Connect Furniture Blog

Just Kids Furniture are celebrating!

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:21:00 +1100

As a valued premium partner of ConnectFurniture.com.au, Just Kids Furniture has some very exciting news to share with you!

To celebrate the grand opening of their new megastore, Just Kids Furniture has an exclusive offer for all ConnectFurniture.com.au users. Simply mention ConnectFurniture.com.au when purchasing any Just Kids Furniture product to receive cash back on your purchase! This fantastic deal is for a limited time only so don’t miss out on your chance to join in on the celebrations!

Australian children’s furniture manufacturers, Just Kids Furniture are taking the next step forward announcing the opening of their new 1,000 square meter warehouse.

The new megastore comes as a testimony to their success and is one of the largest furniture megastores in Melbourne. The warehouse is regarded as a new initiative for Just Kids Furniture as they respond to the growth of their business and increased consumer demands.

As a prominent figure in the furniture industry, Just Kids Furniture has been providing Australian families with quality, custom-made children’s products for over five years.

Owners George and Fay Patrinios found the inspiration to create their business when they noticed a large niche in the market for children’s furniture. By satisfying this niche Just Kids Furniture has quickly become a leader in the children’s furniture industry and have accumulated a large consumer base.

With their entire product range Australian made and owned Just Kids Furniture is made to last a lifetime rather than a season. Their qualified team of furniture manufacturers can custom make any product to suit your needs, with a range of colours, shapes and sizes available.

Just Kids Furniture pride themself on remaining up-to-date with their large consumer base, adapting and changing their products to always remain consistent with industry trends and styles.

With such a broad range of products and the option to customise your desired products Just Kids Furniture is your ultimate one-stop-shop for furnishing your child’s room!

VV Cares for Passion

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +1100

Vavoom Emporium — one of Australia’s Leading Retailers of Furniture, Lighting, Mirrors, Home Wares and Bed Linen

Officially formed in 2008, Vavoom Emporium provides Australians with elegant and sophisticated contemporary furniture. After 20 years in the corporate world of sales and marketing, founder and owner of Vavoom Emporium, Libby Bawden decided to adopt a new career path. Combining her wealth of sales and marketing experience with two of her great passions –working with clients and love for architecture, home wares and interior design, Libby formed Vavoom.

Vavoom Emporium comes as a result of Libby’s observations that there was a serious lack of professional, trustworthy, approachable and fashionable home ware companies in the industry, who not only truly cared for their clients but was also personally accessible and accountable. Showcasing some of the most unique and elegant furniture in the industry, Libby’s passion and love for what she is doing is driving not only herself but also her business.

“Every day waking up knowing that I am doing what I love and working with such fabulous people keeps me motivated. My clients compel me to find innovative and effective styles and solutions for their needs”.

The definition of Va Voom means ‘the quality of being attractive and exciting’, which is certainly evident in the 1000+ showcased products through the online catalogue. With a product range that truly remains in tune with overseas trends, Vavoom Emporium is proudly focused on the Australian influence on their products. A sense of what is truly Australian lies within each product whether it be influences of colour, style or the combination of future trends with Australia’s laid back lifestyle Vavoom’s focus remains true to Australian styles.

Libby’s dedication to her clients has promised a 100% satisfaction guarantee, ensuring that Vavoom get it right for their clients every time. With a main client base of sensible shoppers from across Australia craving stylish, individual, practical and sophisticated furniture whilst all at a reasonable price, Vavoom gives personal attention and focus to each and every one of their clients, ensuring all your needs are met.

After only two years in the industry, Libby’s dedication and passion toward their clients and products has well and truly established Vavoom as one of Australia’s leading retailers of furniture, lighting, mirrors home wares and bed linen. Trawl through the magnificent online Vavoom showroom to find your unique product that will no doubt be the talking point of your home. With an array of products to suit your needs and desires, the options are endless. With such a unique and one of a kind furniture business Vavoom can be best described in four words, glamorous, practical, affordable and lasting!

As times change – opportunities flourish

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:26:00 +1100

When you’re in high school, there seems to be an expectation that you are supposed to know what you are going to do with the rest of your life. For some, their career was always certain. For others, the idea of plodding along from job to job, with the idea of working to live is more than acceptable.

