Rattan, the material you're about to see everywhere as spring furniture collections hit stores

By
Isabelle Chesher
August 30, 2018

The end of winter is just days away and, thankfully, so is the launch of this year’s spring furniture collections.

Enter Latitude, a new range from The Family Love Tree, where rattan, smooth curves and bohemian vibes are the order of the day. 

A glance at these armchairs, planters, coffee tables and bedheads might send your thoughts to Tahiti or the Hamptons – rattan is routinely called upon to furnish coastal homes around the world, and for good reason. 

Made from palm stems, the material has a natural and unassuming quality, which plays nicely with most interior decorating schemes. 

Latitute range from The Family Love Tree.
Photo: Derek Sewell

A light-weight alternative to wood, rattan furniture is typically used to brighten the tone of a room, a perfect way to reflect spring’s seasonal shift.

Understated though these pieces may be, those intricate weaving patterns leave plenty for the eye to study. Nothing hum drum here.

Katie Graham, Founder and Creative Director of The Family Love Tree, says rattan appeals to Australia’s growing number of modern minimalists.

“Latitude is a more modern range than we usually design. We wanted to develop clean linear lines for practical and statement furniture pieces.”

Graham’s choice to hero rattan itself is, however, not new. “We have worked with rattan since [our] inception in 2012 – for us it’s about using sustainable materials in a world where there is so much consumer waste.” 

Latitute range from The Family Love Tree.
Photo: Derek Sewell
Latitute range from The Family Love Tree.
Photo: Derek Sewell

Three more designs we love

Sundown cushions

Sundown range by Georgie Daphne.
Photo: Benjamin Long

It seems 2018 is full of firsts for textile designer Georgie Young.

The debut range of her new label “Georgie Daphne” has just been released, and we love the way she’s translated elegant artworks into colourful cushions. 

Mama Mulan, Chatswood

Mama Mulan in Chatswood by DS17.
Photo: Michael Wee

Patrons will flock to this modern Chinese restaurant for more than the wagyu beef.

The function room, designed by DS17, is a concrete and timber sanctuary, characterised by soft light and a sequence of over-sized pendant lights.

Minima Moralia screen

Minima Moralia screen from Domo.
Photo: Supplied

Christophe de la Fontaine specialises in creating items that have a certain oomph.

This room divider is a fine case in point – made from powder-coated steel and pleated fabric, it blurs the line between furniture and art. 

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