There have been many instances in which I’ve been posted up on my sofa, indulging in an episode of Queer Eye, and wishing Tan France could magically materialise in my living room with makeover tips. While I can’t foresee that specific fantasy eventuating anytime soon, the stylist’s new collaboration with Castlery comes rather close: a Tan France-approved collection of heritage-inspired furniture and homewares. And, naturally, it’s every bit as chic as you’d expect.
The new 18-piece collection marks Tan France’s first foray into furniture design, and is defined by a unique blend of transitional and heritage design principles. Look closely, and you’ll notice a few nods to France’s British-Pakistani heritage too, including ornate scalloped details, rich textures, and the inclusion of a tea (rather than coffee) table to align more closely with his upbringing: “I didn’t grow up around coffee tables. My family gathered around tea,” France explains. Even the two domes that make up the Anika Lamp have a backstory; their rounded shape mimics that of a specific arch design commonly seen across Asia, which was then shortened to create a ‘mushroom’ effect.
“France’s employment of decorated detailing, versatile design and affinity for darker oak, however, delivers exactly what I didn’t know we needed.”
Despite France’s personal approach to design, the resulting pieces are endlessly versatile and built for effortless integration into everyday homes. From the modular versatility of the Kagan sofa to the space-saving build of the Tarin side table, each piece serves a purpose – and looks great while doing so.
And because we couldn’t resist picking his brilliant brain, we called him in to share his inspirations, styling tips, and musings on how fatherhood has altered his approach to interior design.
5 minutes with Tan France
Ahead of the collection’s release, Rebecca Hooton sat down with the style expert himself, Tan France, to talk design and wish-list details from his dreamy new range with Castlery.
What are you personally drawn to in interiors?
“I’m really drawn to a unique perspective. I’m drawn to spaces that show a unique point of view. Something that feels singular and clearly someone’s personal aesthetic.”
You spent years transforming wardrobes on ‘Queer Eye’. How similar is putting together an outfit to decorating a home?
“Honestly, it’s not too dissimilar. With style, for me, it’s all about making a look interesting through texture, colour and proportion. That’s how I tackle interior design: how do colours bring a space to life, and how does scale affect how a room feels?”
Which design detail was top of your wishlist going into this collaboration?
“Bell-shaped arches – they’re a classic South Asian, but also British (because of colonisation), architectural design detail I wanted to subtly incorporate into the collection. I think they work beautifully with the east-meets-west collection for Castlery.”
Has being a dad changed the way you think about decorating your own home?
“Oh gosh, yeah. Now I think of what’s practical around my rowdy boys. I don’t have anything easily breakable within reach, which means many things look unstyled, unfortunately. I long for the day when I can have lower-level pretty accents in my home again. Soon, I hope.”
Tan France x Castlery: how to style the range
I’m often sceptical of celebrity collaborations. Sometimes the resulting collections lean ‘safe,’ though this can be said of many a recent homeware release – with or without the endorsement of a public figure. What I’m craving is a range that I can’t get elsewhere; a sofa so unique that I wouldn’t even attempt to find a dupe, side tables that don’t follow the standard ‘cube with drawer’ design formula, or, in a general sense, something moody, biophilic, and infused with personality. To my delight, this is exactly what the Tan France x Castlery collaboration delivers on.
The way I see it, the range fills some of the many gaps in Australia’s furniture market; due to a relatively limited range of high-quality heritage furniture, I often find myself stumped by briefs that don’t lean mid-century or modern.
To spark a little inspiration for you, too, I’ve curated a mini moodboard to demonstrate how the collection works together and alongside a couple of outside pieces.
1 Tan France Anika Table Lamp, Castlery. 2 Tan France Extended Kagan Sofa, Castlery. 3 Orchards Rug, MCM House. 4 Tan France Haris Cushion, Castlery. 5 Tan France Zyra Cushion, Castlery. 6 Tan France Reya Drape Vase, Castlery. 7 Tan France Tarin Side Table, Castlery. 8 Tan France Anaya Tea Table, Castlery. 9 Orchid Story by Tetyana Khytko, oil on canvas, Bluethumb Art.
Shop my favourite pieces:
The 3-Seater Kagan Sofa in Cream and Anika Table Lamp in Tan have shot to the very top of my own interior wishlist, along with an array of other pieces from the collection. If you don’t want to miss out, take your favourite pieces to checkout before I clear all the stock myself.
Extended Kagan Sofa
$4,247 at Castlery
Tarin Side Table
$449 at Castlery
Rayan Floor Mirror
$999 at Castlery
Anika Table Lamp
$249 at Castlery
Kagan Leather Sofa with Ottoman
$6,499 (was $6,846) at Castlery
Avan Dining Chair
$898 at Castlery
Anaya Tea Table
$899 at Castlery
Rava Sideboard
$1,999 at Castlery
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