By Sarah Willcocks
Following just behind the ritual of yearly “spring cleaning”, a freshly minted new year is the perfect time to rejuvenate our surroundings. So, since this magazine’s Editor is currently embroiled in renovation heaven/hell after acquiring a new pad, I thought I’d offer up a little Australian inspiration for the interior. Presented are pairs of co-coordinating pieces in different styles ranging across the traditional, the contemporary and the ultra-modern. The vastly different aesthetics are just a hint at the depth of design talent to be discovered across the nation once you step outside of Ikea.
You’ve probably already heard of Akira Isogawa, the acclaimed Japanese-Australian fashion designer. You may not be so familiar with furniture designer Fukutoshi Ueno. However, when the two collaborate, as they have on this ‘Dress Code’ multi-purpose piece, you may want to take note. ‘Dress Code’ balances Akira’s traditional Kimono-influenced prints with Toshi’s smart, clean design style. We like the idea of utilising this piece as an extra stool. For comfort how about pairing it with this richly-coloured cushion by Kif and Katast? The Melbourne based design studio creates all of their own original prints – this one is actually inspired by the fennel herb.
This sofa is so chic and minimalist I’m almost guaranteed to spill red wine on it the very moment I attempt to recline. Designed by Lounge, the piece gets extra style points by being named after the great Valentino. Black and white is timeless so I’d love to see the sofa alongside the gorgeously simple silhouette of this ‘Eko’ lamp by Mayfield. The company is now 65 years old yet their designs are perfectly modern.
I think the ‘Packaged Glow’ lamp by Spaceleft is uber-cool. The lamp is cut out of foam to leave space for a bulb and the once pesky cord becomes a contrasting design feature. To match I’ve selected this futuristic, puzzle-like structure; the result of a genius pairing of an interior designer and an architect. Schamburg +Alvisse are the creators of ‘Stop Playing with Yourself’ a concept furniture that can transform into seating, a lounge, a bed or simply a variety of interesting sculptures.
Image credits: 1. Fukutoshi Uemo 2.Kif and Katast 3. Lounge 4. Mayfield 5. Shamburg + Alvisse 6. Spaceleft
