VISIONARY WA STYLE
INSPIRED RENOVATIONS
LIVEABLE LUXURY
SHOP THE MAGAZINE WITH A CLICK
KLOPPER & DAVIS
STATE OF KIN
DALECKI DESIGN
TRAVEL, EAT, READ, REPEAT
BOLZAN CRASSEVIG DESALTO DÉSIRÉE
DITRE ITALIA FRIGERIO LA CIVIDINA
MIDJ
SABA ITALIA
HARBOUR OUTDOOR
TALENTI OUTDOOR
BROKIS
Designed
in Italy, hand-woven in Lahore. A passionate devotion to beauty is evident in these exquisite handmade rugs by Battilossi.
This newly built Mount Hawthorn home combines bold forms, colour schemes, considered design and a nod to modernism.
Villa Ultimo ticks all the boxes when it comes to liveability, design and quiet luxury.
Architect Sam Klopper reinvents the suburban home with smart design and humble materials.
An 80s double-brick block house is given a new modern design language.
A clever collaboration between owner and designer combines classic architecture with a contemporary addition.
You can’t have too much of a good thing – interiors get the Midas touch.
Embrace cosy colours, textures and shapes set to make your home warm on the inside.
A clutch of new books to read about home, interiors, design and sustainability.
20 Finding Art In High Places
Perth artist Bec Juniper on why Western Australia’s landscape is her abiding passion.
Interior designer Andrew Thornton Hick lays out his ultimate wish list.
46 Building a More Sustainable WA
Beauty and eco-friendly design drive three Fremantle furniture makers.
158 Dry Jungle
Zerascapes’ Mark Morrison on the whys and hows of the rewilding movement.
172 Into the Playhouse
Renato Fabretti of the Fremantle Theatre Company on reigniting the city’s love of the performing arts.
174 My Happy Place
A local beach holds special memories for Perth interior designer Malvina Stone.
162 Take Me To The River
Three nature-immersed boutique stays offering unique design-led luxury.
168 The Return of the Neighbourhood Bar
Pull up a stool at one of Perth’s coolest local hangs.
18 The Havenist Life
What’s catching our eye in Perth this season.
177 Read Us
Access past issues and snap up limited edition print editions.
FOUNDER + EDITOR
Jody D'Arcy jody@havenist.com.au
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Kelli Savietto artwork@havenist.com.au
FEATURES DIRECTOR & STYLIST
Elizabeth Clarke elizabeth@elizabethclarke.com.au
SUB-EDITOR
Phil Stafford
CONTRIBUTORS
Amy Collins-Walker
Jack Lovel
Dion Robeson
We acknowledge the Whadjuk Noongar people of the Bibbulmun Nation; the custodians of the land on which we so passionately design, build, furbish and decorate our beautiful havens. We also acknowledge the continuing culture of the Whadjuk Noongar people and the influences they have on our architecture, gardens, interior design and decor, and we pay our respects to elders past and present.
Havenist is a bi-annual digital magazine. Views of those printed in this magazine do not reflect the views of the editorial team or publisher. Copyright is reserved meaning no part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher, including scanning of pages and posting on your website or social media. The publisher accepts no responsibilIty for any errors or omissions within.
For all enquiries: hello@havenist.com.au
Jody D’Arcy, Editor
It's a pleasure to introduce the third edition of Havenist magazine. It's that time of year when we want to stay at home and lose ourselves in their interiors of comfort colours, soft edges and plush textures.
This issue, we have decided to publish exclusively online rather than in print. It’s kinder to the environment, allows you to enjoy Havenist magazine at no cost and connect easily with designers and retailers with a click of a button.
So what's in store for this edition? Rich colour, high design, innovation, and style inside and out. We have everything from clever home design and new generation appliances to cosy winter must-haves, food, travel and sensational furniture.
An inspired cover featuring a painting by leading local painter Bec Juniper, and tours of some of our finest homes created by WA architects like Sam Klopper and designer Andrew Thornton Hick, make this issue a special treat for design dilettantes.
We also cover the need-to-know, from choosing the perfect floor rug and stone for your benchtops to creating an eco-friendly succulent garden and interior spaces designed for life.
All is the inspiration for your next styling project, renovation or build and for making your home a haven.
Kartique has become a Fremantle design institution and go-to for vintage textiles, antique furnishings and cool homewares. We are obsessed with owner Irene Daly’s one-off colourful gemstone rings crafted in silver and 14k gold vermeil. Try to choose from a rainbow of moonstones, citrine, smoky quartz and green amethysts. Or don’t –just stock up and stack them. kartique.com.au
If turning on a gas heater leaves you cold, it might be time to invest in a classic fireplace version. Head to Fireplaces WA for a wide range of ethanol and gas fireplaces by Lopi and Ortal, or Subiaco Restoration for brands like Icon, Cocoon, Escea, and Rinnai. Unlike burning wood, gas doesn't irritate allergy sufferers, is kinder to the environment and heats up a space more efficiently for longer. Light us up.
subiacorestoration.com.au
fireplaceswa.com.au
Perth brand About Time We Met is made with natural ingredients, including all-round superstar sandalwood (Santalum album). Used for centuries in traditional healing practices, it's scientifically proven to reduce signs of ageing and acne, soothe and even out skin tone, and protect against blue light and pollution. Your skin will love you for it. abouttimewemet.com.au
Perth interior designer Emma Hann's top drop at Shui in Subiaco is the Shui Gintonic #12, a concoction of Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin, blood orange and elderflower tonic garnished with lime leaf and orange. "It pairs perfectly with their sesame prawn crumpets with black olive aioli and chives," Hann says. shuisubi.com
Cafés and espresso bars have traditionally offered cyclists a quick stop on a long ride, which was the inspiration behind Willing Coffee. Run by former Australian Track Cycling champion Tim Willing and wife Veronique, who also operate Willing Property, it sets the mark for a warm welcome, A+ brews and freshly baked pastries. Offering a hot lineup of local and international roasters, like Sey, Passenger, Tim Wendelboe and local Perth roasters Twin Peaks and Modus Coffee, each cup is brewed to exacting standards with every shot weighed and timed for the perfect pour. Ride on in two locations – Guildford and Mount Lawley. @willingcoffee
Perth artist Bec Juniper paints the diverse Western Australian landscape from an atmospheric perspective. Her use of natural texture, mesmerising colours and patterns shows us views we don't always see.
INTERVIEW ELIZABETH CLARKE
Where do you live and work? I live in the “eastern hills” of Fremantle on a big block with a large garden. My main studio is at Voxlab studios in the Pickle District [West Perth's flourishing art hub]. It's large and light-filled and two doors up from Linton & Kay, who are my representing gallery in WA. My upcoming exhibition is exactly 10 years after my first one with them!
How did you discover your love of aerial perspectives?
My father [the late Australian artist Robert Juniper, AM] and godfather, Richard Woldendorp, a well-known aerial photographer, used to fly up north and I went with them several times. This was well before satellite imagery! At the time, I lived with dad in his A-frame studio in Darlington and learned much from him. I am always amazed at a natural event's impact on the landscape. There's always something extraordinary to see.
How do you capture the view? I fly at 35,000 feet [10,688m] like everyone else and take the window seat. The ground sparkles from up there. The colours are unique, and WA has the most fantastic geology. We are unrivalled in antiquity – some parts are as old as the Earth itself. You forget how incredibly flat the landscape is. Sometimes the rivers run inwards from the rain, and when they flood, the landscape shifts, leaving marks and debris. I let that semi-chaos happen on the canvas. Sometimes I work in the Pilbara or remote communities, but I also use Google Earth to take a closer look.
How do the mediums you use capture nature? I use materials that mimic the Earth's surface – powdered pigments, mineral sands, grass tree resin and marble dust that creates texture. My brother works in the Murchison region and brings me home ochres. I keep my canvases very
tight, so they have no dips or grooves and are natural and flat, just like the landscape.
Which landscapes do you especially like painting? The Pilbara fascinates me – it's vast, romantic, and moves and changes a lot. I recently flew over WA's Great Southern on a clear day, and it was mind-bendingly crazy – so beautiful! It inspired the interaction between humans and nature in my work for my next exhibition, Painted by Nature.
What is your creative practice? I paint daily, except for weekends. I've painted for 25 years and love what I do so much that I get grumpy when I'm not doing it. I work on many paintings simultaneously – some can take a year or more to finish. I work completely on large-medium to large scale now. It's more immersive to experience, and its scale matches the landscape.
