turn his labour of love into a business. And inspired by Olivia’s eye for design and their regular trips to secondhand markets, The Savage & Scott was born.

[contextly_sidebar id=”FCgWACkecZj6WXCnVJg3dHaw1gvDzabU”]Using steel and reclaimed timber to create unique, modern furniture with old-world class, the construction process varies but the aim of making quality products remains. “The design process can be on the fly on the workshop floor if I’m trying to get something out of my mind and into the world,” says Nik.” But then engaging with clients we like to sit down and get as much information as we can about them, their home and what they are trying to achieve and then we hit the drawing board.”

Hoping to expand from their Melbourne workshop to an accompanying showroom and online store, no amount of growth will have them deviate from their goal: of producing one-of-a-kind pieces that each have a story to tell. “All our materials have a story. From a door used to being slammed shut to a machine that lived in a factory collecting dust, the beauty of each product is in its history and its future.”

For more information.

Tags design, furniture, melbourne, Nik Kulas, Olivia Prescott, reclaimed timber, The Savage & Scott, timber, timber furniture

Furniture

A bench, coffee table, hiding place and display case in one!

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date October 2, 2015
No Comments on A bench, coffee table, hiding place and display case in one!

Let’s face it, most of us are guilty of reading trashy mags every now and then. Whether it’s celebrity gossip or TV guides it’s safe to say you don’t want the whole world seeing them. Rather you’d probably prefer people to think you’re an avid reader of The Economist or Time or basically anything more highbrow! So… how to enjoy both? Introducing the Pinch Bench by Sawdust Bureau in limited edition Blond. This beautifully designed bench has been pinched on one side allowing for the perfect, shadowy place to stash away any unsightly magazines. Meanwhile, at the other end of the bench, embedded brass strips provide the ideal location to hang and display the latest copy of your more ‘civilised’ reads!

Made from reclaimed Jarrah, Victorian Ash, concrete core and brushed aluminium/brass strips, the bench seats three people and can also double as a coffee table. Each piece is stamped with an edition number and maker’s mark, with only 49 pieces being made.

Sawdust Bureau are a young, Melbourne-based company, specialising in the design and fabrication of low-volume, high quality, bespoke and customisable furniture made from 100% Australian timber.

For more information.

Tags design, furniture, interiors, pinch bench, Sawdust Bureau, timber, timber furniture

Designers Furniture Homewares Interviews

Peter McManus on making timber furniture from Victoria’s most iconic sites

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date August 6, 2015
No Comments on Peter McManus on making timber furniture from Victoria’s most iconic sites

After spending his formative years working in commercial construction with his father and older brother, Peter McManus began to feel restless. Booking a one way ticket to Bangkok, he set off on a life changing adventure, determined to foster new ideas and form a fresh foundation from which to reinvent himself.

He returned, eventually, with a desire to earn his living as a musician! However, after giving it a decent shot, it became obvious that it wasn’t for him (though he does tell me he still sings in a band called Stax on soul Revue!). So Peter decided to back off the music and refocus on his other passion, working with wood… and thank goodness he did!

Beginning Yard Furniture, formally known as Reclaimed Timber Furniture, four years ago, it began in a small workshop in his backyard; where he’d make pieces for friends, family and of course his own home. Today, however, is a much different story, with Peter’s new Melbourne location consisting of a showroom, workshop and storage space.

Creating high-end quality furniture, he is committed to breathing new life into ex-structural, recycled timbers; often working with raw sawn beams demolished from some of Victoria’s most iconic sites, such as Abbotsford Honda factory, Alphington Paper Mill and recently the Del Monti Suits Factory, Preston.

[contextly_sidebar id=”kdmYlp2kmE6ZURxCqZ3QUlalzldeWeGo”]So to say Peter is a fan of timber, well that’s the understatement of the century! ” What do I love about timber? How much time do you have?! I love timber because it gives me so much variety in texture, tone and density. Every piece is different and it’s also therapeutic in the same way being in nature is. I source the timber from various places: scrap yards, salvage yards, demolition sites or demolition companies. I try to acquire large quantities as it allows me to get familiar with a batch of timber, thus being able to replicate a piece that we display.”

Creating all types of high-end interior furniture, from tables to bed suites to entertainment units, Yard Furniture create a staple collection, as well as custom pieces. “We do get commissioned to make one offs, which are usually a design collaboration with the client, or some clients will bring their own design to us. That said, I always like to put my own little twist on anything I make!”

