interior stylist graham moss

Graham Moss, an American who grew up in Australia, has always had an eye for detail. He spent his childhood creating murals on his bedroom wall and building makeshift furniture from his toy building blocks. After a career in the corporate world, Graham accidentally fell into interior styling. It turns out he was a natural. Since then Graham has started his own interior styling business in New York and has worked alongside interiors and lifestyle guru Martha Stewart. Also, his home in Harlem was recently featured in Vogue Living.

Which five words best describe you? Meticulous, empathetic, diverse, progressive, lateral.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? This career started completely by accident. I was working in corporate branding for many years, and used my own living environment as a means of creative expression. After my place was discovered by Vogue Living and various blogs, people just started asking me to help them with their own environments, to the degree that it somehow morphed into a full-time job.

The path that's presented itself has been one of creating residential interiors in the city of New York - the architectural envelope and the decoration of them. Each situation is totally different and I am constantly invigorated and challenged by the unique circumstances of every project.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? To always test limits - those of my clients as well as those of myself. It almost always pays off and makes for a better quality, more exciting and satisfying outcome.

What’s your proudest career achievement? One day out of the blue I was asked to co-host the Martha Stewart radio show - it was surreal, a true honour and a privilege to even be asked. Martha is a real inspiration in terms of her own life achievements. I love how she actually possesses true skill and talent. She is in charge of an empire and yet she still appears to get her hands dirty, literally and figuratively. I'm hoping one of my current projects is going to be a bit of a milestone. It's a beautiful apartment I am working on for a couple with eight children!

What’s been your best decision? To take risks - not just in my work, but in most aspects of life. As long as they're considered and 'educated' risks it's what puts you ahead of the pack I think (if they pay off, of course.)

Who inspires you? I love Kelly Wearstler and I love Jonathan Adler. Not just their style but also what they've achieved with their brands by being themselves and not straying from that. They also seem like fun, genuine people I'd like to know!

What are you passionate about? I'm passionate about keeping things real, keeping things in perspective, seeing things for what they are, staying as down to earth as possible.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I would love to meet some of modern history's true style icons. Especially the ones who've broken ground successfully, and the ones who've got strong personas with a touch of the eccentric genius about them like Andy Warhol, David LaChappelle, Katherine Hepburn, Picasso, Yves Saint Laurent.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? I still have not quite managed to find a healthy balance between work and relaxation - a few more holidays and a little less work would be a dream come true.

What are you reading? I just finished The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - amazing, uplifting, what a life lesson. I want to read it again! I’m about to embark on The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards.

images courtesy of graham moss; portrait vogue living (via busy being fabulous)

artist arite kannavos

The world of art and design continue to blend, and there's another great example in the work of Arite Kannavos. She is a Melbourne-based artist who has also worked as a textile designer. For the past seven years she has focussed on product development for a bedlinen brand. It's not surprising that while she continues to paint (and is exhibiting at the upcoming Melbourne Art Fair, starting Thursday 19 May), she has also launched Canter & Cave which showcases her art on homewares.

Which five words best describe you? Energetic, imaginative, focused, aware, interested.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started exhibiting after I graduated from university, albeit the shows were few and far in between, as at the same time I started working as textile designer and product developer in the homewares industry. Seven years later, I decided I needed to make more space for painting in my everyday life. So I picked up the brush and worked on my second solo show. As result of the new direction my work was taking, I felt inspired enough to launch my homewares label Canter & Cave earlier this year. The creative spirit is not something which you can easily disentangle yourself from, believe me I've tried!

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Keep creating, in any way shape or form. Seize the day.

What’s your proudest career achievement? I'm proud that I can be engaged in my work enough to keep on making works and share them with an audience.

What’s been your best decision? To follow my dream of leading a lifestyle centred around creativity.

Who inspires you? My 1.5 year old nephew is the most fascinating human being I have ever met. Upon visiting my studio, he started inspecting and lifting my works (the smaller ones, of course). I think he has assumed the role of artist's manager.
What are you passionate about? Art, travel, design, nature and knowledge.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? My great grandfather. He travelled to New York in the 1920s and came home with this amazing textile piece made up of small flags which is a now a family heirloom. I would love to ask him about the exact origin of the piece.

What dream do you still want to fulfill? There are so many. Exhibiting internationally would be a good start.
What are you reading? I tend to read a few books at the same time but Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch, is sustaining my interest in an amusing way.

images courtesy of arite kannavos and canter & cave

designers david walley & felicity joll

While Yellow Diva was formed in the UK - back in 1994 - since 2008 it has been based in Australia. The company, which started out when industrial designer David Walley, pictured above, collaborated with British architect student James Davis, now has its headquarters in Melbourne. While the company predominately creates furniture for commercial and residential projects, it also does one-off commissions. Clients include Microsoft, Virgin, Top Shop, Guess and Sheraton Hotels. Meet design director David Walley and creative director Felicity Joll.

Which five words best describe you?

