EDITOR’S LETTER HG
From the outside, an interest or obsession with interior design can look frivolous – trivial even – but those of us who work in the home-design sphere know that creating a beautiful space that is a soothing sanctuary to return to at the end of the day is far from shallow. We recently celebrated our annual Top 50 Rooms awards with a beautiful lunch with our sponsors and finalists. The sentiment shared by all the guests and winners was a feeling of gratitude to be able to work in such a creative and dynamic industry that gives so many people such joy. Brooke Aitken, winner of the Best Use of Colour award, sponsored by Laminex, (see her gorgeous project on page 80) summed up the vibe, thanking everyone for being part of such a fabulous community. The last couple of years has forced us all to be more insular, sometimes forgetting the wider circle that we are all an integral part of. The celebration lunch was a welcome reminder – see some of our fabulous guests on page 16.
I love the work of artists Lottie Consalvo and James Drinkwater and was delighted that they agreed that we could shoot at their gorgeous art-filled terrace across the road from the beach in Newcastle, NSW. I bought one of Lottie’s paintings a few years ago when her gallery had an exhibition as part of Sydney Contemporary and I am always fascinated to see the pieces my favourite artists surround themselves with. In Lottie and James’ terrace, page 21, the backdrop is a dynamic art collection – work from artist friends and painters who have inspired them. And I admire that the the pair eschewed practicality – even advice from both of their mothers – and bought a compact beachside home in which to raise their children, Vincenzo and Hester. I think I would be a very happy kid indeed to be brought up by two super talented parents, surrounded by art, opposite the ocean. Who needs a giant backyard when you have the beach as your playground?
The perennial problem with choosing less conventional family houses is storage. Sometimes you just have to get really creative! That is what our fabulous stylist Sophie Wilson has done on page 35. She has assembled a chic collection of not-so obvious storage finds for your decluttering pleasure.
We have plenty of gardening inspiration to get you pruning and planting like a professional. Our award-winning garden contibutor Tammy Huynh is passionate about plants and is an all-round horticultural dynamo – read our chat with her on page 194. I am eager to try cloud-pruning after reading about Jane Jones’ precision work on some old olive trees in an expansive garden in the Mornington Peninsula (page 174). It definitely makes a statement!
Whether your home beautification is indoors or out, this issue has plenty of ideas to keep your home design plans moving.
“I am always fascinated to see the pieces my FAVOURITE ARTISTS surround themselves with.”