May 28, 2009
(shop.inspiration) 4M
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Did you catch Mark Patterson's home in the June 09 issue of real living? I loved it. From his charcoal-coloured staircase to his striped bedroom walls and beautiful bedlinen that has suddenly leaped to the top of my must-buy list. Well, for those of us who live in Australia, we can pretty much get his entire look because Mark is owner of the homewares store 4M in Melbourne. His recently released bedlinen is made exclusively for the store (made locally in Melbourne!). And the store stocks some of my fave brands such as Paul Smith and Marimekko.
Which five words best describe you? Creative, motivated, industrious, graphic, visual.
What was your first job and what path have you taken since then? Retail clothing sales, from there into architectural sales for a furniture company which was my intro into the design and furniture field working directly with architects and interior designers and then into my own similar business then expanding into retail as well.
What’s your proudest achievement? 4M... my business which has been running for 10 years now.
What’s been your best decision? Diversifying in my business. We started off as a local furniture company supplying to the architects and designers for their projects, then added locally designed and made lighting, opened retail stores and added more retail products and recognised brands.
Who inspires you? Generally my inspiration comes from international trade shows be it the Milan Furniture fair or the Paris maison fair for home wares.
What are you passionate about? Design, lifestyle and my dogs.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt? Go with your gut feeling and don’t be swayed by others' opinions.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Elle Macpherson because I think she is an incredibly talented business person and would love to know the secret to her success apart from her looks!
What dream do you still want to fulfil? To design a product range for a leading design house... Alessi or maybe even Paul Smith?
What are you reading? A book by a local author called Shallow End which is about the ‘goings on’ at and the disappearance of a swimmer from the Prahran pool. I’m only half way through, it's quite interesting given that I have spent much time in my younger years there and that work is just around the corner from there now.
What’s your proudest achievement? 4M... my business which has been running for 10 years now.
What’s been your best decision? Diversifying in my business. We started off as a local furniture company supplying to the architects and designers for their projects, then added locally designed and made lighting, opened retail stores and added more retail products and recognised brands.
Who inspires you? Generally my inspiration comes from international trade shows be it the Milan Furniture fair or the Paris maison fair for home wares.
What are you passionate about? Design, lifestyle and my dogs.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt? Go with your gut feeling and don’t be swayed by others' opinions.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Elle Macpherson because I think she is an incredibly talented business person and would love to know the secret to her success apart from her looks!
What dream do you still want to fulfil? To design a product range for a leading design house... Alessi or maybe even Paul Smith?
What are you reading? A book by a local author called Shallow End which is about the ‘goings on’ at and the disappearance of a swimmer from the Prahran pool. I’m only half way through, it's quite interesting given that I have spent much time in my younger years there and that work is just around the corner from there now.
Images courtesy of 4M and real living