Every year since the Paddington gallery’s opening, Saint Cloche has presented a grand finale group show.

This year’s exhibition, Paradiso, has been curated by Saint Cloche founder Kitty Clark (have a look at our video feature with her back in August!) to ‘create dialogue, and promote and celebrate the diverse, creative talents of artists that have been handpicked to illuminate the curatorial concept.’ There’s a whole of Australian talent in this show, as well as two international emerging artists, Daniel Barreto from Mexico, and Yusuke Abe from Japan.

Kitty asked the participating artists to take a creative leap into the hidden paradise of their dreams. ‘We invited them to be inspired by their own memories and dream sequences to form a contemporary narrative and to imagine a better world – the fuel needed to enable all great invention, change or innovation in life – to forge a pathway to a multi-dimensional utopian existence for our future,’ she says.

This month-long exhibition marks the end of Saint Cloche’s 2019 exhibition schedule after another exciting and transformative year.

Paradiso participating artists 

Bridgette McNab @bridgettemcnab
Claire Johnson @clairepony
Daniel Barreto @danielbarretoes
Dan Withey @danwitheyart
Elise Cameron-Smith @elisecameronsmith
Emma Bartik @voluptuary_ceramics
Gemma Avery @lilsparrow
Ileigh Hellier @Ileighhellier
Lauren Eaton @homebyharlequin
Luca Lettieri @l.lettieri
Matilda Kubany-Deane @tillytillytily
Sean Wadey @seanwadeystudio
Somchai Charoen @somchaicharoen
Yusuke Abe

Paradiso: a beautiful dream
December 4th 2019 – January 12th 2020
Saint Cloche
37 MacDonald Street
Paddington NSW

Shirin Pulitano of Dot Dot Dash agency, and husband Daniel purchased their North Melbourne home in May 2012. Daniel’s construction business Pulitano Construction were immediately set to task to renovate the property, in collaboration with architect Nick Harding from Ha Architecture. The group set out to redesign the space, within the confines of an existing permit, as Shirin explains ‘we didn’t want to slow down the process and resubmit new plans to council.’ A strategic design decision, with a stunning outcome!

Shirin prefaces the tour of her home by highlighting, ‘although I am constantly creating spaces at Dot Dot Dash, I’m always surprised how difficult I find making decisions when it comes to my own home, so having great people with a similar design ethos to collaborate with is a luxury I do not take for granted.’ She flags that Daniel managed the construction budget… along with Shirin’s expectations!

With limited ability to reshape the home and existing facade, there were significant restrictions in renovating this home – but the couple worked closely with Nick to make full use of the space. The brief was to create open space through high ceilings and clean lines, which they have resolutely achieved! Shirin describes ‘we are influenced by a mix of modern and classic design, and as we grow as a family, we’re inspired by the things that are very sentimental to us.’

Daniel’s love of wine and cooking has resulted in the introduction of a cellar and terrace pizza oven, while Shirin’s interest in Australian art and mid-century design has informed the aesthetics of the home. The space has evolved over time, and Shirin highlights that as the family grows up together ‘the remaining empty corners and blank walls will be filled with possessions we love, and keepsakes from our memorable family holidays.’ The interior walls are painted Dulux Lexicon Quarter, Shirin describes this as her ‘favourite residential white’, selected to give a crisp backdrop for art, ornaments and favourite furniture pieces.

While the limited outdoor space was initially a concern, the couple worked with Nick and Frances Hale from Peachy Green to maximise the outdoor space, and bring a verdant garden with olive trees, lemon trees and a thriving herb garden to life. Shirin enthuses ‘the birch trees are as tall as the house, and ensure every level has plenty of greenery for us to enjoy.’

Incredibly, Shirin and Daniel have lived on this leafy North Melbourne street for over 20 years, with this as their second home in the same neighbourhood! They love the proximity to the city, coupled with the local ‘village’ feeling, where nearby shops include a beloved barber, library and food market. After creating their dream family home here, we’re pretty sure the Pulitano clan will be passionate North Melbourne locals for many years to come!

After a decade of drawing on the past to create contemporary designs, Retro Print Revival are celebrating by launching ‘Athena‘, a new collection which includes experimentations with ceramics, alongside their trademark lampshades and planters.

In reflecting on the last ten years of running her business, Tamara notes that ‘appreciation for mid-century design has exploded in the last decade.’ When the brand launched, there wasn’t anything else similar on the market. She highlights, ‘times have changed though, and the demand for the mid-century look in people’s homes has never been stronger.’

With a focus on classic mid-century silhouettes and styles, this latest collection also jumps forward a few decades to find new inspiration. Tamara Watts, creative director of Retro Print Revival, explains ‘the bronzed mirrored Raven Planters are delving a bit more into the early 80s, and the Stevi Vases are classic mid-century style.’ The Athena range includes new linen colours, hessians, and velvet lampshades for a luxurious retro feel. Tamara highlights her  passion for reinvigorating great ideas from the past –  ‘there’s so much joy to be found in breathing new life into old ideas, and creating well-made pieces that will adorn peoples home for many years to come.’

Looking back over the past ten years, Tamara also celebrates the relationships she has developed with local craftspeople. She highlights, ‘every step of the way I work alongside my makers right here in Melbourne, as we source the materials locally. In fact, most of my makers are in adjoining suburbs, which keeps business circulating around my own community.’ We love a local operation!

Working across sculpture and jewellery, fine-art and functional objects, Melbourne based maker Anna Varendorff has amassed an almost cult following in Melbourne, in particular for her distinctive curved brass sculptures, created under the name ACV studio.

