Created by Sydney-based husband-and-wife team Michael and Tessa Bautovich, The Lowercase is a design studio where everyday items are transformed into whimsical worlds of expressive face cards, delightful cushions and quirky bed sets that’ll bring a smile to any child, big or small.

“Our founding premise was to escape the surrounding doctrines and ‘isms’ of today’s world and create timeless, functional decor pieces that promise to inspire,” Tessa relates. “We place children and their development at the core of our working philosophy. We believe thoughtful, intelligent design goes hand-in-hand with enjoyment of the world and inspires an improved quality of life.”

The Lowercase was launched in 2009. After working for several years in their respective fields of publishing and graphic design, their dream of doing something more finally came to fruition. “We’ve always viewed the world as a palette of living colour and take a very fluid approach to design as a concept of culture – a process of continual invention and re-invention,” she says.

“At The Lowercase, we live, breathe and sleep design.” On top of their explosive imagination, they’re committed to sustainable design. “At the studio, we take great pleasure in using only 100 per cent pure natural materials that are environmentally sustainable such as pure cotton, moso bamboo, eco-friendly paper and eco-friendly wax inks,” she shares.

“The more these naturally magical materials are sourced and utilised in a responsible fashion, the more beautiful our earth will grow.” With gorgeous styling, super-cute prints and quality material, the Urban Jungle Duvet Collection epitomises the very definition of their designs. “This collection was a canvas for our imagination and natural Egyptian cotton was the perfect, humble and high-quality textile to work with, pledging both everyday functionality and longevity,” she says.

“One of our proudest moments was seeing our graphic designs translated through the art of embroidery to create beautiful bedding, an enduring stitch in time that all ages will enjoy. To borrow from Terence Conran, the duvet is a classically functional piece of decor that can ‘make a small, positive difference to everyone’s lifestyle’.”

For the year ahead, Tessa believes the ‘democratisation of design’ is finally coming of age through the un-decorate movement. “This is a joy to embrace because it takes pleasure in breaking the strict rules typically related to professionally polished interiors and allows designers like us a real sense of creativity and freedom,” she explains. “It’s a trend that will welcome a universal code of imagination where a symphony of colour and style mix together in a delightful frenzy!” It is this unparalleled enthusiasm, energy and individuality that will no doubt see The Lowercase continue its rise as one of Australia’s design teams to watch.

“We work with uncompromising dedication to produce tomorrow’s classics,” she says. “We call them ‘classics’ because they’re freed from the boundaries of space and time and they can travel with you from childhood right through to adulthood.”

THE HOT SEAT

Place to shop… Hub Furniture in Surry Hills, Sydney and Vitra in Melbourne, Victoria.

Favourite designer… Italian designers Bitossi, their products are available from Hub Furniture.

Trends I love… the un-decorate movement.

Three words to describe The Lowercase… our motto at The Lowercase is three verbs – ‘Breathe Deeply. Laugh More. Sleep Well.’

Favourite product… My Perfect Portions Eco-Bamboo dinner set which retails for $59 and is available at www.thelowercase.com.au

By Danielle Hanrahan