Karin Altman’s Glen Iris residence is a serene home, filled with pops of personality and colour. Karin and her daughters moved in three years ago, and Karin immediately set about putting her skills to the test, designing and planning her renovation.

It was love at first sight for Karin, when she spotted the exposed high ceilings and the open calmness of the home. She explains ‘even though it was extremely dated, it just had the softest most beautiful natural light and I knew I could be very happy there.’ Karin had been looking for a place for over 18 months, but ‘finding a free standing three bedroom family sized home with renovation potential on an apartment size budget… proved rather difficult!’

While the home wasn’t what Karin had in mind, as was outside of the area she initially wanted, she highlights ‘to my surprise I completely fell in love with it when I saw it.’ The warehouse vibe of the property, in contrast to the ‘posh area’ was an intriguing proposition, and the home offered three ‘good sized bedrooms’ and a large dining area with good potential for transformation. Karin explains ‘I opened up a wall to include the kitchen with the living dining area, closed off a small laundry and added a second powder room.’

Karin completely gutted the interiors, before adding her own personal flair. She describes the place as ‘comfortably minimal’, where a neutral base of Dulux Antique White walls, sits against light oak floors, punctuated by vibrant artwork and collectibles. She enthuses ‘my style is constantly evolving and changing, I’m a decorator and constantly like to experiment with different styles, change up the art and objects and move things around.’ As Karin’s first solo home as a decorator, the space perfectly captures her love of playing with scale and colour.

For Karin, the only difficulty in this renovation was downsizing from a considerably larger home, without making this space feel cluttered or over-done. Opening up the main living and dining area allowed her to still be able to invite all her family and friends over for dinner parties, and her interest in pursuing a more sustainable way of living meant that compromising on a few things, like having less storage space, was a sacrifice she was willing to make. For Karin and her kids, this vibrant, personality-filled home is everything they need!

Thames & Hudson is a much loved publisher of titles across architecture, design, art food and more. Whether you’re shopping for Mum, Dad, kids or workmates, Thames & Hudson have all bases covered – and let’s be honest…. you really can never have enough books!

We’ve handpicked out top twelve titles for Christmas, with a focus on Australian art and design titles, and a few extra favourites thrown in for good measure! And the best part? This selection of books is available at 30% off for our Christmas Countdown!

The Design Files’ Top Picks :

Concrete Houses by Joe Rollo – Concrete Houses explores the use of concrete in landmark contemporary residential architecture, from Australia and abroad.

Australia Modern by Hannah Lewi and Phillip Goad – An essential book for those passionate about Australian modernism, featuring 100 significant buildings by Australia’s most revered architects, exploring how modernism has shaped Australian society.

Mirka Mora by Sabine Cotte – With privileged access to the artist and her studio, Sabine Cotte offers a new perspective on the extraordinary Mirka Mora, and her significance as one of Australia’s most compelling and prolific artists.

Del Kathryn Barton – A compact, 96 page monograph on one of Australia’s most celebrated female artists, designed for optimum visual impact!

Step into Paradise – The first definitive survey of two of Australia’s best known fashion designers, Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, spanning more than four decades of their creative practice.

I Can Cook Vegan by Isa Chandra Moskowitz – A beautifully designed primer on plant-based cooking.

The Idle Beekeeper by Bill Anderson – Urban beekeeper Bill Anderson draws upon his decades of experience to offer a step-by-step guide to building a hive system to harvest honey and extract honeycomb, make mead and beeswax candles, and to closely observe and understand bees!

Loopy Mango Knitting by Oejong Kim – A collection of 34 stylish, quick-to-make big-knit pieces from cult American indie fashion brand Loopy Mango!

You Might Find Yourself by Tai Snaith – A delightful children’s book from Melbourne artist Tai Snaith, that celebrates empathy, compassion and the power of the imagination.

In An Australian Light – A photographic celebration of the particular beauty of Australian light, this generous publication roams the country, from rugged coastline to arid outback, to reveal how light shapes our wide, brown land.

The Light Fades but the Gods Remain by Bill Henson – Commissioned by Monash Gallery of Art, seminal Australian artist Henson has revisited his home suburb of Glen Waverley to create new work. These new images of Australian suburbia are unexpected, offering a view of what is ‘just down the street’, seen in a new light. The Light Fades but the Gods Remain, accompanied by an exhibition of both series of work at Monash Gallery of Art, celebrates an extraordinary artist at two stages in his career.

Paris by Design by Eva Jorgensen – The definitive Paris book, for the design-savvy traveller! This book combines interviews, profiles, essays, tips, and lists, drawing on an eclectic group of contributors who offer travel tips and insight into Paris’s fashion, design, craft, and art scenes.

The Christmas Countdown offer :

Thames & Hudson are offering 30% off TDF’s Top Picks for Christmas – use discount code TDFXMAS30.

Shop Thames & Hudson now!

Friends Anna Fahey and Bailey Meredith cut their teeth in the fashion and textile industry in New Zealand, where they both worked for over a decade for some of NZ’s best womenswear designers. The duo always dreamed of starting their own brand together, and when they relocated to Melbourne, and both started working at Jardan, the pair found themselves inspired by the world of interiors, and the meeting of contemporary design with sustainable processes.

After much research, Anna and Bailey realised there was a gap in the market for high-quality towelling. Anna explains ‘towelling is typically neutral or intensively colourful; we wanted to build a desirable brand, for us and our peers who might feel the same deflation when shopping for towels in the current market.’

Bailey describes the Baina brand as capturing many different aesthetics, to create a towel line that ‘carries purpose but also extends those moments of calm or grounding in a space where we take time for ourselves, and completely shut off from the world.’

The towels are 100% organic cotton, made in Portugal by a Global Organic Textile Standard certified mill. Anna emphasises, ‘we wanted Baina towels to have traceability and ensure that the raw materials used to make them were regulated from harvest through to manufacture. From the outset, it was immensely important for us to be able to stand by our manufacturing and its environmental impact.’ We love a brand that builds sustainability into its DNA!