Since we last featured Anna in 2014 (!), when she was just beginning to create her elegant single-stem brass vases, these pieces have become a huge part of Anna’s practice. ‘They are something I make constantly’ she explains. The production of these popular vases supports other, less commercial projects that Anna undertakes, including exhibiting at not-for-profit spaces in Melbourne, such as Caves Gallery, where Anna has a show opening in January 2020.

Anna describes the varied nature of her practice as ‘exhausting but addictive.’ Working across multiple projects allows her to jump in-and-out of different roles, collaborate with the ‘best people’, while still allowing the prolific creative to work for herself.

Anna’s practice is inspired by many other artists and creatives, particularly those whose work encourages a direct relationship between the object and the audience. She highlights Lygia Clark, Franz West and Donald Judd as artists with ‘wildly different’ arts practices, but who combine an interactive or functional element, with their ability to speak to politics.

If you would like to create a direct relationship between object and audience (aka get your own hands on one of Anna’s vases!), join us at the Art&Artefact opening this Saturday December 14th! (See Anna’s piece for Art&Artefact here.)

Art&Artefact
at TDF Collect
14 Little Oxford st
Collingwood
Victoria

Exhibition opening this Saturday,December 14th
Drinks and snacks from 2pm – 5pm

The ‘Jac’ home in Dulwich Hill, NSW by Panov Scott Architects is a clever renovation that inserts a new space in between two established elements – a federation home and a beloved Jacaranda tree! Architects Anita Panov and Andrew Scott were inspired by the deep history of the site, evident in both the historic four bedroom cottage, and the sculptural tree in the backyard.

The brief for the home was to redesign the property to allow the clients a closer relationship with the surrounding environment. Anita and Andrew wanted to introduce a new architectural element which would expand on the intimate and finely crafted Federation proportions and ornamentation, and branch out to meet the sweeping canopy of the Jacaranda. The architects were also careful to ensure the preservation of the original home, where old pine boards, skirting, rendered brick and ornate cornices have been retained.

This bright and breezy renovation encourages new connections with the garden, street, and lane, and welcomes the changing light of the seasons into the home. The design balances these outward looking pavilion-esque qualities with interiors that equally allow for introspection and seclusion, bringing this historic home into the modern day, and making it liveable and functional for many years to come!

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Tasmania a few times now, and always find making the trip over Bass Strait instantly relaxing and rejuvenating. So, after a cancelled trip south earlier this year, I was quick to jump when the opportunity arose to visit Tassie for a kid-free weekend away at Pumphouse Point.

Nestled within central Tasmania over Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest lake, Pumphouse Point rests inside Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area. The two-and-a-half-hour drive from Hobart Airport provides a sampling of all Tasmania has to offer, taking you past historic towns, wineries, distilleries, and cherry farms, winding alongside the picturesque River Derwent, through grasslands and over spectacular mountainous highlands.

We stopped at the scenic town of New Norfolk on the way, to visit the incredible antiques wonderland, The Drill Hall Emporium, and sister store, Flywheel, a beautiful stationery outlet and working letterpress studio. A quick trip to MONA was another highlight, and never fails to enchant.

Upon arrival, it’s clear that Pumphouse Point is truly something special. The original 1940s Pumphouse is a striking 5-story industrial relic perched over the lake, while the original Hydro substation, the Shorehouse, is situated on the lake’s edge. After decades of inactivity, the site was redeveloped into boutique accommodation by Simon Currant AM (whose other projects include Peppermint Bay Hotel in Woodridge and Hobart restaurant Franklin, and before that Cradle Mountain Lodge and Strahan Village), with Cumulus Studio overseeing design of the Pumphouse and Shorehouse conversions.

We stayed at their newest offering, The Retreat, a secluded architectural hideaway designed by JAWS Architects. This timber-clad, luxury self-contained cabin is nestled in bushland on the edge of the lake. Tear yourself away from the views across to the Pumphouse, and inside you’re met with a showcase of furniture and interior details handcrafted by local Tasmanian artisans. The one-off timber furniture pieces in Tasmanian Oak are by Simon Ancher, there are hand-made ceramic bathroom basins by Lindsey Wherrett, and Tasmanian-made soft furnishings from The Spotted Quoll Studio.

The Pumphouse Point is surrounded by many walking tracks, but with an expansive larder brimming with the best local produce, wines and Tasmanian craft beers, ciders, spirits and cocktails, I have to admit it was hard to leave the room! It was tough to decide between a fire-side perch in my all-time favourite designer armchair, the Jardan Wilfred, (not Tasmanian made, but crafted from Tasmanian Oak and 100% Australian wool!) or the outdoor bathtub, taking in views across the lake.

One compelling reason to venture out was the delicious farmhouse fare dinners in the Shorehouse dining room. Meals are served at shared tables and we enjoyed exchanging stories with the other guests, and hearing about the day’s adventures exploring the local trails and sites. The farm-to-table feast is served in conjunction with Coal River Farm, and brings the best of Tasmanian food to this striking setting, enjoyed while overlooking wallabies grazing and the sun setting over Lake St Clair. A truly unforgettable experience!

Pumphouse Point is a historic industrial site, restored to offer boutique accommodation inside Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area. To find our more about Pumphouse Point, visit www.pumphousepoint.com.au.

The day Tamsin Johnson flew from Sydney to meet the owner of this South Yarra apartment, things didn’t quite go as planned. The client was unfortunately called away for business at the last minute, leaving a key under the mat for Tamsin to let herself in. Luckily, upon entering the space, the interior designer says, ‘I instantly knew what was needed to make this place feel like home.’