What kind of story do you want your paintings to tell?
The struggle between nature and farming interests me. Sometimes I have fire scars, survey lines and mining marks in my work, or shapes made by farming. For example, you can see where water has crawled past a boundary. Sometimes you might see a tree line or mangrove – just unexpected odd things. I connect where we live using colour and materials in an attempt to reflect our incredibly unique landscape.
What is the story behind your work on Havenist's cover?
This is a close-up of a work in progress for my new exhibition, “Painted by Nature”, with Linton and Kay Gallery. It satisfies a constant yearning in me for nature, the vast outdoors, and the colours and textures of our beautiful country. n
Follow Bec @juniploves
Represented by lintonandkay.com.au
"ONCE WAS OCEAN IN TEMPERED BLUES"
Auniquely beautiful stone slab is a timeless choice for making a strong statement, and when it comes to speccing surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom or living spaces, nothing beats the luxurious look of marble. Its strong veining, vivid colours and expressive swirls transform everyday surfaces into stunning showpieces.
However, with natural stones like granite and marble considered non-renewable due to their energy-intensive extraction and manufacturing processes, architects and designers constantly search for creative solutions that embrace marble's beauty, durability and longevity but with less environmental impact.
Enter Cosentino, the world's leading hybrid mineral surface manufacturer, known for over 30 years for creating seamless, elegant, eco-friendly solutions for luxury architectural and interior design projects.
The jewel in the surface brand's crown is its cutting-edge Silestone range. Created using groundbreaking HybriQ/ HybriQ+ Technology®, it uses 100 per cent renewable energy and a circular system of continuous filtration that ensures 99 per cent recycled wastewater with zero water waste. Its formulation of premium raw materials such as quartz, minerals and recycled material creates sumptuous marblelook effects, colours and finishes.
Silestone boasts superior high-performance properties. It embraces marble’s beauty and longevity but with reduced environmental impact and higher durability, allowing it to resist stains and scratches. It also contains less than 40 percent crystalline silica, which is below the threshold set by the Victorian government on high-risk engineered stone.
Silestone surfaces are beautiful to look at and superior in adaptability and practicality. Seamless, scratchresistant and anti-bacterial, they combine the pinnacles of innovation, sustainability, high performance and design to
deliver truly extraordinary results. Silestone surfaces are low-maintenance and adaptable enough for kitchen and bathroom cladding, floors, benchtops, basins and shower trays, and are a starting point for any creative endeavour. Large-format slabs of up to 3250 x 1590mm in 20mm and 12mm thicknesses, available in polished and suede finishes, open Silestone up to endless design possibilities.
Choose from a collection that draws inspiration from nature, European design and contemporary styling. Silestone's Ethereal collection looks to the clouds with its deep, delicate veining set on a white foundation. Sunlit Days, the brand's first entirely carbon-neutral line, travels to the Mediterranean with a palette of earthy terracotta, deep sea blue, gentle green and sun-baked neutrals. The Loft series embraces contemporary industrial style, referencing the look of blackened steel and well-worn cement, making it a renewable alternative to concrete. The full range of low silica colours is available nationwide.
Along with high quality, style, and sustainability comes peace of mind with a 25-year transferable warranty, making Silestone incomparable and the ultimate mineral low-silica surface material for your home. n cosentino.com
Silestone®, high performance surfaces with lower silica content. Breakthrough in the category.
Less silica. More Sustainable. More Silestone®.
Lux Interiors are a full service design and renovation firm, providing holistic and high quality outcomes. We combine our depth of knowledge with our passion for our craft to create functional spaces that make a statement within your home. luxinteriors.com.au
FROM FURNITURE ICONS TO FUTURE CLASSICS, ELEVATE YOUR HOME WITH LIVING EDGE.
WORDS ELIZABETH CLARKE
Offering furniture from both the world's most celebrated and emerging designers, Living Edge is led by an unwavering commitment to authenticity when it comes to furniture and lighting, making it a Perth design destination.
Whether you are a lifelong lover of interior design or a new homeowner, Living Edge uses furniture, lighting, and design to elevate any space into something extraordinary.
From Herman Miller, known for its groundbreaking midcentury modern furniture, to British design maestro Tom Dixon and Italian lighting giant Flos, Living Edge is a window into the world of international luxury design. Walk through Living Edge Perth and be inspired by curated settings showcasing creative combinations of colours, shapes, textures, and blended aesthetics.
Mid-century furniture pieces from prolific designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson and Isamu Noguchi complement contemporary collections from BassamFellows, Walter Knoll, and Bower Studio in perfect harmony. Midcentury modern design boasts unparalleled staying power with its clean lines, organic forms, high functionality, and a less-is-more approach. A classic mid-century piece, whether it's an armchair or a statement lamp, has the ability to instantly make a room.
Integral to the look and feel of your home, iconic and innovative lighting breathes life into any space, whether providing a soft glow-up, highlighting art, or creating an accent wall. A sculptural molten gold wall light by Tom Dixon or geometric sconce by Flos can illuminate a dark corner or hallway, while the long swing arm of Vitra's Petite Potence Wall Lamp provides functional light and a striking decorative element to its space.
Whether daring or contemplative, statuesque or tabletop, Living Edge's range of high-designed lighting simultaneously illuminates and decorates any space in your home with its powerful presence.
For Living Edge, the sustainability of design is central to every piece of furniture it offers. Brands selected reflect the same ethos: a dedication to distributing designs crafted with responsible materials, aesthetics, functionality and craftsmanship for real longevity. Whether you are reinvigorating your living room or furnishing an entire home, it's essential to consider investing in beautifully designed, high-quality furnishings that are built to last. »
At Living Edge, each piece of furniture is designed for life to be passed down through generations. Sofas, dining tables and armchairs top the "buy this, keep it forever” list and create rooms that hit that sweet spot between luxe and liveable. Every piece of Living Edge furniture is one that will move with you to new homes, big and small. Even if you downsize, they will be carefully stored away or taken into care by a trusted fellow-design aficionado. Importantly, they embrace excellent design integrity and are always in vogue, ensuring no matter what other pieces you style them with, they will always feel fresh, current, and inviting.
Like the Living Edge products, the showroom is bespoke, desirable, and discerning with a richness of material and simplicity of form. This beautifully crafted environment provides a platform to showcase Living Edge’s contemporary, world-renowned brands, including Herman Miller, Walter Knoll, BassamFellows, Muuto and Vitra. Making a trip in to Living Edge’s Perth showroom is sure to provide a meaningful, engaging, and immersive experience.
Living Edge has the perfect solution to suit your home. Head in-store and create your dream living space with Living Edge's inspiring collections. n
Living Edge, 7 Queen St, Perth livingedge.com.au
Jardin Du Luxembourg
Candle by Kerzon, $69.95, Table Culture, Subiaco “Seriously the best interiors
Opinel No. 10 Corkscrew
Folding Knife, $74.95, Kate and Abel, Fremantle “The ultimate French survival knife that does both wine and cheese with exceptional design and function.”
SCULPTOR & DESIGNER ANDREW THORNTON HICK FROM ATH CREATIVE AGENCY IS DRAWN TO OBJECTS THAT PIQUE THE SENSES. HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THEM...
INTERVIEW ELIZABETH CLARKE
Ricardo Bofill: Visions Of Architecture (Gestalten, publisher), $115, Edicole, Treasury Buildings “The architect who has led me across Spain seeking inspiration.”
Ultima Thule Goblet, POA, Iittala, Table Culture
“I grew up with these, spent my 40th at their factory in Finland, and serve my gin in them. Connected forever through memory new and old, this 1960s design by Tapio Wirkkala was inspired by melting ice. For those who seek art in all they touch, these are your glasses.”
Arketipo Jupiter Armchair designed by Mauro Lipparini, from $9,740, Ultimo Interiors
“This is the Eames chair of today: innovative in form, comfort and thought. I struggle not to put one in every one of my interior projects.”
Banksia Grandis Collection “Scorched”
Seedpod No. 239 by Sarah Keirle, $7,500, Linton & Kay Galleries “Combining my love of banksias and ceramics, the scale and finish of this work says everything about the creative process that I love from nature to hand-building.”
