The house of Henri
After 10 years of bringing European design to WA homes, Henri Living is reinvesting in its clientele with personalised services and clever bespoke storage solutions.
In partnership with HENRI LIVING • Words ELIZABETH CLARKE • Imagery JODY D’ARCY
IMAGE: Saba Italia’s New York sofa and Ditre Italia Beetle lounge chairs add opulence to this cosy living space in a home in Coolbinia. Désirée’s Sabi coffee table adds texture and lightness to the space, and Ditre Italia’s Darling floor lamp adds a soft glow.
Poring over look books by European design brands is a ritual of Lyle and Lua Henri, who buoy their eponymous Claremont showroom with furnishings and objects by the likes of Saba Italia, LaCividina, and Ditre Italia. For 10 years, Henri Living has clocked up an impressive portfolio of residential and commercial projects, including Mirvac’s Reserve and Grandstand Apartments in Claremont, Cherubino Wines Cellar Door in Margaret River, Victoria Avenue house in Claremont, Cirque Apartments by Erben in Mt Pleasant and, most recently, furnishings for luxury brand Cartier's newly launched Perth store.
Lyle's strong architectural background and Lua's interior design experience combine seamlessly in the business, where they work closely together, collaborating with Perth's top creatives on residential and commercial projects.
Lua's design philosophy is to create coolly elegant, minimal, luxurious and relaxed interiors. She starts projects with a simplistic colour palette, gradually layering furnishings, lighting and floor rugs in varying materials and textures to provide warmth and character to spaces.
“There is an underlying feel to our work, but our clients request classic interiors as well as contemporary ones and we love the variation," says Lua. " Beautiful design and a deep-rooted enthusiasm for creating harmonious spaces lie at the heart of everything we do at Henri Living."
Objects of desire
Henri Living offers various brands, including furnishings, lighting, floor rugs and art. Among these, Saba Italia is particularly popular for its unique combination of shapes and colours and its dedication to high-quality textiles.
“Sofas and armchairs are important offerings from Saba, providing seating solutions for different spaces, from homes to commercial spaces,” says Lyle. “We use their New York collection and Pixel sofa often in projects for their style, comfort and customisable options.” Recently, Lyle provided Cartier's new Perth store with Saba Italia's swivelling Chance chairs – chic tub seats swathed in luxurious quilted velvet.
Another in-demand brand, Désirée, celebrates the art of expressing emotions through design. The brand's roots can be traced back to the serene landscapes of Treviso (just north of Venice), where it was founded in 1968. Since then it has become a go-to brand for Europeans seeking sofas, armchairs and beds that seamlessly blend functionality with aesthetics, all made with skilled and rigorous care.
Iconic Italian furniture manufacturer Novamobili recently joined the Henri Living stable of brands. Established in 1953 in Pieve di Soligo, Novamobili specialises in producing furniture and systems, particularly innovative modular systems that offer unique solutions for everyday life at home. The brand’s team of designers and engineers collaborate with top names in architecture and design to create state-of-the-art, custom-tailored furniture solutions.
IMAGE: Lua and Lyle Henri from Henri Living.
Curating spaces for everyday
Adding value to a home and improving the ease and enjoyment of clients' everyday living is a central focus for the duo. "I work closely with interior designers on selections for their projects, and homeowners who haven't engaged designers but are not sure how to shape their spaces once their architects have completed their scope of work," says Lua. "Building a home can be stressful, so people often overlook the decor and furnishings during this process.”
Whether you are overhauling a room or an entire home, Lua can assist with everything from interior and exterior styling to furniture design. The process includes four one-hour sessions to establish what's needed for each space, review architectural plans, and create a detailed design brief. Mood boards help capture your vision, and Lua reviews decor and furnishing selections to ensure they fit the space before finalising all layouts and furnishings. Choose from Henri Living's stable of high-end, established and emerging labels, or Lua can help you source pieces from other brands.
IMAGE: Saba Italia’s Oltremare Panchetta pouf makes an elegant statement as extra seating or a sophisticated drop-zone.
Optimising organisation
Getting your dream wardrobe may seem out of reach, especially if you live in a high-rise building, so Lyle has introduced custom storage solutions to Henri Living’s offering. "Well-designed, high-quality wardrobe systems are invaluable, and our custom wardrobe range, designed and crafted in Italy, combines elegance and functionality and offers the ultimate luxury upgrade for any home, apartment or development,” he says.
The range is custom-tailored to fit any space and style in high-end and mid-range finishes, including genuine timber veneer, lacquer, and laminate options. "We pre-manufacture our wardrobes to be installed at your convenience, making them ideal for new builds and apartment complexes,” Lyle says. “This seamlessly integrates the wardrobes into any living space and provides functionality and luxury."
Lounge and living spaces are instantly elevated with stylish storage solutions, and Henri Living offers custom television cabinets and wall-mount panels tailored to fit your space. "Our customisation options elevate your home with unparalleled Italian luxury and functionality," Lyle says. "Our adaptable panels allow additional shelves and storage units to be integrated, and are available in high-end and mid-range finishes that can be accentuated with LED lighting. We also cater to industry specialists who can explore a wide range of storage solutions designed to elevate your client's style."
IMAGE: Bolzan’s Feel bed features a subtly arched headboard. A Novamobili side table from the Giro-Giro collection adds functionality and warmth to the room.
Open air living
The quality of outdoor furniture has advanced significantly with high-quality materials and construction, making it suitable for outdoor use while providing the comfort of indoor furniture. "It’s not enough to place purely practical weatherproof furniture outside anymore – now we want our outdoor areas to blend with our indoor spaces beautifully, so choosing outdoor furniture that would sit just as well indoors is essential," says Lua.
Harbour Outdoor is a multi-generational family-owned furniture company in Sydney and is one of Lua’s favourite brands for outdoor living. The brand is inspired by architecture and Australian beach houses, and its range combines classic and contemporary styles with great functionality and durability.
“All their pieces are built to withstand our climate and made with beautiful but durable materials like powder-coated aluminium and mildew-resistant upholstery,” says Lua, who cites Harbour’s director chairs and Balmain Sofa collections as standouts.
Talenti from Italy offers a range of beautifully designed outdoor furniture, including furnishings, swings, cart trolleys and lighting that are perfect for the WA summer lifestyle.
“Each piece incorporates natural aesthetics and attention to detail in a wide choice of materials and finishes,” Lua says. “They are more than simply furnishings – each piece invites intimacy, makes clever use of space, and is a conversation starter.”.
IMAGE: Talenti’s Moon armchairs are chic and weather durable, making them perfect for outdoor living all year round.
IMAGE: The Talenti Milo outdoor extendable dining table features a ceramic top and can be modified to accommodate as many as you need to be seated around it.
"Beautiful design and a deep-rooted enthusiasm for creating harmonious spaces lie at the heart of everything we do at Henri Living."
—LUA HENRI, Interior Designer
Follow @henri_living
Henri Living
245 Stirling Hwy, Cottesloe
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