MELBOURNE: Decor + Design 2017 was a smashing success in July, with 11,500+ Trade Visitors streaming into the Melbourne Exhibition Centre over the course of four days. The quality of the show was higher than ever, with many visitors commenting on the elevated standard of the exhibition, while design and style leaders including Sibella Court, David Hicks, Tim Street-Porter, Mr Jason Grant, Adelaide Bragg and Anna Spiro spoke as part of the Australian House & Garden International Seminar Series.

One of the standouts was GlobeWest, who have been exhibiting at the show for around fifteen years. As GlobeWest’s business goes from strength-to-strength, so does their reception from visitors, who swarmed through the stand to inspect the new pieces on display from GlobeWest’s Collections 2018, which launched at the show. GlobeWest  also dressed the stage for the Seminar Series and sponsored the VIVID design competition.

We spoke to Kirsten Thompson – GlobeWest’s Marketing and Communications Leader – about their 2017 show experience, as well as how visitors reacted to the new Collections.

The Bustling GlobeWest Stand at Decor + Design 2017 in Melbourne

Once again, GlobeWest’s exhibition stand was a highlight of Decor + Design. How was the show experience for you this year?

Thank you! The show was great this year! There’s no better place to see our customers en masse and show them our products in a beautifully styled, merchandised setting.

Thousands of designers and boutique retailers came to see us and we enjoyed the opportunity to meet customers face to face. We loved taking them on a journey through our new products and communicating the way we see design heading this year and beyond.

There’s also a huge sense of pride when we get to Decor + Design. It’s the culmination of a nearly 12 months of hard work shared across every GlobeWest business department.

What were some of the major themes in decor that you saw trending over the past year?

There’s certainly a move towards mindful spaces; a minimalist approach which removes clutter and makes way for pieces that are more sculptural, while the rest of the space has a sense of openness and clarity. We’re also seeing a return to quiet spaces and reading nooks, such as library spaces in homes that create a cosy yet luxe feel.

We’re loving that people are moving away from a disposable society and being more selective with their decor decisions. For us, furniture is a passion and every piece in your home should be something you love and that will last. If it’s made well and makes you smile every day for ten years, that’s sustainable!

The GlobeWest team at Decor + Design 2017

You launched Collections 2018 at the show – the first time the public had had a chance to see any of the pieces. What was the reaction from visitors?

Yes, the show signalled the debut of our new collections. It was a mixture of nerves and anticipation to hear what everyone thought!

The feedback across all furniture and homewares categories was wonderful – visitors seemed to be inspired by the diversity, newness and craftsmanship. It also confirmed we have a strong offering in terms of materials, texture and that the colour palette is where it needs to be.

This year’s Outdoor furniture offering is the biggest and best we’ve ever brought to market and it was brilliant to hear designers consistently recognising the need make them stylish.

With open plan living now the norm and large expanses of glass defining contemporary homes, maintaining beautiful alfresco and outdoor spaces is a necessity. It is little wonder. We have such an amazing country so the minute the sun comes out we want to soak it up.

What were some of the key influences behind this collection?

Our collection is quite vast and extremely diverse, so it’s hard to distill it down. With the way Australians live as our central focus, we’ve enjoyed exploring new and different materials, textures, and colourways to suit all types of interiors from Contemporary to Classic and everything in between. According to our design and product development team:

• The natural warmth of wood is always in inspiration and there’s a magic when imperfections in timber grains are embraced.
• Communal moments are created by lowering seating and removing arm rests.
• Exciting textural materials including flokati, fringing, rattan, corduroy and more provide a nod to the 70s – a fun decade!
• Pastel shades of peppermint and blush have been created for quieter reflective spaces.
• Brutalist architecture and Henry Moore’s figurative forms inspire extreme simplicity in solid round sculptural tables.
• Old, hand crafted techniques of yesteryear bring a bohemian, lightness to interiors.
• Resort living –  ‘holidaying at home’ remains important.
• The human need to cocoon and feel secure in the world has been carefully considered in soft, white-washed timbers and plump sofas and occasional chairs.

Bogart Slope 3-Seater sofa; Vittoria Retreat Ottoman; Elle Round Marble Block Coffee Table; Aura Arrow Rug. Image: GlobeWest

Were there any pieces that proved particularly popular at the show?

People were blown away by Collections 2018 – there was a lot of exciting interest. Visitors loved the sculptural design of the new Livorno Round Dining Table and how it’s suitable for both indoor and outdoor spaces.

The Henley Dining table was a crowd favourite with the herringbone oak detail and the fine angled base. As was a new colour introduction through the new Willow Woven Buffet in Ebony.

The Beckett Collection received quite a lot of intrigue with the Organic Dining Table and its natural teak colour and organic edging, while also loving the perforated iron details and the contemporary elevated legs of the Beckett Buffet.

The Beckett Buffet from GlobeWest’s Collections 2018

Our Plantation Nest Hanging Chair was another standout during the show, also available for indoor/outdoor settings and available in white, natural or black.

Modern designs received positive interest through the Clermont Layer Coffee Table with its clean lines and simplicity, as well as the Vittoria Olive Sofa and its quilted texture – a very popular piece on the stand.

People loved the modern, simplistic look of each piece from the Elle Block Coffee Table range in marble, as well as the special introduction to the Italian Travertine Block Coffee Table.

Our new leather Bogart Collection captured a lot of attention, with many loving the quality of leather and its inviting nature.

The luxe velvet on display was another huge hit, many complimenting our new colourways of a softer, elegant look, while also taking in the more bold, classic look with our new gold velvet Bogart Bench Seat.

The Gold Velvet Bogart Bench, GlobeWest Collections 2018

Balthazar Ceramic Stools were a standout for their organic shape and neutral colour palette, as well as the handmade ceramic and leather Balthazar Pendants, adding an eclectic look to the stand.

For outdoor, the Marina Sleigh Dining Chairs were a big hit with visitors drawn to the rope weaving and neutral colours available. They were also excited by the new colour direction through the Hermosa 3-Seater Sofa with the moss green trend prominent through the framed arms and legs of each piece.

Homewares were very popular as usual! Particularly our selection of rugs in a variety of shapes and textures. Many loved the floor cushions and ottomans on display – the soft leather of the Indie collection, available in a nude or tan leather. New colourways in the Evie Linen and Corduroy Collections also grabbed attention with standouts in duck-egg blue, mustard and terracotta.

Evie Linen Cushions in Soft Pastels, GlobeWest Collections 2018

What’s next for GlobeWest?

The show is just the beginning of our launch. Even though our exhibition space is large, would you believe we can only fit a fraction of our new products into it!

Our new collection includes 22 new ranges and over 900 new products.

As such, we are now busily refreshing all our showrooms nationally with even more beautiful new pieces and preparing to welcome our customers in for more intimate catch ups with our sales teams. We’ll be sharing the visual and tactile inspirations behind our collections and sharing a cup of coffee…or possibly a glass of champagne….

GlobeWest Collections 2018 is now available globewest.com.au

Subscribe to our updates to stay in the loop for Decor + Design 2018.