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Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.
Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.
Award-winning Australian interior design, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top designers.
In depth features on Australia’s most beautiful gardens and landscape design.
Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.
Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.
Weekly recipes and meal ideas from our favourite cooks, authors and foodies.
Unique travel destinations, design-led accomodation and day trip ideas in Australia and New Zealand.
Melbourne's annual Design:Made:Trade event at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton wrapped up yesterday, and as always I have a little round up for you today. AS USUAL I got completely overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the event and all the familiar faces... It took about 2 hours just to get through Craft Victoria's excellent ‘Open Studios' area at the entrance! Agh. I need some kind of time allowance per stand and alarm clock system next year I think!
Filling an important niche as Melbourne's 'indie' trade show, D:M:T is always a mixed bag, and this year was no exception. There was some AWESOME stuff. There was some slightly questionable stuff. There was a lot of stuff I'd seen before. Generally though, I find D:M:T always offers a great snapshot of what's happening in local design, with just enough free events, hands-on workshops and kids activities over the weekend to keep things buzzing!
The new ‘Open Studios‘ event this year was an absolute winner. Curated by Craft Victoria, selected designer / makers including Emily Green, Nicholas Jones and Elizabeth Yong of Primoeza set themselves up in temporary studio spaces, working on site at the Exhibition Building from Thursday through to Sunday. SO GREAT to see these wonderful local creatives working and chatting to visitors about their practice. Massive congrats to Craft Victoria and all the makers who went to great efforts to really 'move in' and decorate their makeshift studios - this was certainly a highlight for me.
Other fab initiatives this year - the Pop-Up Design Library, housed in a custom-made structure designed by Adelaide design duo Daniel : Emma. Treadlie's fabulous 'Made To Measure' custom bike exhibit at the entrance. The BRILLIANT Roll-Up bicycle valet service on opening night - with support from Vic Health and Flexicar, this simple free service will follow many events this week allowing easy bike access for festival-goers. (Cute red tents and 50's inspired uniforms make it even more appealing....!).
In keeping with my own self-imposed tradition, I've decided to dish out a few cute and completely arbitrary D:M:T awards once again this year -
Best new festival initiative for 2011 – Roll-Up bicycle valet service
Best stand design / styling - Notemaker stationery set up a fully functional office complete with retro-inspired scandi furniture, telephone, pot plant!
Best international accent - Festival photographer Tobias Titz clinches this category again (and thanks for the pics Tobias!)
Cutest couple award - Emma Aiston and Daniel To of Daniel : Emma! Seriously too cute. And a bit matching, if you ask me.
Best New Talent - Olinda-based Ari Prasetya's impressive furniture range created from salvaged timbers - channeling Piet Hein Eek (though Ari's never heard of him!)
One to Watch - Maryann Talia Pau, designer / weaver extraordinaire. I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of Maryann!
Most popular - Ah, maybe me?! unfortunately!
Least popular - Flimsy cardboard partitions... tres controversial.
Ok enough waffling from me… hope you enjoy the pics!
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