Thomas Hamel - Interior Designers & Decorators | Matt Blatt
THOMAS HAMEL
THOMAS HAMEL FOR MATT BLATT'S TOP AUSTRALIAN INTERIOR DESIGNERS & DECORATORS SERIES
You’ve become one of the most sought after and awarded designers - what inspired you to become an interior designer?
Interior Design somehow seems to be a part of my DNA. I began laying out rooms and furnishings made of Lego in my bedroom when I was around three years old. I truly could not imagine another career.
What do you love most about your work and the industry?
I enjoy the personal nature of being a residential interior designer. The job entails not only being creative, but requires strength in building intimate relationships and creating confidence with clients. I enjoy our industry as I have been able to build many personal and quite special relationships with suppliers over the years and around the globe.
A Thomas Hamel trademark layered and detailed sitting room where many styles and periods come together in a harmonious way. Photo: Supplied
Where in the world have you worked on projects?
My career started while I was based in New York City. During this time, I worked on projects around the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Having established my own company in Sydney, Australia, my team and I now work in all states of Australia plus New Zealand. Fortunately, Australian clients have many homes abroad and through our close personal relationships, many have invited us.
What is your favourite city to travel to for sourcing?
I find shopping and sourcing in California is the most suitable for our Australian market. We share many common details such as brighter natural light, indoor / outdoor living, and a casual lifestyle. I am able to bring clients into Californian showrooms and galleries and they can instantly imagine items being in their own homes. Besides West Hollywood and Palm Springs, there is marvellous sourcing in Montecito, Santa Barbara, and of course San Francisco. California also has enormous production facilities so many things are actually manufactured there for ease of shipping.
"The world of fabric selection has changed so much over the past few years..."
- THOMAS HAMEL
Have you ever found inspiration in a weird place? If so, please tell us about it?
I find design inspiration everywhere. I recall being in Jaipur, India and seeing a stunning marble staircase with horizontal bands of contrasting stone, and I was able to use this inspiration to realise a staircase in timber and plaster for a home in Florida.
Do you have a favourite colour to work with? Why?
When I arrived in Australia, my favourite colour was green. It seemed to suit more of the interiors on east coast of America. Having lived in Australia now for so many years, blue has certainly become a more predominant colour in our interiors. It is a marvellous cooling colour, and blue works so well with our intense day light.
What about the hardest colour to work with?
It is not easy, but I love working with black. It needs to be used in rooms requiring drama , but at the same time, it needs the contrast of light and whites to work with it. When black is used successfully, it can be very successful, otherwise, it can be rather sombre.
Who are some of your favourite past or present furniture designers/makers?
One of my designer ‘pinups’ (amongst many) is Achille Salvagni. He is based in Rome and London and creates beautiful furniture lighting, yachts and interiors. In NYC we source beautiful furniture from a gallery called Todd Merrill who nurtures incredible designers. In Los Angeles, there is a gallery Jean de Merry who also nurtures wonderful designers from around the globe. And currently, I am quite enamoured with a designer and woodcarver, based in Tennessee, called Caleb Woodard. For inspirations from the past, it is difficult to look past Jean Michael Frank
"It is not easy, but I love working with black..."
- THOMAS HAMEL
What about the hardest colour to work with?
It is not easy, but I love working with black. It needs to be used in rooms requiring drama , but at the same time, it needs the contrast of light and whites to work with it. When black is used successfully, it can be very successful, otherwise, it can be rather sombre.
When choosing a fabric, what are your top considerations?
The world of fabric selection has changed so much over the past few years. This change is primarily due to the fact that there are so many extraordinary fabrics being developed for indoor/ outdoor use. All of a sudden , we are able to suggest white / and or light colour sofas because the fabrics can now be cleaned and bleached. It is a revolutionary development in textiles.
Which architectural/interior design place/places made you go "WOW!!!"?
For inspiration in the past, it was very important to travel and visit as many places in the design world as possible. Nowadays it is wonderful to be able to experience extraordinary design online. I love experiencing wonderful global websites of furniture and lighting companies, and of course Instagram and Pinterest are the best way of finding inspiration without travel.
What will be the first international city you fly to for work as soon as Covid restrictions are lifted?
Oh goodness, it is difficult to choose only one city. I would imagine my first trip will include Los Angeles, New York, London and Paris, plus site visits in Chicago. It will be quite a shock to get on a long haul flight after such a long recess.
What is the first thing you check when you pickup your phone in the morning?
I am able to keep the phone on aeroplane mode during the night, but when I first check it in the morning, I start with emails and any that might have come from overseas clients and suppliers overnight. They usually require crucial responses before they head to sleep in their cities, especially if they are in Europe. Afterwards, I awake slowly with a 10/15 minute spin through instagram.
Who is your favourite artist?
This question certainly is a difficult one to answer. I have always adored the work of Andy Warhol. His graphic simplicity and yet, poignant imagery always add a contemporary moment to a classic room without overwhelming. In Australia, I’m a great admirer of the works of Joshua Yeldham, and I have recently acquired a wonderful artwork from Paris of moulded acrylic by Jerome Robbe.
