GlobeWest has been a leading supplier to the Australian interiors industry since 2004, when it was co-founded by brothers Alan and Stephen Mendel. Twelve years later, the Mendel family’s passion for furniture has been translated into one of Australia’s most successful design-led furniture brands.
GlobeWest Design Manager Keti Lytras is an integral part of the brand’s recent success. After graduating with a Bachelor of Textile Design from RMIT and Bachelor of Fine Art from the Victorian College of the Arts, Keti has worked extensively in both local and international creative roles in design, product development and trend forecasting.
Daphne Chair in Navy Velvet
Keti is a hands-on, practising designer, with a deep passion for beautiful quality and sophisticated colour and textures. Each day, she oversees the creative direction of their diverse furniture and homewares collection. It is a role many in the design sector would dream of – Keti travels to exciting destinations around the world, meeting with craftsmen, makers and international brands. When on home soil, she works with an incredible team to develop GlobeWest’s extensive and diverse collection:
‘The GlobeWest aesthetic is uniquely Australian – relaxed, super stylish and yet unpretentious. Our collection of furniture and homewares covers almost every aesthetic preference, giving our customers and their clients the ability to truly personalise their spaces without having to leave our showroom or website. There is quite literally something for everyone and every type of building or space. What other brand is given latitude to stretch from luxe to bohemian and from contemporary to modern? We’re so lucky and we have a blast!’
Noosa Dining Table in Natural Teak, Noosa Open Dining Chair in Natural Teak and White | Photography: Derek Swalwell | Styling: Julia Green
Keti prefers to work with materials that can age and still look beautiful; she loves natural materials and gets inspired constantly by different timbers, finishes and linen. It is a love that is in the blood; her father is a wood turner, so she grew up with the smell of wood shavings all around her. It is an upbringing that to an extent echoes the Mendels’; their parents were collectors who painstakingly restored antiques, whilst their uncle was a furniture craftsman.
The research that goes into a new collection for GlobeWest is continuous; they are always on the look-out for new materials that can be sourced, and new capabilities from their makers.
As well as keeping abreast of international trends, they also explore how Australians are living and what they actually need from the spaces that they live and work in. Customer insights and being inspired also forms part of the process:
‘I find inspiration everywhere I go, and believe it’s important to immerse yourself in the world as much as possible when you’re in a creative field. I like to go to new restaurants, explore public spaces, view as much art and film as possible’.
Felix Cube Sofa in Graphite, Juno Tub Metal Occasional Chair in Flannel, Elle Pipe Side Table, Vionnet Vertical Coffee Table, Barnet Cushions, Piper Washed Linen in Duck Egg Blue and Piper Knit Throw in Charcoal. Photography: Derek Swalwell | Styling: Julia Green
GlobeWest is excited to share Collections 2017 with the interiors industry at Décor + Design. According to Keti, key trends to look out for will be:
- Parquetry finishes in solid wood pieces
- Case goods with a slicker look and finer legs
- Woven details
- Tan leather, coloured velvet
- Soft gold and brass finishes.
- Black highlights and clean finishes
- Rugs and other homewares in organic textures
For the second year in a row, Keti will be a judge of the esteemed VIVID design competition. She will be looking for fresh ideas, innovative designs, clever use of materials, and a true commerciality – beauty and function co-existing in harmony.
‘Excited by the undiscovered, we are proud to support emerging furniture designers and encourage all visitors to go and see their exciting work on display during the event.’
Anja Open Buffet in Natural Teak
True to their vision, GlobeWest believes that great design should transform your everyday. As Keti says:
‘Creating a space that’s functional, as well as beautiful, creates ease for us to live and work in. Anything that can support us in being happy and more of who we are is important’.
GlobeWest Head Office, Showroom and Warehouse is based in Melbourne. They also have generously sized showrooms in the design hubs of Brisbane and Sydney, with representation in Adelaide and distribution in Western Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America.
In addition to their own Collections, they proudly distribute complementary international designer brands including Gus* Modern (Canada), Sketch (Scandinavia) Industria Edition (Philippines) and Vito Selma (Philippines).
GlobeWest brings its extensive new Collection to Decor + Design Melbourne.
Register now to visit them at B11 and B12, Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th July, Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Entry to the exhibition for trade visitors is free.
Discover more by visiting globewest.com.au or Instagram @globewest
Get inspired by Keti’s Milan Trip & Guest Pinner board on pinterest.com/globewest