JANNE FAULKNER AM

DIRECTOR

Janne Faulkner, after 44 years at the forefront of Australian interior design, still remains totally committed to producing the very best in design quality and excellence.

Janne has helped define the Australian vernacular in interior design.

JANNE FAULKNER AM

DIRECTORJanne was born in Tasmania in 1933 just outside of Launceston. Her father was headmaster of a farm school, who had the ability to make things happen. His personal trait of “can do” undoubtedly rubbed off on Janne in future years.

Although Janne had no formal training in interior design, she grew up in an environment which placed a great deal of emphasis on the home. Janne always had a great deal of interest in architecture and the arts.

Janne met Bill Faulkner who was heading the family business of Huddart Parker Shipping Company in Hobart and married soon after. With their two children, Simon and Sarah, Janne and Bill moved to Melbourne in the mid 60’s.

1933From the beginning

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1967Established Nexus Designs

1967-73Initiated MB Design Policy

In 1967, Janne met David Yencken, at a dinner party and talked about design. The next morning he rang her and offered her a job with Merchant Builders

As Janne explains herself, by luck she had fallen into a career which at the time saw Melbourne in a period of the most interesting era of change. Together with David and architect Graeme Gunn who designed houses for Merchant Builders, Janne initiated the interior design. Merchant Builders produced innovative houses designed to suit the Australian landscape, as well as using the best in Australian timbers and materials

This was a fabulous period with a group of very creative people who collaborated and were supportive to each other in achieving new design direction. This exciting band included David Yencken, Graeme Gunn, John Ridge, Daryl Jackson, Ellis Stones, Evan Walker, and graphic designer Bruce Weatherhead.

Janne initiated the policy of purchasing the best of Australian contemporary art, fostering young Australian artists, furniture designers and craftsmen which Nexus Designs continues in the present day.

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1974First Commercial Client State Savings Bank of Victoria

1980Set the Design Standard for Country Road Stores

1982Appointed member of Order of Australia for Services to Design and the Arts

Nexus Designs was created with Janne as sole director. The name Nexus Designs itself represented a bond between it and Merchant Builders, providing all the joinery requirements.

Both David and Graeme had so much faith in Janne they got her to furnish the Merchant Builders display houses. Janne set about using the space and structure created with a collective mix of the old with the new, simple design, the use of artwork in the home, maintaining a naturalness in materials which was always Australian.

People always wanted what was put into the display houses and from this, really for the first time in Australia, interior design was born.

From here Janne never looked back, taking the Nexus Designs brand of design quality and simple style to enormous heights. Harley Anstee joined Janne in 1975, forming a very successful combination which still continues today.

Their first venture into commercial interior design began with the State Bank in Baxter, together with Daryl Jackson. This was very successful and led to numerous projects. A later association with Philip Cox, saw them involved in the Yulara Resort Project. Nexus Designs was renowned for being one of the interior design companies who could take the brief from the architect and interpret it well.

Janne was appointed a member of the Order of Australia for her services and contribution to the arts as a designer in 1982.

1983Consultants to Yulara Resort, Uluru, Northern Territory

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UsingAustralian Colour Janne Faulkner and

Harley Anstee

In addition to the high profile interior design practice, Janne’s creative design direction also saw Nexus Designs develop a separate graphic design studio, with a wide variety of high profile clients, and a product development arm which consults to leading manufacturers and retailers.

In fact, most people would not be aware that Janne has had a great deal of influence in the items they use in every day life. This has ranged from the colour of their Laminex kitchen bench, the design on their toilet tissue paper, the Colorbond steel roofing on their houses, or even the colour of their telephones. The use of colour, space, simplicity and naturalness, is inspired by the Australian landscape - reflecting the culture and personality of Australians. Janne still works tirelessly to ensure design elements in Australian houses, corporate offices, hotels, retail shops, products, packaging and printed publications, reflect a distinctively Australian flavour which the world can readily identify and truly appreciate.

1983Consultants for Admiralty House - Sydney

1983Consultants for Government House - Canberra

1984Product Development Division commenced

1985Graphic Design Division commenced

JF1988Consultants to the Australian Chancery Complex, Saudi Arabia

1992Consultants to BHP Steel Colorbond©

1997Publication of ‘Inside Australian Interiors’ released

1999Appointed to the Board of Heide MOMA

2002Publication of ‘Using Australian Colour’ released

AIA Commendation Award for Jane’s House, North Adelaide, SA

JF2003Publication of ‘The Making of a House’ released

2006Publication of ‘Nexus Living’ released

2006RAIA Merit Award for College Park Residence, Adelaide SA

2009AIA Commendation Award for Jane’s House, North Adelaide, SA

2011AIDA Commendation Award for Installation Design Nexus Designs & ACCA collaboration for NEW010

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Janne has continued to lead the way in interior design, both in residential and commercial areas. Throughout, the design maintains a timelessness, naturalness and simplicity yet with an element of surprise. The use and combination of colour has become an integral part of Janne’s design style.

