“I think you will find the following pages very THERAPEUTIC and inspire your DREAMS for 2021.”
And exhale! It’s finally time to breathe, and I hope by the time you are reading this that you have had time to catch up with your loved ones, especially those you haven’t seen all year. You may have missed births, weddings, family celebrations or other milestones, but if your nearest and dearest are here in Australia, you will hopefully have the chance to get together and take a break at least for a few days in the new year. And boy, do we need this new year!
I don’t know about you, but my shoulders have been sitting higher than my ears since March 2020. I think we’ve all been holding onto a giant ball of tension – not knowing whether the pandemic will flare up and re-enforce restrictions, how the economy will fare, or what will the job market be like next year. My son finishes university at the end of 2021 – will the whole employment landscape and the way we work be significantly different by then? These and many other scenarios play in a loop in my mind, and I am sure many of you have similar narratives that keep you wide-eyed in the early hours! Luckily, I have a prescription for distraction: this issue of H&G. Whether you are relaxing by the beach, poolside or in the garden, I think you will find the following pages very therapeutic. We have 12 absolutely fabulous homes and three stunning verdant gardens – ranging in style from classic to contemporary – to keep you engrossed for hours and hopefully inspire your dreams for 2021.
Take a look at architect Joe Agius’ Sydney home (page 74). With the help of his wife Kate and sons Miles and Rueben, Joe restored a faded Victorian beauty and added a contemporary compound without compromising its charm. Rob Kennon’s stylish minimalist design (page 138) is a new-build but looks like it has always been there, a great example of design that is sympathetic with its heritage streetscape yet not a reproduction of an historic home. Architect Madeleine Blanchfield conceived an incredible home (page 64) for her retiree parents Frank and Barbara. The building nestles beautifully in the coastal landscape and, according to Madeleine, creates the feeling of being at one with nature, as if you were camping. The exquisite interiors are well-considered and understated, but I have to say that it looks more like glamping to me! For some classic style, we visit former Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Eugenie Kelly’s Arts and Crafts terrace (page 16) which she shares with her husband, two teenage daughters and their weimaraner. The house is beautifully appointed yet robust enough to withstand the family’s busy lives.
We hope you can hide all devices, slide onto the sofa, towel or hammock and enjoythelengthyreadandwelookforwardtobringingyoumanymoreincredible Australian homes in 2021. Happy New Year from the team at H&G!