Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

A new Nanna State! Granny Chic or Kitsch?

Design Clarity Director, Kristina Hetherington, talks to Sydney Morning Herald about the trend to bring a nostalgic touch to interior design. Is it chic or granny kitsch?

Grandma’s house is back in fashion, writes Louise Schwartzkopf for SMH.

Tuesday afternoons often see Beth Bradey enjoying a strong, fruity martini in a basement nook on Clarence Street. At 85, she is several decades older than the usual clientele at Grandma’s Bar but she fits right in with the decor – a mix of wallpaper, retro couches, crochet blankets and knitting baskets selected by her grandson, James, the bar’s designer and co-owner.
”It’s different, isn’t it?” Beth says of her grandson’s design strategy. ”Do you think it will attract some older people? I thought he would have wanted something more modern but he seems very happy the way it is.”
Her husband, Alec, who joins her for a whisky, suggests his grandson should open a second venue – called Grandpa’s, naturally.

Perhaps in time, if pipes and brown leather become as trendy as fringed lampshades and macrame baskets, he will get his wish. For now, though, granny kitsch is shorthand for chic.
Bradey and Grandma’s co-owner Warren Burns are part of a …

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

Design Institute of Australia features People’s Choice
Credit Union

We’re excited to see our fitout for People’s Choice Credit Union featured on the DIA Design Institute of Australia website! Enjoy reading David Mellonie’ s article ‘Call me a taxi but don’t call me a bank’ below:

Victor Harbor is a sprawling seaside resort town about sixty kilometres south of Adelaide, notable for its temperate climate and large elderly population, thereby giving rise to the unkind local nickname of ‘God’s Waiting Room’.

But not everything in Victor Harbor is lace curtains, seagulls and ten pin bowling greens.

There’s a new credit union in town too, which takes a decidedly ‘anti-bank’ approach to its branding and rejoices in a clever visual identity, courtesy of DIA Practice Member, Design Clarity.

Based in Sydney and London, Design Clarity is a relatively small design studio that punches way above its weight with innovative, eye-catching design work in hospitality, commercial, residential and retail design.

Its work for the People’s Choice Credit Union in Victor Harbor was the pilot for a proposed national roll-out, and Design Clarity provided a ‘revolutionary’ design solution that included just about everything you wouldn’t expect to find in a traditional bank.

Coffee machines, real money trees, communal lockers, bright colour schemes, …

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

Nando’s Canberra & Adelaide featured in FRAME MAGAZINE

We’re very excited to see Design Clarity’s Nando’s Restaurant designs for Canberra and Adelaide featured on FRAME Magazine’s website!
Both restaurants showcase Nando’s Australian approach to introduce refreshingly modern, bright and designed spaces.

Nandos Canberra is inspired by the history of Portuguese sailors exploring the world, the 135-sq-m Nando’s Canberra has a raw, natural concept. The focal point, a ceiling installation made of curved plywood panels, is above the raised seating area and accented with rope and copper detailing.
‘These panels evoke and abstractly convey the interior structure or “ribs” of an explorer’s sailing ship,’ says Kristina Hetherington, director of Design Clarity. ‘The finishes include tone-on-tone decorative floor and wall tiles, white washed brick and copper details to create a natural aged, raw look.’ Laser-cut timber combines with rustic wall paint to accent the concept of being on a ship.

Click here to see the Nandos Canberra Article on the FRAME MAGAZINE WEBSITE

Nando’s Adelaide features rustic farmyard influence with a large barn-like installation framing the central interior. Inspired by Australia’s agricultural and rural heritage, the vernacular architecture resembles a simplified country shed. Complete with exposed trusses, a raised seating platform and even a coiled wire chicken coop pendants overhead, …