The inaugural range for Baina is a seven-piece collection, all unique, but designed to work in any combination so customers can mix and match between colourways and prints.

Baina is available now online + in selected Lee Mathews stores, in store + online at Koskela, Oliver Thom, Clo Studios, Mr Kitly + The Mantel Store or pre-order now at shopbaina.com

Artist Emma Currie grew up in Portland, South West Victoria, where she describes ‘there really wasn’t a whole lot to do!’ Her parents encouraged her to be creative, which is how Emma began drawing throughout her childhood. Emma later moved to the ‘big smoke’ to study visual arts, majoring in painting at university – but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. By the time she finished her degree, Emma was disenchanted with the art world. In her own words – ‘the idea of being an artist seemed pretty unrealistic from an introverted country girl with zero connections in the art world, and a paralysing fear of networking!’

Luckily for us, Emma began picking up the brushes again – first for her own enjoyment, then for commissions from supportive friends, and now to a whole community of fans! Over time, Emma has developed a distinctive style, that dances with both abstraction and figurative motifs. Emma’s works use geometric colour blocking and abstract shapes to create nude scenes that are both fluid and contained. She explains ‘working with such a classical subject matter and one which has been championed by male artists throughout the western canon, I wanted for my own take on the nude to be thoroughly feminine, and to celebrate and explore the ever evolving concept of womanhood.’

Emma’s process begins with a rough drawing of the figure/s and then blocking out shapes in the body. The lines create new forms, that ‘obscure the distinction between positive and negative space.’ A limited colour palette and balanced design ensures the scene doesn’t become overly cluttered or confusing, resulting in striking, contemporary compositions, with a clear nod to historic classicism.

Emma’s work has developed a strong following on instagram, where she explains ‘I get a lot of positive feedback from women who connect with the subject matter, and the overall feeling of the work.’ She describes a huge range of influences on her own work, including 20th century icons such as Matisse, Picasso, Milton Avery and Tamara de Lempica.

We are thrilled to have Emma participate in the Art&Artefact opening December 14th – we hope you’ll join us!

Emerging as Melbourne’s go-to purveyor of interesting, hand-selected wines, craft beers and ciders, Blackhearts & Sparrows are now in 11 locations across Melbourne, Canberra and Tasmania! Not bad for an independent retailer which first opened in 2006 with just one small store.

We’ve learnt a LOT about great wine whilst perusing Blackhearts’ shelves to create our very own gift wishlist for you – our top picks include an awesome 3-pack of ‘pet-nat’ natural wines, a summer survival gin-mixer pack, a handful of extra special (yet, surprisingly affordable) individual wines, and a brilliant new non-alcoholic wine substitute too!

The Design Files’ Top Picks :

Pet-Nat Park 3-Pack

– 2019 Triple Trouble Bubble Pet-Nat Rose
– 2019 Noisy Ritual Pet-Nat Chardonnay
– NV Orsi San Vito Sui Lieviti Frizzante Pet Nat NV

‘Pet-Nat’ stands for ‘Pétillant-naturel’ – and refers to the cloudy, slightly fizzy natural wines we’ve been seeing more and more of in recent years. This 3-pack is perfect summer fare – best consumed outdoors, and horizontal on a picnic rug.

Summer Survival Gin Pack

– Gin 700ml
– Campari 700ml
– Maidenii Sweet Vermouth 375ml
– 2 x Stranglelove Light Tonic Water 540ml

Blackhearts and Sparrows put this summer pack together to cater for every and any gin drinker – between the humble G&T (+ good quality tonic water of course!) and the classic Negroni, this summer pack has all bases covered.

Extra Special Spirits

– Lantana Gin 500ml – a handcrafted Australian gin characterised by local botanical flavours including lantana and native finger lime… but honestly, we can’t go past the packaging – this is the prettiest gin bottle we’ve ever seen.

– Starward x Blackhearts Project Whiskey 700ml – A special single cask, distinctly Australian whiskey, selected by and bottled exclusively for Blackhearts and Sparrows.

– Allies Cinq a Sept Vermouth 700ml – Another handcrafted Australian spirit, made on the Mornington Peninsula from a botanical infused barrel of fortified Pinot Noir.

Glassware & Hardware

– Gabriel Glasses StandArt 2 Pack
– Gabriel Glasses StandArt 6 Pack
– Cartailler-Deluc Wine Knife

The surprisingly affordable ‘StandArt’ Gabriel wineglasses are made from dishwasher-safe, lead-free crystal glass. An incredibly versatile wine glass, designed to accommodate all types of wine rather than just being mono-varietal… no matter what you’re drinking, these glasses just make wine taste better!

Non-Alcoholic

– NON 1 Salted Raspberry Chamomile Non-alcoholic Sparkling Beverage 750ml
– NON 2 Caramelised Pear Kombu Non-alcoholic Sparkling Beverage 750ml
– NON 3 Toasted Cinnamon Yuzu Non-alcoholic Beverage 750ml

This stunning non-alcoholic option will be appreciated by the designated drivers, the Mums-to-be, the new-years-resolutionists or anyone aiming for a little restraint over the festive period.

Craft Beers

– Wildflower Gold
– ‘Wildheart’, A Boatrocker x Blackhearts Festive Collaboration

Wildflower Gold is a medium strength wild ale sour beer, delicately balanced with notes of meyer lemons, fresh limey hops and stone fruit.

Meanwhile, the Boatrocker ‘Wildheart’ festive beer is an exclusive blended beer created in close collaboration with the Blackhearts team. It’s lightly sparkling and delightfully sour – a complex blend that is far greater than the sum of its parts. DELISH!

Gentle Folk Discovery 3-Pack

– 2019 Rainbow Juice Rose
– 2018 Scary Gully Chardonnay
–  2018 Oakbank Shiraz

A mixed 3 pack of Gareth and Rainbo Belton’s current Gentle Folk releases made from organic fruit in South Australia.

Schmolzer & Brown Pack

– 2019 Pret-a-Blanc
– 2019 Pret-a-Rouge
– 2018 Thorley shiraz

Three stunning wines from husband and wife duo Tessa Brown & Jeremy Schmolzer, winemakers from North East Victoria.

