EDITOR’S LETTER
Ground control to Major Tom: how long are we going to be in this holding pattern for? The one thing we can count on at the moment is that we can’t count on anything. Plans are made and moved, travel is a rollercoaster of bookings followed by cancellations and paperwork to get refunds sorted, weddings and, ever so sadly, funerals are via Zoom and lots of businesses and individuals are struggling with uncertainty and the feeling of deja vu day after day. Never was Groundhog Day so relevant. Want to learn ice sculpture? Now’s the time. On my eclectic list of diversions when not reading homes magazines: Gabor Maté’s work on trauma, Sharon Stone The Beauty of Living Twice, yoga with Adriene and Benji, Sontag: Her Life, The New York Times popcast Britney Spears Takes on Her Conservatorship, Ms Represented on the ABC, Dirty Money and The Parisian Agency: Exclusive Properties on Net ix, the gorgeous and supertalented Vera Cruz on Spotify plus the Olympics, and Physical with the totally phenomenal Rose Byrne. It’s a pretty loony list but it somewhat lls the gap. I know my fellow Belle readers are adventurous social bons vivants with a penchant for travel and adventure and an eye for eclectic objets d’art and design. You like visiting exhibitions, concerts, dining and enjoying a tipple or two. But for now you’re pretty much locked down so let’s look at the upside – we live in a beautiful country with a fabulous climate that’s the envy of the world, and many of us are lucky enough to have our own space where we can create, decorate, cook and garden. This is where the Belle inspiration comes in – while we can’t go anywhere we can take you on a fabulous staycation. We visit Paris vicariously and absorb the fabulously Frenchy chic interiors that events whiz François Motte has created, p58. Just like being teleported! Back at home, houses that showcase their owners’ true individualism and their quest for the bespoke are evident in the incredible renovation of a grand old terrace at The Rocks in Sydney by Thomas Hamel and his designer Becky Jager, p82. Our cover house by Hugh-Jones Mackintosh, p72, pops with colour which is just what we need – optimism and vibrant jolts to keep us bubbling along. Design motivation awaits in our Kitchen & Bathroom feature, p151, and we all know full-scale renovations often start with these control centres. I am betting there will be a lot more redesigns in 2022 after our enforced homestays. There is nothing same, same about these winning rooms featuring designers we love from Tamsin Johnson to Yasmine Ghoniem. We admire the exciting material combinations and appreciate the artisanal air in their work. Take care and enjoy your own homespun pursuits over the coming weeks!