Whether you're a budding artist, aspiring designer, home renovator or simply want to support locally made goods, Cooper Interiors blog has something for you. In our creative Q&A sessions we chat to Kiwi artists, architects, designers, shop owners, bloggers and photographers about their careers, inspiration and much more. A huge thank you to Larissa and Andrew Hamilton (founders of Corcovado) for providing us with this weeks inspiration.
Can you tell us a little bit about 'Corcovado' and why you started it?
Corcovado was born from our desire to offer original items of furniture that could seldom be found elsewhere, if at all. New Zealand is a small country and often you will see the same branded products on offer from city to city as many retail stores buy from a handful of NZ wholesalers. We actively decided not to do this, choosing instead to create and develop a unique offering.
Our NZ-owned business is founded on the principle of creating design-led, limited edition, original items of furniture. We work directly with our global and local artisans to ensure that the natural materials used in our products are sustainably sourced. Our furniture range is constantly evolving in response to our customers, our environment, and importantly, the inspiration we gather from our travels.
If you had to describe your store in three words what would they be? Original. Natural. Evolving.
What do customers love most about visiting your store?
I think that our customers enjoy an “all-senses” experience. We have a curated playlist of songs that we feel evokes our brand, as well as ever-changing room / furniture “scenes”. We work hard to offer exceptional customer service and were recently named as one of six national finalists by the NZ Retail Association for our Exceptional Customer Experience which is something we are very proud of.
What inspires you?
Travelling. Most recently we visited Mozambique which was a surprising, visual feast. From the fabrics to the art déco architecture to the use of natural materials, it has provided a wealth of design inspiration. Travel is essential to our brand as it allows us to meet new artisans, develop new opportunities and to find inspiration in the most unexpected places.
How has your interiors style changed since starting the store?
Not really, although seeing the retail space come together / and our online store only confirms that my natural bent is more towards a natural, textural, layered look that lends itself towards the creation of a calm, peaceful environment, vs the stimulation gained from using loud, bright colours.
What are a few of your favourite New Zealand designed or made products?
Almost all of our range is designed by us here in NZ. Our favourite items include our range of St Tropez cabinets and buffets, as well as our recently launched Kea Chair which has proved really popular.
Who is your favourite New Zealand creative and why?
I think that Anna Church, the NZ artist currently based in Canada has created some gorgeous, thought-provoking photographic art recently. I enjoy following her on Instagram. I also really admire two NZ fashion labels, Moochi and Deval as each has carved out a definite niche and a loyal customer base in the very tough world of clothing retail.
And finally, What would your dream home look like?
We are lucky enough to live in our dream home already. After living in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney and Bali, we returned to NZ to a sunny home on the hills overlooking the ocean. We have plans to extend by adding a further living space but even if we never did that, I would still be thrilled to live there.
All imagery is credited to Corcovado. To shop their beautiful furniture and homewares you can visit their website here. For inspiration on how to style their pieces you can like them on Facebook or follow them on Instagram.
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