Former editor of Vogue Living and Belle magazines, and beloved former judge on Australia’s The Block, Neale Whitaker’s eye for design, innate sense of style and infectious charm have been part of the consciousness of Australian design lovers for years. As part of our ongoing Designer Selects series, Australian Design Review (ADR) asked Whitaker to share his favourite pieces.  

Jardan ‘Leeroy’ armchair in rust elk velvet  

I love to champion Australian design wherever possible and to me, there’s a beautifully timeless quality to the Leeroy armchair. It’s a robust design with a nod to the 1970s and the Deco era that, while contemporary, will stand the test of time. 

This is a chair for conversation, for reading, for watching a movie and simply being. The rich, chocolatey velvet is deliciously on trend, but for me, it works perfectly with the landscape palette of our country home.  

Talu lamp by Caitlin Robson 

No list of covetable designs from me is complete without a lamp. Quite apart from being sculptural and beautiful, this one designed by Caitlin Robson for  Sydney-based McMullin intrigues me. There’s something almost gravity-defying about the voluptuous, organic shape. 

The Talu lamp is handmade on Gadigal land and is actually glazed ceramic, but the finish reminds me of the veining in brown marble. It has a retro quality that recalls mid-century Italian design. 

Sjostrand ‘The Original’ stainless steel coffee machine 

I discovered this coffee machine by Swedish brand Sjostrand on a recent visit to England and immediately fell in love. To me, it’s the most perfect coffee machine – ever – in all its shiny, chrome glory. 

What’s the appeal? The pared-back, functional simplicity that reminds me of late-1990s industrial-style kitchens. The downside is the coffee machine is (as yet) unavailable in Australia, so it remains an object of unrequited lust.  

Harbour outdoor ‘Victoria’ aluminium lounge chair 

Outdoor furniture that matches its indoor counterparts in terms of quality and aesthetic have been with us for a while, but Sydney-based Harbour’s Victoria Aluminium lounge chair takes the concept of the outdoor room to a chic new level. 

The shape recalls both mid-century design and the elegance of Deco, while the powder-coated aluminium frame gives the Victoria a contemporary edge that will work — to my mind — in almost any outdoor setting.  

Armadillo & Co ‘Mason’ rug in sangria

My home is full of rugs. Some are brilliantly patterned whilst others,  like this one from Sydney-based Armadillo & Co, are quiet visual anchors that bring an entire space together and add depth and texture. I have always believed a rug or floor covering is the first thing the eye registers, and the Mason rug, while understated, is beautifully complex in its weave and finish. 

‘Bistro Tablescape’, linocut, 2024, by Allie Webb

I have always been obsessed with mid-century British artist John Minton, whose illustrations brought magic to so many cookbooks and travelogues. I find the same quality in the work of Australian artist Allie Webb, represented by Olsen Gallery. To my mind, Webb’s  (extremely covetable) linocut Bistro Tablescape celebrates the joy and generosity of the shared table and it would look perfect in our country guest house. 

Lead image: Neale Whitaker talking at a recent event at Harbour. Image supplied.

For more design to love and covet from well-known celebrity designers, read Darren Palmer’s Designer Selects.