Tamsin intended this three-bedroom apartment be a sanctuary away from the client’s busy work life and inner-city Melbourne. A mostly neutral and monochromatic palette was selected, with added moments of surprise throughout. ‘I wanted the space to feel restrained, with moments of drama and abstract sculptural lines in the furniture silhouettes,’ Tamsin says.

The apartment’s original steel-framed floor-to-ceiling windows were retained in the renovation, complemented by theatrical yet timeless decor and furnishings. Many of these pieces were actually custom made in the apartment, such as the irregular bronze framed mirror, the bedheads, most of the wall lighting, and the entry console.

Other standout pieces include the Mario Bellini ‘Le Bambole’ chairs, Willy Rizzo coffee table, Charles Rennie Mackintosh dining setting, and 1930s French ceramics. The open shelving in the kitchen and living space allow these items to be on display, serving as semi-permanent fixtures of the design.

Antique floorboards were initially selected for the flooring, but due to acoustic and sound engineering issues, these were switched for a softer option. While not originally planned, these blonde floors are a calming addition to the mostly chromatic interior with steel accents.

The actual structure of the apartment was also updated to enable a more open and functional layout. The bathroom and kitchen were completely reconfigured in this process, the latter of which is now Tamsin’s favourite room in the home. ‘We had the entire kitchen handmade with a local metal worker who is an artist in himself. I love that brushed matte and industrial finish against the glamour of the dramatic Calacatta viola marble.’

It’s clear that the client’s trust in Tamsin’s design expertise, paired with the beautiful bones of this post-war apartment, is what’s behind this highly successful renovation. As Tamsin explains, ‘The client really trusted the design journey. There was no single moment where she questioned the aesthetic intention, which really made for the most enjoyable process and result.’

Just as exposure to activity imbeds action in the memory of muscle, we are reminded of the comparable imprint into the soul when formative life is spent within great architecture. ‘Morton House’ is an impeccable example of Australian 20th Century domestic design stemming directly from the childhood experiences of second-generation Modernists.

Designed and built (c.1979) by Deirdre and Ivor Morton, a couple who had both been raised in Walter Burley Griffin’s Castlecrag Estate and thus so inescapably immersed in the progressive and creative lives which these, our first bohemians, pursued. So here we find this home stemming from such illustrious foundations, literally placed inside glorious Australian bushland, a central courtyard with magnificent eucalypt at its heart and blanketed in a roof-garden where lyrebirds nest.

Built as a light and shade dappled womb of mudbrick, slate and timber, embracing ideals of indigenous environmental allegiance and architecture ancient yet optimistically futurist all at once. A place that embodies and exudes a set of philosophies where one seeks comfort more and more these days, while the outside world remains adrift, fighting against itself in a ceaseless parade of screaming digital and political milieus. *Sigh*

View the listing here, and original MA article here.

Run by Patricia Callan and Pete Bakacs, Modernist Australia is the passion-project/website dedicated to raising the profile of mid-century design and modernist principles in Australia. For more swell eye-candy, visit Modernistaustralia.com.

We’re nearly there, people. Summer holidays are so close you can almost *taste* the pavlova… and thanks to Miele, one lucky TDF reader will be entertaining guests in serious style this summer, with our epic Ultimate Dinner Party Kit!

We’ve brought together our favourite tableware, table linen and glassware brands, to create this dream dinner party table, inspired by Australian native botanicals, and a neutral, beachy palette, with just a touch of gold. One lucky winner will win the WHOLE kit and caboodle – including a $3000 voucher from Miele.

This epic prize pool has been made possible thanks to Miele’s new and innovative Freestanding Cooker – the perfect appliance for those who love to host a party! Combining five separate appliances in one (an oven, cooktop, griddle, microwave and warming drawer) this versatile cooker allows multiple dishes to be cooked at once, making entertaining a breeze.

The Ultimate Dinner Party Kit Prizepool

$3000 Miele voucher

24-piece Dark Terra dinner setting in ‘Coast’ (includes dinner plate, entree plate and bowl for 8 people) by Robert Gordon Australia (RRP $790)

1 x Feast Jug in ‘Selby Green’ by Robert Gordon (RRP $39.95)

1 x Feast Round Baking Dish in ‘Selby Green’ by Robert Gordon (RRP $39.95)

1 x Large ‘Wattle Wheat’ Screenprinted Linen Tablecloth by Bonnie and Neil (350cm x 250cm) – RRP $350)

8 x Linen Napkins in ‘Olive Green’ by Cultiver (RRP $100)

2 x 6-packs of StandArt Gabriel Glas wineglasses (dishwasher-safe, lead-free crystal glass) from Blackhearts & Sparrows (RRP $200)

32-piece Cutipol ‘Moon‘ Cutlery Setting in Gold, from Francalia (RRP $920)

Miele’s new Freestanding Cooker is available to purchase from Miele Experience Centres and select retail partners. For more information about Miele’s kitchen range and matching appliances, visit www.miele.com.au. 

To be in the running to WIN our Ultimate Dinner Party Kit, simply enter your email address and answer the question in the form below. Entries close at midday on Thursday, 19th December. The winner will be announced on Friday, 20th December – see here for Ts & Cs.

The history and pedigree of this five-bedroom Victorian Italianate home is immediately evident upon first glance at the façade.

The new owners of this Woollahra home had no intention of touching the grand structure, but were keen for the interior styling to better reflect their personalities and stage in life.