5 9
6 7 8
Soda Cabinet Designed by Draga & Aurel, POA, Gallotti & Radice, Ultimo Interiors
Cactus Lamp designed by Mickael Koska, Pulpo, from $3,775, Ultimo Interiors, Osborne Park “I was happily on the prelaunch wait-list for these. They exemplify nature as inspiration and simplicity as king, which I believe are hallmarks to seek in any objects you live with.”
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Harlyn Aqua Sunglasses, $123, waterhaul.co
“I found these guys on Kickstarter and had to get on board. Each pair is made from 100 percent recycled Cornish monofilament gill netting, salvaged from the UK coastline.”
Leaf Necklace: Leaf Litter, $420, jessicajubb.com
“Sometimes you travel the world only to find the most beautiful things are right under your nose, like this pendant. From a creative soul who also draws energy from our natural environment, JJ’s work is as universal as it is unique.”
Here at Indeko Studio, we are renowned for achieving the highest level of design and performance with products that are sustainably sourced and deliver energy efficiency.
Offering one of Perth’s largest ranges of premium European fabrics and world leading brands, our showroom showcases the best in luxury sheers and curtains, soft shades, shutters, external awnings and blinds, and is the perfect place to start your journey.
Our team work closely with clients, architects, designers and builders to deliver a cohesive design capturing your personality and realising them in a style that is as individual as you.
indekostudio.com.au
9244 8977
THE METAL OF THE MOMENT DELIVERS AN ELEGANT TOUCH OF GRIT AND GLAMOUR.
1 Seine floor lamp, $5,695, Coco Republic. 2 Mass Productions Bam sofa, from $3,235, District Furniture. 3 Christian Lacroix Botanic Rainbow cushion, $364, Trilogy. 4 Christopher Boots Prometheus lamp, $11,295, editeur. 5 Tom Dixon Bash vases and bowls, from $585, Living Edge. 6 Kartell Componibili storage unit, $705, Kartell Perth. 7 Love in Bloom heart vase, $235, Monde Design. 8 Bottega Veneta Loop Cassette mini-bag, $2,500, Cult Status. 9 Tom Dixon Bone bowl, $1,600, Loam. 10 Sticky Glass Bubble Cup #11 tumbler, $150, District Furniture.
NOW
Quintessential Italian design straight from Florence, this is the definition of: Made In Italy
SINCE OPENING IN 2016, EDITEUR HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A KEY RESOURCE FOR PERTH DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS WHO APPRECIATE GOOD DESIGN AND QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP.
To organise your private showroom tour or to ask Gillian to visit you in your studio, please call 9385 1964 or email gillian@editeur.au To learn more, visit editeur.au
1 Matsuoka Clement console and Layers side table. 2 Paola Lenti Frame armchairs and side table. 3 Trade Liaison, Gillian Moorman, in editeur's Peppermint Grove showroom. 4 Daniel Barbera Phillip Adams chairs and Bronze round table. 5 Christopher Boots Meteor light pendant. 6 Minotti Roger sofa. 7 Knoll Platner armchair.
With innovative designs tailored to contemporary needs, editeur's wide collection of products suits all styles of interiors, from grand homes to modern apartment living.
Drawing on a global network, editeur presents unique and diverse examples of contemporary and highly soughtafter vintage furniture and design objects and art. With its curated and eclectic collections, editeur's offering is perfect for our sophisticated but relaxed West Coast style.
Continuously augmenting and extending its product offering, editeur is excited to announce its partnership with dedece, and its appointment as the exclusive Western Australian distributor for three of the world's most prestigious and well-known furniture brands: Minotti, Knoll, and Paola Lenti.
Combining Minotti, Knoll and Paola Lenti with Christopher Boots, BARBERA designs and Matsuoka Furniture, editeur has created a new furniture and lighting resource for Perth's design community. Long known as the perfect place to find unique and outstanding finishing touches, editeur now offers architects and designers a place to visit at the start of their projects with a broad offering of high-end furniture and interior product to furnish their projects from start to finish.
To service a professional, you need a professional, and editeur is delighted to introduce its newest team member, Gillian Moorman, as Trade Liaison to service the architecture and design community. Gillian has a long history of working closely with designers and architects. She is familiar with the needs of busy professionals and prides herself on assisting them in finding the best possible solutions for their projects. Her understanding of the vast options within the brands she represents allows her to guide her clients and help them to customise their selections, resulting in truly individual, effectively bespoke solutions.
Each of the brands editeur represents continues to evolve, and many of the pieces now on display in the editeur showroom have never been seen in Perth before. Its carefully curated mix of energies creates an exciting opportunity to see these brands from a new perspective, and we highly recommend a trip to editeur as soon as possible.
MINOTTI. Drawing on a rich history of Italian design and with a fresh contemporary aesthetic, Minotti represents the pinnacle of high-quality furniture and upholstery. Its vast array of customisable options allows designers and architects to individualise their designs to suit their projects.
KNOLL. Globally known as the "architect's brand" for its signature Modernist furniture, Knoll remains true to the Bauhaus design philosophy – that modern furniture should complement architectural space, not compete with it. Many of Knoll’s iconic designs have become the "must-have" additions to any project.
PAOLA LENTI. Paola Lenti designs and produces some of the world's most innovative and beautiful indoor and outdoor furniture by integrating colour and production techniques with traditional craftsmanship and the latest technological processes.
MATSUOKA. For more than 150 years, this familyowned Japanese company has created timeless designs boasting the highest quality materials and finishes, allowing designers to enhance their projects with customised pieces.
CHRISTOPHER BOOTS. Boots's exquisite lighting designs are internationally renowned. Founded on the principle of "Fiat Lux" (let there be light), each piece explores the relationships between nature, architecture, symbology and geometry, and is produced in the Melbourne designer's own atelier.
BARBERA DESIGNS. Barbera creates unique and timeless hand-cast bronze furniture and contemporary objects inspired by the history of ceramics and their relationship to bronze smelting. His pieces possess a refined but powerful energy. n
A beautiful rug is transformative and functional, and can soften the mood of any room while adding vibrancy and texture.
"People ask what you should start with when decorating a room, and I always say a rug," says Chris Hoyne, owner of Temple Fine Rugs. "It's one of the biggest visual elements in a space with a significant impact as a strong statement piece or a vehicle for texture."
Finding the picture-perfect rug for your space can feel impossible, with endless materials, varying sizes and shapes to choose from. Yet once you place that big colourful or patterned rug in a room, it makes it. Nothing pulls a room together like a rug does. »
In partnership with TEMPLE FINE RUGS
templefinerugs.com.au
"A rug lets a space down if the quality, materials and cleanability are not there," says Chris. Like furniture, a rug must be durable, so invest in one crafted using a highquality material. The ultimate choice is a protein fibre, such as wool, silk, mohair, cashmere or alpaca. Not only are they comfortable underfoot and look luxurious, but these fibres naturally repel dirt, and their stiff and glossy cuticles are resilient and springy, ensuring their pile is always upright and plush.
Not sure where to start? Open your wardrobe. "We can often tell which rug you will be attracted to by looking at what you're wearing!" says Chris. A rug sets a room's tone: rich and opulent, soft and breezy, natural and tonal, avant-garde, eclectic, or sophisticated.
"Minimalist interiors are calm and serene, with clean lines, minimal colours and negative spaces," says Chris. "Where less is more, quality and workmanship are important as less colour and pattern distracts the eye."
Maximalist spaces are unique, rich, and full of beauty and objects, and provoke an emotional response by pushing creative boundaries. "Look for dynamic and eye-catching rugs that embrace colour, texture and pattern in silks, cashmere or mohair, or antique and vintage rugs with vibrant colours and patterns."
Pattern hides the detritus of life – crumbs, dog hair, red wine – making it a practical choice for dining tables, hallways and family rooms. It also creates visual richness and gives a simple space detail and volume.
Plain rugs are understated and sophisticated and can be used to define, soften and warm a space without drawing attention. A single-colour rug also showcases exquisitely detailed furniture pieces with sumptuous marble or fine metalwork that can be visually lost against a pattern.
"Rectangular rugs provide direction, are stable and grounding, and versatile for many spaces," says Chris. "An organic shape is ideal in an avant-garde or architectural space, and a round rug in a grand entry or awkward asymmetrical room is an elegant choice."
Tribal hand-knotted rugs from the world's nomadic weaving cultures are often wobbly, wonky, stretched and curvaceous, with ragged fringes and naïve drawings, and are always a good investment. "Their lack of symmetry makes them perfect for scattering in open spaces," Chris says. "If a shaped rug will enhance the coherence and integrity of your space's design direction, or help solve a spatial challenge, then go for it!"
