WOMEN OF NOTE:
Georgina Davies | Interior and Product Designer
Inside Georgina Davies’ weatherboard cottage in Mullumbimby, glimpses of Mount Chincogen meet a garden overflowing with cucumbers. The home built in 1958 offers the perfect backdrop for her creative explorations in custom furniture and functional art.
For the interior and product designer, her process balances impulse with intention. Each piece begins with a spark of inspiration, sketched, researched, and refined until it takes shape. Drawing from 20th-century modernist architecture and design, Georgina’s work is defined by bold geometry and functional forms. Whether crafting a luggage display table with hidden compartments or dreaming of experimenting with Murano glass, her creations transcend the expected to merge practicality with artistry.
With her love of metalwork and a curiosity for new materials like lacquer and laminate, Georgina bridges the old and the new, crafting objects that tell stories and evolve with their owners. To her, home is a refuge, a space where objects bear the imprints of their journeys and connections to people and places.
We spoke with Georgina about her inspirations, rituals, and what’s next in her design journey. Captured at home wearing the Drawcord Halter in lake stripe, Folded Wool Pant in sable stripe, Day Shirt in white and the Cotton Sash in white.
Location: Mullumbimby, New South Wales
Date: 25/11/2024
Time: 8.00 PM
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Where are you from and where are you now? I was born in London and moved to Australia when I was very little. I grew up in Perth, before moving to the Northern Rivers about 8 years ago.
Are you a morning or evening person? 100% evening.
Can you tell us about your home, what is the view like? It’s a cute little weatherboard cottage built in 1958 - very much a work in progress. Out the back you’ll see our vegie patch which is currently overflowing with cucumbers. From the front veranda you can catch a glimpse of Mount Chincogen. In life and work, who and what inspires you? In life, it’s definitely my friends and family. They keep me grounded and remind me what’s important. In work I’m drawn to 20th-century modernist architecture and design. I love the bold geometry, functional forms and overall simplicity.
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How would you describe your creative process? It’s a bit of a balancing act - impulsive at first, then more considered as I go. When an idea hits, I’ll either sketch it out or add it to my ever-growing list of concepts. Then it’s all about research, trial and error, and refining until it feels right.
What does “home” mean to you, especially as someone who shapes others’ spaces through your designs? To me, home is a refuge - a space that evolves over time, where old and new coexist and objects tell the stories of people or places.
Your pieces often transcend conventional purposes and serve multiple needs. Can you tell us about a particular project where this approach came to life? I recently completed a commission piece for a luggage brand - a table designed to serve as both a display and a functional element, incorporating a built-in compartment for a suitcase that encourages play and interaction.
Do you have any rituals that you never fail to begin and end the day with? In the mornings I beeline from bed to the stove to put on a coffee.
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Where are your favourite places to go to when seeking inspirations? Ohh literally any city. If I had to pick, I’d say somewhere in Europe like Prague or Krakow, where the brutalist architecture and dated decor give off a strange, nostalgic beauty.
Collaborating with architects, interior designers, and private clients can involve different visions and styles. How do you navigate and integrate these perspectives while staying true to your design philosophy? It’s about finding my intention for the project. Once that’s clear I can experiment with the other elements while staying true to my overall vision.
Has there been a significant moment of your past that has informed where you are today? It’s not so much a specific moment but more of an ongoing process. Learning to push aside imposter syndrome and trust in my own instincts really opened things up for me.
Is there a specific material or technique you enjoy working with, or one that you’d love to explore further? For now, my love of metal prevails, but I’d love to explore glassmaking- especially the art of Murano glass. I’m also currently fascinated by lacquer and laminate. |
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What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? Listening to No Angels by Mike Midnight, Reading The Little Friend by Donna Tartt, Watching Industry.
Could you tell us about a piece you created that particularly resonates with you or holds personal significance? Probably the first piece I ever made for that exact reason.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? It’s not exactly advice but I often go back to the Buddhist teaching of the lotus flower blooming from muddy water.
When do you feel most yourself? When I’m surrounded by the people I love.
How do you stay grounded? Spending time in the garden and calling home.
What do you do to unwind? A swim in the ocean usually does it.
What do you dream of while you sleep? My dreams are usually quite chaotic, they don’t always make a lot of sense but they are mostly very fun.
Georgina wears the Drawcord Halter in Lake Stripe, Day Shirt in White, Cotton Sash in White and Folded Wool Pant in Sable Stripe.
See more of Georgina's work here. Images by Zali Rae.
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