Gabrielle Beswick and Andrew Beveridge, Brunswick, VIC
Images by Sean Fennessy
We visited Gabrielle Beswick and Andrew Beveridge (along with their miniature spoodle Odie) at their home in the colorful, inner-city suburb of Brunswick. The creative couple grew up in Tasmania before relocating to Melbourne where Gabrielle studied fashion and Andrew furniture design. After graduating and working in their chosen fields they decided to combine their skills and launch the multidisciplinary design studio, Fomu.
Gabrielle: “We moved into this space about 6 months ago. We love the big windows and the balcony that wraps around the house. My favourite part is the olive trees that sit just outside the main room, at night, I have a lamp that lights the trees up and I just think it looks so calming and beautiful.”
Andrew: “I love the simplicity of an apartment. There is only enough room for necessary items, which means we don’t over clutter the space. I also love the view of Brunswick and the big windows make us feel more connected to the location.”
Gabrielle & Andrew’s bedside table is the Fomu Double in cream and is paired with a pleated lamp by HAY. Their bed is dressed in an IN BED 100% linen fitted sheet, duvet cover and pillowslips in dove grey with a flat sheet in white and extra pillowslips in grey and white stripe.
AB: “We have almost removed every decorative detail from this space. I feel that it leaves a bit of a blank canvas as we spend everyday designing products. It’s nice to sleep somewhere that doesn’t clutter my mind.”
Pictured is the Fomu Odie Chair made with American Oak in a natural, plant-based finish.
GB: “All of our Fomu items are very special to us as we design them all ourselves, so we feel that it is a representation of us. All of our ceramics are hand made by us also as we love doing this together in our spare time.
All of our Fomu items are very special to us as we design them all ourselves, so we feel that it is a representation of us.
GB & AB: “We started working on Fomu together in 2017, Andrew graduated from RMIT studying furniture design and Gabby was working in the Fashion Industry. We always loved the idea of starting our own design studio. We were holidaying in Scandinavia when we decided that we needed to get serious about what we were doing because if we didn’t do it now, we would never do it. When we got home, we started designing the first collection together.”
GB: “Something we think about a lot at Fomu is sustainability. The timber and upholstery in the latest L’Art de ivre range both have sustainable elements. The timber is sustainably sourced through selective harvesting, this means smaller numbers of trees are harvested per hectare and this allows remaining plants to naturally regenerate the forest. The finish we have used to seal the timber is a natural plant-based wax/oil. The main properties of this product come from sunflower, soya, linseed and thistle oils. The wood remains naturally beautiful, protected and durable.
Something we think about a lot at Fomu is sustainability. The timber and upholstery in the latest L’Art de ivre range both have sustainable elements.
The fabrics we chose to work with is a bouclé that comprises a robust mix of wool and cotton. The wool is sustainably sourced from Australian and New Zealand wool producers and the mill in which the fabrics are woven is in Biella, Italy. The area that the mill is located in was historically chosen due to the high flow rivers originating in the alps which is a key component of the fabric production and finishing. The high calcium content of the water is naturally occurring giving the fabric an incredible finished hand feel and softness without having to use excessive chemicals.”
Gabrielle & Andrew’s bed is dressed in an IN BED 100% linen fitted sheet, duvet cover and pillowslips in dove grey with a flat sheet in white and extra pillowslips in grey and white stripe.
GB & AB: “When we are not designing, we usually travel back to Tasmania as much as possible to see our families. We love spending time outdoors going camping, bush walking or spending time at the beach. At the moment it’s been spent at home so we have been drinking red wine and catching up on some well needed rest.”