Interior designer in-training Brigitte Owers-Buccianti returned to Melbourne from a semester abroad in Detroit, New York and Toronto with newly-acquired welding skills. In a Flashdance-style plot twist, the student designer combined this newfound metalwork expertise with her background in sculpture and set up her furniture brand, Real Non-Real.

Established just two months ago in the gap between finishing undergrad and commencing an Honours year, the fledgling practice comprises just one key product: an industrial-inspired coatstand named Formosa – and we’re obsessed!

Meaning ‘curvy’ in Italian, Formosa comprises a white cement conical base, undulating wave racks and a circular mid-height tray.  ‘It’s kind of intended as a catch-all for the domestic space,’ Brigitte explains. ‘A coat stand and key tray for the entry space, a bedside table and enemy to the infamous floordrobe, a rack for catching and drying towels and a place to rest your jewellery.’ It can be anything you want it to be!

The frame is made from powder-coated tubular steel and is available in red, off-white and grey. Each piece is handmade to order by Brunswick studio Us From Space, so requires approximately 4-6 weeks lead time.

Great things are in store for Brigitte. Watch this space!

Real Non-Real is now live, you can find out more here.