eussen – Design & LifeStyle

Envirohacking: Where Interior Design Meets Human PotentialCallie van de Merwe, Principal and Creative Director Cooop.co is the brainchild behindusing neuroscience and psychology to create spaces that feel as good as they look. ​

Designing Sustainably in the 21st century.Casa Flair Interiors is more than just a design studio; it's a haven where creativity meets warmth & flair. Specialising in bespoke designs for both homes and business where sustainable practices are the norm, not the exception.Susie Ferriera discusses materiality that not only enhances the beauty of your space but also stand the test of time, combining elegance with durability ,functionality and sustainability.

The Architecture of Control: How Global Anxiety Is Reshaping the Way We Design Our HomesIn a world that feels increasingly out of control, people are turning to the one space they can still shape on their own terms: home. That, in essence, is the thesis at the heart of a landmark new trend report from one of the interior design industry's most quietly influential forecasters.Michael Cleghorn, founder of global strategy consultancy MC&CO Trend, joined the Eussen Health, Life and Style podcast to walk listeners through the findings of The Architecture of Control — a 308-page document representing thirty years of forecasting expertise, now published publicly for the first time."Our choices are based on what we're feeling internally," Michael said. "There's a lot of psychology in terms of style and trend."The report identifies five simultaneous global pressures bearing down on consumers: economic stress and the rising cost of living, geopolitical instability delivered in real time through our screens, climate anxiety, uncertainty about AI and the future of work, and a profound collapse of trust in institutions. What makes this moment historically distinct, Michael argues, is not the presence of these pressures but the absence of any collective belief that things will improve."In the past, when there's been a difficult time — a recession, a war — the attitude has always been, 'It's okay, we'll get through this,'" he explained. "The difference today is there is no feeling that we're going to get through this. We are sliding into this new world and we don't know where it's going to end."That psychological shift, he argues, is already reshaping consumer behaviour — and, by extension, the aesthetics people will reach for in their homes over the next two to four years.

Beyond the Balance Sheet: Shannon Rivkin on What Wealth Really MeansFor Shannon Rivkin, the measure of financial success has never been purely numerical. As chairman of Rivkin Private Wealth, he has spent decades helping clients reach a state that goes well beyond a healthy portfolio — what he describes as the freedom to live the life they always planned.Returning to the Eussen podcast for a second conversation, Shannon unpacked the philosophy that now underpins his business, and offered a candid assessment of why so many Australians are leaving their financial futures to chance."It's not just about money," Shannon said. "Money buys toys and that's great, but it's about freedom — feeling that everything you want is attainable."The concept of "beyond the balance sheet" sits at the heart of how Rivkin now positions itself in the market. Shannon describes the business less as a traditional financial services firm and more like a concierge for a five-star hotel of finance — whatever the client needs, the team tries to solve it. That might mean a formal portfolio review, or it might simply mean sitting down over lunch and talking through the anxieties that come with managing decades of accumulated savings."I always consider our business as we're like the concierge for a five star hotel of finance," Shannon explained. "Whatever you need, we try to solve that."Building that level of trust, he acknowledges, takes time. Most clients don't arrive ready to hand over significant assets. They watch from a distance, perhaps join a lower-commitment service first, then start with a small fraction of what they hold — before gradually expanding the relationship as confidence grows. Shannon sees this as not only normal but healthy.

From Newsletter to Wealth Manager: The Rivkin StoryWhen Shannon Rivkin joined his father's financial services business at the age of 21, he was answering phones and selling a weekly stock market report. More than two decades later, he chairs one of Australia's most recognisable private wealth brands — one built not on corporate polish, but on the kind of loyalty that spans generations.Speaking on the Eussen podcast, Shannon traced the origins of Rivkin Private Wealth to 1997, when his father launched a simple newsletter aimed at bringing the sharemarket within reach of ordinary Australians. Delivered by post and fax at a time when the internet was still in its infancy, the publication carved out a following by making finance feel accessible rather than intimidating."Dad was very good at making people feel comfortable," Shannon recalled. "It was like a chat every week."The elder Rivkin built that relationship through seminars, radio appearances, and a genuine passion for the stock market that, by Shannon's account, bordered on obsession. "His one true love — probably even above his family," Shannon said, with candour. "He lived and breathed it."Growing up as one of five children, Shannon and his brother Dion were the only two drawn into the business. Shannon describes it as a combination of learned behaviour and something closer to instinct. "I go home thinking about the world of finance. It eats up my thoughts at all times."Following his father's death in 2005, Shannon took over management of the family's assets — and began investing the way his father always had: across property, private equity, and equities. When clients started asking why they couldn't access the same diversified opportunities, the answer became the business's next chapter. By around 2010, Rivkin began a gradual pivot toward holistic wealth management, eventually offering tailored portfolios across multiple asset classes with flexible entry points and no lock-up periods."Now we can have that more all-encompassing, holistic conversation about everything," Shannon explained. "What is your full asset pool? What are your goals for the future?"

Reinventing the Everyday: How Tash Scutts Is Disrupting Oral Care with LOVEBYT A Fresh Take on a Forgotten CategoryWhen Tash Scutts set out to create LOVEBYT, she wasn’t just launching another toothpaste brand—she was challenging an entire category that, for decades, had gone largely unquestioned.Founded in 2018, LOVEBYT was born from a simple but overlooked idea: oral care products should be as thoughtfully designed, health-conscious, and aesthetically pleasing as the rest of the items people proudly display in their homes.For Scutts, the name itself—playful and memorable—was part of the disruption. But the real ambition ran deeper: to deliver a product that matched the performance of mainstream toothpaste while eliminating ingredients she believed consumers should think twice about.“I wanted to make a toothpaste with the same user experience… but with much better ingredients,” she explained. From Fashion Floors to Bathroom ShelvesTash Scutts did not come from a scientific or dental background. Instead, her career spanned textiles, furniture, and, most notably, fashion—where she worked as a buyer in a highly competitive industry.That experience proved critical.Fashion taught Tash how to build products that stand out, respond quickly to change, and connect with consumers. It also sharpened her understanding of branding—an insight she would later apply to an unlikely category.“I learned… you have to create a product really well, and you have to market that product really well,” she said.The transition into oral care came unexpectedly. Prompted by her daughters’ vegan lifestyles, Tash began searching for suitable toothpaste options—only to find products that felt uninspiring in both taste and presentation.That gap became her opportunity.