WE LOVE

Gigi-tastic

Space pods

Causing a rift

Left to right: Gigi chair from Fantastic; Graft Hamburg pod; Schamburg+Alvisse Rift Table.

Fantastic Furniture's Gigi chair can be customised with a wide range of fabrics and is a cost-effective designer alternative, proving that colourful style need not put consumers in the red.

This walnut panelled pod, containing kitchen, bathroom and shelving, is part furniture, part architecture and can be found at The Loft Hamburg residential project, designed by architectural studio Graft... as seen at coolhunter.com.au.

Courtesy of Sydney company Schamburg+Alvisse, these Rift modular tables trace the shapes and movement of icebergs and the patterns found in cracked earth, beautiful, if ominous signs of climate change.

 

ISSUE 26 WE LOVE

In the pink

Fine dining

Eclectic dreams



Left to right: Lemongrass pink vase, Inoda + Sveje chair, Habitat cushion print by Concetta Gallo.

A vessel that can pour colour into all the right places, this pink vase by Australian retail brand Lemongrass bucks the neutral trend with a touch of hot vibrancy.

This supremely elegant dining chair by Inoda + Sveje blends classic Scandinavian style design with an almost futuristic grace.

Designed for UK retailer Habitat by Concetta Gallo, the print for this cushion embodies today's eclectic trends, mixing photos, drawing, and directional colour.

 

ISSUE 25 WE LOVE

Golden age

Flower power

Possum magic

Left to right: Laura Ashley home furnishings, Habitat flower lamp, Jimmy Possum occasional chair

Laura Ashley is widely considered the grand dame of heritage home furnishings. A blend of muted, golden tones with the brand's trade mark look works wonders.

This wonderful stemmed flower lamp was designed by Helena Christensen for UK retailer Habitat, and gives a whole new meaning to illumination.

Jimmy Possum's occasional furniture is second to none when it comes to blending great contemporary design with beautiful textiles.

 

ISSUE 24 WE LOVE

Stairway to heaven

Mad Melee

Starck's reality

Left to right: Kaidan-dansu cabinet; Melee by Brad Stebbing; Philippe Starck

For a piece of furniture that makes an unusual but useful style statement, it's hard to go past Japanese craftsmanship and design, embodied in this Kaidan-dansu staircase cabinet from Kazari furniture in Melbourne.

Melee by Brad Stebbing first appears to be a complex piece of contemporary lighting, but look closely and you'll see it's made up of scores of little men joined in harmony to light up your life.

With the Aussie airing of BBC reality show ‘Design For Life' sparking further interest in the work of Philippe Starck, this seat-cum-table explains the designer's brilliant vision, which effortlessly blends practicality with beauty.

 

ISSUE 23 WE LOVE

Vanishing beds

Wave riding

Tasty waffles

Left to right: 'bedup' by Decadrages, Wave seat, Regatta waffle blankets.

Ingenious registered trademark ‘bedup' by Decadrages is a bed that disappears by day; perfect for modern living. Just be sure to open it before a night on the town.

‘Wave' seats by Brian Steendyk have undulating tops and bases that maximise stability and allow multiple stools to be stacked. Available through Schiavello.

Bringing out the inner Cleopatra in all of us, this Regatta waffle blanket is the genuine article, made from authentic Egyptian cotton endorsed by the Egyptian Government.

 

ISSUE 22 WE LOVE

Having a ball

Bunny ha-ha

Fashion floors



Left to right: Ball chair by Eero Aarnio; Bunny Rabbit Lamp, rug by Vivian Chan Shaw.

If you're into chintz or neutrals, this retro ball chair by Eero Aarnio is not for you. If however you like your furnishings popping with attitude, it's the one.

This Bunny Rabbit Lamp, by Skk Lighting, will bring out the kitsch and cuddly yet strangely stylish side of lighting. Available from Liberty of London.

Renowned in the fashion world as the doyenne of knits, designer Vivian Chan Shaw has extended her talents into the home with rugs that are good enough to wear.

 

ISSUE 21 WE LOVE

Pulp fact

Unzipped

Puzzling pieces



Left to right: Pulp furniture, Zip collection, Jigsaw pieces.

Created by designers Dan Hochberg and Odelia Lavie, this Pulp furniture is modelled after everyday packaging. Made from 100 per cent paper, it's deceptively strong.

The Zip collection by Matthew Sheargold comprises simple forms with fully unzippable upholstery. It also carries GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia) certification.

These Jigsaw pieces by Viva Terra are the ultimate in modular furniture. Buy enough of them and you can re-create wintry afternoons of puzzling fun.

 

ISSUE 20 WE LOVE

Liquorice Allsorts

Flower power

Red centre




Left to right: Oswald sofa, Flower armchairs, Lizard coffee table

This one-off Oswald sofa, courtesy of UK design giant The Conran Shop, has been upholstered with vibrant colours and stripes to create the furnishing equivalent of Liquorice Allsorts. Yum.

Designed by Marco Maran and available from Stylecraft, the Flower armchair can be upholstered to specification and is ideal for edgy homes or offices.

The Lizard coffee table from Linley in London, UK, has an acrylic base to give the piece a feeling of floating, while the central recess is finished in red lacquer.

 

ISSUE 19 WE LOVE

Leafy screens

Lounging

Staying in bed



Left to right: Kif + Katast screen, Eames lounge chair and stool; Balinese day bed.

Used indoors or out, a striking screen like this one by Kif + Katast, turns an ordinary wall or space into a feature.

 A leather lounge chair and stool provide comfort to design fans in the form of Eames - a byword for style.

Day beds are a great way to fill a large space such as an atrium or conservatory - they work outdoors too.