"A rug is a stage and starting point that informs your selections for creating a beautiful room."
CHRIS HOYNE, Temple Fine Rugs
If sofas are off the walls, rugs look better wholly or partially under the setting. "Place the rug under the front of the sofa by a third or two-thirds," suggests Chris. "Halfon-half-off or just a few centimetres can look unbalanced."
Broken plan living can be created in an open plan layout using rugs to zone and split spaces, creating a diversity of moods, purpose and ambience in the home.
A vast rug extending 60cm from the walls provides a strong style statement and enhances smaller spaces. "In furnished spaces, it anchors each piece, calming the area and creating balance," says Chris.
Bigger is best when it comes to accommodating a dining table and chairs. "Size the rug for the space rather than the table," says Chris. "At a minimum, the rug should be at least one metre longer than the length of the table."
Warm and cool colours are a cinch to style as they naturally relate to warm elements like timbers, stone and leather, and cool materials like chrome, glass and stainless steel. n
RICH COLOURS AND TACTILE MATERIALS GIVE WINTER’S KEY DESIGN PIECES COSY APPEAL.
CURATED BY ELIZABETH CLARKE
We know the parts of modern life that negatively impact our planet, like food waste, too much plastic, meat consumption, and wearing mass-produced fashion. But the imprint our furniture has is not always as obvious. Because fast furniture is overproduced and the least-recycled household item, it is one of the world's fastest-growing landfill categories.
While design as a discipline is traditionally unaligned with sustainability, now the two go hand in hand. With the growing importance of raw materials, greater supply chain transparency, local sourcing and upcycling comes fresh creativity, with furniture makers producing cool, sustainable high-concept pieces.
Western Australia is known for being home to a diverse array of designers, makers, artists and other talented creatives. And while share studios and workshops are peppered all over the state, a large number of them call Fremantle home.
Meet three Fremantle furniture makers passionate about making a difference with pieces that boast beauty, longevity and sustainability.
PHOTO BY JOSH GEELENcrafts tables, chairs and objects that mix raw materials with surprising accents, like bubblegum pink powder coating, cylindrical legs and retro-inspired seat backs. It's a playful, cool and contemporary aesthetic that is proving popular nationwide for its fresh take on what sustainable furniture can look like.
"It's really hard to make things look beautiful without a trail of carbon, so we always make sure our designs are unique but timeless," he says. "We produce furniture and objects that can be
passed down, not end up in a tip, which is where too much furniture ends up."
Though it was founded by maker Remington Matters eight years ago, Angus joined the business in 2017. Remington returned to his hometown of Adelaide, where he set up a studio, and Angus took over the helm of their South Fremantle studio. "We work together on the range and prototypes, and I look after WA business while Rem covers the east coast," Angus says. "Key to our business is producing on the same designs in two states. It just works."
Working alongside Perth architects and interior designers on both commercial and high-end residential projects, the pair have tackled all types of jobs, including furnishings and fit-outs for Perth hotspots like La Lune in East Fremantle, Mary Street Bakery, and Dumbo Gelato.
While the pair use raw materials such as Australian and American oak, Tasmanian blackwood and Canadian rock maple as much as possible, Angus says producing pieces that are
100 percent sustainable is almost impossible. "We are low-waste and reuse wherever we can but there’s always an element that is planet-friendly," he says. "We bring it back to the fact that we are not manufacturing fast furniture. For example, if we're designing a table, we use common widths of timber and consider how an offcut might be used for a leg. When we work with steel, we optimise a standardsized metal sheet for the seats and backrest, so there are no offcuts."
The brand offers a core collection that includes dining suites, desks, stools and wall sconces. Angus believes it is a more sustainable business model than custom-made. "There is more wastage and time spent when you only offer custom design," he says. "We push our range so we can build what we like, but we offer some customisation with colours, materials and upholstery."
Any leftovers are used to create objects for their Off Cuts range, which includes homewares and decor including bowls, lights, candlesticks and rolling pins.
remingtonmatters.com »
loves sharing his space with fellow creatives. "It’s a fertile ground for us types, and the company is good – furniture making can be lonely with your earplugs in," he tells Havenist. "Creative company helps you get out of your headspace and handy if you need someone at the other end of a plank!"
Before starting his own custom-making business a decade ago, Ben studied design and furniture making at the Australian School of Fine Wood in Dwellingup. "Since then, I've developed a collection of pieces that share a common language that is clean and contemporary with enduring design,” he says.
Ben works with timber sourced locally and from importers. "Local timber is mainly marri and jarrah, and its redness doesn't always
work in contemporary spaces," he explains. "Accessing different types provides a broader palette, which I often integrate with marble and steel frames."
Creating furniture with longevity is the key to good sustainable design, he says. "It's not hard to make furniture that lasts a long time; the bigger challenge is making sure it remains relevant. Furniture is like fashion – it comes and goes. Sustainability is largely about enduring design that the customer enjoys for a long time. I make objects people want to live with their whole lives and take with them to their retirement homes!"
A favourite piece of Ben's is his T2 dining table, a simple and graceful design more complex than it appears. "It's utilitarian and simplistic but complicated to make," he admits. "It's a piece that has a place in every home." squarepeghome.com.au
is a self-confessed hoarder. “I don't throw much away,” he laughs. “I try to reuse everything and keep my practice tight. It’s all the little things you do that combine to save building fossil fuels."
The self-taught maker, a former air force engineer, runs his customised furniture business out of his South Fremantle studio, where he crafts pieces for residential and commercial projects.
"I started out 10 years ago designing a few pieces but found many customers wanted customised furniture," he says. "It's a practice that suits me and how I work. The creative aspect feeds my mind, and I find problem-solving very cathartic."
Working mainly with plywood, veneers and solid timber, Karl approaches every design by determining what the client wants and likes and how best to make that happen. "It involves a lot of drawing, mood boards, and
discussion," he says. "Every job involves a lot of tasks, so the end result is always very different."
One of his standout creations is a cedar bath he was commissioned to make for a friend. "It was incredible to make a bath out of cedar – it's so warm and soft," he explains. "The end result was so beautiful I am going to make more."
Karl worked on the fit-out of the award-winning Cadogan Song School by Palassis Architects, built to provide facilities for the St George’s Cathedral choir. He is busily completing a boat fit-out he has worked on for the past three years, and a 1960s-style cabinet and bookcase for a client’s living space. His work's diversity and versatility are two reasons he loves what he does.
"For people who are naturally creative and love using their hands, it's the greatest job," he says. "Making sustainable furniture that people love makes me feel good, and I think everyone needs a little bit of that."
saltwooddesigns.com.au
KEEN TO BUILD OR RENOVATE BUT NEED HELP FIGURING OUT WHERE TO START?
Whether you're embarking on a renovation or building a new home, there's much more to it than you might think. Yet navigating home projects is all part of a day's work for builders and design experts who relish every project's challenges, logistics and prospects – big and small.
“We work closely with our clients to design and build spaces that adapt and grow with them," says Rob Casotti from Evolution, who has teamed up with Emily Rousseau from Seau Studio to help owners design and build homes and spaces. "We work closely with you, the homeowner, and are passionate about architecture and are advocates for delivering what our clients are looking for in their homes,” says Emily.
Whether adding an extension or building your family home from scratch, Evolution x Seau Studio bring years of experience for a home that feels comfortable and liveable and, most importantly, evolves with you.
"It’s invaluable what good design and a high-quality build can do for a family,” says Emily. “For most of us, building or renovating a house will be the biggest investment we ever make, so it’s important to have the right team of dedicated people by your side throughout the process.” »
When starting your project, it can be confusing who comes first – the designer or the builder. "It's the main reason Evolution has teamed up with Seau," Rob says. "We work together as your ultimate design and building team, so as Emily designs your home, you receive invaluable input from the building perspective that irons out potential issues before stepping on site."
It also allows you to fine-tune your concept from day one for a smooth process that mitigates future issues and saves costs. "It will enable you to prioritise your budget to ensure every cent is being spent the best possible way," says Rob.
Building and renovating is easier when a team works together from day one. "It is more efficient and timesaving, and the double handling of information is minimised," says Rob.
