Life in Lockdown
In our creative corner of St Kilda bustling energy beams behind closed doors. The truth is, lockdown in our world is a chamber of opportunity, a time to drop out of sight and into the workshop.
Many hands make the pieces that you see adorned in clients homes or commercial buildings. When you engage with our design studio you are inadvertently contracting several small businesses. The practice of engaging local artisans and fabricators is the most important chain of events in our process.
Our bespoke design path begins with a conversation to inform the initial concept, continues with the design and detailing phase, costings and presentation to get the client’s approval then fabrication, assembly and testing. We share the task with metal workers, woodturners, laser cutters, powder coaters, metal finishers and various artisans to name a few... Without realising it, you have supported 10 to 20 people with just one purchase.
We are currently working on Wisteria, a custom chandelier for a Sydney home. Once completed, it will be suspended from an 8-metre high ceiling, banded laterally by three circular oval rings. This grand piece symbolises the hanging bulbs of the exquisite flower found in nature. Our glassworker’s 400 hand-formed balls are suspended within delicate tubes attached to the metalwork with earring hooks. It is an inspired piece similar to the epic feature that lives at Charles Rose, a jeweller here in Melbourne.
You might have also noticed that another chandelier has been installed in the last month in Perth, at the Como Hotel. This piece is host to many crystal panes that are set side by side with precision. The brushed metal finish is meticulously adonised to ensure longevity and beauty across its lifespan. All details were considered with a particularly interesting view from below. Laser-cut rays are cast out from the brass core as lights at varying lengths diffuse the spectrum of brightness towards the outer crystals.
It’s fair to say that each of us has experienced the mental and emotional struggles that come with living at the mercy of this virus. I’m the first to admit it has been an extreme challenge. However, our team can also see that there are ways in which our passion for the senses have been enriched even further during this time. While our clients are spending more time indoors in their own curated spaces of light, they too have been able to enjoy more time amongst their sculptural and functional objects. Better days are coming, we must continue to see the fruits of this time and imagine a city that is thriving with arts, culture and good health.
To round out this month we also just want to say ‘thank you’, your support literally gives light to the industry of design and sustainability. Although our studio door is closed for now, our email and phone line is still open. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your ideas and desires. We continue to work with an immediate turnaround time, this includes our clients abroad and our international posting service which delivers your installation safely.
Our team wishes you well in these times of change, be light.
