Living Edge / Bolon by TAG

Visitors were welcomed to the Living Edge showroom by the beautiful Bolon by Missoni house, a colourful structure that was perfectly suited to the double-height space of Living Edge’s new Richmond showroom. Bolon’s woven flooring was continued in the Living Edge ’house’, which showcased Living Edge furniture (including beautiful Eames ’Walnut’ and Bassamfellows ’Tractor’ stools) in residential settings. Creative decals made visitors feel as if they were looking out over a forest setting, while delicious canapés and cocktails kept the winter weather at bay.

Living Edge

Envoy Furniture

Sun Studios provided the perfect location for Envoy Furniture’s collection of innovative workplace products. Guests had the chance to relax and chat in acoustic settings, and one lucky guest went home with a ’Chat-Board’.

Envoy

Chairbiz/CDK Stone/Hansa/Neff

Chairbiz teamed up with CDK Stone, Hansa, and Neff to get the creative juices flowing on Saturday. Chairbiz’s entry to The Project saw their loading dock transformed into an atelier, with the Artists@Work (whose artworks were auctioned off in the afternoon). In the Chairbiz Marquee, Hansa showcased a new tap for Caroma, while Neff celebrated their 135th anniversary by inviting guests to design edible masterpieces by way of birthday cupcakes (which also provided guests with a welcome sugar hit!). CDK Stone launched their Laminam range, and gave visitors the chance to win an elegant stainless steel coffee table base featuring a table top in the new Titanium Travertine by CDK Stone.

Chairbiz

How We Create

The MAKE it precinct took out the award for best showroom experience for 2012 – and for good reason. While technically not a ’showroom’, How We Create built an impressive installation utilising steel framework and rotor-moulded ’Lilypad’ roof elements designed by Christina Waterson. Manufacturing skills were showcased, with wood turners making the elements for Coco Reynolds new light, metal spinning machine creating a George Dedic object, and a rotor moulder creating the winning entries to the Design a Cup competition, to give away on the day. Australian design, manufacturing, food, drink and a festival atmosphere made this a must-see. 

How We Create

Interface

Block Projects was transformed into an evocative gallery space that showcased Interface products and materials creatively. Six local designers interpreted the merging of cities and nature – a key theme in the latest Interface collection.

Interface

Zip Industries

Zip Industries was ’sparkling’ all day, with an installation by Studio Equator to celebrate the launch of the Zip HydroTap Sparkling. The small space was transformed into a glittering, colourful destination, with DJ and bold graphics.

Zip Industries

Inlite/Tappeti/Viabizzuno

Inlite and HASSELL collaborated on The Project, exploring fashion design as a reflection of society. Huge white sculptural elements created an intriguing play of space. Bellwood Design’s ’Bellwood’ rug, which was launched on Saturday, gave the neutral palette a splash of colour. Next door, Geyer teamed up with Viabizzuno to design The Project’s winning installation – a sophisticated interpretation of the theme that showcased the products in an elegant way.

Tappeti

Image Interiors

Donuts, pizza and wine – Image Interiors was the place to stop in, relax and refuel. Special guest Jetta Busen from Hülsta, Germany, joined the event to present the new ’Neo’ range on Saturday.

Image Interiors

Arthur G/Armadillo&Co

Visitors headed to Arthur G to meet Australian designer Alexander Lotersztain of Derlot, who was presenting his new ’Ofset’ range, featuring a sofa, dining table and coffee table. Armadillo&Co joined Arthur G to showcase their new ’Earth’ and ’Designer’ ranges of textiles.

Arthur G

Poliform/Abey

Poliform re-launched their showroom with the installation of five wardrobes and five kitchens, showcasing Poliform and Artex – a new brand in the Australian market. A host of other new products fresh from Milan was also on display. The ’kitchen’ theme was continued by Abey, who teamed up with Poliform, and invited guests to ’La Famiglia’ for eating, drinking, and merriment. Visitors to the showroom went in the draw to win a series of high-end Italian products.

Poliform

Space/Gaggenau

Space used the occasion to showcase new products from Milan. Key launches on the day included ’Husk Outdoor’ and ’Papilio’ from B&B Italia, the ’New Antiques Container’ collection from Moooi, ’Audrey Soft’, and the Scarlet collection. An impressive installation by HASSELL transformed the space, and a playful Moooi chair installation engaged visitors. The Green Hat Workshop ’Planks’ were on show, with designers showing guests how the product works as a unique building block for creative minds.  Gaggenau’s culinary efforts in the kitchen were warmly received by weary-footed design hunters.  As well as hands-on cooking demos over both Friday and Saturday, they also showcased their new mobile kitchen concept.

Space

Tongue n Groove

Tongue n Groove launched their new concept showroom at the event. The stunning space is a graphic visual experience that showcases the Tongue n Groove products. The branded squirrel bag – which included special gifts – was again one of the most popular bags on the day and was spotted all over Melbourne.

Tongue n Groove

Bespoke Tile & Stone/Earp Bros

At Bespoke Tile & Stone, guests were impressed by a huge mosaic of Melbourne’s Flinders Street station by Melbourne photographer Michael Kai. Out the back, a lightshow highlighted the reflective and graphic nature of the tiles. At 3pm, Richard Earp of Earp Bros gave a talk on the green credentials of Earp Bros’ tiles and how this will influence future design. Two lucky visitors won a trip to Spain.

Earp Brothers

Coco Republic

Coco Republic’s champagne breakfast at the Veuve Clicquot Lounge Bar was a hit, despite the bad weather. The spacious showroom was filled with the latest Coco Republic products, as well as international brands such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren Home.

Coco Republic

Oly

Oly was a creative exploration of the classic, the contemporary, the whimsical, and the extraordinary. Visitors wandered the showroom sketching their favourite chair from Oly’s collection as part of the ’Sketch Ten’ competition, and the winner took home their favourite Oly chair. Guests hungry from wandering the showrooms enjoyed pizza at the pop-up San Fran Pizza Bar.

Oly

Eastern Commercial Furniture

Eastern Commercial Furniture transformed the Anita Traverso Gallery into ’The Whimsical Office’ as part of The Project with local design firm FMSA. The interactive zones playfully dramatised typical office situations.

ECF

Insitu

A vibrant and creative interpretation of The Project theme, the Insitu showroom was transformed into a colourful and playful space. Guests enjoyed the all-day Fiesta, with plenty of new products, food and drink. One lucky guest took home a ’Rememberme’ chair from Casamania (which were on display suspended around the showroom).

Insitu

Zuster

The highlight at Zuster was the newly revealed upstairs, designed by SJB. Two beautifully styled fully furnished apartments inspired guests and showcased products from Zuster. Large black and white sculptural elements, based on the base of Zuster’s classic ’Stella’ table, offered interesting platforms for displaying furniture.

Zuster

Reece Bathroom Life

Reece was a hive of activity all day. Celebrating the acquisition of Spanish brand Roca, guests enjoyed coffee in the morning, paella, tapas and sangria throughout the day, and unleashed their creativity in The Project competition. The brief was to design and make a model of a bath inspired by Zaha Hadid, and the prize was a trip to Spain. Special guests Josep Royo and Dianna Hanna introduced new Roca products and announced the winners of the Bathroom Innovation Award winners.

Reece

Images © Spy Photography and Nicole England Photography