Jackson Stein

When I first worked for Netflix back in 2013, I was enamoured by the Hermès folio. It was simple, slender, sophisticated. Beyond that, it was also highly functional. For many years I sought something similar for myself, at a price I could justify. Eventually I realised that if I wanted something that would meet my brief, I'd have to create it myself. So in 2022 I finally took the time to design the satchel and find a local production partner. The piece has aged beautifully and it's part of my daily wardrobe.

Similar to the laptop envelope, I realised that what I wanted simply didn't exist. So again, I designed the piece and had it constructed by the same person who crafted my laptop folio. I designed it around Moleskine large - my go-to writing book since 2023. Again, I wanted to craft something simple and functional, so the cover simply holds up to two Moleskines and a credit card, so that I can visit a cafe and write without the distraction of a device nearby.

Back in 2019 I was living in a studio apartment that didn't have an obvious place for a bedside table, nor a lamp. However a light source near bed was non-negotiable, so I had to find an alternative solution. Around the same time, I found a glass light shade that I loved at an antique store in Warrimoo in the Blue Mountains. So naturally, I decided I had to create a lamp with the shade I'd found. I sourced the remainder of the components from a Brisbane store, opting for brass to complement without distracting from the beauty of the glass. The long cable allowed for flexible placement. More recently, it sits above my dining table.

I created the first version of this clothesline in 2018, to sit atop a stairwell - a space-saving exercise of course. With version 2, I set out to create something a little more polished. Timber edging with aluminium outer rods for rigidity and rust resistance, with clothesline string through the centre of the unit. The string has been strung in a way that creates additional lift, because clothes are heavy when wet. The new model sits on my balcony - again a space-saving exercise, particularly important in a small space to hang wet clothes, otherwise they take far too long to dry. Oh, and I don't like the dryer, nor do I have one in my apartment.

When I moved into my flat, I knew I needed to buy some new seating for my dining table, which sat in the centre of the room near a window. I also knew that I'd need more storage. Solving both those problems in a cost-effective and aesthetic way was proving impossible, so again, I decided to take it into my own hands. The end result combines open storage with a comfortable cushion for the bench seat. The exposed ply adds to the character and the colour palette fits nicely in the space.

Designed to match the bench seat, I again used exposed marine ply with a single shelf for magazines and accessories. I sized it around a travertine floor tile I sourced on Marketplace.

[Jackson to supply]