Insights

Denfair 2017 x Handkrafted: Exhibition Highlights & Wrap Up

A virtual tour of Handkrafted’s showcase at Denfair 2017, Australia’s most respected furniture and design event showcasing the best local and international talent.

Taking place at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from 8-10 June 2017, DENFAIR is a carefully curated event showcasing hundreds of local and international furniture brands and designers.

As you will see in the highlights below, Handkrafted’s designer-makers can perfectly stand alongside the best of them and we proudly showcased a diverse selection of our makers from across Australia.

DENFAIR Handkrafted Stand

Jonathan West

Jonathan West makes furniture, joinery and objects from his St Peter’s studio in Sydney. He designs and crafts one-off commissions, small production runs and site specific works that are considered and aim to express a sense of place.

In preparing for DENFAIR this year, Jonathan spoke about the freedom associated with designing a piece for an exhibition, the chance for a bolder expression of elements and a strong personality. The below brass and ebonised oak sideboard certainly reflects that attitude and was a much applauded show favourite.

Jonathan West Handkrafted DENFAIR Brass Sideboard

Luke Rogers | LUI

LUI by Luke Rogers (Geelong, Victoria) is an energetic creative practice designing and fabricating products and objects spanning from furniture, experimental design and projects within interior and exterior spaces. A fine balance blending material, form and craftsmanship forges the simple LUI philosophy of composing sustainably friendly, enduring and nimble made to order design.

Handkrafted Luke Rogers LUI Furniture DENFAIR

Handkrafted LUI Brass Stools DENFAIR

Matt Pearson | MJP Studio

Matt Pearson is a designer and maker based at the JamFactory in Adelaide. Through his brand MJP Studio, he develops conceptual designs for exhibition, limited-run handmade pieces as well as products produced in local industry.

His work is inspired by the idea that the design of everyday objects can enhance the user’s life. He strives to create objects to be woven into the fabric of the family home: objects that are irreplaceable, indispensable, and cherished for life. Matt exhibited his Husk Low Chair, Wedge Coat Stand and Crossover Coffee Table.

Handkrafted MJP Studio Matt Pearson DENFAIR

Jack Auld | Auld Design

Auld Design creates handcrafted custom furniture and joinery, teaming traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. With over twenty years in the industry, it’s easy to see Jack’s passion is timber. Jack’s showcase included a bathroom vanity incorporating Paperock; a super strong, dense & sustainable product made from recycled or renewably sourced paper (which is heat resistant and almost impervious to water).

Auld Design Handkrafted DENFAIRJack Auld DENFAIR Vanity Paperrock

Nathan Lawrence | Heimur

Heimur’s stripped back designs showcase any space or interior while providing clean, elegant solutions for furnishing and decorating. Nathan exhibited his leaning clothes rack, a clean minimalist bedside drawer in steel and American Oak, and his wonderfully practical Victorian Ash bed base incorporating an innovative storage solution beneath the mattress base (effortlessly accessible via gas lifters as per video illustration here).

170608_Handkrafted_DSC9889_Web2000pxHeimur Handkrafted DENFAIR

Felix Furniture

Felix Furniture specialises in creating bespoke plywood furniture of fine quality and original design, with all pieces made by Ian in their Melbourne based workshop. Since it’s recent release, we have coveted their Kork Entertainment Unit, an American Oak veneered plywood cabinet incorporating cork veneered doors.

Handkrafted Felix Furniture DENFAIR

Anthony Kleine | AKWT

Anthony Kleine is a contemporary wood turner and maker, based in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. His range of tableware combines locally sourced timbers with a white Corian rim which helps to highlight the beautifully rich and natural grains in the timber selected. Anthony’s newly designed steel and timber shelving unit was extremely well regarded – hardly a surprise given the consistency and quality of the feedback we have received on the many bespoke pieces he has designed for client commissions via our platform.

Anthony Kleine DENFAIR Handkrafted

DENFAIR AKWT

Andrew Pinnock

Andrew Pinnock is a fine furniture designer and maker, based in Sydney’s Inner West. A classically trained artisan, he served an apprenticeship at the world-renowned cabinet-makers, Restall Brown & Clennell, Lewes, Sussex, UK.  It’s very easy to fall in love with his signature sculpted joinery.

Andrew Pinnock DENFAIR Handkrafted Andrew Pinnock DENFAIR Handkrafted

Asher Abergel | Dezion Studio

Asher’s Dezion Studio is based in Sydney’s Inner West, where he focuses on designing and making objects that are simple, clean and inviting, drawing people in to take a closer look, to touch and engage. Asher launched a limited-edition range of his exquisitely refined ceramic Turns Pendants in Tasmanian Blackwood.

Turns’ is a contemporary take on the classic industrial pendant. It combines a ceramic canopy over a hand turned timber with an innovative LED solution that forms a timeless and warm yet highly functional pendant light. The LED light, softly reflecting from the ceramic canopy, accentuates the wood grain.

DENFAIR Dezion Studio Handkrafted Blackwood and Ceramic Pendant Lights

Stand build by Like Butter. You’re always in safe hands when working with their  super solid team,  we can’t recommend them highly enough.

Photography by Michael Gordon Hill.

Well done to Thibaud, Claudio, Alexi, Damian and Ariana (and we suspect many others making up the DENFAIR team) for a beautifully curated and perfectly executed event. Have a look through the DENFAIR Publication (Issue One) for an insight into the calibre and quality of all the exhibitors.

DENFAIR Publication (Issue One)


About Handkrafted:

Handkrafted is a community marketplace connecting people with passionate makers to commission custom goods. We have brought together hundreds of Australian independent, bespoke craftspeople and artisans who specialise in producing high quality, sustainably made pieces.

Our makers can help you realise your own idea or collaborate with you on a new design. Many also feature a range of original designs that can be made to order or customised to suit your specific needs. Whichever option you choose, we’re here to help make it happen. Support local makers and kick-start your own project today.  

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Handkrafted FlyersFlyer chair design based on the Layla Chair by Maeker Studio

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