Exceptionally Good Single Bottles

– 2018 Tolpuddle Chardonnay – An extra special chardonnay from Coal River Valley Tasmania, which according to those in the know is ‘as good as it currently gets, and fought over by wine stores and people who write wine lists…!’

– 2018 Lone Star Creek Pinot Noir – An exceptionally good value Pinot Noir, from the cool climate upper Yarra. Blackhearts confirm this one will definitely make you look ‘wine-clever’ in front of snobby wine friends.

– 2019 Valentine Greco – Another great value wine, this time from Heathcote, Victoria. A savoury tasting wine with notes of white stone and citrus, and a refreshing minerality.

The Christmas Countdown offer :

Receive 10% off the TDF’s Top Picks . The discount will be automatically applied at cart for The TDF Gift Edit Products, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer is available for online purchases only.

Shop Blackhearts & Sparrows Now!

When Beatrice Preston Zly was coming to the end of her VCE year, she admits that she wasn’t too concerned about researching universities. ‘When it came down to it, I knew I wanted to study design and that RMIT is world-renowned for it’, she reflects. With her sights set on Industrial Design, Beatrice embarked upon an undergraduate degree with an honours year that supported her fascination with how things are made. ‘RMIT taught me the practical skills to become a good designer’, she says. ‘Above all though, [at RMIT] I was given the space to apply critical thinking, to realise that design transcends the creation of beautiful objects. The profession has great power and responsibility; we consider not just what we design, but the impacts that we design indirectly’.

When entering her honours year, a compulsory component of her undergraduate degree, Beatrice’s desire for critical thought and understanding in the product design space was further nurtured. This was an opportunity to deeply investigate theories of how design interacts with the environment and society. Along with internships at AlterFact, a ceramics studio who specialise in making 3D pieces, as well as in the Research & Development team at digital agency AKQA, these skills ultimately led her to the coveted position of Product Packaging Designer at Aēsop.

The most important verb in the get-your-dream-job lexicon is… 

Passion. Of course, it’s important to have technical skills relevant for your career goals, but showing true passion and enthusiasm got me in the door. I could honestly talk about the environment and packaging for hours, and I displayed that in my interviews. Passion drove me to put every ounce of energy into gaining this opportunity, and means I’ll be happy and inspired to grow at Aēsop for a long time.

I landed this job by…

Putting in lots of hard work and preparation. I had a number of interviews for this role, including a couple of design tasks, and I threw everything into it. Putting in the time and effort gave me the ability to be confident in my answers, as I had a purpose behind every perspective I offered or design choice I made. I showed that I could work well under pressure, and because I was calm I could allow my personality and passion to show through.

RMIT taught me the practical skills to become a good designer. How to follow the design process, rapidly generate concepts, prototype, test, research and gain an understanding of materials and manufacturing. My professors taught me new methods of thinking to push projects further but also to refine and strip back to a level of intelligent simplicity.

A typical day for me involves…

I have a pretty typical morning; of course, a skincare routine is included. I cycle or take the tram to Fitzroy where our head offices are, and settle in, checking my emails and to-do lists.

I sit alongside Kate Wardley, Senior Product Engineer, so we spend a lot of the day discussing projects, bouncing ideas off each other and making decisions.

I usually have around five projects on the go at once, and they’ll all be at different stages so it’s a bit of a juggling act. For some I’ll be in the research phase, looking at interesting materials, processes or suppliers. For others I’ll work on concepts and make prototypes to present to the team. Often I’ll be liaising with suppliers; holding meetings, conducting site visits, checking over 3D CAD models or samples and giving notes for adjustments. I also undertake a lot of testing, which can involve sending packages across the world to see how they respond in transit, but you can also find me behaving strangely at my desk, shaking cases, dripping water on things or rubbing balmy hands on samples.

The most rewarding part of my job is…

It’s incredibly rewarding to know that I’m able to create real positive impact through my design work at Aēsop, both for our customers and the environment. I’m very thankful that this role aligns so closely to my passions and allows me to put the theories I learnt at university into practice and see the outcomes on such a large scale.

There’s also something pretty surreal about seeing your designs on the shelf, especially at such an iconic company. I don’t know if or when I’ll get over that.

On the other hand, the most challenging aspect is…

Communication is the most difficult aspect of design for me. While design feels natural, presenting it requires a lot of work. Design is a balancing act of so many elements, so making sure you communicate all your considerations while remaining clear and relevant to your audience is a challenge. It’s also a mix of advocating for your ideas, while maintaining a level of detachedness to allow for the right decisions to be made.

The culture of my workplace is…

One that fosters kindness, generosity and learning. I feel that I’m valued and trusted here at Aēsop; I’m empowered to ask questions and pose new ideas. It’s a safe and supportive environment and I never feel that because I’m young or new to the industry that my perspectives are not worthy.

The best piece of advice I’ve received is…

I remember one class, where after we generated concepts, the lecturer asked us to write down our favourite idea on a post-it. She then made us to scrunch it up and throw it in the bin. This was a huge lesson in separating ego from ideas and being willing to adjust for the requirements of a project. It’s a mistake to settle for your first idea, as it limits your thinking and cuts off all other possibilities. Design should respond to fact and research, and I try to make sure my only goal is the best solution for the situation.

In the next five years, I’d like to…

Build up a strong foundation of experience by staying curious, seeking out learning and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I’ve already learnt so much here, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. I’d like to get to a point where I can take on more responsibility and perhaps move into a leadership role. I’m seriously inspired by the other packaging designers and engineers in my team and know that to achieve their level of knowledge and proficiency takes time, so I have patience.

My favourite part of the job is…

The conceptual phase of design. It’s a time where things are a bit ambiguous which can feel uncomfortable, but I’m also not confined to limits and can think big picture. I also relish in the prototyping phase of developing concepts. When I get to tune out and make things with my hands is when I’m most happy and peaceful.

What’s next?

Aside from my goals here at Aesop, I’m motivated to invest my spare time and money into all the personal creative projects I have bubbling around in my mind. I never want to confine myself to just one thing – I have broad interests and want to explore them.

