“I think when we started the business, the high-end of the market was something that we all aspired to but could very rarely afford,” Leigh says. “Basically the aim is to make design less intimidating. We really wanted to make it easier for people - to show people how to put things together, but also come to market at a price point that is actually affordable. That’s the key ethos - just making design accessible, but in a fresh way.”
Design for everybody.
Author
Peter Wood
Photography
BresicWhitney
For Ellison Studios, design isn’t about exclusivity - it’s about accessibility. Co-founded by Leigh McKeown, the Sydney-based furniture brand has steadily grown into a globally recognised maker with a simple but powerful ethos: “design is for everybody.”
While Ellison’s footprint is firmly rooted in Sydney, its international audience is rapidly expanding. Overseas buyers have connected strongly with the brand’s Australian identity. “There’s quite an affinity and romanticism that a lot of the world puts on Sydney and Australia in general,” Leigh says. “I think Sydney is a really special place - and that does influence everything we do as a brand.”
Ellison’s latest venture, ‘The Rental’, marks a significant milestone. Set within a 100-year-old former tea factory, the concept space brings Ellison’s design world to life. “The moment we walked in, we knew there was something magical about this space,” Leigh says. “Very rarely in Sydney do you walk straight out of an elevator into a 6m-high void. We knew immediately… this could be something really special for the brand.”
After nearly eight years building out the collection, The Rental represents the first time the brand has furnished an entire home - from bedroom to living space, and every layer in between. “This is a really good opportunity to show our brand can be in every room of your house and we can actually build an entire world,” Leigh says.
For Leigh, authenticity remains at the core of every design choice. “I think people can get really caught up in making sure everything matches,” she says. “You don't need a lot, to say a lot. It has to be authentic to you. And if you love something - that’s authentic to you.”
The final touch for The Rental was a styling layer: vintage pieces, gallery partnerships, and art from local creatives - brought together to reflect the layered, liveable beauty of real homes. “Being able to build this out, and have our community come through and enjoy it, has been pretty special.”
Shop the collection at www.ellisonstudios.com.
