By Greg Natale
This restaurant for the staff of retail brand Cotton On, located in the brand’s global headquarters in Geelong, is a sophisticated space created by Greg Natale Design in collaboration with PTID.
A palette of blue, black and green forms a moody brasserie space, presided over by a blue panelled acoustic ceiling, its squares dotted with elegant brass lights. Across black and white marble floors, blue leather chairs and banquettes gather around marble and timber tables. Timber-panelled partitions provide warm tones, with other beautiful finishes courtesy of green and blue glazed tiles around the bar and fluted glass panels.
An attractive outdoor area reminiscent of the iconic Chateau Marmont teams timber with blue tones in comfortable seating among an abundance of plantings, established in collaboration with Myles Baldwin.
Like the building this restaurant occupies, the brand’s heritage remains a presence throughout its design. The restaurant’s name references local markets where the client used to sell denim jackets before the brand’s inception. A hallway leading off the restaurant is lined with artworks by the group’s designers – a reminder of the brand’s ongoing commitment to its people.
Greg Natale, founder and director of Greg Natale, is a multi-award-winning Australian designer known for his innovative approach to creating highly detailed and uniquely curated spaces. His designs have featured in numerous local and international publications, including Architectural Digest, Elle Decoration, Vanity Fair, Vogue Living and Belle. Among the many awards to his name are Belle Interior Designer of the Year for both 2011 and 2014, and the 2021 Australian House & Garden Room of the Year. He has been named one of The World's Most Influential Designers by AD Mexico and a Design Visionary by Harper's Bazaar Interiors Middle East.
At the core of Greg Natale's intricately layered approach is tailoring to his client's individual tastes and needs. His passion for materiality, colour, pattern, and geometry motivates the designer to consistently explore new avenues and design genres through his work, weaving various references from classic to contemporary into his designs.
Greg has released three books on interior design showcasing his unique style: The Tailored Interior (published by Hardie Grant Books Australia in 2014), The Patterned Interior (published by Rizzoli NY in 2018) and The Layered Interior (published by Rizzoli NY in 2022). He continues to expand his business and currently has his own line of products available online and at the Greg Natale flagship store in Sydney, as well as leading homewares stockists in Australia, North America, Europe and Asia.