Explore how collaboration shapes Melbourne’s furniture design scene. Discover how ducksnest. brings together clients, designers, and European artisans to create sustainable, timeless interiors with style and soul.
Melbourne, the bustling capital of Victoria, is often celebrated for its rich cultural tapestry, culinary brilliance, and dynamic arts scene. Home to more than 5 million people, the city thrives as a hub of creativity, diversity, and innovation. Known for its charming laneways, cutting-edge architecture, and the iconic Yarra River that winds through its heart, Melbourne radiates a spirit of design-forward living that influences everything from fashion to furniture. Its neighborhoods—Fitzroy, Collingwood, South Yarra—each pulse with a unique energy that attracts artists, designers, and creatives from across Australia and beyond.
What sets Melbourne apart isn't just its visual appeal but its climate and lifestyle. The city experiences four distinct seasons in a single day—sunshine, rain, and wind can all make an appearance before dinner—which makes design here not just aesthetic but practical. Melbourne's weather patterns influence how interiors are curated. Homes are styled for warmth, coziness, and adaptability, encouraging local designers to think beyond trends and into timeless utility. As such, the demand for well-crafted, enduring furniture has grown—especially pieces that can withstand the flux of Melbourne’s temperament.
Culturally, Melbourne embraces festivals and design with open arms. Events like the Melbourne International Design Week and the NGV Triennial attract global attention and spotlight the city’s emerging and established talent. These festivals act as catalysts, bringing together minds across the furniture, architecture, and design disciplines. Whether it's a pop-up installation in Federation Square or a panel talk in Carlton, these events fuel Melbourne's standing as a design capital not only in Australia but globally. They also act as networking veins through which meaningful collaboration flows.
Beyond the galleries and exhibitions lies Melbourne’s deep-seated affection for fine craftsmanship. The city's devotion to slow design is echoed in its appreciation for sustainably made, well-loved furniture—qualities that resonate with homeowners, developers, and designers alike. Within this ethos, brands like ducksnest. find fertile ground to thrive, bringing European furniture sensibilities to a city that craves the perfect fusion of art and function.
Melbourne furniture designers are not solitary figures chiseling away in silent studios. Instead, they are connectors—working across disciplines, cultures, and continents. Collaboration in this city is less of a trend and more of a deeply embedded practice. Whether it's a textile designer from Brunswick teaming up with a timber specialist in Richmond or a product developer working hand-in-hand with interior stylists in Prahran, the furniture landscape here is stitched together by relationships.
ducksnest., based in South Melbourne, embodies this collaborative DNA with ease. The brand doesn't merely sell furniture; it curates partnerships—between clients, designers, and world-renowned European furniture makers such as Artisan and nunc. Their approach proves that furniture is not just about physical objects but shared visions and stories. These connections create pieces that are richer, more nuanced, and undeniably more personal.
Collaboration in Melbourne often takes on an international tone. With its ties to European furniture designers and makers, ducksnest. introduces Melbourne to the refined craftsmanship of regions like Bosnia and Croatia. Artisan, for instance, brings over sixty years of woodworking mastery to Australia, while nunc offers sleek, modern lines with an environmental conscience. This dialogue between Australian needs and European artistry creates a harmonious balance—something Melbourne clients have come to value deeply.
This cultural blend doesn't dilute Melbourne's design identity; rather, it elevates it. It gives local designers the chance to expand their vocabulary, to understand different material cultures, and to learn from time-honored methods of making. For clients, it means being part of a broader story—one that spans oceans and generations. The pieces in their homes carry a legacy, a spirit of partnership that transcends continents.
The ducksnest. showroom in South Melbourne is more than a retail space—it’s a creative lab, a testing ground for ideas, materials, and form. Stepping into the 140 m² light-filled environment is akin to walking into a live collaboration. Here, clients, stylists, architects, and melbourne furniture designers can interact with the furniture, test its tactility, and explore the possibilities of customisation. The showroom becomes a point of convergence—a physical manifestation of ducksnest.’s commitment to collaborative interior design.
Timber grains, fabric swatches, soft lighting—each element invites discussion and decision-making. The space is intentionally designed to facilitate client dialogue. Clients are not passive recipients of design—they are welcomed into the process. Whether it's selecting the perfect timber species or matching soft furnishings to existing décor, the result is always a reflection of shared vision rather than a one-sided prescription.
Collaboration doesn’t end at the showroom door. For ducksnest., the journey from concept to delivery is deliberately personal and consultative. Each project is shaped by ongoing dialogue. Founder Susan Pehar often leads the furnishing programs herself, guiding homeowners, developers, and design professionals through the process with a rare blend of empathy and expertise. Her hands-on approach ensures every detail is considered, from spatial layouts to material resilience and mood creation.
Clients are encouraged to articulate their needs and lifestyle preferences. This is not a one-size-fits-all experience; it's a bespoke process rooted in communication. Layout plans are refined, finishes are adjusted, and styling advice is tailored to the unique rhythm of each home or hospitality space. This level of engagement transforms the furniture buying process from transactional to transformational.
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The collaborative model that ducksnest. champions is underpinned by a profound respect for sustainability. It’s not just about how the furniture looks—it’s about how it’s made, how long it lasts, and the legacy it leaves. Artisan's FSC-certified solid timber and nunc's solar-powered production techniques align perfectly with Melbourne’s increasing demand for environmentally responsible design.
This shared commitment fosters a sense of accountability between client, designer, and maker. Furniture becomes part of a circular economy—heirloom pieces that reduce waste, respect resources, and contribute to a more sustainable future. It’s a long-term relationship with design, one that transcends seasonal trends. When people collaborate on the foundations of conscious creation, the result is not just beautiful furniture but a better world.
As Melbourne continues to evolve, so too does its furniture design scene. The future points to even more integrated collaborations—between digital technologies and artisanship, between AI-generated concepts and hand-finished details, between local insights and global narratives. ducksnest. is uniquely positioned to navigate this new era, blending tradition with innovation, and personality with precision.
The brand's enduring commitment to collaboration will remain its compass. As the city becomes increasingly design-savvy, the expectations for authenticity, sustainability, and functionality will rise. Fortunately, ducksnest. thrives in that very space—offering clients not just furniture, but a collaborative journey marked by trust, creativity, and timeless elegance.
While ducksnest.’s physical showroom is located in South Melbourne, Brisbane clients can explore their curated collections online and arrange virtual consultations or in-person collaboration. The team regularly works with interstate clients and offers tailored furnishing services remotely.
European furniture, especially the kind offered by ducksnest., is designed with both elegance and durability in mind. Crafted from solid timber and breathable natural materials, these pieces adapt well to Brisbane’s warm, humid conditions and open-plan living style.
Clients work closely with the ducksnest. team to select finishes, materials, sizes, and other design details. Whether it’s matching wood tones to existing interiors or selecting eco-friendly fabrics, every choice is guided by expert consultation.
Absolutely. The brands represented by ducksnest.—such as Artisan and nunc—prioritise sustainability through FSC-certified timbers, solar-powered production, waste repurposing, and environmentally responsible packaging. Each piece is built to last and age gracefully.
Yes, ducksnest. frequently collaborates with interior designers, architects, and builders to ensure that furniture selections align with overall design visions. Their consultative approach ensures cohesive and thoughtful interiors from planning to placement.
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