We’re TIDE Design – designers and makers of contemporary timber furniture here in Melbourne, designed and made for an enduring appeal.
 
TDC - Tell us about your brand. What do you do? 
TIDE is a boutique brand with a distinctive design aesthetic producing high quality locally designed and made furniture. From concept to final incarnation – the whole process takes place in our Huntingdale studio/factory, whether it be from our standard range or a custom piece.
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TDC -  What sets your brand apart? 
Over the years TIDE has developed a strong and unique design aesthetic, combined with high quality and the ability to customise according to our client’s requirements.

TDC - What design ethos do you live by? 
At TIDE we’re all about simplicity, but with fine detailing and sculptural forms.  The overriding ethos though is longevity and striving to produce items with a timeless feel.

TDC - What's your favourite product in your range and why? 
At the moment it’s the Brixton armchair – looks good from all angles, detailing that is tactile and subtle, and super comfortable!

TDC - What plans do you have for the future?  
At the present time we are expanding our manufacturing facilities, studio and showroom.  So they’re very busy and exciting times at the moment.

Today we chat to Luke Mills, industrial designer and creator of Melbourne-based lighting brand Lumil. 

TDC - Tell us about your brand. What do you do? 
Lumil was launched in 2017, I wanted to create a creative lighting brand that encourages material exploration and a certain level of customization within its product ranges. My background is in Industrial design, lighting offers a unique balance between designing a product and sculpture.
 
TDC -  What sets your brand apart? 
Collaboration with local manufactures, artisans and designers is value I want to see grow with Lumil.
 
TDC - What design ethos do you live by? 
Be curious.

TDC - What's your favourite product in your range and why? 
I developed the Hat Pendants almost 2 years ago. I had begun to meet some reallytalented local manufacturers and artisans and wanted the piece to somehow combine these two worlds in a product.
 
TDC - What plans do you have for the future?  
Lighting design is my main focus this year. I have half a dozen or so lighting concepts sitting around in various forms so I’m looking forward to developing a few of these further. Outside of lighting I will be working on a couple of collaborations with local designers and continuing to design furniture with Life Space Journey, these are always good fun and source of fresh inspiration.

Kazari + Ziguzagu has a long reputation for hand selected Japanese antiques and now integrate high quality contemporary furniture and textiles into the growing range. At the heart of our ethos is quality craftmanship, design and respect for the life of an object.
 
For 40 years directors Robert Joyce and Jo Maindonald, have pursued their passion for antiques, art and aesthetics and now have daughters, myself Lucy and my sister Hana Joyce, on board. Each of us bring our own special complimentary talents and aim to keep Kazari a living, evolving business.
 
TDC - Tell us about your brand. What do you do? 
The store specialises in art and furniture from Japan and China – from Momoyama and Ming to Modern - classic and eclectic, antique and vintage, collectable, functional and decorative objects, contemporary decorative objects, architectural and landscape features.
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TDC -  What sets your brand apart? 
We hand select every item in the store ensuring we source and stock the highest possible standard whilst still maintaining a broad spectrum to suit every budget. What is unique about us is that a large proportion of our stock is vintage or antique thus one-off pieces are common.

TDC - What design ethos do you live by? 
Wabi Sabi Suki – in a nutshell Tranquil Simplicity, Patina of Age, Subtle Elegance.
The full description can be found here https://www.kazari.com.au/essays-and-articles/wabi-sabi-suki
 
TDC - What's your favourite product in your range and why? 
I love ceramics repaired using the traditional art of Kintsugi. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer, finished with a coat of gold or silver powder. Kintsugi can be linked to the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi, an embracing of flawed or imperfect objects.

TDC - What plans do you have for the future?  
This year, for our 40th year in business, we’re re-introducing more interactive aspects to the business with workshops in traditional arts and crafts. We’ll also be inviting decorators, designers, artists and photographers amongst others to put together ‘Curated Collections’ from our stock and from a sourcing perspective we’ll be putting more time into research and development in Indonesia and China. 

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Relm was established in 2014 by Jason Stancombe. With over 20 years experience in the design industry, Jason has a love for interior and spatial design, with a keen eye for detailed joinery. He is influenced by modern design across multiple disciplines, and seeks to create furniture that is timeless – both in its aesthetic and its construction.
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TDC - Tell us about your brand. What do you do? 
Relm designs and fabricates finely crafted, designer furniture that beautifully incorporates a blend of custom materials and traditional joinery. Our products are designed to enhance the living and working environment.
 
We operate in two main streams – offering a range of designed products and designing and fabricating bespoke furniture. We cater to both residential and commercial markets – working alongside designers, architects, specifiers and general public.
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TDC -  What sets your brand apart? 
Design is core to our business. It sets our products and our business apart. Over the last few years, we have been slowly developing our own style and aesthetic, with a focus on modern, clean and contemporary pieces.