Neptune Sofa setting1

Yet putting his own spin on things is not exclusive to furniture, with Peter having recently transformed a run down factory on the fringe of Preston’s industrial precinct, into a beautiful, spacious 220 square metre showroom. “Our showroom has been a massive operation, one of the biggest projects I’ve undertaken. It was all closed in with a large steel mezzanine, so we demolished the mezzanine then punched a big opening in the front wall making a very attractive shop front and spacious showroom.”

Now in the process of filling the showroom with stock, Yard Furniture is stocking not just their own furniture, but homewares from local designers and artisans. “Our policy on the homewares that we stock is that our suppliers are local or nationally based. We are currently stocking ceramic’s from Lheme & Celeste, wire pot stands from Ivy Muse, soy candles from Darling Mockingbird, stock chairs from Feelgood Designs and linen from Aura. We are also offering our showroom space to be a gallery for artists to exhibit their creations.”

For more information.

Tags aura, darling mockingbird, Feelgood Designs, furniture, handmade furniture, ivy muse, Lheme & Celeste, Peter McManus, timber, timber furniture, yard, Yard Furniture

Designers Furniture Interviews

Bombora: beautiful and eco-conscious recycled timber furniture

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date July 14, 2015
No Comments on Bombora: beautiful and eco-conscious recycled timber furniture

Working as a firefighter, Luke Collins began Bombora Custom Furniture initially as a hobby. Using the beautiful recycled timber he had accumulated from his local Victorian timber yard, he spent every spare moment designing and crafting.

Selling his first piece (a dining table) on Gumtree, inquiries immediately started coming in for custom pieces and word of mouth quickly got around. Six years on, and Bombora have become synonymous with bespoke timber furniture and timeless designs, which honour the beauty of natural wood.

With a collection that includes everything from dining tables and TV cabinets, to bed frames, couches and outdoor decor, the aesthetic is influenced by Nordic furniture, modern architecture and 70s design. Oozing clean lines and a simplistic, contemporary base, for Bombora functionality and longevity are of the utmost importance.

[contextly_sidebar id=”MnEtLoqYxl5cqGuPBtsX4KOCGVEmWw4u”]”It is very important to us to minimise our impact on the environment by using recycled timbers, natural finishes and a quality of construction and design that will ensure our furniture is passed on to the next generation rather than into hard rubbish,” explains Alison Collins, head of marketing and Luke’s wife. “Providing our customers with excellent customer service is also a priority for us, which is why each piece is made to order to our clients’ specifications to ensure that it is perfect for their tastes and their homes.”

Whether a client picks one of their portfolio designs or Luke crafts them something completely unique, all pieces are made to the clients’ exact requirements from dimensions and functionality to timber preferences.

Predominantly using recycled Messmate timber, a species of Eucalyptus local to the southern Australian states, Bombora love it for both environmental and aesthetic reasons. “We love this timber from an environmental standpoint because being locally sourced it is readily available and requires very little resources to convert it from its old state to a furniture ready state and very few travel miles. From an aesthetic point of view, it is a beautiful timber. It has a wide variety of different tones from creams to medium browns with interesting grain patterns and frequent sap lines. Each piece is distinctive and creates very unique looking furniture.”

All Bombora furniture is protected using a natural oil and wax finish, which produces a silky soft feel and natural look. The finish enhances the beauty of the wood, whilst also making it durable, hard-wearing and easy to maintain. For more information.

Tags Bombora, Bombora Custom Furniture, custom furniture, design, furniture, gumtree, Luke Collins, melbourne, recycled timber, recycled timber furniture, timber, timber furniture

Designers Furniture Interviews

Scandi-inspired timber and marble furniture designed in Melbourne

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date July 3, 2015
5 Comments on Scandi-inspired timber and marble furniture designed in Melbourne

Inspired by the Scandinavian mantra ‘Buy once, buy well,’ online furniture business Harpers Project, was born.

With a love of the clean raw timber used in Scandinavian furniture and the timeless versatility of marble favoured by the Europeans, Harpers Project decided to create a range of marble furniture and raw timber pieces that reflected current furniture trends. “We are a lifestyle brand that was created to bring people a collaboration of cutting edge timber and marble pieces that bring life to interior spaces,” explains Nathan Jackson, director of sales and marketing. “We use 100% authentic marble across the entire collection and all the timber we use stems from Hardwood, made in an eco-friendly manner.”

