Louise Olsen & Stephen Ormandy
Louise and her husband Stephen are co-founders of Dinosaur Designs, makers of vibrant resin homewares and jewellery. Both also have artistic careers beyond resin.
THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF 2020? Louise: Working with all the uncertainty.
UNEXPECTED HIGHLIGHTS OR POSITIVES? All the love, care and support we recevied from our key teams at
Dinosaur Designs, and our family and friends.
A LESSON LEARNED FROM THIS YEAR? The need to be nimble and flexible in business. And how to read the signs. HOW WILL YOU BE CELEBRATING THIS FESTIVE SEASON?
We are having Christmas with my Dad [artist John Olsen] and family at Hidden Lake [John Olsen’s home and studio, in the Southern Highlands of NSW]. Cooking is a shared love so there will be lots of that happening.
GO-TO STORE FOR GIFT SHOPPING? Wholefood House in Sydney’s Waterloo, for natural and organic gourmet foods. ARE YOU TRAVELLING OVER SUMMER? We are looking forward to a holiday at Raes in Byron Bay [northern NSW]. ULTIMATE SUMMER HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Cairns, in Far North Queensland. From exploring the Great Barrier Reef to the Daintree Rainforest there’s so much to see there. HOW DO YOU UNWIND? Swimming and surfing.
AN IDEAL SUMMER’S DAY INVOLVES…? It starts with a walk
and a swim. And painting all day.
HOLIDAY FASHION MUST-HAVES? A Bassike t-shirt.
WHAT WILL BE ON YOUR SUMMER PLAYLIST? Steve’s Spotify playlist – find it as ‘Sormandy’ if you want to check it out.
WHAT BOOKS WILL YOU BE READING OVER SUMMER?
Son of the Brush by my brother, Tim Olsen; High Grade Living by Jacqui Lewis & Arran Russell (The Broad Place), and A Net of Fireflies, a book of Japanese Haiku by Harold Stewart.
QUINTESSENTIAL SUMMER MEAL? Salad Niçoise accompanied by a glass of crisp rosé. YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF SUMMER?
Early morning swims and walks with my family at Watsons Bay [in Sydney’s east], where I grew up.
FAVOURITE SUMMER SCENT? The Australian bush.
WHAT WILL YOU BE WATCHING? We love the TV series Chef’s Table and the recent documentary about musician Miles Davis, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, both on Netflix. WHERE DO YOU LIVE AND WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT?
We live up on a hill by the beach in Bronte [in Sydney’s east] in a home that is beautifully open to the landscape. Our most treasured possessions would be our collection of art and objects, gathered on our travels and received from family and friends over the years. They provide us with wonderful, inspiring memories.
YOUR HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR? Healing and recovery from Covid-19 and more global awareness of the delicate nature of our planet. AN EXCITING CREATIVE PROJECT FOR 2021? Just to keep painting. That’s always exciting. >
“An ideal summer’s day starts with a walk and a swim.”