The Turnhams and their new Laundry

How do I even describe this project, I think the word persistence would be the one word that sums up this home project.  We started this laundry renovation back in July, 2013. When I say we, that includes my late father (Kevin), Mum (Erica) and Twin brother (Callan). The existing laundry then was a very worn, weathered and old set-up. The tiles continued in from the kitchen, vinyl tiles with repetitive motifs which are only good for dirt catchment. While the washing machine stood on a huge cold slab of concrete with a second-hand red mat cut to fit around it. Basically the laundry had character and lots of it.

Now two years later, along with a lot of stop and starting. I have finished the laundry. This was my last university break and I took it as a personal mission to finish the laundry that we started so long ago. I'm not one to leave things undone. 

I won't list everything that got in the way of the project. I could just say life did. But I might just state a long contributing factor. My father had cancer and battled it for 3years. During this time he had ups and a tonne of downs. Luckily when we started this project, he was in quite a good place. Unfortunately after fighting it for so long, it got the better of him. We stuck by his side through all of it, we basically had a mini-hospital set up at home. So for 2 weeks straight I made it my goal to finish the laundry before my fathers 1 year anniversary and I made it. I was proud. And I was also very grateful to my girlfriend Stephanie Tan, thank you so much for helping me with the grouting, tiling and painting. And I can't forget my brother Callan, cheers for helping with the painting. Mum, I hope this laundry lasts long into your senior years.

This laundry is another tribute to my dad, Kevin Arthur Turnham.


Below are some progress photos of the renovation. Hope you enjoy another Turnham Project.

This stump, I had to wait 6mths to put in because of excess water from a water leak....

Floor Joyce and stump fixed in place ready for yellow-tongue floor

Cement sheeting is nailed down ready for tiling

Tiling the floor area was a rewarding job!

Here are some proper photos of the details of the laundry. My favourite part is the Mahogany Gum bench top that I custom made. 

Mahogany Gum Bench Top

Grouting on the floor looks great Steph!

Washing machine only just fitted in once cement sheet and tiles were put in....

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the imagery and the words. I must now focus my efforts on my final semester of university. I will be posting soon my project and its features, so keep an eye out!


   

Temple & Webster Emerging Designer Award 2015

Matthew Harding and myself after exhibiting our Exo lights in Milan this year at Salone Satellite were recognised by Temple & Webster for our lights and other design projects. Our Exo series will be on display at the launch night this Thursday in Sydney.

We are amongst 9 other designers/studios who have been selected.Very exciting to be apart of I must say!

Our fellow designers are listed: Stephen Roy, Nicholas Fuller, Alison Jackson, Jack Frost, Andrew Southwood-Jones and Alexander Kashin of DAAST; Kenny Yong-soo Son of StudioKyss; Elliot Gorham of Noddy Boffin; Chris Gilbert, Chris Haddad and Josh FitzGerald of Archier Studio and Hugh Altschwager of Inkster Maken.

We were chosen by a panel of independent contributors and influencers from the Australian design community. And that is such a great privilege to have been acknowledged by those people.

Monash University Graduation Night 2015

The first graduation I've been too. I was there to support my classmates in the year above me. Industrial Design Class of 2014. But the main support was going out to my girlfriend Stephanie Tan. What a great achievement! I'm very proud of her! And not too long I will be in the same boat graduating next year too. 

This post is quite delayed, as the graduation night was on the 20th of May. I only finished my uni semester last week. So just getting some free time to do what I want!

I think that night there were students from Industrial Design, Visual Communications, IT and Business. 

Even though I only knew a select bunch of people graduating, it was quite exciting to see and be apart of.

Good on you guys.

Peace out




 

Melbourne Design Week 2015

Shipping Containers Installation - Swanston Street, Melbourne

Last week Melbourne hosted the Design week. The week was full of events across the city. I personally didn't get to go to many of them. But from what I've heard it was great!

Two of the standouts from the week would have to be agIdeas International Forum and the Den : Furniture and Design Fair.

The above picture of the shipping containers was such a great installation, I loved it! Each container had a different segment in it from interior design to product design awards and nominations.

People of Salone Satellite 2015

Here are some pictures of the designers that were participating in Satellite 2015. We all helped each other out. Sharing ladders, tools and spare hands when needed. Good team effort I say.

Lewis Yee (Copper ID) & Rowan Turnham

Matt Harding & Max Harper

Vlad Hauber (Raw Narratives) & Matthew Harding

Vlad Hauber (Raw Narratives) & Rowan Turnham

Salone Satellite 2015

 

 Designers from Satellite 2015

The week of design in Milan has been one of shear depth. I've never experienced something so strong and contagious. The whole city everywhere I looked had something related to design going on. From a bare and blank building transformed into a Nendo exhibit to hardware stores selling droog screws in packets. Streets turned into car showrooms (Audi City Lab) to the actual fair grounds of Rho. Fiera Milano Rho is the biggest dedicated showgrounds I have ever been to. 