All designed in Melbourne, the family run business began in 2014 with the goal of bringing aspirational designs into the homes of people — much like themselves — who could previously not afford them. Selling everything from coffee tables and dining chairs to sofas and stools, the furniture is raw, natural, minimal and one-of-a-kind. “We believe that each piece has its own unique characteristics that can only come from handmade furniture,” says Nathan. “Proudly, our furniture is not mass-produced in large factories. It is all delicately handmade by highly experienced carpenters.”

Gaining inspiration from everything — from nature through to fashion — the design process is constantly evolving. “For us the design process starts from the moment we wake up and never really ends. We gain inspiration from the natural elements of life and aspects of fashion and use that to develop pieces that are versatile enough to fit into different design spaces. Once our designs are sketched we follow them through the entire process right up until they are delivered to our customers.”

Currently working on a new collection, it will be launching online next month. However until then, you can shop their current pieces online, with all their products being shipped nationwide in Australia, Untied States and Singapore.

Shop online.

Tags design, furniture, Harpers Project, interiors, marble, marble furniture, melbourne, scandi design, scandinavian design, scandinavian furniture, timber, timber furniture

Designers Furniture

Our Feast Watson Re-Love Project revealed (+ all the unglamorous DIY details!)

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date June 11, 2015
3 Comments on Our Feast Watson Re-Love Project revealed (+ all the unglamorous DIY details!)

I’ve always been well aware that patience is a virtue I do not possess. There’s a story my parents like to tell that as a toddler I used to shout at them: “a-b-c-a”. Unsurprisingly, they had no idea what I was talking about. Which most simply, would see me lose the plot! Later, they found out I was referencing The Little Mermaid and trying to say: “under the sea” (duh!), however that was found out only after many months of meltdowns.

So while my lack of patience may be slightly more in check, undertaking a DIY project saw that easily tested.

Tasked with the job of upcycling a tired piece of furniture for the Feast Watson Re-Love Project; I had a $200 budget to find a piece, make it pretty again and then auction it off for Salvos Stores. Lack of DIY skills aside, the great cause and impressive lineup of fellow designers, such as furniture designer Mark Tuckey and interior stylist Steve Cordony, were enough to get me involved, if not a little nervous!

[contextly_sidebar id=”ZbksXvRDNRHNcxXfgJ8CmPoiz2AMF1Ho”]Purchasing a timber table from Gumtree, the first step was sanding it. I had never used an electric sander before, however after watching some YouTube tutorials and Jen standing anxiously beside me, I gave it ago. And it didn’t go too horribly wrong! Though with layer upon layer of varnish, it did take ages. So lucky Damo (Jen’s husband) got to spend a weekend finishing it off. Thanks!

Next step was staining the table top in Feast Watson Black Japan and painting the legs in Dulux Mars Metallic and Dulux Hot Calypso. We were originally after a matte black finish for the table top and hot pink and gold for the legs, but alas those colours weren’t meant to be. And so one of my many valuable DIY lessons was learnt: go with the flow!

The staining required three coats and the paint two, which obviously meant days of work were required. However, time was not on our side. What with Jen being heavily pregnant (and my workshop being her back deck) and the fact that Sydney suddenly decided to monsoon! For days.

Screen Shot 2015-06-10 at 12.04.45 pm — Dressed appropriately, of course!

So, with Jen going on maternity leave, the table (and little ol’ me) were shipped off to The Men’s Shed in Castle Hill. However, the paint and stain got lost in the process. You can’t make this stuff up, can you?! Luckily, the men at The Men’s Shed were lovely and after a trip to Bunnings to pick up new supplies I was back on track. And a couple of hours later, it was over. Phew! I’m very happy with the end result, but I think I’ll be hanging up my tool belt… at least for a little while.

Screen-Shot-2015-06-05-at-1.55.36-pm — Finished piece

The table will now go up for auction on eBay — with the other seven Re-Love projects — from Wednesday 8 July to Friday 17 July. And if you’re the lucky purchaser of our table you’ll also be able to take home the beautiful flamingo table runner and matching napkins from Sparkk. They really make the table pop!

