13 Dec Friday Files by: BOYAC – Designer Discovery – Martin Allen of Martin Allen Antiques
This week for Friday Files, DESIGNER DISCOVERY, we are profiling Martin Allen of Martin Allen Antiques.
Martin has been a BOYAC client for many years, constantly showing us innovative and exciting ways to incorporate beautiful textiles with antiques to create unique and contemporary one off pieces.
What got you interested in Antiques?
I got into antiques for Love.
My first Girlfriends’ parents had an antique shop called Parkside Antiques, I rented the stables behind their shop to live in when I was 16 and found the love for 17th and 18th century antiques straight away.
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What is your favourite sourcing travel destination?
Dan Murphys, and for antiques the UK, from friends private collections and then some of the UK auctions and shops.
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What is your favourite period in design?
I have many. George I walnut 1750s Chippendale and 1950s Aldo Tura parchment tables, both I sold recently.
What is your favourite BOYAC fabric?
That’s easy, Colony.
The silk velvet Gran Conde Unito, looks great, feels great, folds and sews really well. Also ages so well when I see things I have covered in it years on. When I sell antiques I show clients only 100% natural fibres as the fabric options and coconut fibre filling, I’m a sort of bling Greenie.
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You have added a gallery to your South Melbourne store, what’s the upcoming exhibition?
I’ve built a gallery out of concrete and steel, behind my antique shop. At the moment I’m showing native art and street art they somehow sit well together, the street art is by a Canadian who goes by the name Tom Soyer.