Flipping the Script – Kate Stokes and Haslett Grounds of Coco Flip

Kate Stokes and Haslett Grounds, the dynamic design duo behind Melbourne-based furniture and lighting brand Coco Flip, have built a business by turning passion into a profession, producing pieces for design-conscious spaces around the world. Now, in Coco Flip’s 12th year, Kate and Haslett look towards the future, ushering in a new era for the brand whilst reflecting on the core values that have elevated their business to one of Australia’s most revered producers of authentic local design.

Coco Flip has become renowned for its character-rich furniture and lighting, manufactured locally by a collective of skilled craftspeople. This approach has resulted in some iconic designs over the past 12 years and attests to the genuine care, commitment and passion of the people behind the products.

From relatively humble beginnings, the brand began to evolve as Kate and Haslett worked together to balance their professional and personal lives, often taking things a day at a time, drawing inspiration from ideas of relationships and materiality.

“Kate started Coco Flip in 2010,” recalls Haslett. “My background is in architecture, but from the very beginning, I have been involved in a technical as well as a creative capacity, assisting Kate where and when I could.” From relatively humble beginnings, the brand began to evolve as Kate and Haslett worked together to balance their professional and personal lives, often taking things a day at a time, drawing inspiration from ideas of relationships and materiality. “Has [Haslett] was always a strong council for product development as I threw myself head-first into growing the Coco Flip offering,” reflects Kate. “He was a constant presence in the background, assisting with all the things behind the scenes that go hand-in-hand with running a small business, as well as supporting me as a creative and partner.”

Over the course of the journey, Kate and Haslett have developed a body of work that encapsulates their welcoming, warm and friendly nature. “Over the past few years, I have primarily run the business and become the face of Coco Flip, while Haslett has juggled his architectural work,” says Kate. “Looking ahead, Haslett will be more involved in the day-to-day and strategic direction of the business, and this in itself represents an important step forward for us as designers, business owners and partners.”

Over the course of the journey, Kate and Haslett have developed a body of work that encapsulates their welcoming, warm and friendly nature.

Haslett’s increased involvement in Coco Flip will assist in alleviating the rigours of the more pragmatic side of business ownership and thus free up time for creative, design-led tasks. “We have set aside Wednesdays as a creative day for the both of us,” Kate explains. “The sketching, modelling and designing that take place during this time is invaluable for our creative process, and we are excited for the explorative ideas that take shape during these hours spent together to be brought to life in the form of new product development.”

With a nod to the future, the years ahead will represent a coming-of-age for the Coco Flip brand, as Kate and Haslett continue to mature as designers and leaders in the promotion of authentic Australian design. “We are looking to the future with optimism,” Haslett muses. “We’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting on our brand values, ambition and the future of Coco Flip. We’re excited to welcome in more time for experimentation and to challenge ourselves creatively with a more confident, design-led practice.”

With a nod to the future, the years ahead will represent a coming-of-age for the Coco Flip brand, as Kate and Haslett continue to mature as designers and leaders in the promotion of authentic Australian design.

Drawing from their collective experience, Kate and Haslett are excited for Coco Flip’s next chapters. “We are constantly trying to challenge ourselves, adapting our creative process to guide the brand in new artistic directions,” says Kate. “We have worked hard over the past decade to establish ourselves in the design industry, and we are excited to use the coming years to really enjoy the journey, while reflecting on the past with a defi ned sense of pride at what we have been able to achieve together.”

At a time when style can so easily be mistaken for substance, Kate and Haslett are fulfilling both sides of the equation through their work, which manages to be both grounded and aspirational. Nurtured by two people who resonate a true love for what they do and an inherent passion for what they create, the Coco Flip brand is the physical embodiment of Kate and Haslett’s story – a story written by a talented partnership bound together in business, as in life.