In/Out

In design circles, Lucy Feagins is a lady who needs no introduction.

The Design Files (TDF) began as a hobby for Feagins and in little over a year it became recognised as one of the world’s top 50 blogs by The Times (UK). TDF has since cemented its place as an authority on design, craft and creativity in Australia and receives over 1 million impressions a month from across the globe. It is hardly surprising to know that it is Australia’s no. 1 design blog.

TDF is a part of our daily routine. We love it and use it as a dynamic reference point, a catalogue of creative inspiration for our professional practice and personally as designers. Wednesday’s home tours are a particular favourite (Juliette Arent’s home was featured last year) and we love the insights we get into the creative practice of other designers and makers.

What is most inspiring about The Design Files for its legion of daily readers is the seemingly endless talent Feagins uncovers. She is the great pioneer of discovering and supporting the work of Australian craftspeople, designers, artists and creative professionals. Features on up-and-coming creatives sit side by side with great Australian design icons young and old. What TDF does day by day, is share with the world the voice of the collective Australian design community.

Feagins’ editorial eye is meticulous, and consistently inspiring. The carefully curated daily features have an editorial bent for colour, pattern, boldness and freshness, for handmade quality, and for inspired, unique and passionately executed craft. Feagins’ warmth and generosity shine through the content on TDF. She has a kindness, a passion and energy that is absolutely infectious. She is also relentlessly hardworking (just check her Instagram for proof!).

We caught up with Lucy for a cup of tea and a chat in her brand new, freshly painted studio when we were in Melbourne earlier this year. In a Gorman tee, Converse kicks and signature up-do Lucy sat down in her favourite chair, the Tropicalia Chair by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola for Moroso.

Our regular readers will have seen this chair before. It is not hard to understand why this is Lucy’s favourite – the Tropicalia is all about colour and craft. Thermoplastic polymer threads are woven around a metal frame, speaking of long standing traditions of handcraft and designer Urquiola’s continually feminine way of experimenting with materials, shapes & details. It is a piece which layers colour and geometry yet it is simple and truthful in its materiality and its sense of construction. It is exceptionally high quality, playful, bold and beautifully crafted and the same can be said for Miss Feagins. Lucy, a true honour to chat with you.

What is your favourite chair and why?
My favourite changes all the time, but one chair that I have always loved is the Tropicalia chair by Patricia Urquiola. I love the way Urquiola uses traditional techniques like weaving in such a contemporary way, and the chair looks like a giant lolly which always helps.

Describe your own interiors style in 3 words:
Classic, colour-loving, and quirky.

Prague or Provence?
Provence. I plan my holidays based around food, and you can’t go past French cuisine!

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An airhostess. When I was young it seemed very glamourous, now it looks like the hardest job in the world. Upmost respect to all flight attendants!

How many hours a day do you work? Be honest!
15 hours. I work all day then dinner is my lunch break, then I go back to work.

Birthday or Christmas?
Christmas, as it’s the only time I close my laptop.

Can’t say no to________?
Loving Earth Coconut Mylk Luvju Raw Organic Chocolate. We’ve become obsessed with these in the office, they really deliver when in need of a 3pm pick up.

Vegetable smoothie or Veuve Clicquot?
Veuve Clicquot. I’m all for a health kick but you would have to be certified insane to choose a green smoothie instead of a glass of French champagne, which I firmly stand by.

Can you have too many cushions?
Yes, you can have too many at one time. It’s good to rotate them and not have them all out at once so you can freshen up your look.

Promise to keep blogging?
Yes, I have no backup option!

The Design Files Open House launched in 2011 and opens its doors in Melbourne tomorrow and then again in Sydney on the 5th December. The Design Files Open House lets us touch and buy what we read about on The Design Files every day. It is a simple concept – the ultimate Australian home – with the added bonus of everything being for sale.

The Design Files Open House – Melbourne
9a Westley Street
Hawthorn East
Thurs November 21st to Sun November 24th
10.00am – 5.00pm

The Design Files Open House – Sydney
Sydney address to be announced
Thurs December 5th to Sun December 8th
10.00am – 5.00pm

Credits:
Photography by: Ben Pyke
Videography by: Jill Schaeffer
Melbourne Open House photos by: Eve Wilson
Sydney Open House photos by: Sean Fennessy