Editor’s letter
Welcome to 2022. What a few years we have had. I don’t think I would be the first person who is hoping for a more relaxed new year with less emphasis on the pandemic and the emergence of a ‘new’ kind of normal.
Summer is the perfect time for a regional road trip and what better opportunity to visit one of Australia’s best restaurants, Brae. Located in Birregurra, about an hour and half southwest of Melbourne, Brae is the brainchild of chef, Dan Hunter, and partner Jules Bagnato. It’s a must visit for exceptional food, produced ethically and sustainably from Brae’s working farm and local suppliers. The property is designed to encourage visitors to explore and reconnect with where food comes from.
We visit three unique homes from around the world. Shea Mcgee talks to us about her and husband, Syd’s, journey from near financial ruin to Netflix superstars. We visit Shea’s incredible Utah home and delve into Shea’s modern traditional style. We also head to Tipperary, Ireland, where Caroline Hassett invites us into her country home. With bucolic views and a property seeped in generational history, Caroline, with her mix of old and new, has created a beautiful family home.
Finally, we visit Esperance, Western Australia. It is such a delight to feature a west coast home. Long term Esperance local, Sonia Siemer, is the owner of The Stockman’s Crib and she talks to us about her journey of transforming a rundown worker’s cottage into a warm and charming holiday rental.
The start of the new year is the perfect time to reassess old habits and make some healthy changes. We feature recipes from naturopath and author, Kelly Healey, from her new book ‘Eat for Life’. These recipes are the perfect blend of deliciousness and healthy fuel for your body. And landscape gardener, Charlie Albone, gives his top tips for a maintaining a beautiful summer garden.
When summer hits in Australia, we all long for a crystal clear, sparkling pool for a cooling dip. We chat to Cindy and Dan Mead from the @reno.diary about their recent Brisbane pool build. Cindy and Dan are seasoned renovators who know a thing or two about creating an outdoor oasis and they share their ideas on how to create your own private, luxurious outdoor sanctuary.
I hope you enjoy our summer edition, and we look forward to sharing with you more incredible homes from around the world in issues to come, those that help inspire your own creative home journey throughout 2022.