So get your credit card ready, and make sure you’re on eBay from 8 July!

To find out more information about my project visit Reno Addict or for inspiration for an up-cycling project you can complete at home, visit Feast Watson.

Tags design, diy, feast watson, feast watson re-love project, furniture, interiors, re-love project, timber furniture, timber table, upcycling

Designers Furniture

Ross Gardam’s Duet Stool showcased at the Venice Biennale

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date June 2, 2015
No Comments on Ross Gardam’s Duet Stool showcased at the Venice Biennale

The versatile and beautiful Duet Stool by Ross Gardam may have been handcrafted in Melbourne, but it is now taking centre stage at the Venice Biennale.

Showcased in the Biennale’s new $7.5 million Australian Pavilion (designed by Denton Corker Marshall), longstanding Australian furniture design supplier Stylecraft were commissioned to curate a selection of innovative locally designed pieces specifically for the space. Ross Gardam’s Duet Stool is among the products on show, with its gracefully slender shape making it a standout piece for both indoor and outdoor use.

The gently rounded curve of the seat provides a consistent element throughout the range. It is available in either a solid-ash or upholstered top for indoor use, or black recycled HDPE for outdoor durability. Bases can be powder coated in virtually any colour.

The Venice Biennale was founded in 1895 and is one of the most famous and prestigious cultural organisations in the world. For more information.

Photography by Haydn Cattach

Tags biennale, Denton Corker Marshall, design, duet stool, duet stools, furniture, interiors, melbourne, ross gardam, stylecraft, timber, timber furniture, venice, venice biennale

Furniture Interviews The Block

Josh and Charlotte’s builder Ben Purchase on what The Block’s really like!

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date April 29, 2015
1 Comment on Josh and Charlotte’s builder Ben Purchase on what The Block’s really like!

You hear a lot about the contestants on The Block: the grueling hours, the late nights, the missed sleep… but what about the trades who are right there next to them every step of the way? The ones that get all the tough times but none of the glory!

ben ingrain designs — Ben. Photo credit: Shannyn Higgins Photography

Ben Purchase from Ingrain Designs is one such trade. As Josh and Charlotte’s builder and timber furniture maker he looked after the build of the townhouse and custom-made all the timber pieces from recycled Western Australian Marri. And while he admits it was definitely harder than he expected, he has no regrets for getting involved. “Josh and Charlotte were great fun and that made it easier as we were up at all hours with them. From the start, they created a team atmosphere and made all the trades feel included and part of the whole experience. The two of them really are exactly what you see on the show – fun, super lovely and incredibly hard-working. I cannot wish them any more luck for the auction!”

Josh and Charlotte's living room — Josh and Charlotte’s living room

[contextly_sidebar id=”wWiizBW1nIdrAJXz8XkaEX7UMoWiYlkg”]With Josh and Charlotte wanting real timber (rather than veneer or fake timber floors), Ben and his team were given a great amount of artistic freedom. Making a dining table, floating bathroom vanity, entertainment unit, bedside tables, study desk, cabinetry, and The Block’s first ever hardwood floors, Ben loved how they were able to use timber to create something unique. “Together with Josh and Charlotte we wanted to do something different and show people something they hadn’t seen before. So we created our pieces using recycled WA Marri timber, which doesn’t get used much on the east coast. Our timber pieces added warmth where needed and gave a sense of ‘real’ materials being used. They also worked so well featured alongside the products Charlotte had purchased from top stores and designers across Melbourne.”

Josh and Charlotte's dining room — Josh and Charlotte’s dining room

With so many custom makes it’s a challenge to pick a favourite, but for Ben, it’s actually the more subtle pieces that he keeps coming back to. “You might think I’d say the bathroom vanity or TV entertainment unit because they were standouts, but I really loved the floating bedsides and shelves used in the second bedroom. That room is my favourite. It has an amazing feel in there and the bedsides and shelves helped give the room a sense of warmth. They also helped fill out the Venetian plastered wall that had the huge black and blue artwork. Sometimes it’s the little things I guess!”

Josh and Charlotte's second bedroom — Josh and Charlotte’s second bedroom

With his Block journey now over, Ben can only look back at the experience fondly, if not a bit wearily! “What you see on the television is only a small part of the hard work and long hours involved. Over the stair and terrace weeks, my dad and I put in over 150 hours each. The sheer amount of work involved is staggering and you wonder how you’ll get through it, but luckily our trades all worked so well together.”

