The interior design compass is currently pointing firmly to the earth. Colour palettes and materials are all taking inspiration from nature, with rusty oranges and a cornucopia of greens – their ubiquity proving that green really is the new neutral. Handwoven materials, hand-dyed textiles, geo-prints and natural stone surfaces also abound, infusing interiors with a lovely grounded quality.

Here are some of our favourite earthy pieces from our 2024 exhibitors at Decor + Design and the Green Design Show, 17 – 19 July at Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Kwerk Furniture 

Designed and made in Melbourne, Kwerk’s philosophy symbolises the merging of impeccable craftsmanship, timeless aesthetics, and thoughtful creativity. Each curve, form, and texture has been thoughtfully crafted, transforming furniture into a canvas for self-expression and inspiration.

The Kwerk Furniture range is a testament to unparalleled individuality, offering a transformative design experience. With an ingenious interchangeability that empowers you to design your own bespoke piece, the collection becomes a canvas for your own creativity.

We love the Antony Console (right), a a celebration of fusing different material mediums. It features a natural stone block with a solid American Oak top and painted vertical plinths. Each natural stone block is one of a kind and can be designed in a range of natural stone finishes. The console top and leg is also available in a range of timber and paint colours.

Koskela

Exhibiting at the inaugural Green Design Show, co-located with Decor + Design in 2024, Koskela was founded by partners
Russel Koskela and Sasha Titchkosky in 2000. The duo left behind lucrative careers in the corporate world in a bid to create a furniture and design company with a courageous mindset and strong social conscience.

Koskela champions Australian-made, high-quality pieces that are kind to the environment and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. As a certified B Corp, they strive for a positive impact and use profits to empower communities. They also have a goal of zero emissions by 2035 & full circularity by 2027.

We love the Kapu Minaral (Moa Arts) Pendant by Paula Savage – Tahmana Boy.

This Kapu Minaral (Beautiful Colours) Pendant Lampshade (left) – was produced in a vibrant collaboration with Moa Arts, a Torres Strait Islander-owned art centre on Moa Island. Part of the Torres Strait Island archipelago, Moa Island is flourishing cultural community with many talented artists among its 240 residents. Inspiration is on the doorstep, with the island and its surrounding waters boasting diverse ecosystems and rare species of Dugongs and Sea Turtles. These beautiful pendant lampshades are inspired by the sea, land, sky, family and ancestral tales, reflecting the colour and energy of the Torres Strait.

Crafted by esteemed Moa Arts member Paula Savage, this pendant is made from native fibres, rope, and raffia. Says Paula:

“This lampshade represents all hopes and dreams of my people. Each colour describes different generations after generations of Moa Island.” – Paula Savage

Her Shed Apparel & Home 

Born in Byron Bay in 2009, Her Shed has developed into a much-loved boutique brand that creates quality, limited edition handcrafted bedding, homewares and lifestyle fashion. Now based in Melbourne, it is manufactured in Vietnam and India. Her Shed works directly with village craftspeople in Vietnam to product their collections, supporting a family cottage industry that has ethical business practices and cares for the environment and future generations.

Their Home collection is designed to complement traditional or contemporary interiors and can be mixed and matched for a range of styles. Her Shed wholesales Australia-wide and is stocked in a number of boutique stores throughout the country.

We love the Vintage Hemp Horizontal Inlay Cushion – Henna. This 40 x 60cm lumbar cushion is handcrafted in natural linen featuring a horizontal, inlay panel of vintage, hand dyed floral hemp in warm henna brown from the Hmong district in northern Vietnam, and a simple sewn square edge detail, invisible zip closure and a quality feather insert.

See inspiring collections from Koskela, Kwerk Furniture and Her Shed at Decor + Design and the Green Design Show, 17 – 19 July 2024 at Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Entry to the exhibition is free but limited to design trade – register to visit now and start planning your trip to Australia’s No.1 Interiors Trade Event! Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, Decor + Design will also host the VIVID Emerging Designer Awards and the prestigious International Seminar Series.