While building, the team ensures you have full access to the site and your own dedicated building supervisor who can talk you through the process, answer any questions, and, should any unforeseen issues arise, deal with them quickly and professionally. "Emily is on site with us from day one ensuring her design is being delivered exactly how you want it, whilst the team at Evolution ensures the home is finished to the highest level,” says Rob.
With solution-focused thinking, Evolution x Seau Studio together take a solid approach to every aspect of your project, determining where potential problems may arise before they do. "It's focusing on the solution rather than the problem, so owners know why the solution is needed and experience its benefits," Rob says. By dealing directly with an experienced, interdisciplinary team at the outset of your project, the risk of delays, budget blowouts and complications is dramatically lessened.
"We're all in the room, we're all on board, and we're all committed to your vision from day one."
Contact Evolution for an obligation-free chat to hear more about their work and projects and discuss your ideas, budget expectations and timeline. For more information, head to evoandseau.com.au n
"We're all in the room, on board, and committed to your vision from day one."
ROB CASOTTI, Evolution
ARENT & PYKE: INTERIORS BEYOND THE PRIMARY
Known for their refined, elegant and joyful interiors, Juliette
Arent and Sarah-Jane Pyke imbue every space with the rigorous attention, clever use of colour and meticulous detail that have made them a part of the Australian design vernacular. Their first book, brimming with beautiful illustrations, key learnings and project details, explores how the pair weave joy, colour, character, spirit and alchemy through every interior space they touch.
Juliette Arent and Sarah-Jane Pyke, Thames & Hudson, $120
EDITED BY ELIZABETH CLARKE
A magnum opus celebrating the work of late Perth architect Kerry Hill. Follow his career over the decades from his small Singapore studio to global architectural practice with a portfolio that includes Perth’s COMO The Treasury and Cathedral Square, Forrest Hall, City of Perth Library and the Walyalup Civic Centre in Fremantle. Geoffrey London (introduction), Thames & Hudson, available from Collins Cottesloe, $120
HOME BY THE
SURF HINTERLAND OF BYRONNatalie Walton, owner of Imprint you on a tour Bay’s most Take a peek belonging designers, and learn all about this who love where Natalie Walton, Dymocks,
THE Delving including Brisbane “Dynasty this sumptuous designer seriously Follow process inspirations selection and accessories. superb and storytelling. Loam
Walton, stylist and Imprint House, takes tour of some of Byron inspiring homes. peek at nearly 20 to interior and fashion artists and makers, all there is to know creative community where they live. Walton, Hardie Grant, $60
Celebrated Danish designer Malene Birger works across many creative mediums, including interiors, fashion, and art. In her third book she dives deep, using astounding before and after images, into four different homes she has transformed in Italy, Greece, Spain and England. Learn about her artwork and a jewellery range that reflects her renowned aesthetic, and read about her latest remodelling project, a fabulous Majorca townhouse. Malene Birger, $114, Amazon
With eco-friendly building on the rise, Australian writer Penny Craswell explores 24 stunning homes that form a visual essay on the beauty of reclaimed materials. Each home is extraordinary, including a semi-detached Edwardian with cabinetry crafted from plastic chopping boards and bottle tops, proving it is possible to live green without compromising on style. Penny Craswell, Thames & Hudson, available from New Editions, Fremantle, $65
Delving deep into eight projects, including a modern palazzo in Brisbane and a house with a Dynasty vibe” in Melbourne, sumptuous book showcases designer Greg Natale’s talent for seriously sophisticated interiors. Follow every step of his design process from initial concept and inspirations to his meticulous selection of finishes, furnishings, accessories. Each boasts his superb talent for colour, texture storytelling. Greg Natale, Claremont, $110
ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN STATE OF KIN
CONSTRUCTION STATE OF KIN CONSTRUCTION
WORDS ELIZABETH CLARKE
PHOTOGRAPHY JACK LOVEL
Sweep House in Mount Hawthorn combines European sensibilities with a crisp Mediterranean aesthetic. Small openings in the façade conceal large windows that draw in the breezes.
Brutalist in style, the home's broad curves, strict lines, thick stucco and hit-andmiss brickwork combine for an expressive entrance. The upper floor wraps around the house with a series of angles providing privacy from neighbouring homes.
Clever design solutions by Perth firm State of Kin delivered the perfect family home while boasting all the hallmarks of a luxury hotel, from dark travertine flooring, plush carpet and private terraces to the dramatic sweep of a staircase.
"It's what anchors the home," explains director and co-founder Ara Salomone, whose discerning eye bridged the playful and the sophisticated with this unexpected architectural element. Its sculptural sweep was also the starting point of her design, not only providing a vertical connection between the levels but adding a curve amid robust materials and razor-sharp angles.
The secret to making such strong statements is to have an enthusiastic partner, and Ara had this in the owners. Their European backgrounds and passion for the interiors of luxury hotels formed the basis for their home.
In a close-knit community of homes ranging in architectural styles from 1930s bungalows to contemporary builds, Sweep House is unique with its European sensibilities and Mediterranean aesthetic. Built for privacy, an envelope of render with small openings conceals large windows that draw in the south-westerly breezes; yet it also encourages community interaction. To wit, the lemon, lime and olive trees planted along the entrance form a neighbourly orchard there for the taking.
Old elements from European hotels are reimagined in
a contemporary fashion and form the foundation for this four-bedroom home. Light fills it to its core, pouring in from generous windows and vast circular apertures that appear as frequently as head-turning works of art.
At its heart is the 1970s-inspired sunken lounge, where the staircase stars. The space's materiality underscores the designer's bespoke approach with its thick terracotta carpet and rich magenta furnishings by iconic Italian design house Cassina.
The majestic living room relinquishes its moody palette and plush carpets for a mix of neutrals and a rolling floor of travertine that flows through to the back of the home, where the kitchen and dining spaces are.
"It's a very refined and elevated colour and material palette which allows you to wander from one space to the next," says Ara.
The kitchen's main living areas look out to a swimming pool and al fresco area where an ornamental pear tree grows through a circular opening in the roof. The adjacent garage is fitted out similarly to the home's interiors, so it can be utilised for long table lunches.
Through its careful composition of design elements and clever indoor and outdoor layout, Sweep House offers a calming repose for its owners and makes an idyllic family retreat. »
Conceived for an owner with an eye for European design, this home is full of clever ideas that elevate a minimal palette.
THIS PAGE. An ornamental pear tree reaches for sunlight through a circular opening in the roof. Next to it is the Kettal Stampa armchair
OPPOSITE. The cabinetry in the kitchen is crafted in Polytec and rich emerald Artedomus Smeraldo Quartzite. The angular built-in bar was a last-minute addition. Its beautifully crafted curves make it a focal point.
“It’s always effective to define one material against another,” says Ara. Case in point: the kitchen’s light green and cream cabinetry and Artedomus
Smeraldo Quartzite splashback Tucked behind the kitchen is four metres of service space, including a scullery. A Grand Prix table and chairs by Fritz Hansen in timber veneer soften the space’s robust materiality.
OPPOSITE. A fully equipped studio at the front of the home includes a bedroom, bathroom and office for guests. The study includes curved shelving and a desk, a chair by Fritz Hansen, and a porthole-style window that frames a view of the garden.
THIS PAGE. The bathroom is wrapped in a melee of tiles, including travertine and vertically laid mosaics from Artedomus.
Equally dramatic as the sweep of the staircase is a Cassina Maralunga Maxi sofa, Cassina
637 Utrecht armchairs, Gogan coffee table by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, Constantin side table by Studio Simon for Cassina, and an AM2C floor lamp by Franco Albini for Cassina, all from Mobilia. The artworks, ‘Sweep House Triptych’, were commissioned by indigenous artist Jade Lister-Buttle.
OPPOSITE. Part of the drama of the house lies in its dramatic angles and robust materiality.
THIS PAGE. The curves of the staircase are accentuated with a run of plush carpet by Fyber.
OPPOSITE. By cocooning the space in rich hues and Kvadrat curtaining, the master bedroom feels equal parts comforting and sophisticated. The Redondo bed by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso and brass DS150 wall lamps by Michael Anastassiades are both from Mobilia. The artworks, ‘Silhouette 1’ and ‘Silhouette 111’, are by Caroline Walls.
ABOVE. In the ensuite, minimalism prevails and is enhanced by the rich and natural beauty of travertine.
