THE SOLUTION TO A SIMPLE, MEANINGFUL, WELL-DESIGNED LIFE /
THE F Ê T E / LIF E PROJECT NO.
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ORGANISING / JANE’S HOUSE Welcome to the Fête/Life Project – a collection of helpful, useful and practical articles that can be applied to life at any time, but especially now. Sourced from the many magazines we have released, our message has never been more relevant or needed by our community today… let’s embrace the simple life and treasure what is truly important – human connection, community, self care and pure acts of kindness. SUPPORT WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST /
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p h o to g ra p h s
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sto ry
/ JA N E CA M ERON
organising / jane’s house It’s not everyday that you’re told your ceiling could fall down at any moment, but that’s exactly what the structural engineer told us when he came to inspect the significant cracks in our front two rooms. I guess I had become accustomed to bits of plaster falling down throughout the day as I worked at my desk. It seemed the situation was more serious than my husband, John, and I had first thought. Constructed in the 1870s and neglected for years before we bought it, our little house has certainly seen better days and is a constant work in progress. The ceilings are constructed of plaster and lath and weigh a mere tonne or two – not really what you want falling on you as you work. There’s nothing like imminent disaster to shock one into action!
THE FÊTE PROP CUPBOARD
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JA N E ’ S H O U S E
With operation ‘quick retreat’ underway we implemented our adventurous idea to move my office and our bedroom from the front two rooms of the house into the only room remaining. Luckily our dining/living room was relatively empty and waiting for its next incarnation. Sure, we could condense our entire lives into one room, no problem! Actually it was a lot easier than I imagined and incredibly cathartic as a process. With literally no room for anything superfluous we embarked on the clean out to end all clean outs and gave away a good many things to new homes. Now don't get me wrong, I'm no hoarder so it wasn't as hard as it may sound – we knocked the move out in a day. I run a tight ship and always have – I shared a bedroom for much of my childhood with my dear, 'carefree' sister, Lucy. I'm not exaggerating when I say there was often a line drawn through the centre of the room dividing my side from hers. It was the only way I could cope with the lawlessness that ensued over the border. My bed was made, my desk was orderly, my clothes were neatly put away and every one of my things had a home. Lucy however adopted a more laid-back approach which was – and still is – completely foreign to me and my ways. Somehow we made it to adulthood without any lasting psychological damage and we're both exactly the same as we were back then.
O P P O S I T E PA G E
01. Adler A3 Frame in Black $79.95, countryroad.com.au 02. Abstract Art Print by Ashley Goldberg - Progress $36.96, etsy.com/ashleyg
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org a n i s i n g /
JA N E ’ S H O U S E
From the outset we decided we were going to make do with what we had in the house – no new purchases as this would be a temporary setup – hopefully – and we had a hefty expense ahead of us with the replacement of the ceilings. Thankfully, I already had three very simple, white cupboards in my office so these were repurposed in the new room. We made it our challenge to fit everything we wanted to keep into these three units – one for books and favourite styling pieces, one for household amenities like the sewing kit and medicine collection, folded clothes, towels and bedlinen and then one as my fête prop cupboard. It meant only important, loved or useful pieces were kept. After a lifetime of collecting favourite artworks and more frames that I will ever admit to buying, I decided to show restraint and display just a few in the new room. The others have been put into storage under the bed so I know they’re safe and can be brought out again when the rest of our positively gigantuos, new and improved house is again habitable. For as long as I can remember, John and I have used a range of transparent plastic containers to order pretty much everything throughout the entire house. A variety of sizes come in very handy for all manner of things. They definitely make organising the prop cupboard easy – I know where each and every item is and can reach for it at a moment’s notice. Simple labels ensure I’m not left fumbling around, searching for that one key piece that I know is in there, somewhere! Our new room measures about 16 square metres with a fireplace, a window and two doorways so there isn’t a lot of room by anyone’s standards. Keep in mind we also share our room with our dog-child, Billie. She was also booted from her bedroom which used to be in my office. She now sleeps on our bed – despite our best and most determined efforts, it was futile to ever believe it wouldn’t happen – which adds another element to the tight fit. By keeping our bedlinen white – like the walls – and removing the bedhead, the largest item in the room – the bed – doesn’t seem imposing in the room. It also means that we can wash the bedcovers often without worrying about them fading, which we certainly have to do now given our new bed-guest, regardless of her regimented baths.