Claire Driscoll (née Delmar) of Studio CD was engaged for this project, having previously designed the family’s other property in Palm Beach. As the family had just moved in, Claire was given a completely blank canvas to work with, and a relatively open brief. The owners only requested there be nothing too ‘blingy.’

‘Our clients wanted a fun contemporary, city home with different areas to entertain and special unique places for the children to enjoy,’ Claire says. ‘It was to capture timeless elegance alongside playful youth and be more textural than anything shiny.’

The client’s existing art collection, including a couple of sentimental pieces and wedding gifts, were the key source of inspiration for this project. ‘The artworks bring a sense of fun and lightness to the house which softens its grandeur and masculinity,’ says Claire. ‘They express the client’s vibrant personality and youth through colour and context, and also show support to Australian contemporary art, which is fantastic to see.’

The clients placed their complete trust in Claire from the initial design concept, allowing her to push the boundaries of creativity. Progress updates were provided in a very active WhatsApp group (!) alongside general discussions about life’s daily disasters and joys.

The client’s love of art, travel and fashion were clearly integrated into the new design, creating a richly layered home, with different textures that speak to one another. Claire’s favourite space is the formal living room, that exudes a sense of fun, while still remaining calm and timeless.

Without making one structural change, Claire has successful updated this prestigious home, resulting in a uniquely refined space with a truly adventurous spirit.

Summer has arrived and it’s time to eat all the berries and stone fruit! One of my favourite ways to use summer fruits is in this simple and utterly pretty dessert. With Christmas around the corner too, this Eton Mess is absolutely perfect.

Said to have originated Eton College in England in the late 1800s, an Eton Mess, in its simplest form, consists of strawberries, whipped cream and meringues. I do love it with strawberries, but here I’ve swapped them out for peaches and raspberries, one of my most loved fruit combinations. Feel free to experiment with different stone fruit – nectarines and apricots would be lovely. Some crème fraîche, or even a little plain yoghurt folded into the whipped cream is a nice twist on the original too.

Besides it being super delicious, it can also be prepared well in advance which is especially handy if you are having friends around and don’t want to spend all your time in the kitchen. Just whip the cream and fold through the peach just before serving. If you don’t want to make the meringues for yourself, store-bought ones are a great short cut. With that being said, homemade meringues are decidedly chewier and just that much nicer. They’re not at all difficult to make, it will just require a little forethought as it will need time to cool completely before using. I’ve served this Eton Mess in individual bowls, but in a large serving bowl would be lovely too.

JULIA’S PEACH + RASPBERRY ETON MESS (serves 6)

Hazlenut meringues
2 egg whites
Sea salt
120g caster sugar
50g roasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped, plus extra to serve

Stewed peaches
5 yellow peaches
2 cardamom pods, bruised
2 tbsp caster sugar
Juice of half a lemon

400ml pure cream, whipped to soft peaks
250g raspberries, to serve

Method

Whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt in an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, until mixture is stiff and glossy and all sugar has dissolved. Gently fold through in the hazelnuts. Pile the meringue on to the baking sheet and spread into a rectangle, around 1cm thick. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the meringue is crisp to touch but still soft on the inside. Turn off the oven, leave the door ajar, and allow to cool completely in the oven. Break the meringue into large pieces and set aside.

For the peaches, make a small cross at the base of each peach with a sharp knife and place in a heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water and leave to sit for 3 minutes. Remove from the water and when cool enough to touch, peel the skin and discard. Roughly chop the peach flesh into large pieces, discarding the stones, and place in a small saucepan along with the cardamom pods, sugar and lemon juice. Cook on a low-medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until soft. Cool completely and discard the cardamom pods.

Puree half of the peach mixture in a small food processor or with a stick blender until smooth and fold through the whipped cream.

To assemble, dollop some of the peach cream into individual serving bowls, followed by some meringue, a spoonful of the stewed peaches and a few raspberries. Top with more peach cream, peaches and raspberries and finish off with a scattering of roasted hazelnuts.

What else I’m cooking with…

New season garlic, all the berries and cherries (not so much cooking with but definitely eating) and beautiful peppers – stewed, grilled, roasted!

What I’m eating…

All the snacks at Carlton Wine Room. Particularly the house-made focaccia with stracciatella! So good!

You can follow Julia’s food adventures on Instagram and find more fab recipes via her website! 

Natalie Watson has been renovating homes all over Melbourne for years, leading her to discover this Carlton terrace four years ago. The house was wider than usual and on a good-sized block, inspiring Natalie to look past its dire state (‘Cracks in the wall so big you could stick your hand and quite possibly your head into’) to realise its untapped potential.

It was Natalie’s vision to turn this house into short-term accommodation, combining the best elements of a traditional hotel and private home stay. She wanted the space to feel homey and intimate, but not to the extent of having taped-up drawers and family photos on show, as is often the case in Airbnbs!  ‘I love the idea of living like a local for a few days, in a house that is a little bit better than my own home,’ she says.

A mostly monochromatic palette was devised for the interiors, layered with robust materials including concrete, glass, steel and oak. CO-OP Studio designed the incredible linear skylight that runs the length of the southern boundary, creating wonderful shadow play on the whitewashed brick wall below (hence the accommodation’s name).

Renovations took about 12 months to complete and involved almost an entire rebuild. One of the only original elements able to be restored were the mantlepieces, but even these required significant work.

Gardens are often a forgotten element in holiday homes, (especially in the inner-city), but this was of the utmost importance to Natalie, as a trained landscape designer. She envisioned this outdoor space becoming an extension of the house, complete with deciduous trees and a combination of local and exotic plants, grounded in granitic sand. ‘I have incorporated some wonderful ornamental grasses that you ‘view’ the garden through from inside,’ Natalie says. ‘The idea is that come late summer, the garden will turn into a beautiful silvery, gauzy haze.’