Visualise what’s next… and bring your vision for the future of design to life in Australia’s #1 Art and Design university. Discover the courses at RMIT where you’ll gain practical skills training from day one in dedicated, state-of-the-art design studios through hands-on experience with real-world projects.

Sarah Andrews lives life on her own terms – but this wasn’t always the case. For years, she tried to live a regular life, (‘wife, mortgage, stuff, job’) but what she really longed for was to be on the road, with no one to check in with, and nowhere to be.

This pipe dream eventually became Sarah’s reality, when she set off to sail from Mexico to Australia. Unfortunately, Sarah got caught in a storm that saw the boat she had called home, and the life ‘she was deeply in love with and never wanted to leave,’ sink to the depths of the ocean. Sarah says, ‘I’ve been searching for a place ever since to rest again. I found it here, and in this little cabin. I’m the captain, and she’s my rest.’

Sarah first came about this Strahan property when flicking through a copy of Country Style magazine in 2016. ‘I saw a tiny insert about a fishing village in the middle of nowhere that time forgot in Tasmania. I saw a little shack perched on the edge. I made a few phone calls, it was for sale, and I bought it on the spot.’

The plan was for the property to become Sarah’s home, so she set out to design her absolute dream space. On the top of her list – at least six spots to sit, so no matter where you were in the home, you could gaze out at the water. ‘Who needs function? I want beauty. A bath, and to watch the stars from it. A timeless slice of the universe, that always was and always will be.’

Getting the space up to scratch required significant work – far more than Sarah anticipated when she put in that hasty offer! She arrived to find the property had no power, no water, and was on such a lean that she experienced horrible vertigo.

With little budget to spare, Sarah set out across the state to source old doors and windows to give the space its wonderfully eclectic, lived-in feel. ‘The isolation was incredibly difficult,’ she recalls. ‘It was just me in my little car, driving all over Tasmania for bits and bobs. It took time, and patience, and frustration.’

A few months into the renovation, life intervened (‘a surprise divorce and a scary health diagnosis’) and Sarah decided the property would instead become short-term accommodation. ‘My secret place really needed to, quite quickly, help support me financially through a tough time. Which, spoiler alert, it did.’

Others had doubts about this vision, but Sarah always believed in its potential. She recalls a time a local came up to her and said ‘You know you’ll only rent this four weeks a year over the high season, don’t you? No one visits any other time.’ Today, Captains Rest is booked solid, months in advance.

The reviews of Captains Rest speak for themself. Against all the odds, Sarah has created a remarkable space that’s become both her financial and mental saviour, and is cherished by all those who frequent it. ‘Here, I am happiest. And it’s strange to me that everyone else is too. It’s come as a total shock to me that maybe I am not so different after all.’

As the new year rolls around at an alarming pace, kikki.K has recently conducted a survey to explore a little more of the psychology and priorities about the goals we set for ourselves. Three key trends emerged from their research for New Year’s resolution priorities – Health and Wellbeing, Family and Relationships, and Career. And now they’re bringing them to life, with the help of one of Melbourne’s most-loved artists!

kikki.K has teamed up with legendary Melbourne-based artist Beci Orpin to create three original artworks inspired by these New Year’s resolution themes, and are offering the chance to WIN one, as well as a host of other amazing prizes! Three major prize winners will each receive an original A2 Beci Orpin x kikki.K Resolution Canvas, and accompanying kikki.K Christmas gift prize pack tailored to each category, and 150 other winning competition entrants will win 1 of 50 Beci Orpin limited edition Resolution Prints. These artworks are exclusive to this competition, and can’t be purchased anywhere else!

The Resolution Canvases are imbued with Beci’s signature sense of joy, and act as a subtle (welcome!) reminder of the things that are most important to us. ‘I loved that kikki.K wanted me to do original artwork for this project – something I don’t always get to do for commercial clients – and the fact that they are giving them away to inspire people’, Beci says of the collaboration. Go on – dream BIG!

For more information + to enter the competition click here! 

With Christmas just around the corner, responsible gift giving is at the forefront of our minds.

We totally understand what it’s like to be swept up by holiday hype and advertised bargains when shopping, but don’t forget to also consider the following before you shop:

• Product origin. Locally made products have an inherently lower carbon footprint than those required to travel many miles to reach you! Sukin products are made in Melbourne and the company is 100% carbon neutral.

• Life cycle. Ask yourself, how long will this product last, and where will it end up when I’m finished with it?

• Materials. Look for products made from organic, natural, biodegradable and compostable materials that won’t eventually become landfill. In this summer edit, we’ve highlighted bags, footwear and accessories made from organic cotton, cork, straw and raffia, as well as those made from recycled plastic, and even ocean waste.

• Packaging. Consider what a product’s packaging is made from, and if being sent from an online store, what shipping materials will be used to transport it.

• Liveable wages. Research the labour conditions and wages of the companies you buy from.

To get you through the Christmas period and beyond, we’ve curated this lineup of our favourite sustainably-minded products for summer. From fashion accessories to beach games, footwear to skincare, we’ve got you covered!

Like what you see? One lucky reader will win *almost* everything in this lineup – scroll to the bottom of this post for all details on how to enter!

The Sustainable Summer Edit

Patagonia Recycled Frisbee, $24.95 – this fun frisbee is made from 15% recycled ocean plastic… and it’s from the Patagonia, a global brand that leads the way on sustainability, with a mission statement to ‘build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.’

Country Road Swim Ruffle One Piece, $159 – This stunning one piece swimsuit from Country Road is created using fabric composed of recycled nylon sourced from fishing nets and factory off-cuts. Country Road are offering a AU$100 voucher for our lucky winner.

George Woven Bag, $290 – These handwoven linen and cotton bags are made in Canberra, from one continuous hand loomed piece of fabric – a process that takes around eight hours. Picking up the top prize for Textile Design in our recent TDF Design Awards, category judge Lisa Gorman described these bags as ‘environmentally excellent’ noting that ‘consumers need to think about this purchase, and wait for it to be made’.

