What I love about this special day.

Saturday Indesign has a way of forging relationships. We are truly blessed by the people we meet and welcome into our lives here at Kaolin. Maxton Fox needed a showroom to take part in the event, and thanks to an introduction by Brunetta, it was the start of something amazing. From the moment I met Belinda, her energy and enthusiasm were infectious. She’s an ideas person, and right away she said, “Let’s do something together—and we’ll give it away!” Both being family-owned businesses meant instant decisions and the start to a great customisation project and a promising friendship.

A Memorable Start to Saturday Indesign at Kaolin Surfaces 

The day started with a buzz of excitement as soon as we opened our doors. Attendees were greeted with the delightful aroma of tea, setting a welcoming and relaxed tone for the day ahead. As part of our commitment to sustainability, Rita proudly served her family Plantation tea—a fragrant Oolong that quickly became the people’s choice of tea. Its delicate flavours provided the perfect companion for those wandering through our showroom, soaking in all  the textures and the designs on display. Though our scones made a slightly late entrance, arriving 15 minutes behind schedule, the warm reception and enthusiasm from our guests more than made up for it—much to my relief!

A COHESIVE PALETTE THAT INSPIRES

Sam shared how using Kaolin’s tiles as a foundation created a cohesive palette which simplifies decision-making saving time for designers, architects and builders, allowing them to focus on what matters most: creating innovative, emotionally resonant spaces.

He explained how the palette functions as a “kit of parts,” flexible yet cohesive, offering endless possibilities. This approach not only enhances the creative process for architects but also provides practical solutions for builders and developers, enabling them to create spaces that are not just functional but also deeply emotive.

A seamless approach | How to use it.

Colour Schemes into Hard Surfaces | Workshop

Immediately following Chris Ma’s session, Fiona Dawson’s interactive workshop onTaubmanscolour schemes captivated our audience. With Pink Patagonia as the central inspiration, Fiona demonstrated how a single tile, with all its intricate hues and textures, could spark a multitude of colour schemes that could fit a variety of styles and tastes. The workshop revealedhow a cohesive design emerges by looking for colour within the tile, bringing it back to paint selection from the feature tile and layering the tones.By the end, attendees walked away with not just newfound skills but also the confidence to bring bold, cohesive colour schemes into their own projects.

The showroom tour led by Diana Mastoris was a sensory experience, showcasing our award-winning Dimora collection, including our next-generation surfaces perfectly suited to the Australian market. As attendees were guided through the gallery, it was amazing to see the excitement as people touched and felt the intricate textures. Each specifically designed for that collection to enhance its design and features, from stone veins to brass, fabric, burnt wood, and terra cotta, the level of detail in each finish was met with genuine curiosity. There was particular interest in our organic textile-inspired surfaces, such as Woven Cashmere and Woven Linen, which offers that understated luxury. Interestingly, throughout the day, one question kept popping up: “Is this natural stone?” To which we proudly responded, “No, it’s all porcelain—yes, all porcelain!”

One of the standout moments of the day was a candid and insightful interview between Timothy Alouani-Roby from Saturday Indesign and renowned designer Greg Natale. The conversation felt open and authentic, giving attendees a glimpse into Greg’s design philosophy and creative process. Greg shared his strong modernist leanings, explaining, “You are either a traditionalist or a modernist.” He emphasised the importance of infusing personality into his clients’ spaces, noting that while maximalism makes it easier to layer the space, he’s recently been pulling back the layers in one of his current projects.

Greg also reflected on his collaboration with Kaolin Surfaces, describing his first visit to the showroom as “being like a kid in a candy store.” He even coined

Rita’s tea ritual as an “iconic” tea ceremony. As Greg explained it, this partnership has blossomed into a creative journey, merging Greg’s modernist and brutalist influences with Kaolin’s exceptional craftsmanship with 3 distinct collections emerging. The Villa collection, meaning “grand home,” blends Kaolin’s mastery of large-scale porcelain tile reproduction with Greg’s signature patterns. “Then we have the Grotta collection, which takes its name from the Italian word for “cave.” all the names are inspired by my Italian heritage” Tim, interjected do you speak Italian? “It’s my biggest regret, not studying Italian, I was a bit of a brat and didn’t want to go to Italian Sunday School, I speak dialect. Grotta was inspired by Brazillian brutalist murals. “Finally, the Casa collection, meaning “home,” holds deep personal meaning for me, I was inspired

by his childhood home—there was no wood or carpet, it was patterned tiles everywhere.” A design choice he once disliked but has now come to love.

When asked about his recent trip to China for the Dimora launch, Greg spoke of his love of China, the country’s industrious and professional nature. His visit to China for the Dimora launch made him feel like a celebrity. He touched on how his international projects allow him to work across borders, highlighting how the details of design, like cornices, vary from London to Sydney. His love of travel and collaboration was evident throughout the discussion, underscoring how his experiences shape his ever-evolving approach to design.

In an open discussion, Jason Mifsud, Kaolin’s national sales manager, sat down with Tracey Huntley from Bumph and Scumble to explore how Kaolin Surfaces tailors its services to meet the needs of designers and their clients. Jason emphasised the importance of respecting a designer’s unique style and being mindful of their approach.

Tracy shared how invaluable it is to sit down with the Kaolin team to understand product choices without any pressure: “It’s just great to have everything explained perfectly, and this has helped me deliver better results for my clients.” She also highlighted how Kaolin has made her feel like part of the team, a practice she’s instilled in her own staff. Jason agreed, stating, “It’s all about building relationships, understanding what we offer, and why we do what we do. We’re not just here to sell tiles—we’re here to help sell great design.”

Tracy recalled a time when she couldn’t meet a client in person, and Diana Mastoris stepped in on her behalf: “I felt so comfortable knowing the Kaolin team had my back.” Jason further explained Kaolin’s commitment to delivering a high-end customer experience through comprehensive support for designers, including digital flat lays for each room, 3D renders, and CAD drawings. He also highlighted Kaolin’s bespoke capabilities, from custom mosaics to vanities, washbasins, and benchtops—all tailored to suit specific projects.

Anton Bourtsev’s talk started with a compelling question: Why customise? He explained that customisation not only creates personalisation and uniqueness but also helps projects stand out in a saturated market, creating something bespoke helps establishing an emotional connection. It offers architects and designers the chance to inject their own brand or signature style into their work.

Anton shared inspiring case studies from commercial clients like SJB and PTW, demonstrating the ease at which Kaolin collaborates to create bespoke projects that offer truly unique client experiences.

Anton also touched on the  collaboration between Kaolin and Greg Natale being a world-first in Australia he compared it to some celebrated partnerships like Zaha Hadid and Atlas Concorde. He took the audience on a tour of incredible custom-designed restaurants, hotels, and homes worldwide, illustrating how customisation drives creativity.

Using the “Against the Grain” table design as a perfect example, Anton explained Kaolin’s process: from the client’s initial sketches to collaboration with our skilled designers, through to detailed drawings and the creation of samples. He invited the audience to take part in Kaolin’s Customisation Competition, offering a chance to win a $1000 cash prize, as a way to engage architects and designers in pushing their own creative limits.