Kett’s Portland Collection
The dramatic landscape of the coastal Victorian town of Portland was the inspiration for the evocative forms and natural materiality in Kett’s latest collection.
A commitment to place is built into every element of Victorian furniture-design studio Kett’s practice. From the landscapes that inform its designs to its partnerships with local artisans and makers and its use of organic materials, designer Justin Hutchinson and his team’s fidelity to locality and nature is evident. Its latest collection, Portland, is emblematic of this approach.
The collection takes its name from Portland, a coastal Victorian town 350 kilometres west of Kett’s Brunswick studio. The town’s rugged cliffs, historic architecture and undulating bays influence the form of each design in the Portland collection, as well as the finishes and materials used to realise them. Hutchinson aims to build a bridge between indoor and outdoor spaces and the past and the present with this collection of dining and coffee tables and chairs. The collection’s two signature pieces, the Portland coffee tables and Portland chairs, distill this vision into organic shapes executed with solid natural timbers.
The Portland coffee tables are crafted from oak, and are available with ceramic or oak tops. The tables’ curves mimic the headlands and formations of the Victorian coastline, while their distinctive three-legged structure echoes the fluidity of water. A range of finishes, including Smoked Oak and City Lacquer, are taken from the colour palette of the Australian landscape. Available in various heights, they can be used individually or as a nested grouping, their curved legs interlinking; each table is a testament to craftsmanship and organic materials.
The tables’ curves mimic the headlands and formations of the Victorian coastline, while their distinctive three-legged structure echoes the fluidity of water.
Craftsmanship and provenance similarly underpin the design ethos and production of the Portland chairs. Manufacturing of the deeply comfortable, elegant chairs starts in Italy and is completed in Melbourne, where upholstery – fabric or leather – is made to order. Portland’s terrain and its colours influence the chairs’ lightly curved frames and the warmth of their wood.
The collection also includes dining tables and coffee tables with two inset legs, as well as a round-top pedestal dining table. All are available in a selection of newly introduced finishes, such as the Natural, Light Walnut and dark-hued Exhibition timber stains, and lacquers including the auburn City and green-tinged Mangrove. All complement and enhance the natural grains of the timber joinery – and offer multiple customisation options to tailor pieces to individual spaces.
All complement and enhance the natural grains of the timber joinery – and offer multiple customisation options to tailor pieces to individual spaces.
While form and function are integral to Kett’s practice, local design and manufacturing also underpins its work. Every piece is carefully crafted by hand, every element given ample attention. While working with local artisans is key to Kett’s success, occasionally specialised knowledge is required; at these times, the studio works with craftspeople in Italy, then the pieces are completed in Melbourne.
Kett’s Portland collection distills the essence of this charming coastal town into sculptural furniture that reflects the studio’s commitment to provenance, materiality and craftsmanship.
Explore all Kett’s Collections exclusively at Cosh Living.