David Walley: Focused, tenacious, independent, meticulous, decisive.

Felicity Joll: Ambitious, outspoken, exacting, straightforward, fair.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since?

David: Industrial Design, RMIT - Art Direction ABC/BBC/Freelance - Co-Founder/Design Director Yellow Diva.

Felicity: Architecture, University of Manchester - Art Direction BBC/Freelance - Consultant Hawkins\Brown - Creative Director Yellow Diva.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way?

David: Self-reliance

Felicity: Always ask questions.

What’s your proudest career achievement?

David: The creation of the body of work designed since relocation to Australia in 2008.

Felicity: My role in conceptualising the evolution and repositioning of Yellow Diva as a brand.

What’s been your best decision?

David: Going to Europe.

Felicity: Coming to Australia.

Who inspires you?

David: Douglas Mawson

Felicity: Samuel Mockbee (Rural Studio)

What are you passionate about?

David: Our two daughters.

Felicity: Justice

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet?

David: Leonardo da Vinci

Felicity: Gilbert & George

What dream do you still want to fulfil?

David: To make my own boat.

Felicity: To live in Spain.

What are you reading?

David: The Guardian Weekly

Felicity: Parrot & Olivier in America by Peter Carey

images courtesy of yellow diva

leap magazine co-founders quentin brown & mark patterson

Quentin Brown and Mark Patterson

Leap magazine is another great mag out and about, although it's actually been running for a couple of years. It has just held an exhibition in Melbourne comprising submissions from the past four editions. The magazine was created by Quentin Brown and Mark Patterson, who are behind the agency Canyon. Submissions for the next issue are open until April 30.

Quentin Brown

Which five words best describe you? Serious, witty, smart, studious, fair.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? A group sacking from a Regent Street pub led to the beginning of a career in design with a London-based studio. I returned to Melbourne in 1996 working with a number of studios including Cato and more recently Cornwell. I am not defined by my work, but I enjoy it.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Be niceWhat’s your proudest career achievement? Establishing a genuine and inspirational team, backing ourselves in creating a business where we get things done.

What’s been your best decision? A business partner!

Who inspires you? The kids.

What are you passionate about? Great ideas! We work best when all parts of the business pitch in creatively, you can only do this if the normal guards are down in relation to defined roles. Ideas come from anywhere and anyone: identifying a good idea is the challenge.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Emil Zatopek.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Consistent Gybing when sailboarding.

What are you reading? The Fermata by Nicholson Baker.

Mark Patterson

Which five words best describe you? Determined, loyal, forthright, genuine, intuitive.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I was working in corporate marketing and was frustrated with the lack of imagination and creativity in evidence so I jumped the fence to the agency side.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Always trust your own judgement.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Producing Leap magazine. Quentin, my business partner and I had this idea to create a vehicle that celebrated the wealth and diversity of Melbourne's creative community. Leap magazine is published bi-annually and the 5th edition is coming out in June this year. We recently held an exhibition where we showcased the work from the first 4 editions. It's been fantastic, so far we've had contributions from musicians, actors, painters, architects, industrial designers, graphic designers, fashion designers, photographers and school kids.
What’s been your best decision? Starting Canyon. I spent too long in big agencies where creativity gets commodotised.
Who inspires you? My wife Caitlin and my children Georgina and Rex.
What are you passionate about? Work and snowboarding. I love working with our clients to deliver creative solutions to commercial problems. Our clients see us as true business partners and in the main we get to work closely with the business owners so we can effect real change. I've been into snowboarding now for 20 years and just love the rush of it. I've gotten the whole family into skiing and boarding and it's a great way to spend a family holiday.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Hunter S Thompson. A true original who showed me that there was a different way of looking at the world.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? In business I'm very fortunate to be living the dream, I love what I do so my life dream is to spend an entire season in a North American ski resort. As well as being able to ride everyday I think it would be fascinating to experience the changing of the seasons.
What are you reading? Life by Keith Richards.

images courtesy of leap

designers lichen kemp & jitske wiersma

Lichen Kemp and Jitske Wiersma

Do children today still daydream? There's hope in the shape of Sunday Morning Designs. While the designs are the work of adults, the products can open eyes of all ages to an imaginary world. This is in part thanks to the illustrations of Dylan Martorell, who is the partner of one of the founders - Lichen Kemp. Together with fellow Melbourne creative Jitske Wiersma, she created Sunday Morning Designs in 2007.

