Spotlight on Australian Designers | Lab De Stu
Made up of Melburnians Adam Lynch, Dale Hardiman and André Hnatojko, these guys have kicked arse on the national and international design award scene since 2011. DQ calls them 'Industry Giants', and being in their very early 20's that is saying something!
Although I could have added every image from the website, I'll leave this pretty little teaser for you and let you explore their simple but beautiful website yourself. I'm sure I will have more to add later, once I've seen their wares at D+D this week.
{The Up Up pendant is a collaboration between Dale Hardiman from Lab De Stu and artist / jewellery designer Emily Green. Emily's signature polymer clay beads combine with Dale's lighting design prowess to present a beautiful collection of pendants. Picking this image from the colour range was quite difficult. I changed my mind several times}
Geek Chic
{For a little randomness with your relativity, Progetti Rnd Lab Fun Time Random Clock at Top3}
Concrete jungle
{Prahran Hotel interiors by Techné Architects}
Melbourne Life Instyle 2013
Last week’s Melbourne Life Instyle event was set inside Melbourne’s beautiful Royal Exhibition building. I had been to events here before but never have I seen it so crammed full of designer goodies. I swear they somehow increased it to twice the size than the last time I was there - and I had the blisters and aching calves to prove it!
Unfortunately, my BFF and I were so caught up dragging each other between stands, squealing (yes, big girl squealing!) and jumping on the spot in excitement that I completely forgot to take any onsite pix. No excuse, but, well, we were basically sprinting between stands since they were all so beautiful and we only had a few hours away from kids in which to see it all. Although if you ask our wonderful husbands, we were gone much longer than anticipated! I may have to do another post on some of the best designs because we saw them pre-release and I prefer to let the actual designers launch their products (and not get in any trouble - no-one likes a PO’d artist!)
Here are some of my favourite stands from the show and their pretty pretty wares.
{Cloud coat hangers, Pom Pom garland and furry animals by Down to the Woods. Who wouldn’t want this entire setup for a cute little girls room?}
{Hello sign in limited edition Gold by Down to the Woods for some fun glamour}
Leo Love
{Captain Laramie Lion Print by Mulga The Artist, with a poem composed by Mulga, printed on the reverse. Too cool}
{Leo teacup by Takeawei}
Australiana
{Corro Bowl from Design By Them}
Although I am sure I have shown you this before, I still abso love the Corro Bowl from Sydney-based design collective, Design By Them. Distinctly Australian, it is formed from polished corrugated stainless steel, synonymous with both rural and contemporary Australian architectural vernacular. There aren’t many of their products that I don’t lust after.
READ MORE >>>Industriart
“The idea started initially as an outlet for the many and varied things that my husband and I have collected over many years. However, for two hoarders, it is difficult to part with all your treasures at once, so the concept then became a shop of 'Pure Indulgence' selling only things that we like - retro, vintage, new, serious and not-so serious.”
Make sure you get on over and check out the wonders (and bargains!) ASAP. I have my eye on more than a few of the furniture items and eclectic baubles in the front room and that cool secret back area. I can’t wait for the next Perth trip to do some real damage!
{Vintage glass treasures. Some of these are now in my personal collection}
The Fine Design Market
I had intended to share this with you right after getting home from it, however the week just sped past. So, it’s a little late, but here we go.
On Sunday (13 Jan) I had a pleasant (but pricey) surprise. A wealth of local design talents with plentiful, purchasable pretties, of which I did readily partake. The Fine Design Market, held every second Sunday of the month, was right there in my own backyard (almost), and I only just discovered it. A suggestion from a friend separated only by a day from seeing a large sign on the side of the road.
A venture by the Manningham City Council at the new MC² (Manningham City Square) in Doncaster, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, aims to showcase new independent design and arts featuring Australian made and designed products. Their mission is "to support both emerging and established designers and artists by providing a platform to showcase their quality work and help them to connect with their audience". Good on them and lucky us!
The new Municipal Building hosts the market stalls on its high, monumental back parade. I was surprised to see such stunning local talent (I know, very bad of me to assume that it would be a disappointment).
I’ll highlight a few of my favourites below (so good I purchased them), and you will have to go along to get a look at the other goodies yourself. Yes, mainly because I was so giddy with retail therapy while I was there that I forgot to take any pictures.