MATCH THE MOOD TOP TO BOTTOM. Tom Dixon Tank decanter, $365, and Tank low ball glasses, $200 each, Living Edge. Arketipo Bubble Bobble floor light, POA, Ultimo Interiors. Lexon Mino speaker, $99, Arrival Hall. Scalea Perlado surface, POA, Cosentino. Amélie lounge chair, POA, Henri Living. Striation rug, hand-spun in silk and Mongolian Cashmere and hand-knotted in Jaipur, India, POA, Temple Fine Rugs.
Curves, lines and earthy rich tones imbue modernity into a space.
BUILDING DESIGN ANDREA BASINI OF ANB DESIGN
BUILDER ENZO SBERNA
PROJECT MANAGEMENT ENZO SBERNA
INTERIOR DESIGN ANDREW THORNTON HICK AND ULTIMO INTERIORS
FURNITURE AND ART CURATION, STYLING ANDREW THORNTON HICK
FURNITURE ULTIMO INTERIORS
WORDS ELIZABETH CLARKE
PHOTOGRAPHY JODY D'ARCY
Inspired by the architecture of Iwan Iwanoff, known for his work in the Brutalist movement, Villa Ultimo places an emphasis on proportion, scale, line, texture and materiality.
Villa Ultimo in City Beach expresses the elegance and refined appeal of concrete. Drawing on the iconic brutalist architecture of Iwan Iwanoff, its robust form is tempered with abundant natural light and lush, verdant landscaping.
Home to Enzo and Genny Sberna, owners of Perth design mecca Ultimo, its minimalist design was a collaboration between Enzo and longtime friend Andrea Basini of ANB DESIGN. "We wanted a bespoke and highly liveable home with longevity that grows with us and suits the Western Australian lifestyle," he says. "Like our business and brands, it was important it was timeless and showcases Ultimo's level of design, both inside and out."
The couple wanted a unique home that projects both coolness and warmth with individual timeless style. "To create a modular look, we used a hybrid construction method including modular pre-cast concrete and mixing in-situ," Enzo explains. "The motif on the external walls is a nod to our company logo, and the vintage breeze blocks reference Iwanoff's work."
Inside, porcelain is used extensively, selected for its consistency, longevity and durability. "Porcelain has come a long way and combines beautifully with natural stone, timber and concrete," Enzo says.
On the eve of its 25th anniversary, Villa Ultimo is the definition of Italian design, from its light fittings and finishings to its coveted range of furnishings. Designer Andrew Thornton Hick, who has worked with the couple for over a decade and curated its spaces, describes the home as a "modernist plinth for organic sculpture and living".
The kitchen, he says, is authentically Italian and designed especially for Genny, whom he describes as a “phenomenal cook”. Created by Modulnova and designed by Enzo, the island bench is crafted in Italian grey-stone ceramics offset by bronze-grey cabinetry, which conceals ovens and a generous appliance cabinet. It also embraces a scullery, drinks area, floating smoked oak breakfast bar and wine corner complete with Sub-Zero wine fridges and a vertical pull-out bar.
"No home could better illustrate this space as the heart of the home than this one," Andrew says. "It's spectacular in terms of its materiality and quality, but also its design in terms of what is exposed and concealed – it's very clever."
In the living room, a commissioned work by local artist Stephanie Reisch picks up on the sage shade of a pair of
bouclé chairs and finishes in the kitchen. A fireplace encased in porcelain introduces warmth to the space's neutral palette.
The couple's dining space showcases "an Italian trifecta", says Andrew. A stunning Italian statement light comprising bubble-like glass spheres and hand-burnished brass by Gallotti&Radice hovers over a circular dining table with a solid timber top. Its segmented Y-shape division reflects the layout of the open-plan living space. "The roundness of the light and tabletop reflects the curved bulkhead overhead and bounces off similar elements throughout the home," says Andrew.
Artworks and sculpture weave their thread in this home, including a bronze figurative sculpture in the living room by Stephen Glassborow. Its green and bronze tones tie into other interior elements and finishes for cohesive styling.
The space’s 4-metre-high open bookcase feeds into the fabulous decor and nearby, a graphic staircase features a galactic twinkling LED statement light and artwork depicting floating jellyfish that seem to ascend the stairs with you.
The light fittings throughout the home are sensational. The Abaco light from Henge, designed by Massimo Castagna, is arguably the jewel in its crown. Installed on a vast wall down a long hallway, its seven vertical columns are installed into the wall and light permeates through its composition of hand-burnished bronze and white crystal stones to stunning effect.
One of Enzo's favourite spaces is his man cave. "The brief was ‘luxury design’, so it had to be beautiful, warm and inviting and a room you never want to leave," says Andrew. "The lighting throughout the home, but especially here, is so superbly warm it picks up on design details, like the cognac leather on the bar stools."
For Enzo, the space needed to be all about relaxation and functionality. "I have everything I need here, from my cool room, bar units and meat slicer to my whisky collection showcased in front of backlit onyx panels – as it should be!" he laughs.
Outside, living is as beautiful and seamless as inside, with various Varaschin furnishings selected for alfresco dining and poolside comfort. "Every aspect of Villa Ultimo caters to how Enzo and Genny live," says Andrew. "It's the epitome of style and design but, most importantly, it’s very personal." »
Brutalism, beauty, art and contemporary Italian design inspire the look and feel of Villa Ultimo in City Beach.
The couple’s love of concrete is evident in the timeless design of their sweeping home that encloses generous split-living spaces and plenty of natural light.
OPPOSITE. The Celestial bowl by L’OBJET from editeur combines earthenware with hand-painted textural details creating a breathtaking focal point in the dining space. “FG”, a pair of ceramic sculptures by Pulpo, enhance the table and island bench.
THIS PAGE. A commissioned artwork, “Sanctuary”, by local artist Stephanie Reisch from Linton & Kay Galleries informs a colour palette for the home, referencing various elements throughout. The Aiko three-metre sideboard is by Giuliano and Gabriele Cappelletti for Emmemobili. The felt sculpture, “Cocoon Interlude”, is by Denise Lithgow from Linton & Kay, the Rodin table lamps are by Cantori, the Monki candle holder by Jaime Hayon for Paola C. and the Gear vase by Philippe Bestenheider for Driade.
LEFT. The modular Volo sofa designed by Rolf Benz sits in front of the open bookcase styled with treasures including the Gear vase by Philippe Bestenheider for Driade, Flabello by Lanzavecchia + Wai for Gallotti&Radice, German glassware from Guaxs and a ceramic vessel by local artist Two Stories.
RIGHT. The perfect spot to sit and contemplate is in the Jupiter armchair by Mauro Lipparini for Arketipo. The 953 ottoman is by Johannes Steinbauer for Rolf Benz, and the Billy side table is by Studio Kronos for Cattelan Italia from Ultimo.
OPPOSITE. A four-metre high bespoke bookcase provides a magnificent backdrop for a pair of Livre armchairs by Gallotti&Radice. The Grain Cut table by Jaime Hayon for Wittmann is sculpted from a solid block of ashwood and doubles as a side table and objet d’art. Behind it, the Vittorio coffee table by Andrea Parisio for Meridiani has solid timber vertical legs. All pieces are available from Ultimo. The Berber rug is handwoven in the Atlas Mountains for Temple Fine Rugs.
THIS PAGE. The hallway includes a painting by emerging local artist Morgan Schaafsma, a one-off Gatz Pile totem sculpture, and the Abaco light designed by Massimo Castagna for Henge that comprises brushed brass, black brass and white onyx pieces, and LED lights.
OPPOSITE. An artwork, “Jellyfish III”, by WA abstract artist Jacqui Armstrong, dominates the staircase. Above, the stunning Universe suspension by Jan Pauwels for Quasar creates an impressive sky show.
OPPOSITE. In the master bedroom, the Windsor Dream Bed by Manzoni & Tapinassi from Ultimo features deep teal velvet and a medley of cushions including fabrics by Gallotti&Radice and Casamance. The artwork, “Jellyfish", is by Jacqui Armstrong. The mouth-blown curved glass lighting, Pendulum, is designed by Dan Yeffet for CTO Lighting. The Ciro bedside tables are by Cattelan Italia from Ultimo and the ceramic vessel by Gary Hambleton of Commonage Pottery.
LEFT + BELOW. Swathed in full-height Calacatta ceramics by Cotto d’Este, the ensuite channels luxury hotel vibes and is filled with light thanks to generous skylights. The cabinetry is custom-made by Modulnova, designed and made in Italy.
