“The events of recent years have made us more MOTIVATED to investigate STAYCATIONS and destinations closer to home.”
Ihad the pleasure of working with Neale Whitaker and his talented creative partner David Novak-Piper for seven years. Neale was a fabulous mentor, and our team had a lot of fun, so I am always interested in what he is working on, from The Block to all his other creative collaborations. We have featured the couple’s beautiful home in the magazine and in our Great Australian Houses tome, where it makes the cover. And you can see the dynamic duo’s latest undertaking – a foray into the world of luxe staycations – in this issue. The events of recent years have made us all more motivated to investigate travel destinations closer to home, and Neale and David’s gorgeous Taylor’s of Berry, named in tribute to David’s late mother, Ruth, is a beautiful sanctuary to escape to on the NSW South Coast. Their new accommodation offering allows everyone to experience the idyllic Berry lifestyle, if only for a weekend. Turn to page 24 to take a tour.
Elegant window coverings can be tricky to source and choose, but not for our talented stylist Sophie Wilson, who has worked with Wynstan to create smart solutions for windows in many rooms of the house – see page 39.
It’s the time of the year to start looking down the barrel of 2023, and we have some good-looking diaries and planners to keep you organised (page 49). For all the digital reminders that I have beeping at me constantly, there is nothing like a beautiful journal with dates and plans written in ink to motivate me and help me remember all the things on my to-do list!
Obviously, I love print, but sometimes time gets away from me, so I have been dabbling in some Audible audiobooks recently – quite an eclectic line-up and there seems to be a British theme. Favourites are The Palace Papers by Tina Brown, Ready for Absolutely Nothing by Susannah Constantine of Trinny & Susannah’s What Not to Wear fame and I Don’t Take Requests by DJ Fat Tony. And speaking of platforms other than traditional print, I wanted to tell you that Australian House & Garden is now on Apple News, so if you are on the move and don’t want to carry your trusty copy with you, you can enjoy it in digital form.
We have so many beautiful houses – 10! – and this issue traverses a broad range of genres, so there is plenty in here to inspire your home dreams for the new year. Take care and the team and I look forward to exploring more incredible Australian homes with you in 2023.