{Hello Felton are a graphic design company with quirky and colourful cards, prints and paper artwork. I love the nice little touch of vintage recipes on the back of their business postcards}
{Hand-made ceramics. Colours to lust over}
{Gorgeous hand-made statement necklaces by Serra Studio (left) and Miss Emilie (right)}
{Super cute t-shirts for my boys by Fuji kids by Fujinella}
I think I’ll be going back early next time to check out some Jude fashion and Bird Meets Bliss screen-printings. Oooo, and maybe a print from the gorgeous Minka Svarcs too!
The next one is on Sunday, 10th February 2013, and I strongly suggest you get along. I was informed that half the designers weren’t in attendance, probably still on holiday-mode like myself, and it should be even bigger, brighter and better next time. Get along - you won’t be disappointed!
xo Romona
Emerald Delights
Along with pretty much all of the design and blogging world at the moment, I am in love with all the greeny goodness popping up all over the place since Pantone announced Emerald as its colour of the year for 2013. Just for a bit of visual candy, here are a few of my favourite interiors, products and miscellaneous images featuring variations of this striking gemstone hue.
{Pantone’s limited Edition Mug and iPhone5 cover in Emerald}
{Dulux’s Empower Palette - Image styled by Bree Leech featuring Dulux Liberty, Bahaman Bliss and Misty Blue}
{Florence Broadhurst Peacock Feathers & Shadow Floral wallpapers from Signature Prints}
{Night Bird by Catherine Martin, Bansyu by Akira Isogawa, both at Designer Rugs}
{Emerald vintage Florence Knoll & Charles Eames furniture. Interiors by Doug & Gene Meyer.}
{Jonathan Adler Needlepoint pillows}
{Husque Bowl Macadamia Nut in Green}
{South Beach by Greg Natale, Jewel by Dinosaur Designs, both at Designer Rugs}
{Bianca Malachite Box by Ralph Lauren Home}
{Martinique Beverley Hills wallpaper; Catherine Martin for Mokum Imperial Pheasant in Emerald}
{Emerald accents. Interiors by Charm Home Design}
{Interiors by Diamond Baratta. Image via House of Turquoise}
{Interiors by Greg Natale, featuring his South Beach rug}
{Pont Max Juvenal, Aix en Provence, 2008. Patrick Blanc}
Of course I couldn’t resist throwing a green-walled building in there. You can see a few more on my previous post, Vertical Green. I am hoping to do another post on green walls this year, since the last one didn’t even scratch the surface of the beauty that is out there.
These bright emerald visuals make me giddy. Yes, I’ll admit some of them are straying more into teal and turquoise territory, but that is the beauty of perception - maybe your eyes will see a whole different picture. I hope you enjoyed this quick (and a little lazy) post. Until next time.
xo Romona
Spotlight on Australian Designers | Simone LeAmon
Her literary contributions are a great read. Simone explores What is the Price of Creativity? And How Do We Value The Future of Australian Design? addressing succinctly the report Do You Really Expect To Get Paid? by economists David Throsby and Anita Zednik. Another piece by Simone in Indesign magazine explores What it is to be ‘Australian-Made’. Links to her other articles can be found on the webpage.
A true multi-disciplinarian, she has excelled in design in many forms - furniture, jewellery, product design, lighting, artworks, events, interior design and more. Here are a few of my favourite pieces of hers.
Named after the insect species, the Lepidoptera chair takes it form from studies of the anatomy of butterflies wings, folding fabric salvaged from automotive textile remnants. Bright, stylish and beautiful - both Simone and the chair!
{Lepidoptera chair, using Automotive textile remnants}
The Ricotta floor lamp is evocative of the making process of its namesake. Uniform lines and bright chartreuse powder coated steel make this an elegant and modern statement piece.
{Ricotta Floor Lamp, Simone LeAmon for Rakumba Lighting}
I am a sucker for statement jewellery. Anyone who knows me, knows that. You can never be too fat or skinny, too short or tall, too dark or light, for stunning high-impact jewellery. LeAmon’s Limited Over pieces are sleek and sculptural, crafted from Bronze and 316 Stainless Steel wax castings of her original Bowling Arm jewellery. The originals used leather waste from cricket balls. The two pieces in the collection, Grubber and Popper, are each named after a different bowling style in the game. I would have to defer to my husband to get any more information on that, or maybe consult with our old Test Match game.
{Limited Over, Grubber (left) and Popper (right) special edition jewellery in bronze and stainless steel}
{Limited Over, Grubber special edition jewellery in 316 stainless steel}
Hope you enjoyed the second Spotlight on Australian Designers. I hope to bring you more soon - it’s a long list of lovelies!
Who are some Australian designers that you love or have influenced you in some way?
xo Romona