The balance between work and life has always been a complicated one in the modern world. The monotonous 9-5 can feel trite and can have a pernicious effect on our creativity. Since 2018, McMullin have positioned themselves as a conduit for artistic output, where the team is encouraged to explore “as many external influences as they can… from architecture, old interiors books, antique galleries and even their travels or experiences,” comments Alice McMullin, Founder of McMullin. “That mix of modern thinking and tactile, historical reference hopefully gives our designs substance and distinctiveness; our range is stronger because of what each person brings.”
It appears, in the current product landscape, that a new generation of designers is resisting the constant cycle of trends, pace and conformity. The objective has changed: a deep-seated focus on timelessness now saturates our feeds. From laconic product descriptions to extensive write-ups about architecture, timelessness has – fittingly enough – never stopped being in vogue.
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No stranger to enduring design, McMullin stands at the fore. She explains that a propensity to emphasise “sourcing, storytelling and styling from the beginning gave us the framework we still follow – don’t launch a product unless you know it’s the best quality and can live seamlessly in someone’s home. I hope we’re seen as part of a shift toward slow interiors – a quieter, more intentional way of living. Less about constant reinvention, more about layering meaning into your home over time.”
When designing a product, the team poses a straightforward question: ‘would I want this in my own home?’
“Our team’s creative output is grounded in lived experience and shaped by the diversity of our backgrounds,” says McMullin. “We have people who’ve worked in fashion, architecture and the fine arts – all bringing different perspectives to the design process. We encourage creative expression outside the business. Hopefully, this encouragement to find purpose and passion outside of the 9–5 also influences our design and culture at McMullin.”
McMullin continues: “We believe in balance – our pieces should complement each other, not compete, but at the same time feel distinct from each other.” This approach harks back to the lessons learnt from the early years of their tenure, when the brand – formerly McMullin and Co. – began with a different product focus, such as Icelandic sheepskins. However, it was the simplicity and neutrality of those initial rugs that set a tone for what followed.
“We now design with the same principle in mind – furniture that fits into a home, not overpowers it. Pieces that work in real life and across evolving trends, tastes and colours.” They imbue the designs with knowledge obtained from the way the team individually leads their lives – from the way they espy and foray the world.
“Where I am in life right now, it’s about growing in a way that feels grounded. I want McMullin to evolve without overwhelming my life or my team. That means doing things with care, releasing fewer, more considered collections, telling deeper stories and putting our energy into things that matter. And of course, leaving just enough room for the unexpected… because it will always find a way in.”
In transitioning from side-hustle to design studio, McMullin draws on pivotal moments that reaffirmed the revered brand’s commitment to creating functional and beautiful pieces, including the recent rebrand. “It marked a maturing for the brand and myself, refining our identity and reinforcing what McMullin stands for: purposeful living and quiet, enduring design… It’s given me new inspiration and a clear filter for every product decision we make,” adds McMullin.
In addition, the opening of a flagship showroom in Marrickville, Sydney, was a huge turning point: “It allowed people to physically engage with our pieces, feel the weight of solid timber, run their hands across the grain of teak finishes and notice the quality stitching on our bed heads or couches.” Recognising that the impermanence of trends can clash with keeping on top of them, McMullin shares that the team aims “to observe design movements, cultural shifts and materials… If a piece has lasted 80 years and still feels right in a space, that’s a clue. We take cues from those proportions and materials, then bring them into a more contemporary way. Our latest collection focuses on gentle geometry, earthy tones and modularity, which I hope gives people flexibility to grow into their space.”
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