For more on Ben and Ingrain Designs visit their website. And remember to tune in tonight for The Block auction!

Tags ben purchase, custom furniture, design, furniture, Ingrain Designs, interiors, josh and charlotte, melbourne, the block, timber, timber furniture

Furniture House Tours Outdoor & Exteriors

Interiors Addict at home: our new outdoor relaxing space

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date January 21, 2015
11 Comments on Interiors Addict at home: our new outdoor relaxing space

This post is sponsored by IKEA

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES — My new look deck, complete with lounging AND dining areas

We recently moved into our first house in Sydney. While the huge deck that runs the length of said house seemed fantastic at first, having come from an apartment with a small, square balcony, we didn’t have much to fill it. Our Weber Baby Q still looks very lost and sorry for itself! We rushed out and bought a cheap and large dining solution (who has money when they’ve just moved, right?) at IKEA which gave us a taste of the range and value on offer. We opted for two lots of the ASKHOLMEN table and four chairs ($149 each) and put them together, which gave us a long, solid timber dining set for eight for less than $300! I know!

But our massive deck (first world problems) still looked empty and we really wanted a nice, cosy, outdoor-room type, relaxing space for morning coffees and lazy Sundays with friends. I wanted to be able to walk outside the back door and slump into something comfy on a nice afternoon. So when IKEA offered to help me out with some furniture, I couldn’t refuse.

I started by looking online for inspiration and quickly settled on the ARHOLMA modular lounges which have a million options, from a neat two-seater which would fit a balcony (and comes in two pieces so could actually get up stairs!) to something, well, as big as you like. You basically buy units of it, and corners, and make an L-shape, U-shape, or just a regular lounge shape from two seats and up. We went for a two-seater and a slightly larger four-seater L-shape to sit opposite it for a nice social setting. We mixed things up a bit by using a much treasured vintage, marble-topped coffee table bought on eBay years ago (which doesn’t work in our new lounge room indoors) and I really love how it looks. It cost me $60 so I’m not too precious about how it fares outside and it kind of adds to its character!

There is a matching coffee table available for ARHOLMA however. Well, it’s actually a unit which can be the L part of an L-shape lounge or you can buy the glass top and make it a table. Again, flexibility wins!

IKEA's ARHHOLMA chair and lounge — IKEA’s ARHHOLMA chair and lounge

I love neutrals outside. Let nature do the talking and make the colour, I say. How about you? If you’re the same as me, Into the Fold have some fab monochrome outdoor cushions.

When you think about it, it makes sense that IKEA, with their European heritage, design plenty of outdoor furniture for small spaces and balconies. Although we’re definitely a nation of outdoor entertainers in Australia, it can be hard to find solutions for tighter spaces and there are no shortage of apartment dwellers, alongside those lucky enough to have a spacious back yard. IKEA has both covered.

I really love this IKEA solution for small balconies

Amanda Grant, IKEA’s sales leader for outdoor furniture, says alongside its European background, one of the brand’s biggest advantages when it comes to outdoor furniture is its vast experience in indoor furniture. “We have an amazing range around different style preferences and price points, from basic modern to more traditional, to suit different lifestyles and wallets.” There are plenty of larger, more substantial dining and lounging solutions if that’s what you’re after.

IKEA has outdoor furniture for all tastes and budgets, from the smallest balcony to the largest yard!

There’s a core range of outdoor available at IKEA year-round and then extra things are introduced around summer time. But from this year, for the first time, there’ll be new ranges added in July/August as well as February, which makes sense considering Australians only really stay inside for about two or three months of the year!

Amanda says while their outdoor dining range is already well known, they hope customers will come to look at them as an option for great lounging options as well.

Personally, I think the ARHOLMA is great value ( a three-seater sofa is just $412 for example) and so flexible. It’s good to know we can change it around at a later date or add to it if we move house etc. I’ll be honest with you, it is not easy to put together and requires serious patience (lucky husband and brother-in-law got this job!) but it does all go together in the end, no missing parts, just fiddly! And that, in my opinion, is the price you pay for such good value. You can’t have it all! They do offer a paid for assembly service or I’d suggest trying Airtasker for someone to do the job for you as an alternative.

