In 1979, Paul Spon-Smith founded Mr Smith Interiors in Pymble, Sydney—initially selling furniture from his own home with a craftsman's eye for quality and a salesman's instinct for what people actually wanted. What began as a modest venture quickly proved there was an appetite for something different in Australia's furniture market: pieces that balanced classic elegance with contemporary thinking, made to last rather than follow fleeting trends.

By 1984, Paul had transformed his concept into Town & Country Living, opening the first proper showroom in Crows Nest, Sydney. The parent company Saveba Pty Ltd was established, laying foundations for what would become a furniture empire. In 2001, Town & Country Living expanded to Melbourne's Richmond, opening a Victorian showroom that signalled the brand's growing ambitions.

Then came 2002—the year Town & Country Living reimagined itself as Coco Republic. Paul's son Anthony Spon-Smith joined as Chief Creative Officer, alongside Jeremy Byrne as Executive Director and Partner. Together, the trio rebranded the business with a bold new vision: combine cutting-edge global design with a quintessentially Australian aesthetic—casually cool, deeply connected to nature, and sophisticated without pretension.

The name itself captured this ethos. "Coco Republic" suggested both tropical ease and refined elegance, a republic of design where outdoor terraces held equal importance to living rooms, where materials could withstand coastal climates whilst maintaining luxury appeal. This wasn't furniture for show homes—it was furniture for modern, affordable Australian living.

Under Anthony's creative direction, Coco Republic evolved from retailer to design house. The company launched its own furniture collections—pieces designed in-house that quickly became bestsellers, eventually comprising the majority of their business. Anthony's designs possessed something rare: they were both liveable and eye-catching, functional yet striking. Drawing inspiration from architecture, history, and the outdoors, his work captured an Australian sensibility that resonated beyond our shores.

The expansion accelerated. Coco Republic Property Styling launched in 2003, followed by Coco Republic Interior Design in 2006, offering award-winning full-service design across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. In 2009, Coco Republic Design School opened, offering short courses in partnership with TAFE NSW Design Centre Enmore. The first L'Americano Café debuted in Alexandria's showroom in 2010, transforming furniture shopping into lifestyle experience.

By the 2010s, Coco Republic had established itself as Australia's authority on design-led luxury furniture. They pioneered the Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards, now in its 15th year, celebrating Australian interior design excellence. Their showrooms—sprawling, immersive environments in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra, and Perth—became destinations rather than shops.

Then came international expansion. In 2019, Coco Republic entered the United States through a partnership with Californian retailer HD Buttercup, launching showrooms in Los Angeles and Orange County. The West Coast proved perfect territory—California's indoor-outdoor lifestyle mirrored Australia's own, making Coco Republic's beachy, lived-in aesthetic feel native rather than imported. That same year, Auckland's Westfield Newmarket welcomed Coco Republic's first New Zealand showroom—a stunning space that won Supreme Winner at the New Zealand Red Awards for commercial design.

Anthony's reputation extended beyond Coco Republic. In 2020, Restoration Hardware—the American luxury giant with $2.65 billion annual turnover—appointed him an RH Artisan. His Capri and Portofino outdoor collections, plus the Sylvain Sofa and Chair range, now sell through RH's 66 American stores.

In October 2021, U.S. private equity firm Story3 Capital Partners acquired a majority stake, providing capital for further expansion whilst maintaining family leadership. Today, Coco Republic operates across three continents, with 15+ showrooms, employs hundreds, and services complex commercial projects for developers, hotels, and corporate clients through Coco Republic Contract.

At HFOC, we specialise in sourcing authentic second-hand Coco Republic pieces—from Anthony Spon-Smith's signature designs to their iconic outdoor collections, from their Hamptons-inspired Ashley range to statement pieces that add soul to every room. Each piece of furniture transcends trends, offering discerning buyers the opportunity to acquire Australian design excellence at accessible prices.

Coco Republic doesn't follow fashion. It defines affordable Australian style.