Teaching The Next Generation Of Designers
As part of Strand’s commitment to developing quality service within the industry, we’re doing our bit to educate the interior designers of the future.
So far this year, we’ve hosted almost 10 groups of students from the respected International School of Colour + Design.
Led by Stu, the seminars take place in Strand’s Mascot showroom and focus on the practicalities of the trade to help them hit the ground running when they graduate at the end of the year.
“We’re teaching the nuts and bolts of how to impress and deliver really good service to their clients,” says Stu.
“Things like delivery times, how trade-only agencies like us work, freight costs and capabilities of the brands that we represent are really useful when they start practicing. We’d like to see this sort of thing become part of the curriculum.”
Lee Jones was one of the students at the showroom last week. After a career in health care, she’s changing direction to make use of her creativity and eye for style. “This sort of thing is really good to just give an idea of how it all works,” she says.
Nicole Corbett from property developers the Norfolk Group is another student at Strand last week. “The visit has been excellent,” she says. “We typically hire a lot of furniture for show apartments but what I’ve learned here means we could consider buying our own stock to reuse.”
Desia Wakarua joins Strand
Anyone who has dealt with Strand knows how we pride ourselves on service. With that in mind, we are delighted to announce that Desia Wakarua has come on to our team.
Designers who have worked with Desia know that she is the best in the business. But for those who don’t, let this be your introduction.
“Strand has been growing strongly over the past year and Stuart and I were quite nervous about getting the right person on board,” says Sue.
“But Desia is perfect. We’ve got a definite starter for the Strand Christmas party”.
On a more serious note, Desia has more than a decade of experience working mainly with European fabrics and furniture. Most importantly, she is a perfect fit into the Strand way, which isn’t just to sell furniture but the best service also.
Desia says: “I think the job that interior designers do is amazing. Not only for your flair but also patience with clients and the hours that you do to realise projects. My job is to support you with service and support. I’m looking forward to working with the designers I already know and meeting the ones I don’t yet”.
When Refurbishing Furniture Pays
Better than New – Two of the 150 refurbished chairs at NSW Golf Club. Pic Tony Nolan
As well as supplying quality furniture to designers and architects, not all of our clients are aware that Strand is able to offer a full refurbishment service for existing furniture. For more than 20 years, we’ve been dealing with some of the best upholsterers and furniture finishers in the country. When dealing with clubs, hotels and other commercial clients, it’s worth bearing in mind that often refurbishing existing furniture is not only the best but most economical option compared to replacing with new.
Refurbishing means your clients will have furniture that will last another 10 to 20 years trouble-free which will look good, are comfortable and they will be happy in the knowledge that have retained their excellent furniture.
The key to refurbishing furniture, is whether or not it’s quality made in the first place.
It’s all got to do with the furniture’s ‘bones’ – its frame. As a rule of thumb, if a chair or sofa is made before 1999 in Australia or Europe, it will probably have a strong frame and be suitable for refurbishing.
NSW and Avondale golf clubs are two recent refurbishments jobs that we’ve done where, instead of replacing with new, the club’s furniture a complete makeover. Each chair was stripped down, re-glued, polished and reupholstered to refresh each club’s interior while maintaining its tradition.
Here’s what they said:
“Our House Committee wanted to keep the original chairs and we were extremely happy with the furniture refurbishment work and the cost savings involved. Working with Strand Agencies has been easy and very professional.” Michael Williams, House Manager NSW Golf Club
“The chairs look fantastic and Strand providing a sample chair to show what was possible was very important to me and the members. I found them personable, easy to deal with and very helpful.” Symon Scott, General Manager (1999-2010), Avondale Golf Club
Avondale Golf Club's chairs after being rejuvenated. Pic Tony Nolan
The restoration of the wood frame and reupholstery of the Avondale chairs. Pic Tony Nolan
NSW Golf Club furniture refurb
The club's armchairs
Located at the mouth of Botany Bay, NSW Golf Club is rated in the top 50 courses in the world. The club’s 150 dining, club and armchairs needed updating, but instead of replacing with new, Strand advised to give the existing stock a complete makeover. Years before, the club had invested in well-made seating and it was worth rejuvenating them. Each chair was stripped, re-glued, polished and re-upholstered to refresh the club’s interior while maintaining its tradition. One of the real challenges of the job was sourcing that wonderful striped fabric specified by the club. Thanks to our experience and fabric knowledge, we were able to track down the original mill in America and custom make the fabric again.
The result was a delighted client. “Our House Committee wanted to keep the original chairs and we were extremely happy with the furniture refurbishment work and the cost savings involved. Working with Stuart has been easy and very professional,” says Michael Williams, House Manager of the NSW Golf Club.
The dining room
While Strand supplies furniture to club, hotel and corporate clients, its experience means that it can see the value in making something well. It’s one of the reasons why it represents the brands that it does. Our Papillion sofas, for example, are hand-made in Melbourne and are built to last with 15 year warrantees on its hardwood frames.
