The next design wave is closer than you think

A new wave of subtlety and sophistication is making the local design scene one to be proud of

Wattle Delight by House of Heras, available from Designer Rugs

Forget what you know about Australian designs. For the longest time, it seemed most of what was obviously Australian was more kitsch than cool. Epitomised by the likes of much-loved artists such as Ken Done in the ’80s, the palette was bright and irrepressibly upbeat.

These wooden waratah trays featured in US domestic doyen Martha Stewart’s gift guide. Utopia Goods director Sophie Tallow says sales soared and people just loved the colours and patterns. utopiagoods.com

But in recent years, a new wave of subtlety and sophistication has swept through the local design scene, celebrating our flora, fauna and heritage in stunning colour and pattern that is surprisingly easy to live with.

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Waratah and banksia bamboo fibre servingware collections from Stephanie Alexander. www.stephaniealexander.com.au

Our unique landscape has long been a source of inspiration, most notably in the years after Federation at the start of last century where everything from door handles to wall vents was festooned in waratahs and wattle.

Indeed, resurgence in Australian motifs tends to coincide with periods of national pride, such as the 1988 bicentenary. The most recent revival could be attributed to the Sydney Olympics with early uptakers releasing locally inspired wallpapers of banksias in the early 2000s. Designer Catherine Martin has since released rugs celebrating everything from lyrebirds and cockatoos.

The Waratah Wonderland rug designed by House of Heras’ Silvana Azzi Heras for Designer Rugs is part of a charming range that draws on the Australian Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 20th Century. designerrugs.com.au

More recently, House of Heras designer Silvana Azzi Heras, who worked under Catherine Martin before opening her own studio, released a range of rugs for Designer Rugs featuring waratahs, gumnuts and wattle drawing on the traditions of the 20th century Arts and Crafts Movement. Now everything from flowering gums and banksias to kangaroo paw are popping up.

Native Meadow in indigo is one of the latest upholstery linens available from Utopia Goods celebrating the wild beauty of Australian native flowers such as kangaroo paw and flannel flowers. utopiagoods.com

Seven years ago, director Sophie Tallow opened Utopia Goods, celebrating local flora with vivid colour and bold pattern. With strong sales in the US and the UK, she says the world is now starting to take notice — and we should too.

“We’re starting to get over that cultural cringe and instead enjoying colour in a very playful way,” she says. “Native flowers are beautiful to draw and they’ve been overlooked for so long.”

This cushion is the result of a collaboration with indigenous artists from the Jilimara Arts and Crafts Association in the Tiwi Islands. This limited-edition design by artist Patrick Freddy Puruntata is based on body painting and is hand-screen printed. koskela.com.au

This new wave has also made way for a growing collective of indigenous designers, as Aboriginal designs move beyond generic souvenirs and into domestic settings. Retailers such as Koskela are forging collaborations with indigenous communities to produce uniquely beautiful Australian homewares. Koskela co-founder Sasha Titchkosky says connecting designers with consumers is long overdue.

“There’s been a real growth in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designed textiles that are now available,” he says. “It’s fantastic to see stories being told using this avenue and this culture being celebrated in this way.”

The design team at Chaboo has taken the classic lazy Susan and somehow made it even more Australian. Designer Casey Coolwell is a Quandamooka, Nunukul woman from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). chaboo.com.au

Alternatively, Queensland-based Chaboo is owned and run by indigenous artist Casey Coolwell and her partner Roy Fisher, creating beautiful bowls, platters, cups and more perfectly suited to relaxed coastal decor.

Round bowls from Chaboo. chaboo.com.au

Upholstery fabrics from Utopia Goods. utopiagoods.com