O P P O S I T E PA G E
01. Labels made with Dymo Organiser Xpress Embosser $25.97, officeworks.com.au 02. Adler A3 Frame in Black $79.95, countryroad.com.au 03. Gilded Crown Artwork, squeakandsquirrel.com.au
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[ P L A I N, W H I T E C U P B O A R D S F I T N I C E LY ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FIREPLACE
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THIS SPREAD
01. Melltorp Table $79, ikea.com.au 02. Tolix 45h Blanc Stool $302.50, 1000chairs.com.au for trade enquiries 03. Helmer Drawer Unit on Castors in White $79, ikea.com.au. We had ours resprayed at a powdercoaters so that they matched existing cabinetry in the room.
org a n i s i n g /
JA N E ’ S H O U S E
Our new living arrangements have seen the melding of work and life to an even greater level. I have had to strip everything back to the absolute essential while ensuring it still functions the way it should. Paperwork is kept to a bare minimum and housed in rolling drawer units that fit neatly under our desks – one side for John and our household papertrail and the other for me and fête. Even with every wireless device known to mankind, the jumble of cords under the desks is testimony to the mountain of technology needed to keep our business moving – computers, monitors, hard-drives and internet – I would be rendered useless without them. Trust me when I say I’ve tried every solution I could find to rid my life of this confusion of cables, having found nothing to make this horrible mess magically disappear. For now I choose to ignore the inevitable criss-cross of wiring – it’s just too hard to find a clutter-free life solution, although I do live in hope of one day finding the answer. Working from home has its ups and downs. Given I’m a night owl, I love that I can ease into the day without having to pretend I’m awake and alert until I’m good and ready. I love that I can eat breakfast at my desk, keep Billie company during the day (as she does me), skip the daily commute and work late into the night, as is often the case. But working from home also requires a certain degree of discipline. There are always temptations and perfectly reasonable excuses to divert from the tasks at hand. A nanna nap in the afternoon is even more tempting with the bed a mere step away! Thankfully, in Annabelle, I have a business partner who keeps me on the straight and narrow. Not through anything she says or does but because of my eagerness to uphold my commitments – that I get my work done and make her proud. I love my job and knowing we’re both working hard towards making each issue of our magazine better than the last is what keeps me really motivated. In order to work at my best I have to have a tidy workspace. Working in a creative field it’s important for me to free up my brainspace for the job at hand. A restrained, monochromatic environment allows me to focus on my work with little distraction or competition for my attention. Nothing gives me more peace of mind than a tidy, orderly desk and I definitely feel quite anxious when it gets into a mess.
O P P O S I T E PA G E
01. Lucite Small Frame $34.95, countryroad.com.au 02. M aison Balzac Le Sud Mini Candle $25, thedepotandco.com.au 03. Midori Ruler in Brass $24.95, husk.com.au 04. Moleskine 2015 Daily Diary Hardcover in Black $39.95 and Cahier Large Plain in Black $19.95 both notemaker.com.au 05. Large Double Clip Set X Puebco $20 for a pack of ten, thirddrawerdown.com
06. Helmer Drawer Unit on Castors in White $79, ikea.com.au. We had ours resprayed at a powdercoaters so that they matched existing cabinetry in the room. 07. Dante Shallow Tray in Black $44.95, countryroad.com.au 08. Rupalee Home and Office Scissors $42, douglasandbec.com 09. Moleskine 2015 Daily Diary Hardcover in Black $39.95 and Cahier Large Ruled in Kraft $19.95 both notemaker.com.au 10. Uni Pin 0.1mm Fineliner Pen in Black $3.84 each, officeworks.com.au
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[ PHOTOS OF MY DARLING NIECE AND NEPHEW KEEP ME SMILING AND REMIND ME OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN LIFE – HAPPINESS ]
org a n i s i n g /
JA N E ’ S H O U S E
“It’s about being aware of how much we really need, how much we actually use – about buying less but buying well .”
