Sustainable Style – Anaca Studio’s Latest Furniture Collection

Anaca Studio’s latest collection truly represents founder Anne-Claire Petre’s unwavering passion for stylish sustainable design and a lifelong commitment to constantly evolve her craft.

The four new members of the bespoke Anaca Studio furniture family are sophisticated additions to an already-impressive collection of sustainable furniture pieces – further enhancing Anne-Claire Petre’s reputation as one of Australia’s most sought-after designers. Whilst Anne-Claire’s signature style continues to evolve, her design process has remained unchanged. Through in-depth examination of the Flo Armchair, Flo Coffee Table, Poppy Side Table and The Narcisse Mirror, we begin to uncover a design narrative developed in France and refined in Australia.

It has been two years since Anaca Studio’s last major launch and during that time Anne-Claire has made significant inroads within the Australian design industry. Earlier this year she collaborated with Elizabeth Bull of One Fine Print to create the Design Co-Op, a landmark event dedicated to coordinating and developing Australian design. Her latest collection is a return to her other passion – designing and manufacturing bespoke furniture pieces accessible to all members of society. This year’s collection has maintained the relaxed sophistication and evocative curves synonymous with all Anaca Studio pieces whilst moving away slightly from the fun quirkiness of previous work to introduce a more brooding style with a subtly masculine feel. When asked about the inspiration behind the new collection Anne-Claire candidly states, “Inspiration comes from what people are asking for, or what I feel I need in my own life at home. Sometimes it arises from the products I have trouble finding, or a fabric – I come across a lot of materials and think, ‘oh, this is such a beautiful texture – how can I apply it to the furniture in the best way?’”

Environmental sustainability is at the heart of every piece that Anne-Claire designs. From a young age she was taught the values of minimising waste and the ability of a quality piece of furniture to become timeless. “Sustainability is a major core of the business, although the aesthetic might not necessarily communicate it explicitly, that’s what is behind the product,” explains Anne-Claire. Buyers can draw comfort from the fact that the new collection was sustainably designed and manufactured in Melbourne. Every piece is destined to become a timeless addition to any space as every piece is made to last and made to love. “These are investment pieces. You want people to really feel that they love the furniture, and that it is something that is going to last for a long time”, she says.

The new collection comes in an wide array of finishes, fabrics and sizes. Anaca Studio is committed to collaborating with customers to ensure that each item of furniture can be adapted to suit any interior setting, whether that be in a residential or commercial environment. The Flo Armchair has been designed to add an element of sophistication to any room. A true statement piece, one cannot help but be drawn to the refined beauty of its stylish curves. Anne-Claire’s studies of the human body have developed a design methodology that places emphasis on comfort over decoration and this is certainly true of the Flo Armchair as it beckons you to sink deep into the Italian leather housed within a comfortable timber frame.

The Flo Coffee Table and the Poppy Side Table are designed to be paired with the Flo Armchair to create a statement of simplistic elegance. When questioned on what makes the collection so unique Anne-Claire suggests, “It’s always interesting to see how some designs can have a more feminine or masculine vibe, I just feel that the Flo Armchair, in particular, really can go either way. Even in the tan leather, depending where it goes, it could be very “club chair” in a bar or lobby but also look more delicate in a bedroom. It is elegant yet robust at the same time. This makes it extremely versatile and it is also exceptionally comfortable”. By contrast, the Narcisse Mirror is a standalone piece designed to exude understated glamour within an interior setting. Anne-Claire’s business acumen is on full display through this piece. When formulating ideas for the new collection she considered what the Anaca Studio range was in need of and settled on a chic mirror that could be enjoyed by everyone. When formulating ideas for the new collection she considered what the Anaca Studio range was in need of and settled on a chic mirror that could be enjoyed by everyone.

Anaca Studio’s latest collection is another important landmark on Anne-Claire Petre’s journey from French industrial design student to Melbourne-based designer and studio owner. “Having taken some time to develop these pieces, I am so excited to add them to the Anaca studio range” says Anne-Claire. “Some are more commercial, whilst others have more of a residential feel. The armchair had to be really comfortable, and have a light yet robust appearance – its timber surfaces introduce warmth into an office or a lobby area, and looks right at home in a residential lounge too.” All four new items are designed to contribute affordable elegance to residential and commercial spaces. In an era when greater emphasis is being placed on the latest fads and trends Anne-Claire is designing furniture that produces the intangible timeless quality that allows the Anaca Studio range to passed down through generations.

Find more information on Anaca Studio’s latest collection here.