All the decor and furniture items have been carefully chosen for joy and relaxation, from the bed linen down to the kettle. ‘I love the idea of elevating these everyday objects so that even making a cup of tea is a pleasure,’ says Natalie. ‘I love interiors that show restraint, that aren’t full of too much stuff…. where you can just breathe out’.

At its core, Shadow House is a holiday home to inspire guests, and help them reconnect with one another. Natalie says, ‘I think we become better versions of ourselves when we are in a calm and restful environment, and that’s what I have tried to create here.’

Book your stay at Shadow House here!

Jenni and Jennie initially imagined Wombat Barn in Daylesford would be their country weekender… but they explain ‘our time here grew from a few days a month to full time very quickly.’ We can’t blame them!

The couple first spied the block when walking past the site, and would occasionally ‘sneak a delicious apple from the gnarly old tree.’ The spot is located on the edge of the town, with the Botanic Gardens just over the back fence. They explain ‘the land had been on the market for a while, and once we envisaged a house to look beyond the neighbours backyards, rather than face the street, it felt right’.

The pair worked with architect Grant Amon to design Wombat Barn, and since it was built in 2011, have gently shifted into the home full time. The concept for the design was to combine the ‘warmth of an English Cottage with the lightness of a Scandinavian house.’ Inside, the warm white and natural wood are brought to life with a collection of ‘pre-loved’ furniture and furnishings. Jenni and Jennie describe ‘somehow we keep adding to this collection with local finds – the objects may change, but the feel remains the same.’

The real heart of this home is the country-style kitchen, where ‘everything and everyone revolves around the table.’ Jenni and Jennie are well-established members of the community (partly through Scrub Hill 1868, a local bluestone church they run as a wedding and events venue). They have become friends with local farmers and producers, meaning their table and benches are always laden with vegetables, fruits, produce and charcuterie from the area. Jenni and Jennie’s own edible garden also contributes to the bevy of gifts for the kitchen table.

In addition to providing endless fresh produce, the backyard is also home to the couple’s beloved guinea fowl, who roam and chatter through the garden. Wombat Barn has two sections under the one roof – one space for Jenni and Jennie, and one as a guest house. So if homegrown veggies, Scandinavian light, and pottering through the local flora and fauna take your fancy… book in for a weekend stay here!

Fibre artist Siân Boucherd is in it for the long haul. Her mum was a ‘master knitter’, and growing up Siân absorbed her expert skills as a quilt maker, knitter and seamstress. ‘Fibre has always been there, a preoccupation’, she admits. She made her first ‘bush basket’ 16 years ago, but it wasn’t until 6 years ago that she took up the practice in earnest.

After initially studying a Visual Arts degree with a focus on drawing and painting, she spent time pursuing a curatorial practice in Australia and the UK. It wasn’t until Siân returned back home to Western Australia from the UK, and started running an art centre for criminal offenders that she really started to unlock the therapeutic and artistic benefits of basket making. She explains, ‘coiling baskets quickly became my go-to as a technique that anyone can learn.’ The work is simple and repetitive – ‘which can be very therapeutic in itself’, she says – but once you understand the basics, all the small creative decisions involved makes for an ‘autonomous project where the scope for possibility is limitless’.

Teaching every day got her hooked, and Siân still finds herself excited by the potential of ‘such a foundational and ancient technology’. She explains, ‘I could spend a lifetime exploring this one simple thing and really see where I can take it. So that’s what I’m doing, it’s a long game.’ Her weaving is snuck into any spare moment – some days a few stitches on the fly, and mixed with full days in the studio with music and dying of fibres where possible. She explains, ‘while it is a slow process, it gives me a real sense of forward momentum, it is thoughtful, incremental work and that pace feels just right to me – almost an antidote to regular life.’

Place deeply informs Siân’s textural, contemporary work. After returning from her four-year stint in London, Sian found new inspiration in the quality of light and landscape in Western Australia. ‘The natural environment asserts its dominance here in a unique way’, she says. ‘A sense of respect and wonderment for this landscape is ever-present in my work, and is reflected in my desire to work in a medium that will one day break down and be reclaimed by the earth’.

Mim Fanning and family renovated their traditional Victorian home 13 years ago, with a view to combine the home’s existing heritage characteristics with a bright, modern extension. The property needed to be ‘future proof’ to accommodate their two sons growing up, who were just starting primary school when the family first embarked on the renovation (the eldest is now 19!). Mim explains ‘we wanted our home to be an easy house to live in, as well as a comfortable sanctuary to spend time together in.’

The front of the house is generously proportioned, with high ceilings and Victorian features. The renovated modern addition at the rear of the home is a bright and airy living space with 4.5 metre high ceilings, and views out to the garden. This new part of the home connects to the original 1886 home via a wide central hallway, which doubles as a gallery. Mim and her husband David are passionate collectors of contemporary art, and every corner of their home speaks to this passion! Amongst their most treasured acquisitions are paintings by John Coburn, Stephen Ormandy and Howard Arkley (!) and many others.

After two decades in the game, Mim has developed a strong sense of what great design means. She explains ‘it’s a way of living. Great design has reason and purpose, as well as form and function.’ Offering her advice on choosing and integrating tech products at home, Mim highlights ‘tech products at home don’t always need to be integrated, and that’s why I love the Samsung Serif unit designed by the Bouroullec Brothers – it has the design flexibility to go anywhere at any time.’ Mim encourages tech solutions that can be moved and adapted to changing family dynamics and rapidly growing kids! ‘Life is about flexibility and change’ she says, ‘that’s why the design of this product is so great.’