She maintains an active involvement across all the disciplines of the company. Her fearless approach to design and unquenchable thirst for what is new, interesting and authentic has influenced countless designers over five decades and the lives and homes of many Australians.

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1967Janne Faulkner founded Nexus Designs.

Janne started working with Merchant Builders and leading architects Graeme Gunn and Daryl Jackson, and landscape designer Ellis Stones.

1974First commercial client, State Savings Bank of Victoria, Management Training School, Baxter in liaison with Daryl Jackson, Architects.

1975Harley Anstee joined Janne at Nexus Designs.

1980Set the design standards for all Country Road Stores throughout Australia and New Zealand for nearly 10 years. Completed over 101 new and refurbished stores.

82Nexus Designs moved from Merchant Builders, St. Kilda to their current address in the Historic Emerald Hill Building in Park Street South Melbourne, which also houses the Victorian Tapestry Workshop. Nexus Designs engaged in Residential and Commercial projects throughout Australia.

Janne was appointed as a member of the Order of Australia for Services to Design and the Arts.

83Nexus Designs appointed by Philip Cox Richardson and Taylor, Architects as interior designers to the Yulara Tourist Resort, Uluru, Northern Territory.

Appointed interior design consultants for the Refurbishment of Government House, Canberra.

Appointed interior design consultants for the Refurbishment of Admiralty House. Sydney.

1984Appointed interior design consultants for the new Headquarters of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority.

Product Consultancy Division commenced.

85Graphic Design Division commenced.

1986Interior design consultants for Milton Park Country House Hotel, Bowral, New South Wales.

Styling of the Commander telephone for Telecom.

1987Commenced work with Johnson Tiles as design consultants for colour and graphic design for the Waringa Range. Nexus Designs continues to work with Johnson Tiles.

Designed the interiors of Crabtree and Evelyn stores throughout Australia.

Appointed by Laminex Industries to advise on colour and trend direction, colour co ordination, colour analysis and point of sale items to the specifier market. Nexus Designs continues to work with Laminex.

1988Interiors for the Portsea Village resort working with Synman Justin and Bialek.

Appointed interior design consultants to the Graduate School of Management in liaison with Daryl Jackson, Architects.

Appointed interior design consultants to the Australian Chancery Complex in Saudi Arabia, in liaison with Daryl Jackson, Architects.

Design of interiors for Laura Ashley, Australia.

1989Graphic design consultancy for the Sorbent Brand.

Interior for Ken Done Stores.

Appointed interior design consultants for SA Brewing Holdings Ltd, Adelaide.

1990Appointed colour and design consultants for Portland Smelter, Portland.

1991Appointed interior design consultants for major areas of the Southgate Retail Complex Southbank.

Interior design of The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Canberra with Cox Architects.

Graphic and Book Design of ‘Melbourne Australia’s International City.’

Designed modular kitchen for Radiant Stainless Steel Products.

1992Interior design of the Birchgrove Residential Housing Estate, Sydney, with Cox Architects.

Commenced work with BHP Steel on the research and selection of colours for Colorbond©. Nexus continues to consult to BHP today.

1994Appointed graphic design consultants to The Australian Ballet.

1996Appointed to Department of Natural Resources and Environment Graphic Design Panel.

97Exhibited in Designex ‘Rooms on View.’

Publication of ‘Inside Australian Interiors’ by Janne Faulkner - Publisher Allen & Unwin.

Features 30 years of Nexus Designs Interior Designs.

1998‘Inside Australian Interiors’ second edition published in soft cover.

1999Appointed to the Board of Heide Museum of Modern Art.

2002Publication of ‘Using Australian Colour’ by Janne Faulkner and Harley Anstee and designed by Nexus Designs - Publisher Hardie Grant Books. Nexus Designs’ second book captures the essence of Australian colour and light through landscape, architecture, art, poetry and interior design.

Appointed Interior Designers to Governor General’s private residence, Lakeside Suite Government House, Canberra.

2003Publication of ‘The Making of a House’ by Janne Faulkner and Harley Anstee and designed by Nexus Designs Graphic Design – Publisher,

Hardie Grant Books. The third publication by Nexus Designs comprehensively documents Nexus Designs Interior Designs’ recently completed projects in the format of a journey through the house, identifying the essential elements that make up each room of the house.

Appointed by Rio Tinto to select new artworks and advise on the installation/hanging of new and existing artworks.

Appointed interior design consultants to Telstra Dome, Captains Club, Melbourne.

2004Presents lectures at Sotheby’s

Fritz Hansen, one of the world’s leading furniture design brands agreed to endorse ‘The Making of a House’. The President of Fritz Hansen, Jacob Holm also agreed to write the forward for the second edition of the book. Janne met with and Jacob Holm in Denmark and was given a tour of the facilities at Fritz Hansen’s world class production plant.