Kester Black Miracle Treatment Base Coat, $24 – Kester Black is a non-toxic, locally made nail polish with a “ten-free formula”, meaning they don’t use toluene, DBP, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or camphor.

Biome Stainless Steel Nesting Containers Orange Lids (set of 5), $49.95 – BYO snacks to the beach this summer to avoid fast food and unnecessary packaging! These stainless steel containers are plastic free, with leak-proof silicone lids.

Købn towel, $79.95 – Kobn towels are Australian designed, and crafted by a family-owned mill in Denizli, Turkey, from BCI cotton. Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world, which exists to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment, and better for the sector’s future.

Seed & Sprout Insulated Lunch Bag, $39 – This robust, re-usable lunch bag is a great reminder to say NO to unnecessary food packaging and waste this summer.

Bhava Studio Porto Cork Pool Slide by from Vegan Style, $125 – BHAVA is an innovative women’s footwear brand which uses only organic, recycled and cruelty free components. All their footwear is vegan (no leather!), and the company’s founder Francisca Pineda is a thought leader in ethical fashion and sustainable design.

Will & Bear Yorke Sand Hat, $99 – This fedora is a lightweight and breathable hat made from 100% recycled paper straw, trimmed with natural white cotton.

Good Citizens sunglasses – Good Citizen are Australia’s newest sunglasses brand, who make 100% recycled plastic sunglasses frames! 1 plastic bottle = 1 pair of Good Citizen recycled plastic sunglasses. Not only that, buying a pair of these sunnies also pays for 1kg of plastic to be pulled out of the ocean – win, win, win!

Memobottle Slim & Tall (450ml) from Upcycle Studio, $47 – Bringing your own water to the beach or park this summer, instead of buying disposable water bottles is a no-brainer… we love Memobottle’s sleek, distinctive design.

Dinosaur Designs, Resin Spiral Bowl – Sand, $150 – Did you know that all Dinosaur Designs resin products are created using a by-product of the oil industry? Dinosaur Designs hand make all their resin homewares and accessories in Sydney from this BPA-free waste material.

Cancun Dune Outdoor Rug from Fab Habitat, (150 cm x 238 cm), $79.90 – this outdoor rug is the perfect picnic mat for the beach, park or backyard, and is made from 100% recycled plastic.

Pampa handwoven bags and baskets – The ‘Litoral Collection’ of bags and baskets from Pampa is created by indigenous communities in Argentina, using fibres extracted from the chaguar, a native plant similar to aloe vera. The durable, textured threads are coloured with natural dyes extracted from roots, seeds and fruits. Handmade by skilled artisans, these bags, clutches and baskets are fair trade and support indigenous social enterprise. Pampa are offering a AU$100 voucher for our lucky winner.

Sukin Essentials – Our favourite Sukin essentials for summer include their new, all natural SPF30 Sheer Touch Facial Sunscreen and refreshing Original Hydrating Mist Toner! Our lucky winner will win a pack of these, as well as a the limited edition Arkie Hand Wash & Hand Cream Duo Gift Pack.

Australian skincare company Sukin do everything they can to ensure our environment is protected. From partnering with Reef Aid to ensure the Great Barrier Reef has a future, to fully offsetting their carbon footprint. Discover the world of natural, and read more about their sustainability efforts at the Sukin Journal. 

To be in the running to WIN our Sustainable Summer Edit, simply enter your email address and answer the question in the form below. Entries close at midnight on Sunday, December 15th. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, December 17th – see here for Ts & Cs.

Oikos is located on a prominent and elevated site just outside Hepburn, about 90 minutes drive from Melbourne. While the site provides wonderful views across the region, it’s also subject to harsh weather elements, necessitating a robust and rugged home design.

This challenge was put to Robert Nichol and Sons – a Melbourne based practice run by Brett Robertson and David Nicholson. David is an architect but Brett’s background is in fine art – a combination that informs the art-like aesthetic that exemplifies much of the studio’s work.

Corten cladding was selected for the home’s facade, due to its longevity and ability to be used on both the roof and walls – a concept the designers enjoy pursuing. ‘This allows the building to take on more of an ‘object’ quality, which harks back to my days of making art, so the building presents more sculpturally than just as a dwelling,’ Brett says,

The building’s folded metal form lifts away from the ground, appearing much like the hills in the distance, and is anchored by an 11-metre wall of dark, handmade bricks.

At 70 square metres, the internal layout of this home is relatively small. To enhance the feeling of space, expansive views can be seen from every room, and the floorplan adopts a free-flowing layout with no designated, central space. Oak flooring, stained plywood, marble, concrete, aged brass tapware, and stone tiling are among materials chosen to mirror natural elements of the rugged landscape outside.

Brett says the success of this project is a credit to the trades team, who were able to translate the design vision into a real-life structure. ‘I think with any building that is somewhat abstract and outside of the usual architectural and building norms, the translation from studio to built form is challenging… Although we have computer programs that illustrate these visions very well, there is still the fear that when completed there will be some disappointment in the outcome,’ he explains.

‘Thankfully the disconnect that has existed at times between architect and builder seems to be lessening these days, and in this case, from the very outset, the success of this building was a shared goal of both.’

Oikos at Breakneck Gorge is available for short-term rent. See all the details on how to book here! 

The Elemental House wasn’t always envisaged as an off-grid design. The clients originally approached architect Ben Callery with a brief to create a modest weekender on an exposed piece of land in High Camp, an hour outside of Melbourne. Ben explains ‘their budget wasn’t big, but their brief wasn’t either, so they weren’t misaligned.’

The remote site required a home that reflected the rawness and quietness of the location, and Ben proposed a compact 10m x 10m footprint, with one bedroom, one bathroom and one living room. Perched on the exposed ridge-line, the shelter is elegantly simple, comfortable, and designed in response to its surroundings.

