We sit down with design authorities Neale Whitaker and Karen McCartney, as well as award-winning product designer Tom Fereday to talk through their home workspace essentials.
Our home workspace has never been more important with so many office workers adapting to remote working life. While light and positioning are crucial to setting up a comfortable space, we know working effectively in your home is closely intertwined with investing in quality design pieces.
Naturally, a functional desk is at the top of the list. Renowned for its integration of technology and minimalist design, the ETO Desk designed by award-winning furniture designer Tom Fereday in collaboration with King Living is made for working from home. The ETO Desk considers the way people truly work and live – one of the first desks to offer interchangeable lighting and charging accessories.
With the ETO desk taking number one position, we find out what’s essential to crafting a highly-considered home workspace for renowned design personality and King Living ambassador Neale Whitaker, revered design writer, author and editor Karen McCartney and the designer of the ETO Desk, Tom Fereday.
Produced in partnership with King Living
Design luminary Karen McCartney is no stranger to working from home. She is an editor, director at editd.com.au, exhibition curator and author of architecture and design books such as Iconic: Modern Australian houses 1950-2000. Karen says she has always been flexible with where she works, but now responds to the benefits of dedicated working space, a good chair and lighting – and in the company of her two dogs Buddy and Bowie.
Karen maintains it’s important to have a space that is quiet, in order to concentrate. “Storage is important so that you can impose a sense of order and a good chair so that your back doesn’t ache when you eventually stand up,” she says.
1. ETO Desk by Tom Fereday in Collaboration with King Living
2. Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 5 portable Bluetooth speaker
3. Jute rug in charcoal by Zebra Home Melbourne
4. Angle-poise Tolomeo lamp by Michele De Lucchi for Artemide
5. Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone
6. Artwork from ‘The Australian’ series by Nunzio Miano
7. Large Umbrella Plant (Schefflera Heptapleurum)
8. CH24 Wishbone Chair by Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn
9. Ourika candle by Cire Trudon
Tom Fereday is an award-winning Australian product designer, collaborating with King Living on the design of the ETO Desk. Tom enjoys working from home, where he has a quiet and private space and is able to adjust light conditions as the day changes. “One of the luxuries of working from home is that you have the control to cater a space specifically to your needs,” Tom says.
Tom says considering aspects such as view, privacy and a dedicated space to work are all key to creating an inspiring workspace at home. “Focus on natural materials, calm lighting and a clean, elegant layout to create a positive sense of wellbeing within your home,” he says. This is reflected in Tom’s design of the ETO Desk, which follows the philosophy of fewer but better objects and enduring design.“One key factor of ETO is its integrated lighting, power and charging that offers a desk space without feeling overly technical or heavy,” Tom affirms.