Both in her practice and at home, Mim’s design aesthetic is one of refined simplicity. She is a measured, and thoughtful designer, who eschews fleeting trends in favour of timeless, functional design. This is no better demonstrated than in her own home, where she explains that her intent was ‘to keep things simple, play on volume of space, and ensure the design would stand the test of time.’

The Samsung Serif, designed by the Bouroullec Brothers, features a unique I-shaped profile, making it iconic from every angle.  The Serif brings together the very best in contemporary design, with transformative technology.

Chris Stanley, director of Splinter Society Architecture explains that the client brief for this project was for a ‘large family home that was well zoned, robust, low maintenance, private, designed to impress when entertaining, and that would sit comfortably within the streetscape.’ The design was to be both robust and beautiful, and importantly needed to deal with a ‘problematic, rock littered soil condition.’

In addition to this broad suite of hopes and conditions for the home, Splinter Society had their own vision for creating a home that appeared simple, but really delivered in terms of function and detail. The ‘cornerstone’ of the home began with the placement of large-scale quarried rocks, which provided a grounding element for designing the home. Chris explains the aesthetic of ‘monumental, timeless character’ here is ‘reinforced against a rhythmic palate of slender blackened steel and timber elements.’

The home mixes hard and soft, and heaviness and lightness through the use of timber and stone. The property sits on an old lava flow belt that Chris explains are ‘infamous for revealing problematic basalt floaters during construction’, and this challenge informed much of his studio’s design response.

The architects used the geology of the site to their advantage – taking 6 tonne stone blocks from the excavation process as literal cornerstones in the home. Chris highlights ‘you enter the house between stacks of them and feel their weight…their mass and broken natural texture gives a sense of awe and intrigue.’ On the opposite end of the scale, one of the Splinter Society architects had also worked as a contemporary jeweller, and brought some of this experience to this project. Asha employed her expertise in working with stone and metal finishing and detailing in a large-scale architectural context. A true gem of a home!

2019 kicked off to a bit of an unexpected start for the TDF team. After the passing of beloved Mirka Mora in 2018, we were devastated to hear that the Australian art icon’s collection of personal items were to be auctioned off, piece by piece. We decided to launch ‘Mirka For Melbourne’ – a crowdfunding campaign to enable Heide Museum of Modern Art to acquire a significant portion of Mirka’s estate. Well, we were BLOWN. AWAY. by the response! Our goal was to raise $100,000 (which honestly seemed pretty ambitious at the time), but with the generosity of more than 1,000 donors, together we ended up raising over $200,000 in just one week… and somehow, that was only February!

Jumping forward a bit, another HUGE project this year was the inaugural TDF Design Awards in September! This unique awards program covered 12 different creative categories, we had 31 (!) esteemed judges, and there was $30,000 in prize money up for grabs. The ceremony was a BLAST, and a special mention goes to Tim Ross for being our hilarious host and taking it to the next level! (YES, it’ll be back next year – start planning your entries!).

A major highlight of our Design Awards was the incredible trophies that we commissioned by glass artist Amanda Dziedzic. These spectacular art objects were the perfect token for our winners, representing the best of Australian design and craftsmanship. We loved them so much, we ended up showcasing more of Amanda’s stunning sculptural glass pieces in a TDF Collect exhibition just a few weeks ago, in November.

We launched a Sustainable Homes series this year, in partnership with Sukin, taking an in-depth look at homes that prioritise low environmental impact and sustainable innovation. We’ll be sharing more sustainable homes next year, along with a whole bunch more content around design, sustainability and practical solutions to climate change – watch this space!

I got to interview 20 amazing new creatives and entrepreneurs for our fortnightly podcast TDF Talks this year. Some major highlights include Australian design icon Mary Featherston, singer and storyteller Clare Bowditch, magazine and food industry legend Donna Hay, entrepreneur Courtney Adamo and beloved Australian artist Ken Done! I loved learning about the stories of these inspiring Australians! We’ve got 40 episodes (OMG) of the podcast up now – you can go back and listen to them all here.

We closed out the year with a bit of an ambitious task… our EPIC end of year group art show, Art&Artefact! We brought together 21 creatives – 15 painters and 6 ceramicists/makers – for a beautiful final exhibition. It felt a bit like the good old days, where we nearly sold out before opening the show (!), and had people spilling out onto the streets at the opening. I’m so grateful to everyone who supported this show, and to all the artists for really bringing it! Next year we’re planning many more shows from amazing local artists, with the aim to give a platform to emerging (and affordable!) talent.

We had a few changes to our team this year, too. If you didn’t get the memo, we have a new Managing Editor –Sally Tabart! Sally stepped into this role just a few short months ago, and has brought such brilliant energy to the job already – we can’t wait to see where she steers this ship in 2020! We’re saying goodbye to our long-serving Writer and Researcher Miriam McGarry today (boohoo!), and we’ve welcomed the brilliantly talented Amelia Barnes as our new Senior Writer and Researcher. Finally, we also added a new Graphic Designer to our ranks this year – Sasha Aarons slid effortlessly into this role back in July, and we can’t actually remember what life was like without her!

Finally, both myself and our art director Annie Portelli were incredibly lucky travel to Paris this year for the world’s biggest home / gift / decor trade show, Maison D’objet! It was so creatively energising to uncover so many new creative people, places and happenings (see our discoveries here and here) – we very much hope to do more global adventuring in 2020.