As the design developed, it became evident that an off-grid approach not only aligned with the values of the clients, but also presented an economically sensible option. Ben explains that because of the remote location, getting power installed would have been a significant investment, while going completely off-grid with batteries and solar power was of comparable cost – with no ongoing bills. He highlights ‘not having to pay power bills in the future meant it was an economic decision as much as it was an idealistic, environmental decision.’ The home produces and stores its own power, collects rain water, and treats waste water on site.

This pragmatic approach also informed the design in relation to bush-fire resistance, and dealing with the harsh winds. Ben explains ‘we try to always walk the line where we’re not trying to hide the sustainability stuff, but we’re not trying to make it look like an engineered design that’s purely all solar panels and technology.’ The Elemental house balances the aesthetics of design with liveability, long term sustainability, and appreciation of the raw natural beauty of the site.

The material choices reflect the home’s surroundings, and also comply with the highest fire standards. The external timber is spotted gum, which was sustainably harvested, is bush fire-resistant, and will age gently over time. Inside, the spotted gum-lined ceiling and cabinetry will stay ‘forever young’, and offers a warm contrast to the concrete, and black painted oriented strand board. The dark and cosy warmth of home offers a sense of shelter against the extreme environmental conditions.

Ben’s off-grid design not only won over his clients, but also found a fan in builder James, of Keenan Built. When sharing early concepts for the home on social media, Ben posted a 3D render of the home to his Instagram, and James got in touch saying ‘I want to build that house!’ Ben describes ‘he just fell in love with the concept of this off-grid house on a hill in the middle of nowhere.’

The Elemental House shows what can be achieved when you marry environmental principles with creative problem solving and site-responsive architectural design. And we’re not the only fans of this sleek, elegant house-on-a-hill – this exemplary project was also a finalist in the 2019 Sustainability Awards.

Australian skincare company Sukin do everything they can to ensure our environment is protected. From partnering with Reef Aid to ensure the Great Barrier Reef has a future, to fully offsetting their carbon footprint. Discover the world of natural, and read more about their sustainability efforts at the Sukin Journal. 

Every year since the Paddington gallery’s opening, Saint Cloche has presented a grand finale group show.

This year’s exhibition, Paradiso, has been curated by Saint Cloche founder Kitty Clark (have a look at our video feature with her back in August!) to ‘create dialogue, and promote and celebrate the diverse, creative talents of artists that have been handpicked to illuminate the curatorial concept.’ There’s a whole of Australian talent in this show, as well as two international emerging artists, Daniel Barreto from Mexico, and Yusuke Abe from Japan.

Kitty asked the participating artists to take a creative leap into the hidden paradise of their dreams. ‘We invited them to be inspired by their own memories and dream sequences to form a contemporary narrative and to imagine a better world – the fuel needed to enable all great invention, change or innovation in life – to forge a pathway to a multi-dimensional utopian existence for our future,’ she says.

This month-long exhibition marks the end of Saint Cloche’s 2019 exhibition schedule after another exciting and transformative year.

Paradiso participating artists 

Bridgette McNab @bridgettemcnab
Claire Johnson @clairepony
Daniel Barreto @danielbarretoes
Dan Withey @danwitheyart
Elise Cameron-Smith @elisecameronsmith
Emma Bartik @voluptuary_ceramics
Gemma Avery @lilsparrow
Ileigh Hellier @Ileighhellier
Lauren Eaton @homebyharlequin
Luca Lettieri @l.lettieri
Matilda Kubany-Deane @tillytillytily
Sean Wadey @seanwadeystudio
Somchai Charoen @somchaicharoen
Yusuke Abe

Paradiso: a beautiful dream
December 4th 2019 – January 12th 2020
Saint Cloche
37 MacDonald Street
Paddington NSW

Shirin Pulitano of Dot Dot Dash agency, and husband Daniel purchased their North Melbourne home in May 2012. Daniel’s construction business Pulitano Construction were immediately set to task to renovate the property, in collaboration with architect Nick Harding from Ha Architecture. The group set out to redesign the space, within the confines of an existing permit, as Shirin explains ‘we didn’t want to slow down the process and resubmit new plans to council.’ A strategic design decision, with a stunning outcome!

Shirin prefaces the tour of her home by highlighting, ‘although I am constantly creating spaces at Dot Dot Dash, I’m always surprised how difficult I find making decisions when it comes to my own home, so having great people with a similar design ethos to collaborate with is a luxury I do not take for granted.’ She flags that Daniel managed the construction budget… along with Shirin’s expectations!

With limited ability to reshape the home and existing facade, there were significant restrictions in renovating this home – but the couple worked closely with Nick to make full use of the space. The brief was to create open space through high ceilings and clean lines, which they have resolutely achieved! Shirin describes ‘we are influenced by a mix of modern and classic design, and as we grow as a family, we’re inspired by the things that are very sentimental to us.’

Daniel’s love of wine and cooking has resulted in the introduction of a cellar and terrace pizza oven, while Shirin’s interest in Australian art and mid-century design has informed the aesthetics of the home. The space has evolved over time, and Shirin highlights that as the family grows up together ‘the remaining empty corners and blank walls will be filled with possessions we love, and keepsakes from our memorable family holidays.’ The interior walls are painted Dulux Lexicon Quarter, Shirin describes this as her ‘favourite residential white’, selected to give a crisp backdrop for art, ornaments and favourite furniture pieces.

While the limited outdoor space was initially a concern, the couple worked with Nick and Frances Hale from Peachy Green to maximise the outdoor space, and bring a verdant garden with olive trees, lemon trees and a thriving herb garden to life. Shirin enthuses ‘the birch trees are as tall as the house, and ensure every level has plenty of greenery for us to enjoy.’

Incredibly, Shirin and Daniel have lived on this leafy North Melbourne street for over 20 years, with this as their second home in the same neighbourhood! They love the proximity to the city, coupled with the local ‘village’ feeling, where nearby shops include a beloved barber, library and food market. After creating their dream family home here, we’re pretty sure the Pulitano clan will be passionate North Melbourne locals for many years to come!

After a decade of drawing on the past to create contemporary designs, Retro Print Revival are celebrating by launching ‘Athena‘, a new collection which includes experimentations with ceramics, alongside their trademark lampshades and planters.

