Erica Solomon and Penny van Schaik struck up a friendship while both were working in marketing, and met over coffee 5 years ago to brainstorm what is now Collect Home. After starting the business in an old vicarage, they are now based in a loft space in East Melbourne, overlooking the buzz of cafes, gardens and the theatre district, and recently launched a new wedding range. We asked them for their top tips on creating table settings using the beautifully coloured glass and ceramic pieces in today's feature.



Tell us more about how you source your products?
Definitely the fun side to Collect Home, we travel throughout the world, working on pieces that are beautifully formed, hand-made or natural. Our signature product line showcases recycled glass vessels, bottles and vases – some small and delicate for table-top, others oversized and "wow pieces used by hotels, resorts and events. Organic shaped ceramics are designed in house and made by hand in the same factory as a leading Scandinavian brand.

What's the design philosophy behind your products?
Form. Hand-made. Nature. These are the key signature words and philosophy that we use. We sift through designs, colours and key trends, then distil all these creative ideas into colours and patterns that work together. Our creative days of planning take place up at Red Hill, at our East Melbourne showroom or over long lunches (we are after all still influenced by our 80's advertising lifestyle!)



What's your favourite colour palette right now?
Softer tones of shell pink, vintage rose, soft palettes in coral and purples.  For strong exotic and gypsy hues, the combination of mustards, blacks and rich purples. Greens, from chartreuse, limes, lichen and emeralds lead into winter 2013.

What about spring/summer table settings? 
Our 'Romancing' story captures the icy tones of pinks, coral, clear and purples and is consistently a strong favourite. The demand for fashion-driven hot neon brights and "vintage country" is becoming a 'must' for Summer weddings and events. Bright clashy palettes with orange poppies, purple dahlias and splashes of red and green mark the spiced up "Latino" theme.  Mix bigger blooms in glass jars or old tin jugs are with small perfume bottles and tiny vases, not only mixing up the sizes but also the colours.