The story behind an unassuming Fyshwick showroom called Miko Designs

I’ve got to tip my feathered cap to my editor this week. Walking through Fyshwick on one of those perfectly crisp Canberran mornings, Josephine stumbled upon an utterly inviting furniture showroom and I instantly fell for it when she showed me.

Stuart Finlayson and Stephanie McKenzie opened Miko Designs in 2018 and it’s honestly criminal that we all didn’t know about it sooner.

Walking into the space that’s lined with creative and innovative furniture design is like receiving a warm full-bodied hug; you can feel the love and devotion that’s gone into each handcrafted piece.

“Miko was created over a glass of wine on a trip to Melbourne shopping for furniture. The Australian design scene was flourishing, and we wanted to bring a little piece of that to Canberra,” Finlayson says.

 “It was always our goal to create a showroom to inspire, and curate a range of authentic designs that customers may not necessarily be familiar with.”

Stepping inside you wouldn’t suspect that Miko Designs was once an industrial stomping ground. The space is eclectic and modern with interesting works of art, both figuratively and literally, seizing your attention all around the room.

With a focus on bespoke, high-quality piece,s Finlayson and McKenzie have written a personal love letter to craftsmanship, flair and great design.

“A key element for Stephanie and me is to simply buy the pieces we love. Each piece goes towards telling the story of our life together and who we are,” Finlayson says.

“We have a broad range of designers, from established brands such as Studio Pip who have the ability to harness manufacturing across Australia, to emerging designers with new perspectives such as Fomu and Hegi Design House.”

Everything is original in the purest sense of the word from mouth-blown glass lighting that dazzles to hand-thrown ceramics where no two are the same. Idiosyncratic and considered to the last, this is where furniture and homewares come to play.

And for those of us partial to one-of-a-kind items, Miko has us covered.

“Everyone’s unique, just like their homes, so people’s needs vary accordingly,” Finlayson says.

“It’s our role to expand the possibilities and help create that perfect piece for the customer and their home.”

They’re intentionally selective with the designers they stock and place a keen value on ethical and sustainable design. When you take home a piece from Miko Designers you can rest assured it will last decades, not days, and as they’re not in the business of following trends, the styles will be enduring for generations to come.

A personal favourite is the stunning woodblock carvings of Isobel Rayson. She instils moments in time within the etchings and abstract composition of her work created from wood, not canvas. They leave space for rumination in the simplicity and complexity of what’s presented before you.

“We feel so lucky every day to have the opportunity to be inspired by the designers and artists we work with,” Finlayson says.

“We’re not about amassing brands but bringing a collection of high-quality suppliers to Canberra which we love.”

And what’s next for Finlayson and McKenzie? Well, you might just be seeing a few Miko Designs pieces popping up around Canberra. The duo is excited to be bringing their own range to fruition while working alongside local makers to help their visions come to life. Keep your eyes peeled, friends!

Visit mikodesigns.com.au or the showroom at 1/72 Barrier Street, Fyshwick.