Get Down Under with 18 Inspiring Australian Designers (and Artists) You’ll Want to Know

Whenever I feel the urge for a little internet shopping spree, I find myself frequently landing on inspiring sites far, far away – in the land down under. It’s no secret that Australia has put out a ton of amazing work, both in the design and art realms – tasteful furniture, stunning ceramics, textiles galore, and an overall aesthetic that I can totally get down with.

But where do they get their sense of style? It’s the perfect blend of trendy and original. And with blends of clean Scandinavian, Japanese minimal and perhaps a touch of California coastal. Not to mention the indoor-outdoor living situation makes me want to move there tomorrow. They carefully merge natural tones and textures with bolder materials, yet maintain clean, simple lines without lacking interest. Even their more generic brands are done well, for example: Aldi’s Australian furniture line. And don’t even get me started on the color combos…

So what do you think – are you down with Australian art & design? Check out 18 of my favorite inspiring designers, stylists, artists, and more, in case you need some persuading.

1. Heatherly Design. (above) I love everything about this headboard. And the nature-infused color scheme that goes with it. Heatherly Design has a wide range of headboard styles, some of which are a little more traditional, but this is by far my favorite line. (Image by Armelle Habib via We Are Scout)

2. Tom Fereday for SP01. Australian design heavily focuses on indoor-outdoor living and dining space. This carefully designed line is the perfect way to blend the two spaces. (Image via Tom Fereday)

3. Maddie Sharrock. Maddie, formerly half of Studio Twocan, creates interesting pieces using cement. I’ve seen a lot of unique marbled cement designs filtered throughout Australian homes, and it’s a great way to keep things feeling natural and warm in more Scandinavian spaces. (Image via Elise Wilken via The Design Files)

4. Cassie Byrnes. Cassie’s work is far from boring. She creates a summery, bold array of textiles and prints (which you may have seen pop up at Anthropologie) that can add interest to any minimal or bare space. (Image via Cassie Byrnes)

5. Northbourne Architecture and Design. This design studio blends minimal but functional so well. I love the clean white space, but also appreciate the subtle hints of natural stones and use of plywood. (Image via Northbourne Architecture and Design)

6. Idle Hands. This studio creates really interesting platforms, plant stands, and bedside tables. I’m always a fan of simple yet unique designs. And the colors are spot on. (Image via Idle Hands)

7. BY PONO –  Leah Hudson-Smith and Wally Maloney created an epic space by building two tiny homes inside their loft. Leah also has her own furniture studio, By Pono, which features hand-carpentered pieces. Isn’t their space amazing?  (Image by Henry Trumble via The Design Files)

8. Therefore Studio. If you’re a pastels fan, I don’t have to say much to make you a fan of Therefore Studio. Just look at the work they did for Australian coffee shop, Vacation Cafe. (Image via Therefore Studio)

9. Ghost Wares.  Another stoneware ceramic line that’s too good not to share. Ghost Wares keeps in line with the clean, simple, and natural feel of a lot of Aussie designers. (Image via Ghost Wares)

10. Katie Eraser. I love Katie’s contemporary work. She meshes emotions with environment to create colorful and captivating paintings and textiles. Really into this color combo, too… (Image via Katie Eraser)

11. Sean Meilak.  His sculptures and installs are slightly odd, which I can totally get behind. (Image via Sight Unseen)

12. Amber Road Design. This design studio emphasizes the indoor-outdoor living concept really well. I think this space also has a slight nod to Japanese minimalism, bold modern furniture styling, and earthy tones, all very Australian in my opinion. (Image by Prue Ruscoe via Amber Road Design)

13. Daniel-Emma. For fun seating, sleek lighting, and quirky desk decor, this is your store. The colors are spunky, and they also make a cool wrist watch I’ve been eyeing. (Image via Daniel-Emma)

14. Douglas & Bec – Okay, so technically these guys are from New Zealand, but with 2 showrooms in Australia, they’ve made the list. Their furniture and lighting designs are to-die-for, and their home, which was featured on Sight Unseen, is equally amazing. (Image via Douglas & Bec)

15. Dowel Jones. For quirky and colorful furniture pieces, Dowel Jones is the place to go. The yellow hurdle chairs pop against the (also popular) plywood. (Image by Chris Warnes via Dowel Jones)

16. Milligram Studio. For all your stationary and desk decor needs, Milligram Studio has got you covered. They have carefully curated collections for home and for work. (Image via The Design Files)

17. Plyroom. As I’ve mentioned, plywood is still a big trend for Australian design, and Plyroom might be why. I’m so intrigued by their furniture and decor pieces, and love how they pair with more natural tones versus all white everything. Sage trend going strong in this space… (Image via Plyroom)

18. The Vallentine Project. As if I need another reason to buy more linens for my house. I love the linen duvets and soft beachy prints from Bianca’s collection. I’d go to bed every night at 10pm if I had this bedspread… (Image via The Vallentine Project)

What are your thoughts? Do you have any favorite Australian designers or artists I should know about?