Is there anything as evocative as beautifully handcrafted wooden furniture? Running a hand across the smoothly hewn wood, the comforting but invisible presence of the maker with you in the room.
We’re delighted to celebrate Australian furniture and beautiful, ethical wood at Decor + Design and the Green Design Show, Wednesday 17th July – Friday 19th July at Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Here are three to see – Benjamin Timber Studio, Alor and CERES Fair Wood.
Benjamin Timber Studio
Master craftsman and furniture-maker Antonio (Tony) Mercorella has devoted his life’s work to creating exquisite objects with integrity. As an Australian-born son of migrant parents from San Giorgio La Molara, Italy, Tony’s work is steeped in traditions of determination, attention to detail, and a passion for quality.
Image Above and Top of Article: Benjamin Timber Studio
Tony’s formative training honed his cabinetmaking skills and after many years creating custom joinery for family homes and commercial clients, Tony followed a desire to create more than ‘square boxes’. Inspired to conceptualise bespoke pieces, Tony experimented beyond usual boundaries of cabinetmaking, and together with wife Judith founded Benjamin Timber Studio in 2000. Located in Deloraine, Tasmania, the furniture from their studio uses local and sustainable wood and is produced with true craftsmanship. See Tony’s beautiful work at Stand L46 of Decor + Design.
ALOR
Melbourne based furniture studio Alor offers a refreshing take on the Australian furniture scene. With its collaborative approach to design, the Alor Design Studio looks to work with established and emerging local designers in creating an eclectic range of products, each bearing a distinct story.
Image: Alor Design Studio
The inception of Alor reimagines what it means to own Australian designed furniture. Breaking free from the constraints of the market, Alor founders set their sights on a brand that celebrates design integrity and affordability. James Walsh, Alor’s key designer, emphasises, “Our mission is to blend the worlds of superior quality with attainable prices, all within the realm of Australian designed furniture.”
With a steadfast commitment to crafting enduring furniture, Alor prioritises quality materials and sustainable design choices, redefining the Australian furniture landscape with each distinctive piece. See Alor at Stand H5 of Decor + Design.
CERES Fair Wood
CERES Fair Wood exists to change the way we think and connect with our timber supply. Championing transparency, Fair
Wood acts as an honest broker of timber. They form part of the purposeful trade of our parent organisation, CERES.
CERES Fair Wood in a project by Studio Bright in Melbourne
They supply a range of quality, local and sustainable timbers to architects, builders, landscapers, furniture makers and DIYers. Find out more about their unique social enterprise on their website. See CERES Fair Wood at Stand A61 of the Green Design Show, located at the entrance to Decor + Design.
Register now to visit Decor + Design and the inaugural Green Design Show, Wednesday 17th July – Friday 19th July. Entry to the exhibition is free but limited to trade visitors.