Honestly though, this whole thing really isn’t about us… it’s about you. A huge, huge thankyou to YOU, our loyal community, for tuning in to TDF each day, for reading our emails, downloading our podcasts, and double-tapping our instagram pics!  We’re endlessly grateful for your support and enthusiasm, and can’t wait to bring you many more beautiful homes, interiors, studio visits and creative stories, podcasts, events and exhibitions in 2020. Bring it on!

Happy holidays! x

A Jaw-Dropping Apartment Is One Of Australia’s First Warehouse Conversions

Everyone is now familiar with the converted warehouse… but this was one of the first examples in Australia! This home of designer Mardi Orla is seriously jaw-dropping, with soaring ceilings and a New-York-In-The-60s vibe. The vintage mushroom collection is NOT TO BE SCROLLED OVER. We can hardly believe this home is in Melbourne!

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A Stylish, Sentimental Home In St Kilda

When our art director Annie Portelli gets excited about a home she’s styled for one of our shoots, we sit up and pay attention. Annie was seriously buzzing over the St Kilda home of Barb Hyman and her family. Barb renovated this once derelict grand mansion, into a chic and sprawling terrace of finely crafted luxury.

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A Warrandyte Delight

Over the last few years we’ve seen so many Melbournian’s head to Warrandyte in search of a tree change close to the city. Another major plus is the incredible modernist and mid-century homes you can still find in wonderful condition in the area! The unconventional property of Sage and Clare’s Phoebe Bell and Chris Monahan is a perfect example. The sprawling property is home to two families, filled with colourful art and objects, with sweeping views over the treetops.

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A Magical Inner City Treehouse

Fleur Glenn’s treehouse, designed by architect Murray Barker, is truly something to behold. This charming, yet contemporary home in Clifton Hill perfectly caters to this empty-nester’s book filled and tree-lined life!

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The Impossibly Chic Chyka Weekender

Chyka Keebaugh puts her own distinctive flair on her ‘Nordic meets The Hamptons’ weekender! The Big Group co-founder was scrolling through instagram when she spied this holiday home (seriously!) and secured the property! Together with husband Bruce, Chyka embarked on large-scale renovations, including extending the grand master bedroom and major landscaping around THAT spectacular new pool.

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A Colourful, Art-Filled Family Home in Balmain

Fashion industry expert Sophie Trippe-Smith and her entrepreneur husband Adam  have got some SERIOUS style! This bright and cheerful renovated 1880’s Balmain terrace is filled with colourful Australian artwork and eclectic pieces.

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A Home Of Joy And Light With Alex McCabe In Kip&Co

The home of Alex McCabe, founder of Kip&Co is, unsurprisingly, a joyful burst of colour!  Bright pops of art, textiles and objects create a unique sense of character in this St Kilda home, but the scene-stealer for us is that kitchen splashback. So glam!

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The Timeless Beachside Home Of A Magazine Industry Legend

Deborah Bibby is a magazine industry legend, having spent 11 years as Editor-In-Chief at Real Living Magazine, as well as working as editor at JONES Magazine, Dolly, and Cleo. What a line-up! Deb brings her exacting eye for detail to this renovated beachside haven. A timeless delight!

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A Home With A Warm Hart

Doula Sunni Hart is a veritable ray of sunshine, so it is no surprise that the Eltham home she shares with partner Pete their two kids, Fox and Dizzy, as well as housemates Tilly and Thea, is a warm and welcoming space. The sprawling Alistair Knox-designed property was a dream come true for Sunni, who has long loved the Eltham home. The family have brought their own personal flair to this mid-century delight, introducing their own ’hodge-podge’ of treasured collections to the stunning home.

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A Spectacular Spanish-Influenced Homestead In The Byron Hinterland

If there was one hone that really took our collective breath away this year, this was it. Emma and Tom Lane of the beloved The Farm in Byron Bay shared their own spectacular home in Coopers Shoot in the Byron Hinterland. The Range is set on 120 acres and was designed and built using adaptive reuse principles, with an emphasis on natural and recycled materials. The result it a serene and luxurious haven, designed for inside/outside living. Seriously, if this isn’t ‘living the dream’, we don’t know what is!

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A  Lovingly Restored Mid-Century Marvel In Mount Martha

This circa 1973 home may look straight out of Palm Springs, but it’s actually located just outside Melbourne in Mount Martha.

Originally designed by Karl Fender (now one half of Fender Katsalidis), owner Katie Brannaghan and her husband Ian purchased the property in 2017 and have since returned the house to its former glory.

We shared this spectacular home back in October, and it’s already one of the popular mid-century homes we’ve published to date!

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Avoiding The Coastal Cliché, With Mid Century Flair

This home on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is the ultimate combination of beach house, mid-century, and sophisticated modern design.

Studio Esteta recently updated the hilltop home to accommodate six bedrooms, without stripping it of modernist character. Among stunning features are the crazy interior paving and rich marbled surfaces, complemented by original mid-century furniture and decor.

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Enhancing The Past In Studley Park

Our Instagram went crazy upon posting the facade image of this home located on Studley Park, a tightly held pocket of Melbourne’s Kew!

The mid-century home was originally designed by influential Russian-born Australian architect Anatol Kagan, who was committed to designing buildings that had a positive impact on society.

Most recently, the 1950s home has been sympathetically renovated by Kennedy Nolan, who refreshed the architectural beauty of the property, and re-zoned the layout to reflect a more contemporary way of living.

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This Rare Robin Boyd Original Makes An Extraordinary Family Home

Among the many beautiful mid-century homes in Melbourne’s Warrandyte is this 1963 one designed by iconic Australian architect, Robin Boyd.