And then there is that innate group, who quite simply, will end up having it all. Why? Because they have direction, but are still open to the idea of embracing change.

And so I introduce to you Daniele Mantovani Mello. After completing a degree in Architecture, Dani started out in the professional world as a residential and commercial Sales Representative, developing high end joinery projects. It was here that Dani started to increase her skill base in a real world environment. Five years on, her passion for architecture and design started to redirect itself. While some stay set in their ways, Dani decided to move forward, in a new direction.

“Since I was a little girl I was always inspired by colours I saw in the street, the beauty of nature and the clothes that I wore. From here, I started developing my artistic side through drawing and painting canvases. Soon, I realised that this was not just a hobby. This feeling was strong enough to become my professional life”.

Her love for the art of Interior Design was something that she couldn’t ignore. And so began her own office of Residential Renovations; offering colour consulting and decorating services to an array of clients. During these years, Dani turned dream homes into a reality for her clients.

It was with this professional success and experience that saw ConnectFurniture approach Dani to design a Dining and Outdoor Room for the Better Homes and Gardens LIVE Event.

“I was very pleased with the invite to present at The Better Homes & Gardens LIVE event, together with ConnectFurniture”.

Taking on the challenge of designing the two rooms, Dani sourced inspiration from her extensive industry experience. While the Dining Room seeks to rescue the classical style by updating it with a sleek and modern look, the Outdoor Room, in stark contrast, sees peace and tranquillity reign in space.

“This whole experience in working and liaising with staff from ConnectFurniture has been great.

These are amazing professional willing to help when necessary, always looking for the best results”.

Our interior designers debut at the Better Homes & Gardens LIVE Event

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +1100

Themes, materials, colours and shapes are shared, used and reused for inspiration in two worlds; furniture and fashion. The fusion of these ‘two F’s” has become more evident in the profession of interior design, as the industry continues to embrace new movements and evolve with the times. This progression of aesthetics has seen Deborah Grant, recent graduate from Sydney Design School, connect her career between the two industries.

Having worked as an editor in Sydney and London for Fashion and Design magazines, including Marie Claire, ELLE, House Beautiful and InsideOut, Grant started to fall in love with aesthetic beauty, in all its forms, and began to source her work from its presence.

“Being in the glossy magazine world gave me an eye for spotting new and different things. Injecting colour and life into a room with the latest accessories and artworks is very exciting to me”.

With a sophisticated contemporary style , this established business women and young mum is the perfect example of a professional multi-tasker. Her experience in the industry and her eye for all things creative was what landed her the opportunity to work with ConnectFurniture.com.au as an interior designer for the Better Homes and Gardens LIVE event.

As a major sponsor of the event, ConnectFurniture.com.au will feature four rooms to be designed, accessorised and furnished by two of Sydney’s most inspirational designers. Opting to collate the ‘living room’ and ‘children’s bedroom’ in the lifestyle zone, Deborah’s vision is sure to inject new ideas that will reach a critical mass of over 40,000 event attendees.

“The living space is modern with a hint of art deco glamour in some of the shapes and furnishings. Meanwhile, the young girl’s room is a vision of calming white with energising red and pink accents in stronger tones that are feminine but far from fluffy”.

The inclusion of furniture and fashion in these rooms suggest that while these two industries are polar opposites, they are also very much intertwined. Deborah will fuse these two worlds together as she showcases her interior design abilities in the lifestyle zone at the Better Homes and Gardens LIVE event.

The Better Homes and Gardens LIVE program will be held at Sydney’s Olympic Park between October 15-17. For your chance to win free tickets, contact promotions@connectfurniture.com.au .

Sokol brings quality design and retail furniture solutions at the click of a button

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +1100

Being in the market for replica furniture has proved to be extremely difficult when trying to find quality furniture that is true to its original designs. Founder and owner of Sokol furniture, Simon Sokol says he is saving Australian consumers the dilemma of finding replicas true to their original design by importing his products internationally from Asia under strict guidelines. Simon ensures that each product is not only true to the original design specifications but is also of the highest quality. This approach has proved successful for the past two years bringing a wide range of solutions to his wide consumer base.

First launching in 2009, Simon’s intense research over the months prior to his launch found a niche in the consumer market place where there was a severe lack of quality replica suppliers.

