ON THE GO
Travel accessories label Nomad & Co is the work of Melbourne friends Amanda Lennon and Sophie Thompson, who met living in the same neighbourhood, with children at the same school. What began with a conversation about wash and travel bags needing to be more sophisticated, gained legs and their simple idea has turned into a business. Available in a range of sizes, the bags can be used at the beach, for cosmetics, or when travelling to make life easier and more organised. The plain, coloured bags are made from coated canvas and trimmed with a durable, chunky zip in contrasting colour. Small flat bag in grey, $24.95. Nomad & Co, nomadco.com.au.
![Nomad & Co's flat bag in grey makes life easier and more organised.](/web/20160715132204im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/r/s/t/d/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gprspu.png/1467352833001.jpg)
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
Sydney homewares and furniture institution Orson & Blake has a new showroom at Balgowlah, a two level warehouse-style space filled with the brand's signature mix of global cool. Browse intricately carved timber mirrors and metallic bronze beanbags, brightly coloured handbags, plush cushions and other seasonal accessories. Manhattan whitewashed bookcase, $1650; round carved mirror, $490; Triangle beanbag in bronze, $165; large natural pots, from $150. Orson & Blake, 2/14 Roseberry Street, Balgowlah, (02) 8399 2525, orsonandblake.com.au.
DRY WIT
Since 2010, Sydney company Basil Bangs has made a sophisticated line of outdoor sun umbrellas; now there's a new rain collection. Husband and wife team Mike Durante and Krista Huebner asked local artists Lucas Grogan and Louise Jones to create two designs featuring original artworks for the Caddy (an amply-sized stay-dry-on-the-golf-course style) and Maple (a classic brolly with turned maple handle). Modernist Maple rain umbrella, $149. Basil Bangs, basilbangs.com.
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Zupello Pendant light by Ross Didier.
ON THE MENU
Ross Didier's award-winning designs range from high-volume commercial products to small custom objects. Out of his Melbourne-based studio, Didier has recently launched the First Bite Collection of five pieces including the Gleva chair, Canuli ottoman and Zupello pendant light (pictured), which evokes memories of sweet Italian delicacies and named after gelato colours. Zupello pendant light in Strawberry Cream, $480. Ross Didier, enquiries (03) 9459 1893, didier.com.au.
DO THE TWIST
German designer Theresa Arns was experimenting with ways of combining a table and storage when she came up with the idea of a lid that opens by rotating it around one of the legs. Turning Table, made for Danish brand Menu, is available in white oak with copper brace bar (pictured), and black ash with brass brace bar. Menu Turning Table in white oak, $1100. The Minimalist, theminimalist.com.au.
TIGHT FIT
Using laser-cut acrylic and shaped plywood, Amy Lyttle from Melbourne studio Amindy does a small, fashionable range of Scandinavian-inspired jewellery and homewares. After studying fine arts and interior design, Lyttle founded Amindy in 2014. She appears at markets around the country such as Finders Keepers in Melbourne and Sydney, and Bowerbird Bazaar in Adelaide. Geo coasters in navy, grey, white and blush pink, $39/set of four. Amindy, amindy.com.au.
HANDY PLAN
Office for Design was founded in 2010 by American-born, Stockholm-based industrial designer Shane Schneck, who has worked for Alessi, Hansgrohe and HAY. His simple, colourful kitchen accessories for housewares brand OMMO include cooking utensils, cake stands and storage. The range will be in Australia soon, courtesy of handgdesigns, headed by Sunshine Coast interior design couple Hailey McGinty and Glenn Wilkinson, who scour the globe for work to complement their own designs. Hub utility holder in grey, $19.95. handgdesign, handgdesigns.com.
PATTERN PLAY
French designer Elsa Poux founded Mapoésie, which transforms fine fabrics into striking designs contrasting colours, shapes and patterns. Materials are hand-screen printed, embroidered or tufted into scarves, stationery and kilim rugs. The colours and techniques are inspired by ethnic cultures and traditional crafts she has seen on her travels. Lakme kilim-style 100 per cent New Zealand wool floor rug in pink, $859. Feliz Home, felizhome.com.au.
![SOURCE - 2 JULY 2016 - STEM Tom Dixon Ink notebook yellow angle.jpg](http://web.archive.org./web/20160715132204im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/r/s/t/0/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1467352495045.png)
Tom Dixon Ink notebook recaptures the old-school pleasure of jotting down ideas and is available at Stem.
STRONG SUIT
With a hardback spine and cover teamed with gold-edge paper, this colour-block notebook (pictured) recaptures the old-school pleasure of jotting down ideas and is new from London designer Tom Dixon's Ink stationery line. It's one of a selection of sculpturally formed and opulently finished items from Dixon, including the Plum glassware and Oil candleware ranges new in at Balmain store Stem. Tom Dixon Ink notebook, $40. Stem, 295 Darling Street, Balmain, (02) 9810 5222, stemonline.com.au.