Creative collection Meet the maker behind Studio Onethirty

FROM CREATING TEXTILES TO TERRAZZO, SYDNEY MAKER SARAH KALIDIS EMBRACES HER LOVE OF COLOUR AND NATIVE FLORA AT EVERY ARTISTIC TURN

In primary school, Sarah Kalidis was known as the ‘colour queen’. “No matter what the homework or assignment, I always found a way to add a little picture or colour to it before handing it in to the teacher,” says Sarah. Sitting in her stunning shopfront Studio Onethirty in Sydney’s south, surrounded by bold textiles, art and custom furniture, it’s a crown she still holds.

Sarah is what many would describe as multitalented. A few steps away from her colourful store is her studio, where she single-handedly creates and designs stand-out homewares – from cushions to paintings and coffee tables.

Completely in her creative element, it’s hard to believe she was ever far from a sketch pad. Yet just four years ago, she was working in the

architectural industry – specialising in stone – after studying interior design. It was the arrival of daughter Anthea, now three, which reignited Sarah’s love of art and her urge to create. “When I was on maternity leave, away from a desk and the pressures of work, I started to paint again and the ideas kept coming,” she says. Charmed by Australian native trees and flowers, Sarah found inspiration from local flora – reimagined in bold, vibrant colours and abstract forms.

The amateur botanist was keen to experiment with different surface applications, so trialled one of her first designs on fabric and had her couch upholstered in the vibrant eucalyptus leaf print. She was thrilled with the result and was inspired to create her debut textile collection – a selection of limited-edition prints that was launched at the Sydney Finders Keepers Market in late 2017.

“I thought the markets would be a good way to test the water to see what people liked,” she recalls. “It was like lighting a fuse. When you’re in a good place creatively, it just starts to flow.”

Working with her acrylics and watercolours, Sarah enjoys the creative challenge of switching between commissioned pieces, fine art prints, original works and producing textile patterns.

Then there’s the more labour-intensive task of creating her signature Alpha terrazzo furniture

“THE STORE CAPTURES MY AESTHETIC AND LOVE OF COLOUR, TEXTURE AND PATTERN – IT’S LIKE VISITORS ARE STEPPING INTO MY MIND”

pieces. For these, Sarah sources off-cuts of marble and granite aggregate, which she breaks up into pieces and, by hand, sets in a mould where precast concrete is poured and cured – the solid steel bars are shaped by a local Sydney artisan, before they are assembled and finished by powdercoating.

Today, Onethirty not only showcases Sarah’s colourful wares, but also sells a carefully curated range from other local makers – reflecting her support for Australian design after finding her own unique place in the creative world. “I just really love to create,” she says. “It’s addictive.”

THIS PAGE: In the Studio Onethirty shopfront, the ‘Perks of Being a Wildflower’ original acrylic takes centrestage above cushions in Lime, Teal Velvet and the ‘Paloma’ print, as well as a custom-made seat cushion in ‘Demi’. OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Sarah’s ‘My Country’ original acrylic on canvas hangs behind her; tools of Sarah’s trade – she paints whenever she gets the chance; the maker’s studio is filled with her creations, from bespoke stools to the ‘Protea Burst’ original acrylic on the wall; the statement-making Alpha terrazzo coffee table is topped with ceramics by local maker Renee Tofa.

TOP LEFT: Sarah invites curious customers upstairs to her studio to take a look at works in progress. “If it’s quiet in the shop, I’ll sneak upstairs to paint as well,” she says. TOP RIGHT: Her acrylic canvas, ‘My Country No.4’, hangs above the Alpha terrazzo console, dressed with ceramics from other local makers. BOTTOM LEFT: A collection of colourful clippings make up Sarah’s moodboard in her studio.

Sarah’s husband Michael helped build the Studio Onethirty store, which for Sarah, is like an extension of home. Here, the ‘Summer Awaits’ limitededition giclee print hangs above the ‘Gus’ sofa in Olive, with a collection of Sarah’s signature cushions. The Alpha terrazzo coffee table and side table, as well as the ‘Claude Blush’ floor cushion, work together to complement the cosy, homely vibe.