The set-up of the stand was a difficult one. We did not have many resources to leverage on. Being in a different country and on the other side of the world adds its pros and cons. But we did the best with what we were given. And I'm proud of that. Good 'Aussie' spirit, have a crack.

Painting the stand black

 Max Harper, Matthew Harding, Adam Lynch & Hugh Altschwager (Left to right)

Mitch Rose Painting

Exo Series reading to be hung

The mix of designers from all around the world was such a great thing to be apart of. And to get a chance to exchange ideas and converse about design was even better.

By the end of the set-up we had a stand to be proud of. It was simple but worked well to show and complement our products.

 

Melbourne Movement Stand 2015

 

Matthew Harding & Rowan Turnham - Exo Series

Melbourne Movement - Salone del Mobile 2015

Melbourne Movement is a talented mix of young Australian designers, determined to build an international reputation for cutting edge Australian design. Melbourne Movement was founded in 1999 by Kjell Grant, an accomplished designer and professor of design at RMIT University.

Fostering and promoting products by excellent young designers and informing the public, retailers and manufacturers of the value and standard of design in Australia, are the core objectives of Melbourne Movement.

Grant currently invites young designers whose work is considered challenging and innovative in a world context to exhibit with the group. Melbourne Movement actively assists designers to commercialise their products. Melbourne Movement aims to make manufacturers, retailers and consumers become aware of the value of good design, and to promote the design excellence of young Australian designers.


We are a group of 7 designers from Melbourne. Our backgrounds in design vary from studies in Furniture design, Architecture to Industrial Design. And this year we are excited to be displaying our designs in Milan. Majority of the designs are lights including pendant, floor and table orientations and a chair design.


 

 Melbourne Movement 2015

Inkster Maken

Designs: Eclipse Wall Light, Flashlight Pendant, Matchstick Lamp

Eclipse Wall Light

Flashlight Pendant

Matchstick Lamp

Dowel Jones

Designs: Mr. Merger, Mr. Dowel Jones

Mr. Merger

Mr. Dowel Jones

Mr. Dowel Jones (disassembled)

Matthew Harding + Rowan Turnham

Designs: Exo Series

Tear drop & cage design

Table orientation

Wall bracket

Max Harper

Designs: Corker series

Corker cluster

Corker in context

Mitchell Rose

Designs: Spin Chair

Spin chair

Rear view of Spin chair

Front view of Spin chair

We would like to thank our sponsors for their support

And we would also like to thank Kjell Grant for his continuing support for Australian design and Ian Wong for coordinating this years Melbourne Movement, 2015.

For more information about the show go to Salone Del Mobile 2015

Refreshed and ready for 2015

So after finishing university for the year (2014). It was time to take a much needed break. It was a massive year for projects, renovations, furniture and lighting. I after a couple weeks in Melbourne went to Perth, Western Australia. With my family for Christmas for 2weeks. This was a great time to see family and just relax. 

After that I had a huge trip planned to go to South America for 2months. This was my escape, my time to just not worry about the little things in life and explore once again a continent that I have fell in love with over the past 4years. The vast contrast between culture, people, language and landscapes drew me back again. This time I was to travel with my girlfriend through Peru, Equador and Colombia. Also had a stop in Los Angeles on the way home for 3days which was great as well.

Cotopaxi, Equador

Inca Ruin, Day 3 of trek to Machu Picchu

This year 2015 is a big one.



I will be studying for the last year. Honours year for my Bachelor of Industrial Design at Monash University. The whole year will based on one project. The first semester is research and design based. And the second semester is based on bringing everything together whilst making a functional or aesthetic model. 


My design partner Matthew Harding and I will also be going to Salone Del Mobile Milan 2015 to exhibit with Melbourne Movement. We will be showing Exo series along with other Australian designers. 


'Melbourne Movement is a talented mix of young Australian designers, determined to build an international reputation for cutting edge Australian design. Melbourne Movement was founded in 1999 by Kjell Grant, an accomplished designer an professor of design at RMIT University.'  -  http://www.melbournemovement.com/


The crew going over is :


Adam Lynch
Dale Hardiman
Hugh Altschwager 
Max Harper
Matthew Harding
Mitch Rose 

Rowan Turnham

So its time to get back into it. My last year at university. This will be my 7th year of study after finishing high school all the way back in 2008. 


Imagine.
Create.
Make.



 Peace out.