Derived from the German words ‘Bau’ (meaning ‘building’) and Haus (meaning ‘house’), the Bauhaus School was the beginning of a fraternity of designers who demonstrated a strong passion for building a new way of experiencing our surroundings.  The Bauhaus was founded on the concept of reinvention. The Renaissance cemented a strong hierarchy of the arts, with painting and sculpture maintaining a higher status than the more practical arts of architecture, woodwork, and interior design. The Bauhaus mentality was to take the inspiration and intellectual principles of the design subject and ch ..read more

At Ross Thompson Furniture, we are passionate about showcasing the beauty and quality of native Australian timbers. We believe that by sourcing such timbers, we can contribute to the sustainable sourcing solutions of furniture materials, while also showcasing the most stunning expression through the aesthetic of our native timbers.  Here is a rundown of the key timbers used within our products. Tasmanian Myrtle. Endemic to the temperate rainforest of Tasmania and eastern Victoria, Tasmanian Myrtle is known for its vibrant and dynamic colour tones, with the myrtle used for commercial purp ..read more

The cultural phenomenon of Fast Furniture has resulted in the average consumer being satiated by ease and mobility. This has been demonstrated by the fact that 40% of Australians are likely to change their address every five years (a doubling of the global average).   Such a high rate of residence-shifting-humans increases the value of the hyper-convenient means of filling out a home in record time; an ideal that is made possible with the emergence of mass-produced furniture. However, such an emergence also introduced the trade-off of increased dispensability. As furniture that can b ..read more

I was once lectured by my boss when I was a first-year apprentice. My boss (who never considered himself to be an artist or a ‘creative'), espoused that work as a carpenter was governed purely by pragmatic and utilitarian foundations. As an 18-year-old apprentice who was on the precipice of life’s next journey, I found that perspective to be wholly depressing and utterly uninspiring.    Ten years later, (with a little more grounding, understanding, and life experience), I think I began to understand what he was trying to tell me. Albeit a rather pessimistic approach, his perspective ..read more

  However elusive perfection is, at least it is tangible. Subjective, but definable. Imperfection is harder to quantify; it could be equally favourable or detrimental to the end product. Mass production poses an interesting case for the pursuit of perfection - it perhaps is the birthplace of positive imperfection. We have lost trust in the reliability and the quality of products we purchase, so ironically it is in imperfection that we seek comfort and confidence in certain items - a sense of humanity. To find the imperfection, you cannot commit to the template and consistency of the mech ..read more

The Value of Handmade   Handmade has become ubiquitous within furniture making; to an extent, it is a valid adjective for the work people do. However, greater meaning lies within what we choose to connect with, and our relationship with the people and the materials that have created it. Now we have so many avenues to engage with ephemeral objects, we owe it to ourselves to ensure we sustain that relation. That is what should be at the core of handmade, not just a thinly veiled marketing grab.  It’s been recognized that, while mass-production has benefited the average consumer, there ..read more