This home is owned by content strategist and writer Emma Clark Gratton, and her furniture making husband, Lee Gratton, who moved here in search of extra space for their young family.

The seasoned renovators couple have redone the kitchen, added new cabinetry and tiling, renovated the master bedroom, and installed solar panels among many other small tweaks.

We love the spectacular views appreciated via through floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, alongside the beautifully designed interiors full of Gratton furniture and retro finds.

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A 1960s Portsea Shack Gets A Contemporary Revamp

Pleysier Perkins recently transformed this ‘tired beige’ ‘60s shack in Portsea, Victoria into a light and bright getaway that balances mid-century charm with modern family life.

The architects updated the kitchen, dining, and living area in the process to improve spatial flow, added a new playroom, and gave the interiors minor facelift.

Full-height doors at both ends of the new addition connect the space with the outdoors. The boundaries between these spaces are blurred with the use of crazy pavers that gently extend from the interiors to the grassy outdoor areas.

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Modernising A Mid-Century Stunner

This mid-century home in St Lucia, Brisbane, features light and airy spaces to make the most of its subtropical climate.

The property was renovated by Lucy Jeffries as one of the first projects since establishing her own studio. Prior to this, she had been honing her skills with award winning residential architectural practices Vokes and Peters and Shaun Lockyer.

This home was all about paring back and returning the home to its essential form, with a few carefully considered contemporary updates.

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A Corner-Block Mid-Century Classic

Our columnists over at Modernist Australia introduced this 1958 home in Klemzig, Adelaide, to us when it was on the market earlier in the year. It’s since been snapped up, and it’s not hard to see why!

The home has been sympathetically updated by its previous owners, who lived there since 1968. Many original features were retained over the decades, including a glassy window wall looking into the living room, and the wonderfully pink bathroom!

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Mid Century Meets Modern, In This Thoughtfully Renovated 1960s Home

This ‘60s home is pure mid-century from the street, but step inside and you’ll find some seriously glamorous interiors!

Bower Architecture and Interiors were responsible for recently updating this Caulfield property. The brief was to rediscover and celebrate the home’s original features, and create additional spaces with ‘hints of whimsy and glamour (but not glitz).’

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An Amazing Mid-Century Home Gets A High-Tech Makeover!

A dreamy waterfront site meets classic mid-century in Sydney’s Middle Cove.

The house was originally designed by architect Glynn Nicholls (son of Eric Nicholls – Walter Burley Griffin’s Australian business partner) in 1959, but was recently extended by 8 Squared.

The interior design by Studio Gorman is just as impressive, combining ‘50s elements alongside the latest technology to take this home into the 21st century and beyond.

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A Bohemian Blue Mountains Modernist Beauty

Trish from Modernist Australia recently shared with us this incredible find – a breathtaking Blue Mountains home, with Australian modern flavour, and a touch of bohemian flair.

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This Circular Beach House Will Put You In A Spin

Inspired by the modest New Zealand ‘bach’ (aka equivalent of the Aussie ‘shack’) this St Andrews Beach House puts a circular spin on the coastal getaway! Austin Maynard Architects emphasises the use of different architectural styles for beach settings, with the aim of avoiding replicating a suburban home. We think they’ve definitely nailed that brief, with this circular surprise!

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The Ultimate Heritage Restoration Project, On Remote Bruny Island

John Wardle needs little introduction… but Bruny Island might! This island requires a 20 minute ferry from Kettering, a town 30 minutes out of Hobart, but is WELL WORTH the trip. A personal project for the legendary architect, John Wardle has transformed the 1840s Captain Kelly’s Cottage with incredible craftsmanship and attention to detail. Every angle and view from this historic transformation is breathtaking!

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A Rugged Coastal Home By Kennedy Nolan

A rugged holiday home nestled into the coastal dunes of eastern Victoria. The Sandy Point home by Kennedy Nolan is all about the wooden panelling, the cosy indoor nooks, and connection with the stunning surrounding landscape.

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An Easy, Breezy, Beautiful Bangalow Home – Transformed On A Budget!

This 80s fibro shack in Bangalow in the NSW Northern Rivers is one of the cutest – and most affordable –renovations we’ve featured. Over the past 3.5 years, cabinet maker Nich Zalmstra has transformed this humble home from something he and graphic designer partner Holly McCauley ‘hated the look of’ into a dreamy family home.

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A Colourful Family Beach Shack, Wrapped In Shingles!

This little shack went gangbusters on Instagram when we first featured it in May – and it is pretty clear why. The shingled shack is absolutely charming, and combines a story-book exterior, with a low key and colourful interior. Owned by Kate Heppell of Kip&Co and her partner Mal, this shack is full of joy, loose Nordic vibes, and of course, Kate’s stunning bedding and homewares.

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An Artist’s Freshly Renovated, Light-Filled Beach Haven In Torquay

This Jan Juc house has an outrageously cute back story. The owner purchased this home, but had actually grown up in it! Scroll through the wisteria laced, light-filled santuary, as see why Pru was inspired to return back to the home her parent’s built in the 80s – and give it a completely jaw-dropping renovation!

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A Coastal Home That Treads Lightly On The Earth

This timber-clad residence in Cape Paterson may, at first glance, appear as a straightforward architecturally designed home – but in addition to being exceptionally designed, it is also the first home in Victoria to achieve a 10 Star energy rating. As part of an eco village called ‘The Cape’ the beach house combines a deeply considered environmental strategy with the brilliant design of Clare Cousins Architects and The Sociable Weaver.

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