Get to know our founders, Mike Durante and Krista Huebner, in this exclusive feature with House & Garden magazine. Learn what fuels their creativity and how they are continuing to evolve Basil Bangs' iconic outdoor collection.
Did where you grow up or your family home have an impact on your career in the design industry?
K: Mike and I grew up in loving households with very creative and hard-working parents. Both our dads are immigrants who didn’t believe in paying people to do what they could do themselves, but also valued the role that art and artists play in our lives. They both ran their own small businesses and encouraged entrepreneurship and creativity. It was very much a home environment of ‘do it yourself’, so the writing was on the wall really!
Do you have an average work day and, if so, how does it unfold?
K: At the moment, we’re both training for a half marathon, so inevitably we’re up early. On an average work morning, there’s always a coffee, the mad hustle to get the kids to school and then it’s straight into the studio with Rudy our dog to get going with the day, together with the Basil Bangs team. For Mike, he might settle into some design work, inspect products, chat with the team or meet with suppliers and design partners. For Krista, it might be meeting with interior designers, organising shoots or doing site inspections… and all the other things in between! The day is never long enough and there’s always family life to juggle too.
Do you listen to anything when you are working (i.e. music or podcasts)?
M: I love some music in the workshop or if the WSL surfing is on, there’s a good chance that’s beamed in the workshop. In the studio, we are a bit more chill. Lately there’s been a bit of classic Aussie rock, Tom Petty and Dylan.
What do you think has been the biggest challenge in your career and why?
M: The biggest challenge in my career was deciding to leave a full-time job I loved to work on my own thing full-time.
K: Learning how to be a mother and nurture a family while nurturing a business was a huge challenge. It’s still a work in progress but a challenge I’m more comfortable with now.
Have you got any great strategies for a satisfying work-life balance and if so, could you please share them with us?
K: For a satisfying work-life balance, first, exercising regularly is a ‘non-negotiable’. Second, letting go of the idea of achieving ‘balance’. It’s a false construct and is aligned with being ‘perfect’ or ‘happy’. These are all transitory moments to enjoy when they happen, but life and work are always a bit of a seesaw with so many areas pushing and pulling at any one time. Any decision has an opportunity cost, so it’s about being clear on your priority for that moment, then going for it. That said, we’re guilty of not taking our own advice, so things can get a bit wild at times!
The other thing to note is that our family is part of the business - it’s a happy mash up. Our kids have grown up with ‘Basil’ as their third sibling and are very proficient with a tape gun! There’s plenty of dinner chat about the business mixed in with what’s happening with school and friends. We also want our team to have time with their families, so we have healthy expectations there.
The making process fuels my creativity. Seeing things being created by masters. Factory tours. Anything that lifts the lid on production methods (I really geek out on YouTube videos!) Being curious. Being critical. Going to suppliers and seeing what’s possible. Collaborations and solving problems together...so many things!
- Mike
What things in particular nourish your creativity?
K: Taking time off to recharge in nature nourishes my creativity. Sometimes I can only manage a brief, salty swim, other times it’s a weekend bush walk. If I’m lucky, it’s a week away somewhere with a patchy connection. Our family all treasures our annual week at Seal Rocks (NSW) looking for pippis, playing cards and pretending to be mermaids.
Which artists, architects, designers and creatives do you admire?
Recently we’ve enjoyed connecting with local designer Adam Goodrum and also brand Tait. We’re also inspired by designer Paola Lenti, artist Emil Nolde, Mark Rothko, Brâncusi sculptures, and getting lost in antique stores.
What’s the last book you read that you loved?
K: I absolutely gobbled up Helen Garner’s new book, The Season. Loved all her observations of boys, footy and life as an Aussie nana. What a treasure she is. We’ve also recently been introduced to the poet David Whyte, whose writing is very profound and feels like a meal you want to savour slowly.
M: I love an audiobook and a memoir, so I loved Shoe Dog, the story of Nike. I was late to the party on that one, but it’s great. Also, Dave Grohl’s memoir.
What is your idea of true luxury?
K: I truly believe that real luxury is having the time and freedom to forge our own path. What a gift. Ken Done said that luxury is “walking into an art supply store and being able to buy whatever I want”, which also really resonated.
Is there something you are yet to tackle in your work that you would like to try?
M: As a designer, I would love the challenge of designing a super yacht...and a tiny house. While both different, they are both quite similar in terms of being clever with space and thoughtful with design details.
K: I'm excited to be working towards B Corp Certification and continuing to grow our outdoor fabric collection.
What are your local favourites (i.e. cafes, bars, restaurants in your work and home neighbourhoods)?
K: We’re lucky to have so many fabulous spots around us – many of whom are also our customers. There’s too many to name, but here’s a hitlist:
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