December 01, 2014
DESIGNER + CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANEL DAETZ
Pick up any object in the homewares and fashion boutique Henry Corbett & Co, and creative director Manel Daetz can tell you a story behind it. The interior designer has paid a significant amount of detail to where objects are sourced, and the quality of the craftsmanship. She is also concerned with stocking items that can’t be find across a range of other stores. This assiduity applies to other areas of her business too - including customised kitchens, which can be finished with inlaid brass screws and plates. After working in interiors for many years, Manel felt there was a gap in the Australian market for a boutique store that delivered on all aspects of life - from the clothes you wear, to the body products you use to the decor items you buy, and the design solutions you need for your home. Henry Corbett & Co is based in Sydney’s Woollahra.
Which five words best describe you? Organic, natural, luxury, down-to-earth.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I stared at ISCD studying interiors, surface and textile, colour and design, and never looked back. Design was the path that I had to take. I love solving puzzles and creating designs that both function and are aesthetically pleasing. With these skills I decided to combine them into a holistic design boutique that focuses on architectural planning through to styling.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Design is a process. When it is done well it fulfils both form and function and adds luxury to the every day.
What’s your proudest career achievement? The Henry Corbett & Co boutique is definitely up there. It has a universal appeal, which is what the aim was from the start.
It has a calm, relaxed vibe and beautiful handmade products combined with unique pieces from around the world to purchase. fufils
What’s been your best decision? Starting my career in design and perusing my dream to create beautiful spaces uniquely designed for each individual.
Who inspires you? It would have to be Geoffrey Bawa - his unique combination of inviting the outside in and the inside out was a design concept long before his time and is a philosophy I totally embrace. I adore how he integrated natural rocks into new structures and allowed whole areas to be opened to let natural light flood in.
What are you passionate about? I truly believe in ethical trade products which we have in the boutique to select. Also, I am passionate about all things natural and organic. We use them wherever possible: our in-house apothecary range uses organic oils and our signature sofas have 80-year-old timber bases.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I would love to meet Andrea Putman - her design style was sophisticated with clean lines and great attention to detail.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? I would love to travel for a year to visit all the amazing interiors and architectural places that have been built both new and old. When I travel I get so inspired by all the new sensory experiences, and I adore taking those home and incorporating them into my projects.
What are you reading? A book that I read recently was The giver. I like books that allow us to think in a different way and explore the question “what if?”.
images courtesy of manel daetz; photography natalie walton (images 1 and 2)