Harnessing the Australian Outdoors – Horizon Lines by Tait

Outdoor furniture company Tait champions the Australian way of life, and its spring summer collection Horizon Lines beautifully encapsulates this vision. Filled with soothing tones referencing the much-loved Australian landscape and pieces to encourage slower moments spent outdoors, this collection harnesses the essence of the Australian summer with an enticing effortlessness.

Recognising a shift in our values and how we envisage spending our time, Tait hopes to encourage a more intentional connection with the outdoors through this collection. True believers in the value of good design to inspire positivity, Tait has imbued Horizon Lines with a sense of the simple things done well. With dining settings, both generous and more intimate, as well as cocoon and sling-style lounging options, it is extensive but not excessive.

“At Tait, we make products for life,” says Gordon Tait, Co-Founder and Director of Tait. And true to this philosophy, Horizon Lines prioritises exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

“We use the Australian landscape quite a lot in our design briefs,” says Gordon Tait, Co-Founder and Director of Tait. This is particularly pertinent for Horizon Lines, where a neutral, subdued palette reflecting native Australian plants takes centre stage and simple, clean silhouettes prevail. It is about harnessing that intangible feeling of long, lazy afternoons in the sun and indulging in it.

But there is nothing superfluous here; true to Tait’s philosophy, Horizon Lines prioritises exceptional quality and craftsmanship. “At Tait, we make products for life,” Gordon says. “That’s our goal, to make something that really lasts a lifetime.” By using corrosion-resistant metals, dimensionally stable timbers, reticulated and mould-resistant foams and exterior-grade fabrics, Horizon Lines achieves this with Tait’s signature design flair.

Much like all of Tait’s pieces, the nautical-inspired Zephyr Lounger has been designed to withstand the harsh Australian elements with ease.

A clear standout piece from this collection is the newly released Zephyr Lounger, designed by Australian designer Charles Wilson. “Our brief to Charles was for a high back lounge chair,” explains Gordon. “Halfway through the design process we decided that it’d be really good to have another member of the family, so we created a lower back version as well.”

The nautical-inspired Zephyr takes its name from ‘an uplifting wind’, as does the gently sweeping form. With an affinity for sailing, Gordon is particularly drawn to this sculptural piece, noting “the tension in the seat evokes that of a sail on a boat.” He adds, “when I sit in the Zephyr Lounger, I really feel a sense of support and am very proud of the result.” Another key design feature of the high back lounger is the cast stainless steel armrests. The slim, flat planes contrast against the curvaceous lines of the seat and backrest, resulting in a desirable and refined form.

Much like all of Tait’s pieces, the Zephyr has been designed to withstand the harsh Australian elements with ease. The frame is constructed from a heavy walled stainless-steel tube and powder coated with a high UV grade coating, which offers “supreme fade protection from the extreme UV light here in Australia.” As well as this, a nylon glide beneath each foot elevates the piece off the ground, offering further protection from the elements. One can rest easy in the knowledge that these pieces have been designed to live and thrive in the Australian outdoors.

Tait’s collaboration with Willie Weston, Woven Skies, is a genuine extension of their approach to working with Australian creatives and manufacturers. “We’re really passionate about Australian design and keeping manufacturing in Australia,” Gordon explains.

Tait’s iconic Trace Dining Family designed by Adam Goodrum also receives a nod in the Horizon Lines collection. The table features a seamless tabletop encased in a powder coated steel frame. There are various configurations and finishes available, however, the black porcelain top with vein detail and pale eucalypt frame paired with the smoked oak benching, also with pale eucalypt frame, is an excellent combination for any contemporary home. Tait’s wave-inspired stainless steel Tidal chairs are another wonderful match for this setting.

Horizon Lines also presents an exciting collaboration with Willie Weston, whose fabrics and wallpapers feature the work of contemporary Indigenous artists. The collaboration, titled Woven Skies, uses Willie Weston’s high-performance outdoor fabrics across Tait’s iconic, Australian designed and made pieces. Each carefully selected design “celebrates the artists’ connection to native plant life and seasonal changes.” These intricately designed fabrics feature delicate details and warm colours; there are earthy shades of red with fluid markings in white and hues of blue and sea green decorated in artful swirls and organic shapes. These ornate yet refined fabrics drape Tait’s sophisticated furniture, resulting in a layered and inviting collection.

This collaboration with Willie Weston is a genuine extension of Tait’s approach to working with and, in turn, supporting Australian creatives and manufacturers. “We’re really passionate about Australian design and keeping manufacturing in Australia,” Gordon explains. Collaboration is at the very core of Tait’s philosophy, and one of the most important factors for Gordon is making “friendships through that process.”

Through thought-provoking collaborations and an unending commitment to creating premium outdoor furniture, Tait has delivered a collection akin to how we want to live. Horizon Lines has us longing for a life – or at the very least, a classic Australian summer – spent in the outdoors.