Designers At Home

At Home With Mim Fanning Of Mim Design

Mim Fanning established Mim Design almost 20 years ago (stay tuned for double decade celebrations in 2020!) and over this time has become one of Australia’s most respected interior designers.

In partnership with Samsung, today we take a tour of Mim’s own family home in Melbourne, characterised by a sense of refined simplicity, and a lifelong passion for contemporary art.

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Proudly Supported by Samsung

The living room. Edra Standard sofa from Space Furniture. Twiggy Floor Lamp by Foscarini from Space Furniture. Dining chairs in background Chair 170 Takahashi Asako from Feelgood Furniture. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Living room details. The Samsung Serif TV is set to ambient mode, featuring an exclusive animated graphic on the screen. Mim selected this ambient mode as she felt it perfectly complemented the artwork in the living room.  John Coburn painting ‘Africa II’ (1968). Photo – Eve Wilson.

Edra Standard sofa from Space Furniture. Twiggy Floor Lamp by Foscarini from Space Furniture. Photo – Eve Wilson.

The home of Mim Fanning from Mim Design, and family. The living room features the Samsung Serif TV which sits perfectly alongside designer furniture and walls adorned with Australian contemporary artwork. Mim stands in front of her prized John Coburn painting ‘Africa II’ (1968). Photo – Eve Wilson.

Dining chairs in background Chair 170 Takahashi Asako from Feelgood Furniture. Rec sculpture by Michael Doolan. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Mim believes that ‘tech products don’t always need to be integrated’ and prefers to choose ‘products that can be moved about and adapted to changing family dynamics’. Detail shot of the The Samsung Serif TV set to ambient mode.  Photo – Eve Wilson.

Michael Johnson painting in the dining/kitchen area. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Dining chairs Chair 170 Takahashi Asako from Feelgood Furniture. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Iittala Alvar Aalto Vases from Mercantile Home. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Painting by Stephen Ormandy. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Mim’s extensive art collection lines the hallway. Edra Standard sofa from Space Furniture. The Smock Chair by Patricia Urquiola from Hub Furniture. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Jaime Hayon Josephine Lamp by Metalarte. Painting by Dale Frank. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Eames DCW Dining Chair in Black Oak. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
18th of December 2019

Mim Fanning and family renovated their traditional Victorian home 13 years ago, with a view to combine the home’s existing heritage characteristics with a bright, modern extension. The property needed to be ‘future proof’ to accommodate their two sons growing up, who were just starting primary school when the family first embarked on the renovation (the eldest is now 19!). Mim explains ‘we wanted our home to be an easy house to live in, as well as a comfortable sanctuary to spend time together in.’

The front of the house is generously proportioned, with high ceilings and Victorian features. The renovated modern addition at the rear of the home is a bright and airy living space with 4.5 metre high ceilings, and views out to the garden. This new part of the home connects to the original 1886 home via a wide central hallway, which doubles as a gallery. Mim and her husband David are passionate collectors of contemporary art, and every corner of their home speaks to this passion! Amongst their most treasured acquisitions are paintings by John Coburn, Stephen Ormandy and Howard Arkley (!) and many others.

After two decades in the game, Mim has developed a strong sense of what great design means. She explains ‘it’s a way of living. Great design has reason and purpose, as well as form and function.’ Offering her advice on choosing and integrating tech products at home, Mim highlights ‘tech products at home don’t always need to be integrated, and that’s why I love the Samsung Serif unit designed by the Bouroullec Brothers – it has the design flexibility to go anywhere at any time.’ Mim encourages tech solutions that can be moved and adapted to changing family dynamics and rapidly growing kids! ‘Life is about flexibility and change’ she says, ‘that’s why the design of this product is so great.’

Both in her practice and at home, Mim’s design aesthetic is one of refined simplicity. She is a measured, and thoughtful designer, who eschews fleeting trends in favour of timeless, functional design. This is no better demonstrated than in her own home, where she explains that her intent was ‘to keep things simple, play on volume of space, and ensure the design would stand the test of time.’

The Samsung Serif, designed by the Bouroullec Brothers, features a unique I-shaped profile, making it iconic from every angle.  The Serif brings together the very best in contemporary design, with transformative technology.