11 Rapid Fire Questions with Influencer Susanna Tolo as shared with Shar

SM—In one sentence, tell us who you are?

ST—I am an interior decorator and have an Instagram page called @coastalhamptonstyle. I share home tour videos of beautiful Australian homes, including my own building journey, and I am about to launch my own linen shirt company called @susannatolo.

SM—Y do you do what you do Susanna?

ST—I do it to inspire people. I want everyone to know that you can recreate magazine worthy homes and you can learn along the way.

SM—If I was to open your nightstand, what would I find?

ST—Lip balm (I religiously apply lip balm before going to bed), my kindle, earplugs (my husband snores), headache tablets, hand cream and a diary to write down any business ideas that pop into my head.

SM—What is the best book you have read and Y?

ST—So many! I love The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. It’s set in WWII and it’s a love story.

SM—What relaxes you the most?

ST—Going on road trips with my family. We love exploring new places and towns.

SM—Who inspires you the most and Y?

ST—This is a hard question, but I would say my mother. I have been very fortunate to have lived in five countries by the age of 16 and my mother taught me how to adapt to every situation and respect every culture.

SM—Which magazines do you love to read?

ST—I love cooking magazines (I am originally from Italy and food is a big part of who I am) and home magazines as I like to see new trends.

SM—What is the most rewarding moment when styling a home?

ST—I love seeing the before and after! You realise how far you’ve come when you look back at what a space looked like before.

SM—If I called you at 6pm on a Friday night, what would you be doing?

ST—Cooking homemade pizza in our outdoor pizza oven! We love hanging around the fire pit with family and eating away.

SM—If we could travel right now, where would you go?

ST—I would love to travel around New Zealand with the kids! Maybe hire a motorhome and just go anywhere we want.

SM—What is your favourite meal to cook?

ST—I love pasta. I’m very creative when it comes to different ingredients and sauces. A favourite of mine is spaghetti with fresh crab and cherry tomatoes.