Designbx go behind the scenes with some of our amazing Australian furniture and homewares designers to chat about their favourite spaces at home, and what design means to them.
What is your favourite room at home? So here’s the truth – we couldn’t provide the amazing range of furniture and homewares, (not to mention the pricing) in the designs for our clients without our creative, genius, friendly, generous and beautiful supply partners!
To continue the theme of our recent blog post: Made in Australia, we sat down for a cocktail (virtual of course) with some of these creative and talented teams to chat about their fave rooms at home and what design means to them. They have also been kind enough to tell us how they created their looks, so you can go about recreating these in your own home OR, call on the Designbx experts to do it for you!
Confession: Kerena and Kylie with a Ginger Citrus Spice Margie on a Saturday afternoon chatting with these talents = heaven!
Image Source: The Margarita Mum
Designer Boys Collections
A long way from the first series of The Block, Gavin Atkins (Gav) and Warren Sonin (Waz) are the Founders of Designer Boys – a wholesale art business that collaborates with new and established artists from across the globe.
With an emphasis on artwork inspired by nature, Designer Boys artworks are not mass-produced and are all beautifully hand-framed here in Australia. Think rich colours, exquisite textures and beautiful finishes – Designer Boys are a Designbx fave!
What is your favourite room at home?
Our stunning 12 metre hallway which connected the front door to the main living with sweeping views over the Byron Bay hinterland. The house was a derelict 120 year old farmhouse on 60 acres that we transformed into a stunning country home.
What design style is this room/space?
Luxe Farmhouse with a touch of Potts Point opulence (where we use to live before we moved to the country).
What is it about this space that makes it special, memorable or unique?
It’s the first impression of what to expect from the rest of the house. We wanted the hallway to feel warm and welcoming with a beautiful ambience. It’s the room we decorated first as it would set the decorating style for the entire house.
“It was a labour of love and it’s important to stick to your innate style to make it truly your home. And don’t follow trends… Go for a layered, eclectic look to create a vibe of comfort and style. And when we sold the house several years ago, the new owners loved the look and feel so much they bought everything!”
GAV AND WAZ – FOUNDERS OF DESIGNER BOYS
If you could change one thing about this room what would it be and why?
Absolutely nothing. It was perfect and showcased our personal style.
What do you think – in terms of design, style, decor – makes a room stand out?
We loved the 12 metre hall rug custom made for the length of the hallway. We adored the strong geometric pattern and the masculine tones.
What is your one favourite item or element of this room that makes it so special to you?
The 1.2 metre high Buddha. This has been part of every property we have lived in and it always prominent feature. It always brings us good fortune and energy. Back on the first series of the Block, we could take one thing from our home and we transported our Buddha in to our ‘Block’ apartment to bring us good fortune.
From where did you source the pieces in this room/space?
The Rug Establishment for the rug, Andrew Martin fabric for the lights and Bloomingdales custom made the lights. Mirrors and safari wall decoration from Mezai.
Gav and Waz’s 12 meter Hallway in the Byron Bay Hinterland
Eadie Lifestyle
“Beautifying your life with affordable luxury” This is something Founder of Eadie Lifestyle Trudie Cox also sticks to in her own home.
Eadie Lifestyle creates timeless, quality home furnishings and easy to wear lounge wear. All textiles are developed in-house exclusively, and design, manufacture and wholesale of the range to the best retailers across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore & the USA.
Eadie creates styles that are beautiful, functional and made only from natural fibres – they are passionate about making your house your haven.
What is your favourite room at home?
My open plan kitchen, lounge and dining room. It’s warm, friendly, cosy and perfect for casual living and entertaining. If the walls could talk, they would reveal many fun times.
What design style is this room/space?
A combination of industrial/urban, mixed with boho eclectic. I love mixing different design styles together. I think it makes the space interesting and not too uniformed.
What is it about this space that makes it special, memorable or unique?
The bones of my house are unique as it’s a 100 year old warehouse conversion in an industrial suburb that is starting to gain popularity as a residential area. It’s interesting, unpretentious, welcoming and oozes character. Originally, the building was home to a motor mechanic and car showroom. There are lots of little treasures including the hardwood beams, gorgeous chunky rusty bolts and imperfection everywhere, which makes it perfect for me.
