"Can a utilitarian material like MDF be reimagined as quiet luxury? Often used but seldom seen, it's usually hidden behind veneers, disguised with paint, or tucked away where it won't be noticed. In high-end design, it's dismissed as cheap, merely functional, and unworthy of attention. Australian interior and product designer Georgina Davies challenges this hierarchy with Undressed, placing MDF unapologetically at the center. Through meticulous craftsmanship and contemporary geometries, she reveals the material's understated beauty."
"MDF may be a humble material, but through a modern interpretation of French polishing, it shines in a new light. Each board is sealed with multiple thin coats of shellac, applied by fine spray and microfiber brush - a meticulous, labor-intensive process typically reserved for finer woods, and one that requires both patience and skill to achieve its luminous finish. The raw edges of the fiberboard appear darker than its surfaces, creating a distinct outline that highlights each piece's form and reinforces its architectural clarity."
Georgina Davies centers MDF as the primary material in the Undressed collection, a three-piece suite produced in Byron Bay that includes a Tall Bookshelf and a Nightstand. The collection draws from Bauhaus-inspired principles refined through a modernist lens to balance visual weight with subtle restraint. Proportions and geometries are deliberately considered for multiple viewing angles and varied contexts. A modern interpretation of French polishing uses multiple thin shellac coats applied by fine spray and microfiber brush to create a luminous finish while raw fiberboard edges darken to define form. The work elevates MDF through precision and craftsmanship.
Read at Design Milk
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