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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.
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.
OK so you might have noticed via our instagram, our TDF OPEN HOUSE preparations are really starting to crank up now, with the Melbourne event just 11 days away now (aghh!) and the Sydney one not far behind! With two seriously amazing homes secured in two cities, the event is set to be BIGGER than ever this year, and we're very lucky to have the support of five Major Sponsors to bring all our crazy plans to life! This year, we are incredibly lucky to be working with Dulux, Country Road, Jardan, Petaluma and MINI to realise this ambitious annual project.
MINI have been part of TDF Open House since our first event in 2011, and in the three years since that have passed since then, we've built a fantastic relationship with the MINI team. I distinctly remember my very first meeting at MINI HQ three years ago - I was so nervous to approach a big car brand to support my idea for Open House. At that time it really was just a concept, and none of us were really sure how the event would be received. Nevertheless, MINI backed us from day one, which was so encouraging, especially in those early days before we had really proven ourselves! So, since 2011 there's always a stylish new model MINI in the garage at every Open House.... but this year we've been working on something extra special!
As you guys know, we're huge fans of Melbourne artist Kirra Jamison, and so for Open House this year, in collaboration with MINI, we have taken Kirra's colourful work beyond the canvas. The result is a customised MINI Paceman, featuring one of Kirra's distinctive 'loops' paintings, in a beautiful palette of sea foam green, dusty pinks, deep blues and spicy ochre tones. It looks AMAZING! (I definitely think they should put this unique colourway into production - who's with me!? )
You'll get a chance to check out our colourful customised MINI Paceman at both the Melbourne and Sydney events... but in the meantime, keep your eyes peeled around the streets of Melbourne this week, to win a bunch of great prizes!
HUGE Thanks to the following Open House sponsors and suppliers for offering up these fabulous prizes for our SPOT THE MINI promotion. Many of the prizes listed below are pictured on the roof of the car in the shots above...!
• Jardan Olba stool ($520.00)
• Bonnie and Neil voucher ($250.00 value)
• Basil Bangs x Jonathan Zawada sun umbrella ($249.00)
• Maiike toys (three toys, $79.00 each, total value $237.00)
• Country Road Beach Fun Summer Pack (includes 2 x beach towels and Aldama beach mat, total value $179.85)
• Down to the Woods wire baskets (three baskets, $45.00 each, total value $135.00)
Starting from today, and ending this Sunday 17th November, we will be driving our TDF Open House MINI all over Melbourne. Every day on our Instagram and Twitter accounts we will give you a heads up to locate the car. Your mission is to spot the MINI on the streets of Melbourne - you know, kind of like playing Where's Wally, but on wheels.
If you see the TDF Open House MINI in Melbourne this week (let's face it, it's pretty hard to miss!), simply take a snap, and upload it to your Instagram account using the tags @thedesignfiles @miniaustralia and most importantly #spotthemini so we can keep track of your entries!
For readers who are based outside of Melbourne - you won't be able to spot the MINI unless you're in Melbourne, however if you're based outside of Melbourne you may enter simply by taking a screenshot of any of the pics in today's post, and instagramming one of these pics using the tags and hashtag outlined above.
Six winners will be drawn at random on Tuesday 17 December 2013, and contacted via Instagram. This giveaway is open to Australian residents only.
Huge thanks to Kirra Jamison, MINI and all the suppliers who loaned us product for this shoot, conducted on what felt like the windiest day of the YEAR (Melbourne weather, you have a lot to answer for!). The gorgeous product pictured here is from Jardan, Country Road, Bonnie and Neil, Basil Bangs, Maiike, Down to the Woods, Penelope Durston, and Gemma Patford, and will all be available at TDF Open House. AND THANKS Melanie at Cecilia Fox for the flowers!
The Design Files acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
First Nations artists, designers, makers, and creative business owners are encouraged to submit their projects for coverage on The Design Files. Please email bea@thedesignfiles.net
The Design Files’ original content and photos are copyright protected. Please email us before reposting our content on other publications, personal websites, or Instagram. Feel free to share our images on Pinterest using the credit ‘via thedesignfiles.net’. Thank you!