Luckily we already had a metal hanging system which was ideal for our wardrobe of clothes which was heavily edited with a lot donated to our local charity shop. I pretty much live in jeans and t-shirts these days with the occasional jacket and a few fancy pieces for special nights out so it was pointless holding on to anything other than things I actually wear. My idea of colour is a variety in shades of grey so it’s little wonder my outfits are all styled from a self-controlled palette. Boring it may seem, but I delight in everything that mixes and matches – I literally have countless ensembles made up from very few pieces. This lightening up has made choosing an outfit each day so much easier and with it has come a feeling of calm and order that also cuts valuable time in the morning when trying to decide what to wear. When the ceilings come down it’s going to be messy – really messy – so we’ve tried to implement some measures to keep damage to a minimum. Labelled clothes covers will go some way towards keeping our hanging pieces clean and the uniform size and colour of the bags keeps the room a little less busy. We used stacking plastic crates to store items that aren’t used regularly like heavy winter coats, jumpers and sleeping bags. Each one is labelled with a kraft sticker but the translucent crates give us a clue to the contents at a glance without having to search through each one.
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JA N E ’ S H O U S E
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T H I S PA G E
01. Pluring Clothes Cover in Transparent White $2.95 for a set of three, ikea.com.au
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02. Hay Hang Coat Hanger in Black $20.90 for a set of five, designstuff.com.au
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03. Rie Elise Larsen Large Organiser Board in White $389, designstuff.com.au 04. Midori Ruler in Brass $24.95, husk.com.au 05. Labels made with Dymo Organiser Xpress Embosser $25.97, officeworks.com.au 06. Samla Tranparent Box 130 Litre $24.95 with matching lid available $8, both ikea.com.au
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07. Helmer Drawer Unit on Castors in White $79, ikea.com.au. We had ours resprayed at a powdercoaters so that they matched existing cabinetry in the room. 08. 15cm IBSA Ruler in Mild Steel $220, kyss.net.au 09. House Doctor Scissors Twin Set in Brass and Black $44.95 for a set of two designs, telegramopenhouse.com 10. Hendrik Blanket in Black, White and Grey $169, kateandkate.com.au
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T H I S PA G E
01. Skubb Clothes Cover in White $9.95 for a set of three, ikea.com.au 02. Easy-Build Shelving System, hsw.com.au 03. Kraft Labels Large $4 for a pack of ten and Small $4 for a pack of 36, both blankgoods.com.au
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0 1 / Vintage Denim Jacket in Recycled Indigo Wash $213.20, jcrew.com
0 2 / Schoolboy Blazer 0 3 / Steven Alan in Black $329.80, Brigitta Top $333.45, lagarconne.com jcrew.com
0 4 / Mesh Cap in Black $29.95, seedheritage.com
0 7 / Roll Neck Knit in Light Grey Marle $129, countryroad.com.au
0 8 / Lana Skinny Fit Shirt $140, saba.com.au
1 0 / Cotton Modal Tee in Black 29.95, esprit.com.au
0 9 / Uma Stripe 3/4 Sleeve Top $59, saba.com.au
1 2 / Slouch Knit Pant in Silver Grey $99.95, witchery.com.au
1 5 / Marsy Sandal 1 6 / Euro Plastic in Black Leather $130, Plimsole in Grey $50, styletread.com.au mollini.com.au
0 5 / Decision Frames $180, sneakingduck.com.au
JA N E ’ S H O U S E
0 6 / Thea Bowler Bag in Black $279, countryroad.com.au
1 1 / Glamour Cami in Black $120, kookai.com.au
1 3 / The Galaxy is Yours Relaxed Fit Pant in Black $190, sassandbide.com
1 4 / Push-up Uptown Jeans $99.95, shop. mango.com/au
1 7 / Pedro Garcia Julia Patent in Black $480, cultstatus.com.au
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I don’t think I’m overstating it when I say this move has been transforming, perhaps lifechanging. It has made me acutely aware of how few possessions we actually need to function, to be happy, to live a full life. This scaling down has been invigorating, enlivening and uplifting – it has renewed my energy. I’m the first to appreciate beautiful things and surroundings and I know I always will, but with such limited space and a better understanding of how our lives function, I no longer feel the need to fill the space and have chosen an edited perspective. My on-going joke is that I feel like we live in an I K E A catalogue – one of those fantastic small scenes showing every space-saving trick in the book. But the reality is I love our new life and am wondering how we’ll ever go back! T H I S PA G E
01. Bekväm Step Stool in White $24.95, ikea.com.au
[ BILLIE ENJOYING ONE OF HER REGULAR NAPS ]