If you could change one thing about this room what would it be and why?
The (lack of) heating and cooling. I am in the middle of developing it further and can’t wait to install AC!
What do you think – in terms of design, style, decor – makes a room stand out?
Well in terms of my space, it’s the very industrial bones, teamed with my bits and pieces I’ve collected from various parts of my life and travels. It’s a combination of hard and soft, cool and warm, commercial and very homely. I guess the combination takes people by surprise when they walk in, as the exterior of the property is a very old, weathered warehouse frontage. I love the discreetness and unexpectedness of it. I like surprises and individuality in interior schemes. You can tell when someone has put their heart and soul into an interior, it stands out in an authentic way and I think that is interesting.
“Style tells a story about who you are and your individual journey. I don’t follow trends or rules. I enjoy mixing sophisticated with rustic. I love pieces that remind me of my travels or have sentimental value”.
TRUDIE COX – FOUNDER EADIE LIFESTYLE
What is your one favourite item or element of this room that makes it so special to you?
Ah, that’s easy. It would be my very treasured bust sculpture of Brett Whitely. I have had it for years and I adore it. It gives the space beautiful energy. When I saw it in a shop on the North Coast, it literally stopped me in my tracks. It wasn’t for sale at the time, but I asked the store owner to contact the local artist and ask her if she would contemplate selling it to me. It was love at first sight and the love affair still prevails many years after. It was. a labour of love for the artist, and I promised her I would look after it forever.
From where did you source the pieces in this room/space?
The Sofas in my living area are from Curious Grace and Maison Est. They are comfy, not precious and great for high traffic areas. I have a partner, 3 teenage daughters, and 2 dogs. It’s a busy household that always has people dropping in, wine in the fridge and music playing. I want everyone that is here to feel comfortable and at home, and these are perfect. Of course, Eadie Lifestyle cushions are everywhere! A fair bit of my artwork is original and commissioned by local up-and-coming artists. Some of my favourite pieces are by Sydney based artist Aaron Kinane, who is now incredibly successful. I bought these pieces from him before he was well known. It’s been exciting to see his career flourish. I also love my round dining table. I cherish loved ones sitting around a round table, sharing great food and conversation. Everyone is included. It is super heavy, made from oak and takes about 4 men to move. Again, it’s not precious, we don’t use tablecloths or placemats, and it doesn’t;t matter if a splash of red wine or two hits the surface. I also love my long concrete kitchen benchtop. It was hand-poured by a local tradesman (and friend), and we didn’t over polish it. The finish has texture and a bit of grit, which compliments the industrial feel of the space. I have simple backless stools underneath and it has become the heart of the house. We spend a lot of time around our kitchen bench.
Darcy & Duke
Darcy & Duke is that touch of elegance and luxury you didn’t know you NEEDED in your life. Think plush furniture and homewares with a touch of velvet and gold, stylish and functional armchairs and ottomans with a hint of opulence.
Designbx recently chatted with Founder of Darcy & Duke Rachel Han to find out what is your favourite room at home? Located in Melbourne, Rachel and her team curate and design collections which aim to inspire, and provide a point difference to what’s currently in the market.
What is your favourite room at home?
My bedroom
What design style is this room/space?
Modern
What is it about this space that makes it special, memorable or unique?
The high ceilings and natural light create calm….and the view of course.
If you could change one thing about this room what would it be and why?
I would definitely upgrade from a Queen bed to a King!
What do you think – in terms of design, style, decor – makes a room stand out?
The heart of the room is in the structure and finishes. We moved in 18 months ago and haven’t purchased any furniture for this room yet. We moved our existing furniture in and made the best of it.
What is your one favourite item or element of this room that makes it so special to you?
The chairs by the window, it is a calm and serene area to escape and relax.
From where did you source the pieces in this room/space?
That’s easy – all items were sourced from Darcy and Duke!
Are you looking to Refresh or Transform your space at home and not sure where to start? Designbx offers a FREE no-obligation 15 minute phone consultation and a convenient online booking system – link below. We hope you enjoyed part one of our “behind the scenes” tour – keep an eye out for part two coming soon!
