Andrea Tomaz

Known for its French furniture, gilded mirror and chandeliers, The Country trader pays homage to the past but still moves with the times.The centre has shifted from a heritage building in Paddington, relocating to Young Street, Waterloo.This change marks a new era of expansion for the interiors speicalist, which celebrated recently with an opening party attended by interiors buffs, architecture experts and long-established clients.

"The move from Paddington to Waterloo was an absolutely huge exercise," principal of the Country Trader, Geoff Clark said. "We had more than 1000 pieces to transport."This new place in Waterloo has more space, more room to grow and it's closer to the design hubs around Alexandria and Surry Hills, which are central to the city's home improvement and creative design showrooms".

First launched in 1982 from a small shop in Surry Hills, The Country Trader has now grown into a comprohensive resource centre for glossy interiors magazines and those with a passion for home design.Browsers can lose themselves among 17th-century tables, elaborate lanterns, plush furnishings and even old-fashioned driveway gates.

Mr Clark spends a great slice of his year travelling around the world searching for antiques and attending trade exhibitions."I travel for four months of the year, to places like France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, South America and Asia," he said."I find the pieces abroad while Christopher Davis is the face of the centre here."I spend about two weeks of every year sitting in an aeroplane seat but we find some great things."We only take on exceptional pieces with strong design work. "I want each object to be able to stand alone and say something."

Besides French Antiques, The Country Trader also stocks Art Deco, oriental and contemporary pieces.

The new showroom is located at 197 Young Sreet, Waterloo. For further details, phone 9331 78-9 or visit www.thecountrytrader.com Back