Completed Interior design for Kerrisdale Farm House – Winner 2005 RAIA Victoria Colorbond® award

2005Appointed by BlueScope Steel Malaysia to undertake Colour audit of Peninsula Malaysia

Release of the second edition of ‘The Making of a House’.

Appointed Interior Designer

for Owen Dixon Chambers, L14 Melbourne.

Appointed by Boral to undertake a National product audit.

Sonia Simpfendorfer and Michael Malignaggi appointed directors at Nexus Designs.

2006Dimitty Andersen Architects in collaboration with Nexus Designs received an RAIA Merit award for College Park Residence, Adelaide, South Australia.

Appointed by Devine Homes to undertake a national product colour review for their housing range.

2007Appointed by The Laminex Group to undertake a National colour audit.

Publication of ‘Using Australian Colour’, second edition. The publication has been adopted as a reference tool by various design courses throughout Australia.

Appointed by Pace Developments to provide interior design services for Rydges Brighton Beach Hotel, Victoria.

Received IDEA07 Residential Award commendation for South Yarra residence.

Appointed by Boral to conduct colour training classes.

Appointed by Carter Holt Harvey to undertake a global design trends analysis.

2008Appointed interior design consultants for the New Zealand Consul General’s residence, Melbourne.

Appointed by Urbex residential property developers to create exterior colour schemes for the Ascot Chase project, Ascot Vale, Melbourne.

Appointed interior design consultants for Mirvac’s Tower 9 apartment development, Docklands, Melbourne.

Appointed graphic designers to St Michael’s Grammar School, St Kilda.

2009Appointed interior design consultants for Barristers Chambers, L8, 9 Melbourne.

Appointed by National Tiles to consult on product colour and range.

Presented colour and trends analysis from Milan Furniture Fair, 2009.

Presentation to Architectural Information Systems (AIS) supplier workshop – The Designers Mind is Purple.

Appointed graphic designers to Frankston Arts Centre.

Nexus Designs in collaboration with Dimitty Andersen Architects received a commendation from the AIA for ‘Jane’s House’, North Adelaide, South Australia.

1967Janne Faulkner Timeline

2009

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2010Nexus Designs and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) collaborated on the NEW010 exhibition.

Appointed design consultants to The Laminex Group for benchmarking and world’s best practice analysis.

Appointed graphic design consultants to City of Melbourne for signage and wayfinding analysis.

Appointed graphic design consultants to City of Boroondara, Kew Court House brand development and signage.

2011Received Australian Interior Design Awards Commendation for Installation Design – Nexus Designs and ACCA collaboration for NEW010.

Appointed interior designers for the new Boyac showroom, Melbourne.

Appointed interior designers and art consultants for New York Apartment, USA

Appointed interior designers for The Presidents Cup 2011, Melbourne.

NEXUSDESIGNSPHILOSOPHYThe Nexus Designs philosophy is based on a cultural premise as opposed to a fashion premise, with our aim being design longevity not disposability. Established by Janne Faulkner in 1967, this philosophy continues today.

Our inspiration is drawn from a broad knowledge of architecture, art, landscape, technology, music, literature and history, with regular overseas travel being an important element of our information gathering.

Directors Janne Faulkner AM, Harley Anstee FDIA, Michael Malignaggi CPA and Sonia Simpfendorfer MDIA, together with a team of talented designers, utilize a high level of expert knowledge and a wealth of professional experience to meet and surpass our client’s expectations.

REFERENCE ANNEMARIE KIELY VOGUE LIVING, MELBOURNE EDITOR

In a world where business longevity is often measured in months, Nexus Designs have stayed the course of fashion and economic fluctuation for a staggering 40 years with their commitment to the simple truth that good design is in equal parts appropriateness and art.

By responding to context (both individual and national) and not the pervading cliché’s of style, they have managed to distil the Australian condition – strong, no-frill characters inhabiting a landscape ‘rich and rare’ – in deceptively simple interior schemes that stay joyful and serviceable long beyond the trend moment.

Established in 1967 by Janne Faulkner AM, who was later joined by Harley Anstee in 1975, Nexus Designs is a collaborative studio environment energised by a pairing of the profession’s eminence grises with its future leaders. The meeting of older generation wisdom and wit with next generation energy and bravado results in schemes that are modern yet timeless, unique yet universally relevant, stimulating yet conducive to relaxation.

But integral to the studio’s enduring relevance and the secret to its inimitable style is the understanding that less is a ‘life-enhancing’ more. Nexus Designs judiciously reduces the palette to the emotive colours of coast and inner country, it culls the material mix back to a few ‘resonant’ finishes and it consistently draws on the country’s best contemporary art practices for its decorative dynamism. What results in the collaged effect of local colour, creativity and clean-line is an ‘atmosphere’ that is both physically and psychologically comfortable and spaces that are both the containers and the makers of fond memories.

Annemarie Kiely Vogue Living, Melbourne Editor

2010Janne Faulkner Timeline

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