In reflecting on the last ten years of running her business, Tamara notes that ‘appreciation for mid-century design has exploded in the last decade.’ When the brand launched, there wasn’t anything else similar on the market. She highlights, ‘times have changed though, and the demand for the mid-century look in people’s homes has never been stronger.’

With a focus on classic mid-century silhouettes and styles, this latest collection also jumps forward a few decades to find new inspiration. Tamara Watts, creative director of Retro Print Revival, explains ‘the bronzed mirrored Raven Planters are delving a bit more into the early 80s, and the Stevi Vases are classic mid-century style.’ The Athena range includes new linen colours, hessians, and velvet lampshades for a luxurious retro feel. Tamara highlights her  passion for reinvigorating great ideas from the past –  ‘there’s so much joy to be found in breathing new life into old ideas, and creating well-made pieces that will adorn peoples home for many years to come.’

Looking back over the past ten years, Tamara also celebrates the relationships she has developed with local craftspeople. She highlights, ‘every step of the way I work alongside my makers right here in Melbourne, as we source the materials locally. In fact, most of my makers are in adjoining suburbs, which keeps business circulating around my own community.’ We love a local operation!

Working across sculpture and jewellery, fine-art and functional objects, Melbourne based maker Anna Varendorff has amassed an almost cult following in Melbourne, in particular for her distinctive curved brass sculptures, created under the name ACV studio.

Since we last featured Anna in 2014 (!), when she was just beginning to create her elegant single-stem brass vases, these pieces have become a huge part of Anna’s practice. ‘They are something I make constantly’ she explains. The production of these popular vases supports other, less commercial projects that Anna undertakes, including exhibiting at not-for-profit spaces in Melbourne, such as Caves Gallery, where Anna has a show opening in January 2020.

Anna describes the varied nature of her practice as ‘exhausting but addictive.’ Working across multiple projects allows her to jump in-and-out of different roles, collaborate with the ‘best people’, while still allowing the prolific creative to work for herself.

Anna’s practice is inspired by many other artists and creatives, particularly those whose work encourages a direct relationship between the object and the audience. She highlights Lygia Clark, Franz West and Donald Judd as artists with ‘wildly different’ arts practices, but who combine an interactive or functional element, with their ability to speak to politics.

If you would like to create a direct relationship between object and audience (aka get your own hands on one of Anna’s vases!), join us at the Art&Artefact opening this Saturday December 14th! (See Anna’s piece for Art&Artefact here.)

Art&Artefact
at TDF Collect
14 Little Oxford st
Collingwood
Victoria

Exhibition opening this Saturday,December 14th
Drinks and snacks from 2pm – 5pm

The ‘Jac’ home in Dulwich Hill, NSW by Panov Scott Architects is a clever renovation that inserts a new space in between two established elements – a federation home and a beloved Jacaranda tree! Architects Anita Panov and Andrew Scott were inspired by the deep history of the site, evident in both the historic four bedroom cottage, and the sculptural tree in the backyard.

The brief for the home was to redesign the property to allow the clients a closer relationship with the surrounding environment. Anita and Andrew wanted to introduce a new architectural element which would expand on the intimate and finely crafted Federation proportions and ornamentation, and branch out to meet the sweeping canopy of the Jacaranda. The architects were also careful to ensure the preservation of the original home, where old pine boards, skirting, rendered brick and ornate cornices have been retained.

This bright and breezy renovation encourages new connections with the garden, street, and lane, and welcomes the changing light of the seasons into the home. The design balances these outward looking pavilion-esque qualities with interiors that equally allow for introspection and seclusion, bringing this historic home into the modern day, and making it liveable and functional for many years to come!

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Tasmania a few times now, and always find making the trip over Bass Strait instantly relaxing and rejuvenating. So, after a cancelled trip south earlier this year, I was quick to jump when the opportunity arose to visit Tassie for a kid-free weekend away at Pumphouse Point.

Nestled within central Tasmania over Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest lake, Pumphouse Point rests inside Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area. The two-and-a-half-hour drive from Hobart Airport provides a sampling of all Tasmania has to offer, taking you past historic towns, wineries, distilleries, and cherry farms, winding alongside the picturesque River Derwent, through grasslands and over spectacular mountainous highlands.

We stopped at the scenic town of New Norfolk on the way, to visit the incredible antiques wonderland, The Drill Hall Emporium, and sister store, Flywheel, a beautiful stationery outlet and working letterpress studio. A quick trip to MONA was another highlight, and never fails to enchant.

Upon arrival, it’s clear that Pumphouse Point is truly something special. The original 1940s Pumphouse is a striking 5-story industrial relic perched over the lake, while the original Hydro substation, the Shorehouse, is situated on the lake’s edge. After decades of inactivity, the site was redeveloped into boutique accommodation by Simon Currant AM (whose other projects include Peppermint Bay Hotel in Woodridge and Hobart restaurant Franklin, and before that Cradle Mountain Lodge and Strahan Village), with Cumulus Studio overseeing design of the Pumphouse and Shorehouse conversions.

We stayed at their newest offering, The Retreat, a secluded architectural hideaway designed by JAWS Architects. This timber-clad, luxury self-contained cabin is nestled in bushland on the edge of the lake. Tear yourself away from the views across to the Pumphouse, and inside you’re met with a showcase of furniture and interior details handcrafted by local Tasmanian artisans. The one-off timber furniture pieces in Tasmanian Oak are by Simon Ancher, there are hand-made ceramic bathroom basins by Lindsey Wherrett, and Tasmanian-made soft furnishings from The Spotted Quoll Studio.

The Pumphouse Point is surrounded by many walking tracks, but with an expansive larder brimming with the best local produce, wines and Tasmanian craft beers, ciders, spirits and cocktails, I have to admit it was hard to leave the room! It was tough to decide between a fire-side perch in my all-time favourite designer armchair, the Jardan Wilfred, (not Tasmanian made, but crafted from Tasmanian Oak and 100% Australian wool!) or the outdoor bathtub, taking in views across the lake.

