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DESIGN | In Conversation with Coco Republic
DESIGN
In Conversation with Coco Republic
When two brands come together, it sparks energising —and CULTIVER’s partnership with Coco Republic is no exception. To mark our partnership, we spoke with Peter Fowler, Coco Republic’s Chief Product Officer, about his creative journey to get where he is today. From his love for mixing textures and eras to how he approaches innovative product design, his philosophy is simple yet profound - design should feel personal, just be easy and be constantly evolving. Read on as Peter opens up about his inspirations and wise advice for creating spaces that perfect what he calls the ‘tension’.
Peter Fowler, Chief Product Officer, Coco Republic.
You can see a selection of the CULTIVER range in situ at Coco Republic stores nationwide.
As Chief Product Officer, where do you seek inspiration?
Inspiration can be found in so many different channels these days, I have to admit I'm addicted to social media but still love magazines and books. I gravitate towards creatives’ homes, they are generally curated, and collected over time - you can never tell what year their home was designed because they are constantly evolving.
I have great respect for interior designers and decorators who know how to find the perfect tension in space - vintage and new, classic and contemporary, rough and smooth, gloss and matte. It’s a recipe that never gets old.
Tell us a little about your role within Coco Republic.
I lead all things product from seasonal ideation to product design, sourcing, planning and merchandising. It’s always exciting to launch a new product but I also love finding new ways to use heritage products that have been in our range for years.
What do you look for in a quality, timeless piece of furniture?
Quality can be complicated to judge particularly when shopping online but if you head in store and look at the finish and build of the piece it should be easy to see if something is going to last. If it looks fragile or precious it's probably going to drive you crazy to live with.
Timelessness for me is about following your gut, if you don’t worry too much about trends you will most likely find something you will love forever. We change the merchandising in our stores every few months so our customers can see different ways to live with our products. Most of our best loved products are what I would call chameleons, items that you can restyle with new combinations, and they create a whole new vibe.
What are your recommendations or advice when selecting furniture?
Find a design consultant who knows what they are talking about and understand the way you want to live, don’t fixate on trends. Bring your plans with you while you shop and when in doubt don’t be afraid to talk to a design professional to assist you, we have dedicated designers in each store to make it easy for you!
The other thing to think about is finishing an entire space, don’t just consider the sofa or dining table, think about the context of the full room. Lighting and texture are probably the two most underrated factors in a room so don’t forget about them!
What are your top three tips for styling a bedroom?
Firstly, prioritise your bedroom. It may not be on display like the living or dining room but it’s so crucial for your connection to your home!
1. Use a headboard or full bedframe to house your mattress, it’s hard to make a bedroom feel complete without one. I personally prefer a lower upholstered headboard to allow space to float a piece of art above the bed.
2. Lighting control is crucial for sleep quality and soft, ambient light makes your room feel more inviting. Reduce overhead lighting and use sconces or table lights instead to create a balance of glowing light around the room.
3. Finally invest in quality bedlinens, you will never regret having multiple sets of beautiful sheets and blankets. Not only will they last you longer but they will instantly enhance the look of your space.
How do you style your bed?
1. I like a simple tonal bed with a mix of textures, I don’t generally change it seasonally. I just like to peel back the layers to suit the temperature.
2. I do like to play with different colour pillowcases though and generally lean towards yellows and greens for that layer.
What are your daily rituals?
I am a serious creature of habit, I can’t leave the house without a fully made bed and the house looking ‘photoshoot ready’. Also can’t leave the house without a coffee and then head to L’Americano (our in-house café at the Coco head office) at 9am for my second. To end the work day I like to put my phone down and go for a long walk, sometimes make it to the gym but more enjoy the fresh air and disconnecting from my email.
