Your name: Alex Bain and Natalie Manning from Property Lipstick
What you do: Residential & Commercial Interior Design
Your latest project:
- Kitsa’s Kitchen organic food & lifestyle store
- Concept for a boutique craft beer bar
- Developing our range of bespoke homewares for our New Beach Road online store – coming mid 2013.
Who are three people that inspire/excite you:
1) Our mothers for their style & tenacity
2) Ralph Lauren
3) Diana Vreeland
What is your favourite:
Bike: Vespa
Boat: Riviera or Halvorsen boat
Chair model: Thonet No. 18 Bentwood chair – originally designed in 1800s, the timeless style is elegant, understated and versatile. Interestingly, the name ‘bentwood’ is a description of the technique used to create the chair – bending rods of beech to create a seamless, organic shape. We love the modern interpretation of this iconic chair with endless colour selections and cute contrast ‘socks’ on the base of the legs and its translation into other objects like rocking chairs and cradles.
Residential space: Carolina Herrera Baez’s home in Madrid – we love the pink hallway and braid trimmed walls, punctuated with large studs.
Commercial space:
- JK Capri Place
- MCA extension
- Bates Smart 1 Bligh Street – Clayton Utz fitout
- Hecker Guthrie – The Millswyn.
Decorative product: Greenery & flowers as well as moss & verdigris are effective natural elements we use to soften interior spaces. Accessorizing with masses of coffee table books, personal objects & ambient lamp lighting can make all the difference in transforming an ordinary room into one that is layered, rich and interesting.
Functional product: Our custom linen pinboards – they are beautifully framed in a custom ash stained Tasmanian oak moulding & Belgian linen interior. They are versatile for use in a range of spaces – from the kitchen to the study to the living room.
Handmade good: Heirloom pieces like embroidered samplers & linen; taxidermy; an artwork; a flower arrangement; freshly baked goodies; a hand written note and homemade sweets displayed in a glass compote.
Mass-produced good: Ikea striped rugs
Meal: We love the clean taste of sashimi tacos, betel leaves and oysters!
Restaurant: Apollo / Sake / The European and Huxtaburger in Melbourne
Drink: Come Friday, we love to reward ourselves with a Martini with extra olives
Bar: Our fail-safe is the Wine Library, Woollahra for its moody lighting, attentive service and the amazing food and wine list.
Items in your studio: A selection of textiles, timber, stone and marble samples; paint colours; international design books; inspirational images & photographs; concept boards & sketches.
Piece of technology: Our iPads and Dropbox software are invaluable to our business efficiency!
Historical figure: Would have to be the iconic fashion designer, Coco Chanel.
Fictional character: James Bond – for his international travel; charm; immaculate grooming; knowledge, insight and versatility; & his penchant for glamour, cars and martinis. Most importantly, he never gets any older!!
Vice: Central Baking Depot’s chocolate & pear tart or Sprinkles’ cupcakes (fortunately only available in the USA)
Virtue: Sensitivity, empathy & intuition allow us to better understand our clients.
What does the term ‘Design Hunter™’ mean to you? Foraging, researching and collaborating to find an inspirational, challenging design solution.