Our very first Style Compass guest is David Heimann of Sydney's Orson & Blake.  David has curated a Style Compass collection of furniture and homewares for us inspired by a Sydney summer by the sea, and he joins us here on the blog to talk about decorating for summer, following trends and a milestone birthday.



David, what was the thinking behind your Style Compass collection?
My collection leans heavily on a tropical theme with a seaside vibe ... sand washed fabrics, exotic patterns, lime washed timbers, cool cottons. I was inspired by the ease of a summer holiday - a brisk early morning walk, a cool swim, spending time at the beach with friends, lazy afternoons lying about on daybeds, reading and snoozing after a long lunch, then setting the outdoor table for a relaxed dinner in the sea breeze.

What's the best way to make the transition into summer in our homes?
It's all about making a few small changes and letting the outside in. Winter is a time for cocooning - a winter room is always layered with heavier textiles, woollen throws, cushions, moody lighting, candles, perhaps a log fire.  In spring it's so wonderful to throw open the doors and feel the breeze. As summer approaches I love the feeling of lightening up, and embracing a casual indoors/outdoors feel. I always try to bring a little of the garden inside with huge bunches of leaves & flowers. Think about rolling up the rugs and having bare floorboards or sisal underfoot, maybe hang gauzy linen drapes, light tea lights in the courtyard or giant rattan lanterns. Entertain outside - perhaps it's a picnic on a rooftop garden or poolside lounging.

Orson & Blake is a Sydney institution, yet it remains so modern. How would you describe your style?
My mother Mandy and I started Orson & Blake almost twenty years ago to indulge our passion for beautiful objects. We still share an intense interest in gathering and discovering. The Orson & Blake style is actually a very personal vision. I think we are curators – we collect ideas, styles, origins, eras, feelings and attitudes and put it all together to create an easy, thrown together look.

We like to keep evolving and changing whilst maintaining a consistent O&B feel. Our interior collections offer a healthy mix of handsome classics, exotic treasures, good quality staples, found objects, vintage references and a few surprises. The mix keeps it modern. Respecting tradition whilst sometimes injecting newness by revisiting shapes or colours from the past can keep things fresh.  Sometimes following trends slavishly can fall flat and look nasty. We prefer a subdued version of trend.

What's coming up at Orson & Blake?
2012 finds us celebrating our 20th year and we have some fabulous birthday celebrations planned.  Right now we have lots of fabulous furniture to unpack and many interior design products being completed for clients in time for Christmas. Then we have new collections launching early in 2012, along with a complete showroom change.

We hope you enjoy our first Style Compass collection; stay tuned for many more.

Victoria