Styling the Molmic advertising shoot

After seeing my interior styling work in Real Living magazine, I was approached by marketing consultants, Taylor & Grace to design a series of room sets showcasing new product for their client, Molmic. Molmic are a high-end sofa manufacturer, proudly handmade in Melbourne, Australia. I was thrilled to be given the challenge of creating new content for their website and advertising literature.

Vivaldi Summer sofa

I sourced antique paintings from retailer and decorator Lynda Gardener to accentuate the classic country feel of the ‘Vivaldi Summer’ sofa. Pops of lime green and pink brings a freshness to this room set. Whimsical ornaments, plus a mix of furniture styles and materials, adds to the charm. The cushions and wicker drum side table are from Mandalay Designs. The round coffee table is from Globewest.

Avonwick sofa

I created a relaxed, beachy vibe for the ‘Avonwick’ sofa scheme, with organic shapes and natural materials in seaside hues. Cool blue cushions were made especially for this room set, using stylised, geometric Mokum fabric designs. The Hermon & Hermon spiral pendant and Globewest ‘Tango Rattan’ coffee table add to the laid-back feel. The Avonwick is a large sofa, with wide, feather filled pads that entice you to curl up and sink into it, so I wanted to enhance that feeling of comfort.

Before I started organising the shoot, I presented mood boards and colour schemes to Creative Director, Anna McRae, and other team members at Molmic for their approval. This also comprised of inspiring images that aligned with the Molmic ethos, plus detailed lists and images of products I proposed to feature in the room sets.

I sourced a selection of furniture, such as coffee tables and side tables to complement the sofas. I also hired all the lamps, rugs, throws, artworks and ceramics to make the room sets feel inviting and lived in. As the sofas are so well made by skilled crafts people, I was careful to only incorporate high quality, stylish pieces to enhance that feeling of luxury.

I created schemes around each sofa design and chose fabric to be made in to cushions in co-ordinating colours and patterns. I worked with local sewers Pinhead Productions to make up the cushions using eye-catching fabric designs from New Zealand based Mokum. Fabrics included Pom Pom, Malachite and Matirita from the Meridian range. The sofas were mostly in neutral shades so adding the pops of colour and pattern brought them to life and created a lived-in feel.

I chose the lovely and talented photographer, Lisa Cohen to collaborate on this job with me.

After considering various locations around town, we decided to create the room sets at Molmic’s new Richmond showroom, which had a spacious, warehouse feel, with big windows and high ceilings.

Vivaldi Winter sofa

I added to the luxurious feel of the velvet ‘Vivaldi Winter’ sofa with silk scatter cushions made from Mokum fabric in rich pomegranate tones, elegant framed portraits and flowers spilling out of vases. The dark wall and black gloss floor lamp create a moody, glamorous feel, while the bohemian style, rattan tray table from Mandalay Designs is a nod to the global traveller look.

Oscar sofa

I softened the masculine feel of the ‘Oscar’ leather chesterfield style sofa with decorative velvet cushions from Ruby Star Traders, a rustic, country style coffee table, vintage map on the wall and a textural Nguni cowhide. The styling was relaxed to create a Sunday morning vibe, with a throw, newspaper and pot of tea.

Shona sofa

I brought splashes of warm orange to this contemporary, dark grey ‘Shona’ sofa, with scatter cushions made from striking geometric Mokum fabric. A Ruby Star Traders rug in earthy tones, adds warmth underfoot and quirky ‘brooches’ from Kanvas adds interest to the walls. Stylish mid-century furniture in wood tones, brings warmth to the modern setting and enhances the modern, streamlined feel.

Here I am, in my natural habitat, the lesser spotted Clair Wayman, happily fluffing cushions.

After the shoot Creative Director, Anna McRae was keen to keep some of the room sets in situ, in the Richmond showroom, incorporating many of the props that I sourced.

Some of the fantastic companies that supplied product for this shoot were Ruby Star Traders (rugs and cushions), Globewest (coffee tables, side tables and occasional chairs), MRD Home and Hermon & Hermon (lighting) Kanvas and Lynda Gardener (artwork), Mandalay Designs (tray table, wicker drum side table, cushions), Mokum (cushion fabric), Mud Australia, (ceramics).

Thank you to the wonderful Jules Gardner for helping behind the scenes to make this shoot happen. We were both hysterical at times. We had a lot of fun and became great friends.