bower Studios is true to its namesake. The Bower Bird is renowned for its unique courtship behaviour, in particular where males build a structure and decorate it with sticks and brightly coloured objects. Like the bird, the team at Bower Studios have an instinct to create experiential beauty. It’s a partnership of like-minded souls intent on sharing their creative voices with the world.
“I enjoyed fine arts and mathematics growing up. Design was a nice mix of creative expression and problem-solving through objects that could be universally understood,” says Bower cofounder Danny Giannella. Diving into the design scene in New York, he teamed up with co-worker Tammer Hijazi to create their own design space in 2013. Together with their third partner, Jeff Rey Renz, they turned their creative spirit into a viable growing business.
Melt Mirror 2
“We needed the freedom to play, experiment and find our voices,” says Danny. “Bower is the conduit between our inspirations and our audience. It’s an evolving conversation that keeps us and our audience engaged.” Beginning their design journey with timber, they expanded into other materials such as metal, stone, textiles and glass. The tension created from the juxtapositions of these material combinations elevates the interest level and makes each piece memorable, while their unexpected use of material and form has led to many designs that have an otherworldly hint of magic.
What Bower does with both bold brilliance and decadent modesty is challenge the perception of depth, light and self. Their focus on mirrors — the item most closely related to human consciousness — encapsulates the spirit of discovery inherent in all Bower pieces. In fact, mirrors (including their popular Archway Mirror) are what they have become known for. Danny says they are “a magical portal of sorts” by creating the illusion of a passageway into another space. Each custom-made mirror is made using architectural-grade glass thoughtfully sourced from around the world, with a unique selection of tinted and antique finishes and framed in-house with a variety of domestic solid timber.
Beyond this, their handcrafted collections capture unique moments and deliver inimitable style in pieces of furniture, lighting and accessories, giving rise to quite a following of devout Bower-loving customers. Fittingly, they describe their design style as contemporary- surreal, infusing each design with the recognisable Bower DNA. “We use familiar design language, almost as a set-up for that unexpected twist,” says Danny. “Whether it’s a pair of small bookends, a mirror, a chair or a retail space, our genes run strong throughout.”
Melt Coffee Table
About how they find inspiration, Danny says it’s organic. “One idea naturally leads to the next. We try to walk a path that isn’t too straightforward or predictable, so we build on previous ideas by adding twists and turns along the way.” Their recent Melt Collection explores their fascination with reality versus perception. Upholstered cushions, table tops and mirrors seemingly find themselves at mid-melting point, slumped over supports, making them appear soft and warm.
What they are most curious about now is the process of vertically integrating their production. In addition to shorter lead times and tighter quality control, Danny says it will become easier and faster to experiment, which is a necessary passion for the team at Bower. “The ability to act upon an idea quickly can make a huge difference. It’s like a conversation. Lag time can make or break the spirit and clarity of the interaction.” Bower Studios products can be browsed and purchased from bower-studios.com or livingedge.com.au