Karen McCartney cast her editor's eye across the offerings from boutique & independent local designers at the recent Life Instyle trade fair in Sydney. She shares her favourite new finds, from both new and more established companies.  



(Left) I am a big fan of letterpress printing as it combines an old world craft feel and process, with a contemporary take on visuals and typography. At Bespoke Letterpress they create exquisite cards, tags and can custom design invites that feel like the real deal. (Right) A Temple & Webster regular supplier Have You Met Miss Jones came over all colourful with a series of patterned vases and lacquered boxes (shown here) in high-gloss pink, pea-green and tangerine.



(Left) Bonnie and Neil has to win the award for the most exuberant stand in the show. The energy of their high-octane mix of colour, pattern, texture and materials is very seductive. New to their product mix - and fitting right in to the Bonnie & Neil aesthetic – are a series of unique rag rugs. (Right) This lampshade in pleated cotton from Danish brand house doctor was spotted on NZ company Nelson & Co's stand alongside some great coloured metal and timber stools.



(Left) Delicate porcelain ceramics in plaster pink and pale washed-out shades of aqua and lemon are the work of Karen Morton or Kaz (as the brand is known), at Greenhouse Interiors. With her Masters in Fine Art, Karen brings a subtle, organic quality to all her work, be it in porcelain, resin or timber. (Right) There is nothing like a bit of trickery in the bedroom and these printed pillows mimic the effect of a super-chunky knit. I ask you - would a brand called Snurk produce anything ordinary? Seen on the Vincent2 stand amongst any number of design-y good things.



(Left) There are some things that never date and these decorative wooden print blocks look fantastic grouped together in the dark red bowl. This was on the earth tribe stand, which also featured this wonderful felted woollen rug with a striking diamond pattern (right). It had the irregular edge characteristic of the handmade, giving it a sense of the organic and the modern at the same time. They were testing the response to the rug at the show and Victoria and I gave it the thumbs up.



(Left) Megan Park's range of cushions and throws never fails to inspire. The skill of the craftsmanship is matched by a great colour and design sense, making these truly timeless pieces. Oh and these birds were very cute.  (Right) Collect Home's stand is always beautifully merchandised into the latest colour themes – mixing glass, fabric, woven baskets and ceramics in the most stylish of ways. I particularly loved these baskets for both their interesting shape and the way in which the bottom has been painted white. There is also a smart dark grey version for which I can think of many, many uses.



(Left) This wonderfully architectural trio of candle sticks in Travertine marble from Inartisan illustrates the ethos of the brand – to source independent products globally with the inherent qualities of artistic merit and skilled craftsmanship. Also worth looking at: their exquisite metal worked bowls and hand-poured natural soy candles. Temple & Webster favourite Walter G showed a collection of muted fabrics, and delicate prints in what has become their signature style. They work with hand-dyers, block printers and weavers in India to create textiles that have a beautiful sense of  colour and design longevity.



(Left) Seletti is  a quirky, playful design brand creating off-beat but still beautiful pieces. Yes, this was the stand that had a rather impressive cupboard in the shape of a large pig. Perhaps not for everyone – but these table mats from the Florigraphie range are guaranteed to bring some joy to the everyday.  From Italian eccentricity to Scandi simplicity. (Right) This range by Helbak celebrates pared back, streamlined shapes in hand-decorated, distinctive colour. These vases are from the Tivoli range and notable too is the Dots range which includes charming butterdishes with timber lids.



And finally, I was very impressed by the premise of this company. Karton is all about cardboard and reinventing the thinking around how we use this remarkable material. This tiny sheep goes no way to showing the range of flat-pack product covering eating, sleeping and storage.

Which products would you like to see on Temple & Webster? Leave a comment to let us know.