BELOW. An elegant and simplistic Homey free-standing bath by Falper dominates the ensuite. Lighting and privacy are controlled with Luxaflex Duette shades and retractable sky shades.
Inspired by a luxurious hotel bar, Enzo’s “man-cave” features custom acoustic panelling on the ceiling, a cool room and bar units by Modulnova. The onyx panels from MCW Stone provide a fitting backdrop for his impressive collection of whiskies.
A trio of S-shaped in-pool sunloungers dominates the far end of the swimming pool. The chair featuring a face is the Nemo by Fabio Novembre for Driade. The Tea Time outdoor coffee tables with enamelled lava stone tops are designed by Frank Boschman for Royal Botania.
MATCH THE MOOD
OPPOSITE + ABOVE. Seamless outdoor living is created through furnishings by Varaschin from Ultimo, including the Emma dining table and chairs designed by Monica Armani, the sofa by the pool is the Tibidabo by Calvi Brambilla, and in the alfresco area is the Belt modular sofa by Lo Scalzo Moscheri. The exterior kitchen includes a deluxe outdoor grill from Wolf.
MATCH THE MOOD TOP TO BOTTOM. Dekton Morpheus surface, POA, Cosentino. Bailey pendant by Rakumba, POA, Innerspace. Mojo candle sticks by OKHA, $350 each, editeur. “Star Beast 2” (Silver) 2021 oil on canvas by Stephanie Reisch, $5,500, Linton & Kay Galleries. Frame dining chair, POA, Henri Living. Arc coffee table, $3,320, Öopenspace.
Deep hues, textures and high design combine for true Italian elegance.
DESIGN ARCHITECT SAM KLOPPER, KLOPPER & DAVIS ARCHITECTS
PROJECT ARCHITECT MITCH COOK, KLOPPER & DAVIS ARCHITECTS
INTERIORS DIRECTOR OLIVIA REEVES, KLOPPER & DAVIS ARCHITECTS
LANDSCAPING CONCEPT ORIGIN
WORDS ELIZABETH CLARKE
PHOTOGRAPHY DION ROBESON
A palette of terracotta roof tiles, painted white tumbled bricks and glass blocks creates a playful façade for this unique home in Shenton Park. A strong wave made of roof tiles folds into a curving shell which envelops the home. Twisting from the front to the rear of the building, it opens it up to the north and views, while tipping its height as the site falls to the south.
Located on a leafy street in a tightly held pocket of Shenton Park, Davidson Residence is an expressive home for a couple who think outside the box. As music lovers and performers, the owners wanted space to create, as well as spirited yet practical interiors for their young family.
The bold and highly site-sensitive design comprises a masonry box that contains the family's private interior spaces, such as bedrooms, kitchen and laundry. A second element, a vast sculptural structure, embraces the more public areas – like the entry and stairway – and links to living and dining. Folding across the building, it touches the masonry element, bending through space from front to back and creating a light-filled, three-dimensional volume.
The home's liveable spaces are a riff on the usual openplan format. "The spaces that guests spend time in are generally well-lit, expressive and curvy with an openness to them," architect Sam Klopper explains. "We wanted something more dynamic, so these spaces are tighter, with smaller punches and openings for contrast. Moving from securely closed spaces to lofty areas and seeing that contrast is always dramatic."
A wall of crystallised glass at the front of the home
diffuses and fractures the morning sunlight that filters into the couple's music room on the ground floor and the dressing room above. Burnished concrete flooring flows throughout, chosen for its beauty, durability and patina that, with time, will become even earthier.
The home's roof of classic terracotta tiles was reimagined into something "extraordinary", says Sam. "I wanted to take a suburban material with its own language and idea and twist it to make it interesting and contemporary," he explains.
Sam designed a wall that morphs into a roof and protectively folds over the house, the tiles forming a single folding wave that starts shallow and soars steeply as it twists dramatically from the front of the house to the back. "The builder wasn't sure it would work, but historic buildings, like Italy's duomos, show incredible forms can be created with tiles – I knew we could do it," Sam says.
With a beautiful park nearby, the garden was kept simple and minimalist. "It is landscaped in such a way that it will eventually create a backdrop for the home," says Sam. "We made the pool circular because it connects us to our suburban childhoods, and angular shapes tend to create tight moments – plus, kids can't make a whirlpool if it's rectangular!" Playful indeed. »
Under the attentive eye of architect Sam Klopper, Davidson Residence combines playfulness with functionality for a fresh take on classic suburban living.
OPPOSITE + PAGE 103 “I liked the idea of a building’s structure being elegant,” says architect Sam Klopper. “We celebrated our complex curve with timber beams linked by elbow elements, which provide expressive curves rather than bends. The glass blocks running along the base and curved shape make it feel like a beautifully curved shell.” The walnut dining table is by Fritz Hansen and the chairs are original Danish Kai 42 styles reupholstered in Kvadrat fabric. The Wilfred sofa and cushions are from Jardan and the pendant is a Louis Poulsen PH
5.
and
The Eames lounge chair and ottoman are from Living Edge, the Pensive lounge is from Innerspace
the Leo floor rug from Jardan.
The kitchen includes cabinets crafted in Navurban Coolum Spotted Gum and Ravenswood from New Age Veneers, Brushed Kabuki black granite and Bianco Carrara marble from Bernini, and Wig Wag tiles from Myaree Ceramics. Hay’s Revolver stools are from Cult Design and the graphite black gas cooktop and oven are from ASKO.
LEFT. Fractured light reflects across the upper-floor dressing room. The Formakami pendants are from Cult Design and the cabinetry is Navurban Coolum Spotted Gum and Ravenswood, from New Age Veneers.
RIGHT. In the bathroom, tiles from Original Ceramics line the walls and floor. The cabinets are in Laminex Pewter, the oak handles are from Kethy, the benchtop is in Carrara Marble from Bernini, and the Vivid spout and mixer are from Phoenix Tapware.
Pool time is made super-flash thanks to a Fermob Bellevie low table and chairs from Innerspace, styled with cushions from Jardan.
OPPOSITE. Simple, striking landscaping by Concept Origin elevates a classic circular swimming
pool.
Strong architectural elements pair perfectly with bold statement pieces.
WORDS ELIZABETH CLARKE
PHOTOGRAPHY JODY D'ARCY
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LUX INTERIORS
Making the most of every square metre, the outdoor area includes a lush green lawn and Amaze lounge chairs from Loam.
With their imposing form, chocolate brick, tiled roofs and fussy floorplans, 1980s homes have an idiosyncratic aesthetic that can deter many renovators from taking them on.
For the team at Lux Interiors, however, taking on this 80s home in Marmion just minutes from the beach was a challenge too exciting to turn down. Double brick with concrete balconies and three storeys with poky layouts, Palm Bay House needed a considered approach, lots of imagination and significant renovations to accommodate modern life.
"The Palm Bay renovation came about from an opportunity to create our own Lux Interiors spec home, which has been our dream for a while," says Kyle McGregor, who led the project design and build with the support of the Lux team. "Ugly brick homes can be transformed easily and quickly, but this one was shaped like an apartment block – it was very overpowering!"
Stripping it back to its frame, the Lux team retained its double brickwork, created new windows and doors, and treated its entire exterior to crisp, fresh weatherboarding. The original concrete balconies were riddled with "concrete cancer", a state where their steel inners had rusted through, so they were replaced with Queenslander-style wraparounds made of timber that peak at the front. A new Colorbond roof includes a double gable that provides the frontage with perfect proportions.
Inside, Lux maintained the home's most striking features –such as the door arches and curved marble travertine staircase – creating a seamless flow from space to space. "Square walls and cabinetry can block flow in a space while curves create continuous walls and the illusion of more space," Kyle says.
The home's poky layout, which included numerous rooms connected via single doors, was opened up and redesigned.
"We removed a lot of walls and beams but retained the lovely high 2.7m ceiling," says Kyle, who added curved bulkheads in these spaces that cleverly conceal structural beams and double as a design feature.
Behind the custom timber front door is an impressive entrance illuminated by a vast circular skylight, a signature design element by Lux, and anchored by the existing curved marble travertine staircase. Modernised with updated balustrading, its colour blends beautifully with the new engineered timber boards installed from Woodpecker Flooring.
