Editor’s Letter
How apt are the words of French critic, journalist and novelist Jean-Baptiste Karr from 170 years ago: plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose – the more things change, the more they stay the same? I am delighted to be back working with the incredibly creative and talented – not to mention stylish – Belle team and thank Gavin Kirk for his wonderful contribution to the magazine and wish him all the best in his brand-new media venture. I am taking this fresh opportunity to introduce our team to those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of a real or virtual meeting: (pictured, from left) senior copy editor Janice Hogg, deputy editor Harry Roberts and creative director Cathryn Zhang – they are the smart and adaptable powerhouse who make the pages of Belle spring to life visually and textually. With our style director-at-large Steve Cordony (see his fabulous Spy and Office Focus shoots on p17 and p35), our interior design editor Lucy Montgomery, and our band of dedicated writers, photographers and stylists we have been fortunate to be able to continue production of the influential and aspirational stories inside during challenging times. I think you’ll agree the issue looks pretty enticing despite the restrictions imposed by Covid and we have all definitely done some remote learning!
I am glad to be back to see the incredible raft of talent that this year’s Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards has unearthed. This is the tenth year of the awards and I am proud to have been involved from the start in what has ended up being a very special decade of interior design with Anthony Spon-Smith and our partners at Coco Republic. We began these awards with former Belle editor-in-chief and design aficionado Neale Whitaker, who is now sharing his style nous with the rest of Australia on television – see his profile on p46. The 2020 entries are phenomenal and a testament to the depth of talent in Australian interior design. We haven’t been wowed with the latest from Milano this year but this exceptional homegrown work is capturing global acclaim. The finalists are revealed within and we invite you to tour some sensational, one-of-a-kind homes by Thomas Hamel, Dylan Farrell, Handelsmann + Khaw and Golden. Our opulent cover image is from a beautiful home by Melbourne-based designer Travis Walton.
If luxe and chic come in smaller packages for your way of life have a look at the dream pied-à-terres and apartments in our Smart Spaces feature beginning on p75 – the gorgeous Elizabeth Bay apartment was conceived by our interior design editor, Lucy Montgomery, and was a collaboration with her design-savvy, downsizing parents. And while we may not have been able to dine and imbibe at too many hospitality venues lately, that hasn’t stopped us feasting on the beautiful looks prepared for exclusive establishments by Australia’s top design talent – see p165 for the finalists in this year’s Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards Hospitality category.
The world has definitely changed and that makes how we feel about our immediate surroundings even more important: we hope you find something to inspire and enliven your new world order on the following pages.