The Sokol catalogue has been in such high demand that the volume of products have rapidly increased and expanded. Simon has found that Sokol has the ability to adapt itself to most target markets and does not restrict his target base to a particular group or demographic. The capabilities of the online world have made covering all parameters of the market easy.

The exclusive and discounted prices offered by Sokol aren’t simply limited to his replica and designer range. He has a large and diverse variety of over 250 products ranging from pet products to lighting. His ability to continually expand his product range has made Sokol a leader of the replica industry. Whether it be a new lamp that would light up a room in more ways than one, or a dinning table that will not only hold a dinner but also a space, Sokol’s furniture is sure to add a touch of uniqueness and individuality into your home.

Simon firmly believes that the success of his furniture business can be attributed to two factors, diversity and efficiency. It is these aspects that have launched Sokol into the Australian market, and will keep the company there for many years to come. Simon on the other hand, looks forward to the ever changing power of furniture and its ability to not only be functional but also change a space.

Treasured Gifts From Mother Nature

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +1100

As a premium partner of ConnectFurniture.com.au, Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture has expanded on their Wagga Wagga showroom to the online space of ConnectFurniture.com.au.

Founder and owner of Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture, Ross Triffitt has been a key figure of the unique and diverse business for a total of 14 serviceable years. With a strong and longstanding background in furniture retail and manufacturing, Ross’s experience extends far beyond this, having been involved in the furniture industry for well over 30 years.

Growing up on a farm in the country around Wagga Wagga, Ross was exposed to various forms of indigenous hardwood timbers and rapidly developed infinity with the natural resource. A firm believer of being blessed with some of Australia’s biggest and most beautiful range of hardwood timbers, Ross is truly passionate about what he does and what his business stands for.

A wonderful example of contemporary styling and traditional craftsmanship, this Spotted Gum dining table, although quite blonde in this photograph, the timber will deepen slightly over time giving you a living and breathing piece that will mature along with you and your space.

Throughout the founding years of Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture, their initial products were manufactured out of various recycled softwood timbers such as Baltic pine and oregan. As time passed Ross came to realise that the end product being produced was not of high quality due to the timbers not being substantial and durable enough. Consequently the focus of their materials shifted exclusively to Australia’s indigenous hardwood timbers. In a society where eco-friendly furniture is becoming increasingly popular, Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture has capitalised on this trend salvaging around 85% of their timbers from old, dead trees on surrounding properties that would otherwise be cut up as firewood and recycled timbers from old buildings. The resourcefulness of Eclipse Furniture has led them to adopt a very eco-friendly approach also using total organic finishes of 100% natural oils and wax on their dining tables which is an ideal finish for tough every day use. However, the organic nature of Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture does not stop here – it extends beyond the finished product. The process of designing and creating the finished products from Eclipse’s numerous skilled craftsmen is also organic.

Stunning Red Gum Table that has been finished in a 100% natural oil

With all products manufactured internally, Eclipse is entirely locally based showcasing an extensive product range made from Australia’s magnificent hardwood timbers in store. Specialised in making hardwood furniture to order, Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture can customise and manufacture any of their products to suit your needs and desires, so you have the flexibility to tailor any product as you deem fit. Bound to find something to meet your heart’s desires, Eclipse furniture’s unique and characteristic furniture will look stunning in your home or office. Although incredibly stylish and beautiful, all products are durable, tough and made to withstand some of Australia’s toughest conditions lasting you and your family more than a lifetime.

Furniture is Fashion

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +1100

Furniture is more than just a product. Every day, it lives with us. Filtered down through the manufactures and wholesalers and then trickled into countless retailers ready for purchase, that sofa or that chair we sit in everyday, represent millions of dollars and countless jobs. Although not as frequent a purchase as that blue sweater or those black high heeled pumps, not one of us is exempt from the experience of purchasing furniture. So why not make it a good one?

That’s what Mary Jane did! After submitting an article featured in the Good Weekend section of the Sydney Morning Herald, Mary Jane won a $1000 voucher for her letter to the editor, courtesy of connectfurniture.com.au.