Which five words best describe you? Colourful, illustrative, quirky, funny and hard-working.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? Jitske is from the Netherlands originally, and moved to Australia in 1999. She studied gold and silver smithing and printmaking then went into clothing design. Lichen has a background in art installations and curating exhibitions; she ran Outskirts Tshirt Gallery on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. We met through mutual friends and stocking the same stores, and then worked together for a short stint at Lupa Clothing before deciding to go into business together.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Lunch is for wimps.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Stocking a store in Paris, France.
What’s been your best decision? Starting Sunday Morning Designs together.
Who inspires you? Our friends and family.
What are you passionate about? Art and architecture.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Buckminster Fuller.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Designing our own house.
What are you reading? Roald Dahl and The Moth Podcasts.

images courtesy of sunday morning designs

designers pierre & charlotte julien

The story behind how Melbourned-based Pierre and Charlotte Julien met says a lot about them, and their eponymous design business. He was from Paris, she from Tasmania yet Tokyo was where they fell in love... as teenagers. They then travelled the world, before settling in Paris where Pierre was in a rock band and Charlotte worked as a set painter for films. Ever the adventurers, they moved again - this time to Australia where they established Pierre & Charlotte in 1993. They focus on furniture and lighting steeped in the aesthetics and traditions of Scandinavia, France and Japan. They are passionate about working with artisans - specifically wood turners, steam benders and furniture polishers - who can help them create pieces that are modern-day classics.

Which five words best describe you?

Pierre: Patient, practical, ingenious, curious, courteous.

Charlotte: Spontaneous, compassionate, imaginative, silly and fearful.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? Our career started when we arrived to live in Australia from France and wanted to do something creative together. We are not formally trained and have learnt along the way. We are both interested in the process of creating new pieces working with different materials and solving design problems.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Don't compromise your work to suit the market.

What’s your proudest career achievement? It's yet to come.

What’s been your best decision? Employing people to help us produce and market our work.

Who inspires you? At the moment: Constantin Brancusi, Antonin and Noemi Raymond, Ryuji Mitani, Clarice Beckett.

What are you passionate about? At the moment: food, outdoor installations and gardens, wood block printing, Johann Sebastian Bach, our new timber wall light that has not got a name yet.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Elizabeth David - along as she's cooking!

What dream do you still want to fulfil? There are many things that I would still like to create with Pierre and by myself but I don't have a big wish as I know I will do all the things we/I want to do. I do, however, wish for my family and friends to be happy and healthy. I do worry about this!

What are you reading? Tove Jansson, The Summer Book. Sigrid Undset, Kristin Lavransdatter. Henry Handel Richardson, The fortunes of Richard Mahony.

images courtesy of pierre and charlotte portrait marcel aucar (via inside out)

DESIGNER DANIEL BARBERA

Brass, leather and wood are the types of materials that Melbourne designer Daniel Barbera enjoys working with when creating tables, chairs and other interior products. It's partly because of their natural beauty, and also because they're not heavily processed, and so kind to the environment. This simple yet thoughtful philosophy has been at the heart of his business, Barbera, since launching it in 2004. The sophistication of Daniel's range has been well received by architects and interior designers, as well as various industry bodies. In many ways his back-to-basics outlook reflects his passion for design, which has always been an integral part of his personality, ever since he was a child building with blocks, then working in his father's workshop. This family environment nurtured an amazing creativity in Daniel and his brother, photographer Paul Barbera, who I interviewed (four years ago) here. 

Which five words best describe you? Creative, fair, thinker, patient, dreamer.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started my career when I was unaware I was actually starting my career. This began at around age three when I started to take Lego seriously, and I could start to hone my three dimensional awareness and understanding of form and structure with a purpose. I slowly built up a decent Lego collection and then recruited my neighbour and cousin to assist in a few of my first major design constructions. From Lego, I then went on to learn what I could create with my father in his workshop until I went to study Industrial Design, and then later learnt the art of creating beautiful objects with Chris Connell at Map. So probably a few steps to a definitive career path.  But my path is, I suppose, where I am at now, building a business that can facilitate my creations and provide for me.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Do what you want, not what people think you should do. To innovate in any sense is about listening, learning, but doing it your way, whether is be about design or a business model. I am pretty unorthodox with about everything I do.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Not going to Milan Furniture Fair, to prove myself to others, but slowly building a brand and production range, and letting the world slowly awake to what we do here.

What’s been your best decision? Starting Babera and specialising in providing unique all Australian-made designs, but that's a boring answer.  Probably a more recent best decision was upgrading and moving my factory/studio and then doubling what I thought I needed.

Who inspires you? Great thinkers, like my brother Paul, Heron of Alexandria, James Lovelock, Paul Ehrlich, Ray Kurzweil to name a few, but one main inspiration is a thinker and sharer of knowledge Phillip Adams, who I regularly listen to, forever expanding my thirst of understanding this world.

What are you passionate about? Sculpting structure into usable objects, and my family.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? After listening to countless Late Night Live programs with Phillip Adams, I would love to have him over for dinner.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? A space flight would really be quite wonderful, or at least a ride in SR71, but otherwise, closer to Earth, uh, I would like to design and build my dream home in the bush.

What are you reading? I don't really do much reading these days. I do much more listening. I have a long list of favourite podcasts that I love listening to: Late Night Live is at the top of my list, otherwise a few favourites:  Freakonomics, WNYC radiolab, This American Life, the Science Show. 

images courtesy of daniel barbera