Gabriel Jacka has new Stockists in Australia! You can now view our range at The Selvedge Group throughout Australia.

Their new Melbourne show room will be opening this Monday on leafy Victoria Parade. Please find their details on our stockist page.

www.theselvedgegroup.com.au/gabriel_jacka

A good friend of mine found David Hicks’s Book on flower arranging ‘The David Hicks Book of Flower Arranging’, one day when we were going through our usual second-hand gold mines and that day she really did strike GOLD!

It is to Hicks testament that his designs, of all kinds interiors, fabrics, flowers are still as relevant today as the day they were designed for, his work shows that if we stay to good design principles we can create design that is truly timeless.

Looking through this book it is a pleasure to be inspired by the simple and classic approach to flower arranging. Full and colour block arrangements, spars and architectural designs, single stems, collections of different flowers all of which hold their own so many years on and will continue to.

David Hicks Book of Flower Arranging 1976

The power of a single piece of furniture can sometimes be frightening. Colour, shape, finish, size and style and make or break a room.

However the power of a piece of furniture that does not cry for attention and can almost be invisible can add so much to a space. Its invisibility is its greatest power, it never cry’s for attention, giving other pieces the chance to shine, whilst still holding its own. Lucite furniture gives a room a chance to breath and flow without interruption

Images: 1&4 Better Homes & Gardens, New Decorating Book US 1981, 2 ELLE DECOR - Claiborne Swanson Frank, 3 ELLE DECOR - Suzanne Rheinstein, Image 5, Gabriel Jacka - Cushions Moroka Tully Green

My first project at design school was to create pattern and motif, for this our teacher put a pile of odd shoes on the table and asked us to draw inspiration from this. At first the we all sat there a bit unsure of how to do this as odd shoes seamed like an odd choice, but now I see this as one of the best lessons as it was to teach us that you can find inspiration in anything!

These botanicals are no exception, and I will never end to find them inspiring! (A little easer then odd shoes!)This is a collection of Australian natives; I just love the shapes and how they are all so unique.

All images Michael Morcombe, Australia's Wildflowers, 1970.

I first became fascinated by Africa when I was a young child. My Grandfather had been on an adventure to Africa in the 1970s and brought back artefacts such as, hides, mounted horns, ceramics and all kinds of interesting items that captivated my imagination.

 I was fortunate enough to go to Africa a few years ago, the people, animals, colour and sounds, have provided me with endless inspiration! These images are from a book I found in a second hand shop, Africa a Continent Revealed - Rene Rordon, I think they give a great account of the amazing place that is Africa, and the Africa that my grandfather experienced.

These chairs had seen much better days! But with a coat of gloss paint and some fresh upholstery,

(Gabriel Jacka, Moroka, Gigi Blue) they have a new life!

Smell is one of the most personal things and what you smell like can be the something, which can say so much about you. When looking for a perfume it can be all to easy to just buy the brand or the bottle, even the price tag, but all of this means nothing if the contents is less then flattering. So take some time and a friend who always smells amazing and go searching! These are some of my favourites!

I have just had a delivery from my workroom, so there are some great new things to share! Some amazing box cushions in Baromi Poplar Yellow for a set of vintage cane chairs!  

The more I look the more I see! I’m not one for trends, but sometimes a colour, piece or treatment keeps appearing! All of the shades of yellow are one such thing. I have put together a little collection of interiors from books and magazines old and new, to showcase this warm, lush and vibrant colour!

I am always looking through old magazines, for many reasons…inspiration, room layouts, colour, pattern the list keeps going on! One of the places I find the most inspiring are photo shoots where stylists have run all over town to put together an amazing collection of items which sing together. This collection of images is a perfect example of the stylist’s art!

All Images: The Would of Interiors May 1986

Styled by Ilsa Crawford & Nicolette Le Pelley. Photos by Bill Batten

I was looking through a book I found, lost in a pile at a second hand shop, Gina Lollobrigida’s ITALIA MIA, and was captured by the scooters that graced the pages. With Vespers flying around your hometown they are still a great mode of transport and so classic and stylish!

All images: ITALIA MIA by Gina Lollobrigida 1972

One thing that has changed but stayed ever so relevant has been the ability to capture and carry time with us. These devices have changed from pocket to wrist and back to pocket, but we all carry one in some shape or another. These objects have also been a great way to express one’s personality, whether through colour, shape or style,. We have been able to express something about ourselves, whether it be true or not! Here are some of the most out standing examples!

Image 1: Mondaine Swiss Railways Watch, Image 2: Anon, Image 3: Lexon, Image

4: Normal Watch White by Ross McBride, Image 5: Anon

There are few patterns that have lasted as long. This is one of the most timeless designs of history and it still stands up today! No matter what it embellishes when it bears  a Greek Key it is simply stylish!

Image 1 - Anonymous , Image 2 - decorpad.com via House Beautiful

Image 3 - Wedgwood - Dynasty, Image 4 - Lucite Table - Allan Knight

As a young kid we always had goldfish - I found these little creatures fascinating and have been drawn to the amazing colours and shapes when working on designs. I find it amazing how something so small can have so much life, colour and movement.

Books are one of those things that you will have for life! I’m always so excited when I find a great new book, but I must say there is something about finding a book that has been forgotten about. These images are from some of my best finds.

I am a Textile Designer based in Melbourne, Australia.

I have my own line of Interiors Textiles, which are hand screen printed in Melbourne and sold all over the world.

I hope to bring new and exciting content to the world of blog's and share the things that inspire me and make me think! Interiors, books, art being just a few, from all times and places.

I hope you take pleasure in my thoughts and can be inspired by what inspires me!

Best,

Gabriel Jacka

This is a photo of a pair of vintage chairs upholstered in one of my fabrics, Mitta Mitta in Tiki Orange.