TDC - What design ethos do you live by? 
With an emphasis on simplicity, we are constantly striving towards a higher quality product. Quality materials, components and production methods ensure a long-lasting product — one that is enjoyed for generations, not consumed and thrown away. Sustainability is important to us, and we are interested in achieving our design objectives through sourcing sustainable products and production methods. We work with local manufacturers to develop components for our pieces and combine traditional skills to assemble our range in-house.

TDC - What's your favourite product in your range and why? 
Born from a desire to create a contemporary product that showcases traditional hand skills, the Crop Stool is one of our most successful products. I love the details in the stool – the bridle joint and its holding pins, the aluminium seat and the flush meeting of the foot rails and legs.

TDC - What plans do you have for the future?  
We are looking to expand our range of products, to develop a more holistic suite of homewares and furniture for residential and commercial customers. We are also keen to explore international markets.
From a design view-point, we are interested in increasing exploration of new materials and production methods to gain insights and develop new products and new ways of thinking. 

Hannah Fox is a Melbourne based visual artist predominantly working in painting. Hannah works in gestural mark-making activity with well-honed expressive instincts to colour, layering and composition.
As a finalist in many national prizes, Hannah also exhibits her work regularly and is often commissioned for various projects and collaborations. Her paintings are held in private collections throughout Australia and overseas.

Hannah’s artwork is often seen within the interior design and architecture spheres. Her art has featured in numerous print publications such as Belle Magazine, Real Living, Home Beautiful and Fête Press as well being profiled online such as The Design Files and Daily Imprint.
 
TDC - Tell us about your Art. What inspires you? 
My paintings are an abstract interpretation of what the land presents… leaves that scatter the bush floor, twigs that lie in patches, peeling bark on tree trunks, the dappled sunlit earth, a horizon etched out from the sky. The collective inspiration for my artwork is the allure of the nature, the subtleties of the landscape and what is overlooked in the everyday. I respond to the natural world and draw upon remembered places and images create new visual experiences. Rather than depicting the physical truth of a landscape, I aim to express its essence.
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TDC -  What sets your style apart? 
As an artist I create original artwork. No two are ever the same. My paintings are a unique representation of my surroundings and my observations.
I enable the paint surface to dictate, bringing a touch of the unexpected. I seek a certain amount of unity in the finished pieces, yet I explore an intuitive process to painting and allow for an element of serendipity.
 
TDC - What design ethos do you live by? 
Buy well, buy once, buy local.
And
Create with heart and put the ‘you’ into your work.

TDC – Out of all your artworks, what's your favourite piece and why? 
I am always seeking to take my work in new directions. So I would say my favourite piece is always the current one…and then when I finish that, it is the next one…the one that is full of possibility!
 
TDC - What plans do you have for the future?  
2018 brings new art and design collaborations and a new solo exhibition in Sydney. In the future I am keen to partake in an overseas artist residency program. Preferably Italy! 

Introducing Fox & Ramona...

I’m Kristy Tull, the designer and maker behind Fox & Ramona. It all began in 2011 inspired by a love of interior design, homewares and art. After working with different mediums over the years and experimenting with concrete, it quickly became my main love. I love unexpected colour combinations, raw textures and unpredictable finishes.
 
TDC - Tell us about your brand. What do you do? 
Fox & Ramona is a Melbourne based homewares brand offering a unique range of hand crafted concrete products and hand painted concrete planters.
Raw textures with freestyle designs allow for complimentary pieces to mix and match while simple, functional forms make for versatile use.
The organic nature of concrete and the unpredictable making process means no two pieces are ever the same, so you’ll always own an original, unique piece.
All homewares are designed and handmade by me, in my home studio. I work with small suppliers overseas to design planters which I hand paint.
 
TDC - What sets your brand apart? 
I set out to enhance the aesthetic of my products by highlighting the aspects of their creation – I don’t mask imperfections, I revel in them. I aim to combine functionality and art to create products that are unique and contemporary and that blend effortlessly into their environment.
 
TDC - What design ethos do you live by? 
The primary purpose is to create original pieces that draw attention to the simplicity of concrete in its non-traditional form.

TDC - What's your favourite product in your range and why? 
My favourite product is the oval concrete tray in pinks and rust. I love a beautiful handwash so I use the trays in my bathrooms and kitchen to sit them on – they’re the perfect size.
 
TDC - What plans do you have for the future?  
I’ve just released a new range which has been a labour of love and a long time coming so as much as I’m just trying to enjoy the moment, I’m currently designing a new range to release later in the year. I’m also really looking forward to some more exciting collaborations coming up this year, so watch this space!

​A little insight into who's behind Figgoscope Curates... 
Olá, I’m Marta Figueiredo, I am a Portuguese architect and I am the curator, designer and owner of Figgoscope Curates.
Figgoscope Curates is a Melbourne-based curatorial practice consisting of a carefully selected collection of Portuguese design objects, each one having evolved out of exciting collaborations with emerging designers and Portuguese artisans.
Our collections ranging from home textiles, furniture, artwork, to lighting design are a perfect balance of innovative design, high-quality materials and timeless craft, making them a unique addition to both residential and commercial interiors.
 