One compelling reason to venture out was the delicious farmhouse fare dinners in the Shorehouse dining room. Meals are served at shared tables and we enjoyed exchanging stories with the other guests, and hearing about the day’s adventures exploring the local trails and sites. The farm-to-table feast is served in conjunction with Coal River Farm, and brings the best of Tasmanian food to this striking setting, enjoyed while overlooking wallabies grazing and the sun setting over Lake St Clair. A truly unforgettable experience!

Pumphouse Point is a historic industrial site, restored to offer boutique accommodation inside Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area. To find our more about Pumphouse Point, visit www.pumphousepoint.com.au.

The day Tamsin Johnson flew from Sydney to meet the owner of this South Yarra apartment, things didn’t quite go as planned. The client was unfortunately called away for business at the last minute, leaving a key under the mat for Tamsin to let herself in. Luckily, upon entering the space, the interior designer says, ‘I instantly knew what was needed to make this place feel like home.’

Tamsin intended this three-bedroom apartment be a sanctuary away from the client’s busy work life and inner-city Melbourne. A mostly neutral and monochromatic palette was selected, with added moments of surprise throughout. ‘I wanted the space to feel restrained, with moments of drama and abstract sculptural lines in the furniture silhouettes,’ Tamsin says.

The apartment’s original steel-framed floor-to-ceiling windows were retained in the renovation, complemented by theatrical yet timeless decor and furnishings. Many of these pieces were actually custom made in the apartment, such as the irregular bronze framed mirror, the bedheads, most of the wall lighting, and the entry console.

Other standout pieces include the Mario Bellini ‘Le Bambole’ chairs, Willy Rizzo coffee table, Charles Rennie Mackintosh dining setting, and 1930s French ceramics. The open shelving in the kitchen and living space allow these items to be on display, serving as semi-permanent fixtures of the design.

Antique floorboards were initially selected for the flooring, but due to acoustic and sound engineering issues, these were switched for a softer option. While not originally planned, these blonde floors are a calming addition to the mostly chromatic interior with steel accents.

The actual structure of the apartment was also updated to enable a more open and functional layout. The bathroom and kitchen were completely reconfigured in this process, the latter of which is now Tamsin’s favourite room in the home. ‘We had the entire kitchen handmade with a local metal worker who is an artist in himself. I love that brushed matte and industrial finish against the glamour of the dramatic Calacatta viola marble.’

It’s clear that the client’s trust in Tamsin’s design expertise, paired with the beautiful bones of this post-war apartment, is what’s behind this highly successful renovation. As Tamsin explains, ‘The client really trusted the design journey. There was no single moment where she questioned the aesthetic intention, which really made for the most enjoyable process and result.’

Just as exposure to activity imbeds action in the memory of muscle, we are reminded of the comparable imprint into the soul when formative life is spent within great architecture. ‘Morton House’ is an impeccable example of Australian 20th Century domestic design stemming directly from the childhood experiences of second-generation Modernists.

Designed and built (c.1979) by Deirdre and Ivor Morton, a couple who had both been raised in Walter Burley Griffin’s Castlecrag Estate and thus so inescapably immersed in the progressive and creative lives which these, our first bohemians, pursued. So here we find this home stemming from such illustrious foundations, literally placed inside glorious Australian bushland, a central courtyard with magnificent eucalypt at its heart and blanketed in a roof-garden where lyrebirds nest.

Built as a light and shade dappled womb of mudbrick, slate and timber, embracing ideals of indigenous environmental allegiance and architecture ancient yet optimistically futurist all at once. A place that embodies and exudes a set of philosophies where one seeks comfort more and more these days, while the outside world remains adrift, fighting against itself in a ceaseless parade of screaming digital and political milieus. *Sigh*

View the listing here, and original MA article here.

Run by Patricia Callan and Pete Bakacs, Modernist Australia is the passion-project/website dedicated to raising the profile of mid-century design and modernist principles in Australia. For more swell eye-candy, visit Modernistaustralia.com.

We’re nearly there, people. Summer holidays are so close you can almost *taste* the pavlova… and thanks to Miele, one lucky TDF reader will be entertaining guests in serious style this summer, with our epic Ultimate Dinner Party Kit!

We’ve brought together our favourite tableware, table linen and glassware brands, to create this dream dinner party table, inspired by Australian native botanicals, and a neutral, beachy palette, with just a touch of gold. One lucky winner will win the WHOLE kit and caboodle – including a $3000 voucher from Miele.

This epic prize pool has been made possible thanks to Miele’s new and innovative Freestanding Cooker – the perfect appliance for those who love to host a party! Combining five separate appliances in one (an oven, cooktop, griddle, microwave and warming drawer) this versatile cooker allows multiple dishes to be cooked at once, making entertaining a breeze.

The Ultimate Dinner Party Kit Prizepool

$3000 Miele voucher

24-piece Dark Terra dinner setting in ‘Coast’ (includes dinner plate, entree plate and bowl for 8 people) by Robert Gordon Australia (RRP $790)

1 x Feast Jug in ‘Selby Green’ by Robert Gordon (RRP $39.95)

1 x Feast Round Baking Dish in ‘Selby Green’ by Robert Gordon (RRP $39.95)

1 x Large ‘Wattle Wheat’ Screenprinted Linen Tablecloth by Bonnie and Neil (350cm x 250cm) – RRP $350)

8 x Linen Napkins in ‘Olive Green’ by Cultiver (RRP $100)

2 x 6-packs of StandArt Gabriel Glas wineglasses (dishwasher-safe, lead-free crystal glass) from Blackhearts & Sparrows (RRP $200)

32-piece Cutipol ‘Moon‘ Cutlery Setting in Gold, from Francalia (RRP $920)

Miele’s new Freestanding Cooker is available to purchase from Miele Experience Centres and select retail partners. For more information about Miele’s kitchen range and matching appliances, visit www.miele.com.au. 

To be in the running to WIN our Ultimate Dinner Party Kit, simply enter your email address and answer the question in the form below. Entries close at midday on Thursday, 19th December. The winner will be announced on Friday, 20th December – see here for Ts & Cs.