From international design houses to one-of-a-kind commissions, The Townhouse brings together furniture, lighting and objects chosen for their beauty, provenance and ability to give a room a sense of luxury and individuality.
WORDS ELIZABETH CLARKE IMAGERY JODY D'ARCY
The most exquisite rooms don’t look as though everything was acquired at once. That sensibility sits at the heart of The Montauk Lighting Co. and The Modern Traditionalists, founded by Gino Premici and Marie Botsis-Premici and housed in The Townhouse in West Leederville. What began with a love of distinctive lighting and an appreciation for objects has evolved into a national destination for exceptional furnishings, lighting and decorative pieces from some of the world’s most celebrated European, British and American makers.
"Our philosophy has always been less about following a particular look and more about finding pieces with presence that resonate," says Gino. "Furniture, objects and lighting that bring character, depth and a sense of permanence to a room. We’re drawn to exceptional craftsmanship, materials and designs that feel distinctive without being momentary. Often it only takes one extraordinary piece to change the dynamic of a space. Ultimately, we want to help create interiors that feel collected, personal and enduring rather than simply decorated."
Beyond the Off-the-Shelf
For both The Modern Traditionalists and The Montauk Lighting Co, the design process doesn’t always end with the piece itself. Furniture and lighting can be adapted through scale, finish, fabric, colour or configuration, allowing an existing design to feel right for a particular space.
That approach is evident in the studio’s collaborations. London studios Haberdashery and Tom Dixon work with the team on bespoke lighting installations, while Charles Orchard can adapt colour, scale and proportion for individual projects. The Modern Traditionalists also works with designers on more personal commissions, creating pieces that retain the character of the original design while taking on a new identity.
"For us, bespoke isn’t about making something different simply for the sake of it; it’s about making something feel completely resolved for the space it inhabits," says Gino. "Exceptional design should never feel as though it has simply been selected from a catalogue and placed into a room. Sometimes a subtle shift in scale, a particular finish or fabric is all that’s required to transform a beautiful piece into something that feels personal. We’re fortunate to work with designers and makers who understand that level of nuance, where the integrity of the original design is preserved, but the final piece belongs uniquely to the interior."
In Good Company
The Modern Traditionalists’ work extends beyond its collections into collaborations with designers on lighting, furniture and bespoke pieces. Its partnership with leading interior designer Diane Bergeron has brought her refined, timeless aesthetic to a debut lighting collection, translating her signature approach to classic American style into pieces designed for contemporary interiors. Several new collaborations with leading Australian designers are also taking shape.
"Our relationships with designers are built on a genuine exchange of ideas and a shared appreciation for exceptional design," says Gino. "Together, we can develop new pieces or reinterpret existing designs, giving clients access to extraordinary creative talent and makers. That dialogue between designer, maker and client is where some of the most interesting work begins."
A World Within Reach
For a business based in Perth, the reach is remarkably international. The Modern Traditionalists has deliberately sought out brands that offer something distinctive – pieces that are beautifully made, difficult to find and capable of giving a project a sense of individuality.
Among its global partnerships are Ralph Lauren Home, Tom Faulkner, Oxley’s and Trove by Studio Duggan, alongside a diverse roster spanning Europe, America, the UK and beyond.
The Montauk Lighting Co. extends that international perspective into lighting, representing celebrated names including Ralph Lauren Home, Kelly Wearstler, British studios Haberdashery and Tom Dixon, Belgium’s Authentage and Danish brands &Tradition and HAY.
"We’ve never believed being in Perth should limit access to the world’s best design," says Gino. "Our global partnerships bring extraordinary pieces, makers and perspectives to Perth, giving clients and designers access to a much broader design world and the opportunity to create interiors that feel genuinely individual."
“We want to help create interiors that feel collected, personal and enduring rather than simply decorated.”
— GINO PREMICI
The Eye Behind the Edit
The final piece of the offering is the expertise behind it. The Townhouse is home to a team of qualified interior designers who work with clients to navigate the breadth of the collection, whether the brief is to refine an existing interior, furnish a new home or realise a larger architectural or commercial project.
It is an increasingly valuable role in a world where choice can be overwhelming. Knowing what to select is one thing; knowing what to leave out is another. The Modern Traditionalists approaches the process collaboratively, helping clients develop interiors that feel layered, considered and personal rather than overly resolved.
The aim is never simply to fill a room. It is to find the chair, the rug, the light or the object that changes everything around it – the piece that feels right once it is there.
"Great interior design begins with trust. Our role is to listen, understand how someone wants to live, and bring experience and a trained eye to the decisions that follow," says Gino. "A successful interior should feel connected to the people who live there, not like an expression of the designer. When every piece has a reason, but nothing feels overly orchestrated, that’s when a home develops real character."
10 Northwood St, West Leederville
The Montauk Lighting Co. / montauklightingco.com / @montauklightingco
The Modern Traditionalists / themoderntraditionalists.com / @themoderntraditionalists
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