TDC - Tell us about your brand. What do you do? 
Figgoscope Curates was founded 3 years ago, when I was introduced to a new wave of Portuguese designers and artisans, who have a new spin on the traditional Portuguese craft. Portugal is renowned for their incredible quality of materials and manufacturing but these industries were in decline and lacked new creative blood to make it extraordinary!
I started by contacting designers and artisans in Portugal and spent time in their workshops to learn in detail about the making of their pieces. The concept of setting up Figgoscope Curates evolved naturally from the wish of sharing these amazing product designs to the Australian market.

Figgoscope Curates not only selects and coordinates the range with the artisans & manufacturers in Portugal, but some of the pieces are collaborations and designed by us, here in Australia. 

TDC -  What sets your brand apart? 
We focus on sustainable product design that carries a traditional mastering of craft - where heritage meets design.

In an era of globalisation, mass consumerism and social media, we're witnessing a tendency for uniformity and instant plastic fantastic buying culture.
In contrast, we were seduced by the originality of the techniques and material characteristics that are unique to various regions of Portugal. We were inspired by the younger generation of designers and craft makers that are so proudly revitalising the designs while keeping the originality of the ancient craft alive.
Also, we make sure that the story of the product and maker can be shared and heard by giving a new meaning to the object.

Our collections consist of inventive design, exceptional quality materials and timeless craft, making them an original addition to the Australian interior design scene. That and Portuguese tarts - the original Pastel Natas!

TDC - What design ethos do you live by?
At Figgoscope Curates we live, breath and eat sophisticated craft and slow design principles. In other words, each object from our range carries a designer's sophisticated rendition of ancient, sustainable and refined craft.
Our products are a labour of love, only small quantities are produced at a time, perfecting their quality. As a result these products will last for a lifetime.
By doing so, we cater for the design conscious community and their savvy palette.

TDC - What's your favourite product in your range and why? 
That's a really hard question...as we're in love with all of our products... But Ok... this time I will pick the new range of fabrics of Burel colours and stitches - freshly arrived!  For 2018 Burel 100% felted woven wool came up with some deep, rich and moody shades. They're a blend of colours, they're flexible, they have a great variety of vibrant undertones and they just get my design-head working.  Since I received this new range I haven't stopped dreaming of combinations for cushions, upholstered furniture...etc. 
 
TDC - What plans do you have for the future? 
These are exciting times for the Portuguese design world! We're keeping our eyes open to discover new collaborations and brands - specifically the ones with innovative ideas. For instance, just recently we came across a start up design studio, supported by a major cork company, who has developed a new cork fibre for rugs.

So we plan to expand our range with new brands but also continue the collaborations with our existing suppliers with new additions to our collection - for example, we're working on new upholstered furniture pieces with Burel. The new fabrics are a source inspiration!
With our fast expanding range, we are planning to open a new showroom!

Cakebread is a Melbourne based textile design studio founded by Elise Cakebread in 2013.

A little introduction to Elise... 
I am a textile-based artist and designer.
I founded the textile design studio Cakebread in 2013.
 
TDC - Tell us about your brand. What do you do? 
I am driven by experimentation within traditional textile processes and techniques, my work focuses on the tensions created by the unusual or unexpected contrasts that emerge between materials, forms, colours, textures and scale. Through these methods I explore ideas of materiality, tactility, craft, disposability and the ornamental.
My cross-disciplinary approach gives life to sculptural work, installations, decorative objects, accessories and soft furnishings.
The main line of products are soft-furnishings; quilts, cushions and throw rugs.  They are all made locally and hand-finished in the Studio.  
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TDC -  What sets your brand apart? 
My approach is one that favours artistry over trends. My focus is on the tactility of the materials I use, balance of colour and the application of techniques. I am always striving to unearth new methods, or interpretations of techniques. I want to make pieces that are more than just a throw rug or cushion but are unique and engaging pieces of artistry in their own right. This is what drives what I do and hopefully also what sets Cakebread apart.
 
TDC - What design ethos do you live by? 
My approach to design is that through experimentation and play the most interesting and engaging results are revealed. With each piece I aim to make something that will really connect, pieces that have personality, that invite you to touch and experience them.   
 
TDC - What's your favourite product in your range and why? 
My favorite and most popular pieces by far are the Soft Hemispheres - in all their various incarnations. The Soft Hemispheres are characterful pieces that have a highly tactile quality that really resonate with people. They are made using what has become a signature Cakebread tufted yarn technique. I’m always excited to make new versions of these, whether they be tiny almost pom-pom like spheres or huge one meter wide orbs with extra long strands - like the Leviathan piece I made for Space furniture back in 2014.  
I’ve also been spending the last few months developing new versions of this technique and I think this is quickly becoming my new favourite.

TDC - What plans do you have for the future?  
I’m currently working on a new collection of soft furnishings as well as some sculptural pieces for a public art installation that - fingers crossed - will happen sometime this year.
So I’ve been developing and teaching myself lots of new techniques – very much looking forward to seeing these projects evolve and resolve!