Keeping the business in her local area of Balgowlah Heights in NSW, Mary Jane found Vavoom Emporium through her online search at Australia’s first and only online furniture portal; ConnectFurniture.

“I had just moved into the area and I thought it’s always a good idea to spend money in the local area in which you live”, she said.

Receiving service with a smile from the staff at Vavoom, Mary Jane spent countless hours perusing the furniture options available to her.

“I realised furniture is not just furniture. Furniture can take on different styles and different forms that take on a unique flare that appeals to each individual”, she said.

At its most minimalist, a staple item, furniture has moved beyond being just a necessity. Embracing all things spanning contemporary, modern, Victorian, vintage and designer, to name a few, the notion that furniture IS fashion is becoming hard to ignore.

While some furniture pieces like THAT sofa or THAT chair act as an essential item that serve a practical function, Mary Jane decided on a conversation piece; a soft eclectic mirrored table and drawers, that has made her little hallway entrance very special.

This stunning mirrored piece, sits in Mary Jane’s entrance hall

“Winning the $1000 voucher from ConnectFurniture was a nice little win. I got to purchase something I normally wouldn’t have if I hadn’t won this competition. The conversational piece I chose has brought an element of fantasy and fun into the entrance of my house. The piece is beautiful to look at and stands on its own. I was thrilled when I saw something so me, so elegant and very beautiful”, she said.

Giving the room a touch of beauty, something Mary Jane needed after the recent death of her son, the idea that furniture can bring life to a room, and joy to someone’s life, highlights ideas that furniture is so much more than just a product simply trickled down from the retailer to the consumer.

Grey is the new beige

Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 +1000

Colours with Chonetelle Samios

Don’t lament the departure of warm weather as the autumn chill sets in. The approach of a new season provides an opportunity to explore unchartered frontiers, themes, ideas and colours inside the home and office.

In the cooler months, I like to get creative with colour that can warm up a room. But what are the key colours of the season, and what palettes will be sustainable long after the autumn leaves have fallen?

The grey palette features greatly as a replacement for the beige-on-beige and cream and off-white trends, which have been used liberally across homes and commercial environments recently.

Grey is an important element utilised within colour schemes, with variations of grey tones creating an easy-to-live-with decorating scheme that is sophisticated and understated.

Accents of rich purple and brass hues are progressing in popularity as the colours of the season. Splashes and highlights of acid or jewel shades provide a strong contrast to neutral, charred grey tones, injecting vibrancy and energy into interior settings.

Swap the winter blues for sunny shades of yellow citrus and chartreuse to create high impact indoors. Or get cosy with colour by incorporating flashes of the season’s rich, vivid hues of purple and aubergine.

In many ways it is a flash-back to the seventies, however this 21st century colour movement is modern and sleek, yet flexible and easily adapted.

If you have colour confidence and a taste for adventure, be bold and generous with solid colour and use strong shades to add life into a room. Those into simpler hues can create a foundation with neutral tones, then layer the room with patterns and punches of colour, which will add interest and texture to the scheme.

Metallics in shimmering and glossy variations are also still very much in vogue, and introduce a reflective shin to add another dimension to your space.

You’ve seen metallic inflections in fashion, now you’ll see them in flooring, surfaces, paint, wallpaper, fabric, furniture and pendent lighting. Adding sparkle, glisten and glamour to your interior scheme with Metallics and lift your mood with a colour palette that will inspire.

Colour is key in adding personality to a room, so don’t be shy to add some into your world.

Which…Wood….you choose?

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +1000

I have been selling timber furniture for 20 years. The beauty of timber furniture is always in the eye of the beholder. We are unique individuals and as such different timbers will “speak” to people differently. I watch every week as those frequenting my showroom reach out their hand and run it along the length of the timbers in our showroom tables as if reaching out to nature.

That raises the question of which timber will I have my furniture crafted from?

Two timbers which are related to each other and yet very different to each other are, Messmate and Victorian Ash. Both these timbers are terrific for furniture making and have similar density and strength characteristics.

Messmate Timber

Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua),

Messmate timber furniture contains strong grain patterns and character. The timber features magnificent whirled grains patterns, gum veins, pin holes, squiggly worm trails and natural stains from fire, wind and flood.