The rejevunated wood and new fabric
Easier and smarter: The Rug Collection’s new website
Like any design, a good one looks great and works well and the relaunch of The Rug Collection’s website (therugcollection.com.au) is an example of both.
The new site has been geared towards finding product more easily and large, clear imagery allows customers have a really good look at the rug’s colour, weave and texture.
Strand’s favourite feature? A clever search engine that will find rugs according to whatever colour, finish or texture you choose. It then puts them on the same page for you to compare more quickly and more easily.
Strand represents The Rug Collection because of its quality and range. Alongside its in-house collections, it has some of Australia’s freshest artists and designers including Jamie Durie, Signature, Nicola Cerini and Julu Wajaar with their own ranges. Most recently, The Rug Collection has released Designer Boys and Kas ranges and it promise that there are plenty more releases to come throughout the year.
With The Rug Collection, Strand can also offer the “In Vogue” custom-made rug program where you can create a rug to your required size, colour, shape and texture. With over 200 colours to choose from and a quick delivery time of approximately 6-7 weeks, you can create the perfect quality rug that will add the finishing touch to any design scheme. And with an international market growing rapidly, it can ensure delivery worldwide.
Spotlight On Globe West:
Mystique
Mystique Patchwork Fabric Sofa and Mirage Bowl Coffee Table
The Mystique collection from Globe West includes a selection of upholstered occasional and dining chairs and sofas, unique wooden and stainless steel furniture and a selection of coordinating accessories.
The upholstered pieces are created from patchwork leather or fabric, available in a selection of ecclectic options.
The dining, coffee and side tables, console and entertainment unit are made using recycled railway sleepers combined with polished stainless steel legs.
Accessories include a feature vase, a wall feature made from tin, a carved wall panel and hand carved totem pole.
Mystique Dining table and chairs
Mystique entertainment unit and tin wall decorLeather from Mystique 3 seater sofa
Spotlight on Globe West:
San Remo Natural Washed Teak
Globe West have added to their solid wood offering with the San Remo Collection, a selection of natural washed teak and rattan furniture. The collection includes dining, side and coffee tables, an entertainment unit, console, buffet and mirror in solid teak with a natural washed finish.
The coordinating sofa ottoman and side table is available in a woven whitewash base with natural fabric cushions.Additional accessories include a bamboo screen and the cylinder floor lamps (both available in either black or white finish).
The range also include two modern lamps made from polyethylene; the ball light (available in large 500 dia and small 350 dia) and the cube light 400 x 400 x 400.
San Remo Weave in Whitewash
San Remo Side table, sofa and ottoman
San Remo Occasional Chair and Brush Screen in Black
Spring Summer 2010/11:
Jasmine Hall has recently launched their new Spring / Summer Collections, and stock is available to view in our showroom. Download the full catalogue here.
Jasmine Hall Catalogue
Cushions and bedcovers
This Page: KILIM embroidered cushion 30×50, Grey/Brass; PETALS cushion 30×40, Stone/Black, FOLIO cushion 30×50, natural/Gold; TIMELESS cushion 65×65, Copper; VISION cushion 50×50, Stone. ON BED: ABU bedcover, Stone; AGRA throw, Stone.
Vision Cushions in block colours
VISION
50×50, natural (Silver), Fuschia, Black, Stone, Lime, Saffron, Indigo, Copper, Red, Purple
Petals and Timeless
PETALS
30×40, aubergine/Black, Stone/Black, White, Grey/Black
TIMELESS
65×65, Stone, Charcoal/Grey, Copper/Charcoal 30×40, Stone, Turquoise Rose, Orchid
Tahiti Bedcover
TAHITI bedcover in silk cotton, Blue/natural (with european pillow sham); VISION cushion in tussar viscose 50×50, Indigo; HEAVEN cushion in tussar viscose 30×50, Saffron; RICH cushion in cotton velvet 30×50, Lime.
Sue Riley Home Collections:
Table Lamps
Satin Chrome Birdcage lamp with Black Shade
Beehive Table Lamp with Cream Shade
Lasercut ceiling shade
Satin Chrome A-Frame & Shiny Chrome Dome with Black Shade
Crystal Column Classic 8 Facet Base
A selection of new lamps and shades from Sue Riley Home Collections.
1. Satin Chrome Birdcage lamp with Black Shade Code: 534 Height: 73cm
2. Beehive Table Lamp with Cream Shade - Code: 562 Height 61cm
3. Lasercut ceiling shade
4. Satin Chrome A-Frame – Code: 983 Height: & Shiny Chrome Dome with Black Shade Code: 025 Height 65cm
5. Crystal Column Classic 8 Facet Base – Code: 960 Height 80cm
Decoration & Design roundup :
H&H Collections
A selection of new products from H&H Collection.
Shown here, clockwise from top left corner -
Coco Fish Scale lamps (including new pendant version)
CU C ME Round Lamp
LUAU Hanging Lamps (shown large and medium versions)
Migo Pendant Lamp Shade
BIBA Round Mirror
Coco Bead Table Lamp
Collection of Miniature Provence Driftwood Table Lamps
Check back for individual product features over the coming weeks.