We also picked the cute timber ASKHOLMEN (tying in with our existing dining set) table ($39) and two chairs ($30 each) for a shady spot under a tree at the bottom of the garden beyond the deck.

And there are many other finishing touches available for your yard, deck or balcony too, from solar and LED lighting to hardy outdoor plants to sun shades (parasols and gazebos), planter boxes and lanterns.

Something you might want to check out is the great value instant flooring, perfect for disguising an ugly old concrete balcony floor in minutes!

We’re so happy with our new chillout area and feel we’ve gained a new outdoor room and some extra livable space. And while we still need a bigger barbecue, we’ll get there eventually!

Next stop: get tired-looking deck stained! The shame…

Until TOMORROW (22 January 2015) only, if you’re an IKEA Family member (it’s free to join) get a $50 voucher for every $250 you spend on outdoor lounging furniture. See website for terms and conditions.

Tags al fresco, balcony, balcony flooring, deck, decking, dining, european, ikea, interiors addict, lounge, lounging, makeover, outdoor, Summer, timber furniture, yard

Furniture

Safari chairs from Curious Grace

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date September 19, 2014
3 Comments on Safari chairs from Curious Grace

Some furniture blends into your home, while other pieces are born to stand out. The Safari Chair from Curious Grace definitely falls into the latter!

Avoriaz_001_grande — Avoriaz Safari Chair

Exquisitely designed in France, the Safari Chair offers simplicity and grace while quietly demanding attention. It comes in three different styles: the Toulouse made from solid beech timber and natural leather; the Avoriaz, with a show-stopping fur textured back; and the Copenhagen, featuring natural leather armrests and made from solid acacia and luxurious felt. A large range of colour options is also on offer as well as matching footrests.

Curious_Grace_Toulouse_Safari_Chair_grande — Toulouse Safari Chair

The Curious Grace Safari Chairs are delivered fully deconstructed (though they promise assembly is easy!) making it possible to ship all over the country. From $1605 to $2385, made to order. Footrests from $850-to-$1,240. Shop online here.

Tags chair, curious grace, design, footrest, furniture, leather furniture, safari chair, timber furniture

Furniture

Brett Sambrooks’ furniture tells stories of previous lives

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date September 9, 2014
1 Comment on Brett Sambrooks’ furniture tells stories of previous lives

Based in a small Victorian town nestled on the banks of the Murray River, craftsman Brett Sambrooks has launched his own online store, selling his furniture range made from 100% recycled materials. The same could be said for his home, which is also home to his workshop.

Reflective of his surrounding environment, Brett handcrafts unique designs from reclaimed timber and secondhand materials which result in mostly one-off collectables.

Known for his wooden surfboards and red gum butcher’s blocks (which is fitting given he lives in an old butcher’s shop), Brett has converted the original shopfront into a showroom for his creations. The rest of his house continues in the vein of his furniture: bold, reclaimed and experimental. A living showcase to his preoccupation with recycled and sustainable materials, every single surface, bench, floor and window has a story from its previous life.

The show-stopper bay window (above) was rescued from an old club house that was demolished in the next-door town of Barham. Brett re-glazed and re-jigged it to ensure the windows functioned. He then installed it, on a purposeful lean, as a key bedroom feature. You have to look twice, right?!

History is everywhere, whether it is the front door that came from the nearby house of the local ambulance driver or the Baltic pine laundry cupboards made from old wooden polling booths that were discarded with the introduction of their cardboard replacements.

An adventurer at heart, Brett has lived and worked in Antarctica as an on-site builder at a research base and he currently works as a builder and maker in Victoria’s Koondrook-Barham region. For more information and to see his full range of products, visit his website here.

Photography: Jenni Finn

Tags Brett Sambrooks, furniture, reclaimed timber, recycled materials, timber furniture

Interiors Addict

Hand turned timber lamps, made in Sydney

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date July 15, 2013
1 Comment on Hand turned timber lamps, made in Sydney

I love the warmth of timber and its natural quirks and imperfections, so these Australian hand turned lamps from Wildwood Designs really caught my eye.

“Each piece is unique to us and has been lovingly hand turned by our local wood turner who was thrown out of TAFE on the first day of a wood turning course because he turned up with a telegraph pole,” laughs Wildwood’s Juliet Barr.

Tags australian made, featured, lamps, lathe, lighting, sydney, tables, timber, timber furniture, wildwood designs