You will be drawn to the natural feel and beauty of this Australian Hardwood. Messmate timber is brown to light-brown. Also called Messmate Stringy bark it grows naturally in parts of Victoria and Tasmania, and less widely in South Australia, the tablelands of NSW and southern Queensland.

Messmate timber has in recent years become a popular choice for furniture makers as the timber takes very well to a range of stain colours. The fact that the grain patters are stronger and more varied also means the timber is somewhat more forgiving when the marked or scratched by the younger family members in day to day use. With Messmate no two pieces of furniture will ever be the same each is beautifully unique. Whereas Victorian ash is very consistent in its straight grain character.

Victorian Ash Timber

Victorian Ash (Eucalyptus regnans), Also known as Tasmanian Oak

Victorian Ash is the trade name for both Alpine and Mountain Ash. Mountain Ash, Eucalyptus regnans, has the distinction of being the world’s tallest flowering plant. Recorded before the turn of the century at exceeding 100 m tall.

Together with Silvertop Ash, Eucalyptus sieberi, Victorian Ash has become the staple hardwood of furniture makers around the world. Consistently even grain, long lengths and similar appearance of these species have also contributed to their desirability.

Because of their relatively consistent colour (ranging from a pale pink and reddy browns to a pale straw) Victorian Ash/ Tasmanian Oak lend themselves to most applications where a quieter and more contemporary feel is required. It is quarter sawn giving an extremely straight grain. It is an ideal hardwood for furniture.

Victorian ash is plantation grown in Australia and as such is an Eco Friendly choice however if the furniture has been produced overseas the 32,000km round trip should be taken into account.

More Information about timbers

www.lifestylefurniture.com.au

www.naturallybetter.com.au

www.vicforests.com.au

Author: Mark Mortelliti

Company: Lifestyle Furniture

Furniture moves to online home

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1100

From May 1, Australians looking to buy new furniture will be able to search online from the collections of over 1,000 furniture retailers, all on the one website, www.connectfurniture.com.au.

Connnectfurniture.com.au is the first and only online portal bringing Australia’s furniture together in the one place and is expected to make the lives of homemakers, renovators and interior designers a whole lot easier.

Whether it be French provincial, antique, contemporary, designer, outdoor or commercial pieces, Australia’s furniture is now housed at a single online point.

ConnectFurniture’s website will be officially launched this evening by Domestic Blitz interior designer, Chontelle Samios, at a digital inspired event in South Melbourne.

Ms Samios said that the brand new website marks a new era for the Australian furniture shopper.

“ConnectFurniture will take away the arduous process of trekking from store to store to find the perfect piece, and not always finding exactly what you’re looking for,” Ms Samios said.

“With Australian furniture retailers visible in the one place, buyers will be able to enter their exact criteria including size, shape, colour, style and price, and find retailers based on products they stock and their location.”

Furniture shoppers are already relying on the Internet, with 50 per cent of consumers researching products online before heading into a store to complete their purchase.

Just as realestate.com.au and carsales.com.au are the industry standards for sourcing homes and cars, connectfurniture.com.au will be an online icon for the furniture industry.

The site will allow furniture shoppers to search through thousands of products across all categories, including tables, chairs, sofas, bedding, outdoor furniture, office furniture, café furniture and more.

The site will offer the widest selection of furniture from a rich and diverse retailer base, featuring contemporary, specialist and designer retailers from across Australia.

Ms Samios added that the ConnectFurniture website will be the place to start for anyone looking for inspiration in interior design.

“ConnectFurniture will be more than just products. It will be interactive, with interior designers and retailers showcasing trends and providing industry insights. The site is laid out in an engaging medium for consumers to not only discover, but research their ideal furniture,” Ms Samios said.

ConnectFurniture founder and Executive Director, Joseph Bruzzaniti, says that the portal will provide the motivation and ease-of-use to help users turn an average room into a stylish space.

“Up until now there has been nothing like ConnectFurniture.com.au,” says Mr Bruzzaniti. “The site will create a whole new dimension for the furniture industry. We are thrilled to bring convenience and a wealth of choice to furniture shoppers in the online space, and help them discover their ideal furniture and the retailers that stock them.”

The site will go live on May 1, at www.connectfurniture.com.au

Read “Leading Australian Retailers Join Connect Furniture Revolution“