AN AUSTRALIAN STORY
Surely there’s nothing practical about a plush velvet couch for poolside lounging. But when it’s been specifically developed to withstand the harsh elements of our Australian climate, perhaps it’s perfectly practical. And perfectly luxurious. The luscious velvet lounge is just one of the beautiful pieces resulting from a collaboration between Australian outdoor furniture specialists Tait and Australian / New Zealand-based contemporary textile house Mokum. The Tait and Mokum Summer 2019/20 collection, An Australian Story, responds to a global trend that sees soft interior aesthetics extending to the exterior. High performance in the outdoors meets the refined luxury of indoor lounging with form, function and colour combining to enrich our relationship with the outdoors and enhance our sense of wellbeing. Although Tait and Mokum have been sharing knowledge and supporting each other for the best part of a decade, and Tait has long been using Mokum fabric on its furniture, this is the first true collaboration between the two creative forces. Perhaps the most covetable piece of the collection is Tait’s Adam Goodrum-designed ‘Trace’ armchair with Mokum’s new ‘Tropicalia’ outdoor fabric designed by famed Australian costume and production designer Catherine Martin (best known for her Academy Award-winning and nominated work across films including Moulin Rouge, The Great Gatsby and Australia, directed by Baz Luhrmann). Each detail in the collection has been designed and made to last. Tait’s low-maintenance frames are finished in hard-wearing, UV-stable powder coat and timber elements are made with dimensionally stable, sustainable timber. Mokum’s outdoor fabrics boast outstanding performance indicators including UV light fastness, solution-dyed compositions and bleach cleanability.
http://designfarm.com.au, http://madebytait.com.au, http://jamesdunloptextiles.com
FOR THE LOVE OF AUTHENTIC DESIGN
New design store Loam aims to elevate Australian design and highlight the importance of quality and longevity replacing the temporary and disposable. Loam is the love project of one of the State’s leading 
architects, David Hillam, who is well known in the industry for his award-winning residential architecture. David acknowledges while other design-focused stores in Perth exist, he is keen to contribute and expand on the ever-evolving design conversation through Loam. A key ethos of the store is the support of Australian design and manufacture. Brands associated with Loam, including Oath, have invited WA furniture designers Jack Flanagan and Nathan Day to collaborate on custom-made, locally-produced designs for the store – a synergy that will continue long into the future of Loam. “Over time these ranges will be expanded and hopefully this is a way we can promote local – both nationally and internationally,” says David. “Australian brands from the east, not previously seen in Perth, also feature, expanding the local conversation.” International brands have been carefully selected, delivering a unique range of beautiful and curious furniture, giftware and lighting. These brands have been chosen on the basis that they each represent authentic design stories and resonate with the aspirations of Loam. “Typically, the international brands have their own niche aesthetic, which differentiates them from other major ‘players’ in the market,” says David. “Our approach is to be associated with pieces that last, that are crafted in preference to the mass-produced.” Aside from furniture and lighting, Loam has curated a significant gift and homewares offering, which alone merits the store as a must-visit destination for the design conscious. Opening early December in Claremont, Loam will officially launch early 2020.
280 Stirling Hwy,
Claremont
TILE STYLE
Out with subtle, standard-size conservative tiles. In with vibrant colours and extremes of sizes. That’s the word from one of the top design fairs in the world. The annual Cersaie Exhibition Fair in Bologna, Italy is the top international event for designers of ceramic and other surface coverings and bathroom furnishings. Odin Tiles and Coverings general manager Marc Danze was one of more than 112,000 visitors to the 2019 fair in September, which showcased the many interesting innovations manufacturers are offering in the fields of surfaces, ceramics, bathroom furnishings, wallpapers, wood and marble. Marc says it was probably the best fair in the last five years in terms of products and innovation. Odin is now gearing towards the visible trends of the fair – small square and rectangle feature tiles, vibrant colours and hand-made materials and, on the other end of the spectrum, large format tiles and sheets. Marc is excited for the arrival of the new lines over the next couple of months and hopes the WA market will be open to the more exciting patterns, colours, finishes and sizes. He says the use of social media means clients can see changes in trends immediately rather than waiting the typical six months or so for them to filter through. “Private clients still tend to be quite conservative unless being guided by an architect or designer,” says Marc. “We certainly give encouragement if we can see a client is open to doing something a bit different.”
Available at http://odintiles.com.au
MASTER OF LIGHT
As Maison&Objet Designer of the Year 2020, Michael Anastassiades will be showcasing an exciting collection of his iconic lighting at the January fair in Paris. Michael Anastassiades is one of the world’s most poetic and prolific lighting designers. Trained as a civil engineer and industrial designer, the Cypriot designer is known for his timeless lights that, through their minimalist beauty, encourage curiosity. The illusionary simplicity of his work is a labour of love. An almost obsessive search for the essence of an object combines with meticulous process and complex engineering to achieve this misleading simplicity. Michael Anastassiades’ adoration of purity, creativity and timelessness guides his design process, year to year, his collections introduce visionary details, boasting industry leading technology, quality and design. This year has seen the introduction of the egg glass bulb, monolithic linear pendants and a petrol blue finish to his collections; design details that transcend trends. Curiosity will be encouraged in a unique experience at Maison&Objet, the world’s foremost event for professionals in the lifestyle, interior design and design industries. In the dark space, all 16 of Michael Anastassiades’ mobile chandeliers will be propelled by motors to move like planets. It is the first time all of his mobile chandeliers be showcased together. Chandelier #9 can be seen at Mobilia, where the designer became loved for more than just his beautiful designs when he spoke at the 2017 Design Circus.
Available at http://mobilia.com.au