In the kitchen, curves and a soothing neutral palette create the backdrop for the perfect entertainer's space. A bank of seamless custom cabinetry houses integrated appliances and ample storage. The peninsula bench is a statement piece topped with luxurious porcelain. "It's only 12mm thick, but we added extra detail beneath it to give the illusion of a 40mm thick benchtop," says Kyle. "It was a great cost-saving measure that adds elegance to the space."
Every space is filled with beautifully designed, purposeful pieces by Loam in natural textures and tones, creating a relaxed, beachy aesthetic. "Loam and Lux share the same ethos, which embraces high-quality materials, craftsmanship, and contemporary design," Kyle says. "Each space feels luxurious yet is unpretentious, so you don't think twice about coming home straight from the beach and relaxing on a sofa."
The four bathrooms and two powder rooms continue a coastal feel throughout the home with their restful palette, custom vanities, fluted glass, terrazzo-look tiles, hidden niches and curved showers.
"Palm Bay showcases our passion for our craft," says Kyle of the end result. "It also shows that you can transform a run-down, dated house into a purposeful, magnificent home that imparts joy." »
How Lux Interiors transformed an 80s double-brick block house into a marvel of modern design.
Replacing the existing brick/ concrete balcony and tiled roofs with a fresh façade and timber wraparounds has instilled calm and contemporary style into this original 1980s Marmion home.
Click here to view all the Before+After Palm Bay photos
In winter, with the fireplace roaring, sitting around Tide Design’s Sika dining table is the only place to be. Available from Loam.
Every space is filled with a tactile smorgasbord of natural materials by Loam that imbue a beachy feel, including a pair of Fogia Bollo chairs and Reeno bench by grazia&co covered in sheepskin. The Pontone sofa is by Wendelbo, the marbletopped timber table by grazia&co and the rug by Halcyon Lake.
THIS PAGE. Beautiful decor brings small spaces to life, like Loam’s Alza bowl by Ferm Living, candle holders by Citta, and beautiful ceramic vessels by 101 Copenhagen Home.
OPPOSITE. With their gentle curves, strict lines and soft natural palette, the living space and kitchen merge beautifully for easy living and entertaining. The engineered timber boards throughout are by Woodpecker Flooring.
Neutral shades, Laminex Bleached Elm cabinetry, luxurious porcelain benchtops and mosaic tiles combine for a seriously sleek and seamless kitchen. The vase is by Papaya from Loam.
The existing curved
given an impressive modern overhaul and is beautifully illuminated
LEFT.
marble travertine staircase was
by new skylights. “Meeting Place” art print is by Jody D’Arcy and the Reeno bench by grazia&co from Loam.
RIGHT. In the guest ensuite, a melee of kit kat and Artemis wall and floor tiles blend with Laminex Rural Oak cabinetry and hardware by Momo Handles.
ABOVE. A teal vanity is surrounded in white mosaics and Frammenta Bianco floor tiles
RIGHT. The bedroom feels lived-in and cosy thanks to a mix of organic and beautifully designed elements such as the bed dressed in linens by In Bed, Folio furniture organic bedside table and AB table lamp by Citta.
MATCH THE MOOD TOP TO BOTTOM. Esco Series Hemmingway oak flooring in Dune, POA, Woodpecker Flooring. Muuto Ridge vase, $215, Living Edge. “Botanical” art print, from $390, Studio D’Arcy. Deco pool chair, $449, Empire Home. Daniel Barbera Bronze round coffee table, from $7,150, editeur.
DESIGNER DALECKI DESIGN
DESIGN & BUILD DESIGNER FTB DESIGN AND CONSULT WORDS ELIZABETH CLARKE
PHOTOGRAPHY JODY D’ARCY
Felicia Brady's cleverly renovated Subiaco cottage showcases her love of heritage style and contemporary design.
Beneath the upper-floor pod clad in white battens, an undercover area embraced in 70s-inspired breeze blocks creates the perfect external living space. The sofa and lounge chairs are from Eco Outdoors, the coffee table is from Empire Home and the tribal-style rug from Miss Amara. The Santorini white tub chairs by the pool are from Uniqwa Collections.
Felicia Brady's thoughtfully renovated heritage home, occupying 541 sqm on the higher side of Union Street in Subiaco, contains everything a busy family needs to live comfortably. Felicia collaborated with designer Janik Dalecki to create a timeless, high-functioning home that respects its early 1900s origins.
"Janik's style is completely different to mine; [his is] moody and contemporary, and I'm light, bright, and Malibu," she laughs. "We balance each other perfectly!"
Felicia runs FTB, a consultancy that advises commercial and residential clients on their projects, and she and her husband, Simon, are "serial house flippers". For their fourth project, they lived in their cottage while designing its extension.
"It was very dated with a 1980s add-on and needed gutting," Felicia says. "Its new extension simply needed to make the property comfortable for our family, not turn it into a sprawling house where you live separately. I like the tightness of a smaller footprint – it's homely when you can be together."
Restoring the home meant starting from the front door and moving down its elegant hallway. The original lounge was reimagined as the couple's bedroom, with a simple arch added as access to the walk-in-robe (the site of the original kitchen) and generous ensuite. A large stone bath is lit by a skylight, and the space's materials embrace the original building's herringbone floors and solid oak timber cladding, creating "a wall of warmth".
External paving is repeated inside, and beautiful white painted cladding sits on either side of the hallway, concealing a laundry and guest bathroom – a favourite room of Felicia's. "I love the navy kit kat tiles and white tapware that pops brilliantly against them," she says. "The wall mirror is set off the wall, bringing it to life."
On entering the new section, the ceiling purposely drops as you step into the kitchen and dining spaces and then shifts, soaring to its highest point. "It's a pause and sense of relief between the two structures," Janik explains. "Sometimes a transition between the old and new requires a bold approach because it is important to tell the story between the two."
Curves and arches from the original house were imposed in the new addition, which forms an upper-floor pod clad in white battens. Felicia's office and a garden are tucked behind it, with children's rooms nearby.
Beneath the pod, a bank of 70s-inspired breeze blocks creates a chic external undercover living space. "I loved Janik's concept of white battens and brought them inside as floor-to-ceiling balustrades that cast the most beautiful light and shade in winter," Felicia says.
The original cottage floors were lined in jarrah, but Felicia wanted continuity between the old and the new, and good insulation. "The original boards were lovely but draughty, so we overlaid them with engineered oak which flows through the extension," she says.
The main living areas have an open-plan feel yet offer some separation. The kitchen and dining room share a space with a brick wall on either side that accesses the living room. "We wanted some private and public spaces, so we introduced some screening in between," Janik says. "It allows a feeling of cosiness without feeling disconnected from everyone else."
The family eats in a space off the kitchen. A large, fixed window beautifully frames the garden, allowing natural light to illuminate the space. "In winter, the northern light streams in, hits the floor and heats the space, and in summer, the window's overhang prevents it coming in," Felicia says. "It really is the most perfect spot." »
A Subiaco cottage undergoes a renovation striking a balance between history and modernity with a playful retro vibe.
Seamless indoor-outdoor living is facilitated via simplistic design and vast glass sliders. The home’s outdoor lounge area is made comfortable and practical with a table from Freedom and Bora Bistro chairs from Hartley’s Outdoor Living (previous image). The wall sconces are from Beacon Lighting.
OPPOSITE. The semi-open-plan living spaces feature layers of textures in a white, bright palette that promotes a sense of unity. The flooring throughout is a combination of polished concrete and engineered oak boards by Woodpecker Flooring.
OPPOSITE. The main living areas have an open-plan feel yet offer degrees of separation. The kitchen and dining room share a space with a brick wall on either side that accesses the living room. The dining table is from The Wood Room in Melbourne and the chairs are from Have A Seat.
The kitchen's hero is its cloud-like white marble splashback from Zuccari which punctuates seamless cabinetry banks made in melamine. The island bench features Porta timber panelling, with a sleek Cosentino benchtop. The stools are from Green Cathedral in Noosa.
“I am obsessed with storage,” says Felicia of her cabinets made of Polytec in Nordic Oak. “I love timber but I choose to splurge in some areas and save in others. I was drawn to this material with its subtle pink hue.” The lounge room sofa and cushions are from Domain Gallery and the linen cushions from Adairs.
THIS PAGE. Felicia dressed her bed in a range of linens from Adairs and Bed Threads. The artwork is from Urban Road and the bedside table from Adairs.
OPPOSITE. A simple vignette in the master bedroom comprises a side table from Brosa and chair from Uniqwa Collections.
OPPOSITE. A minimalist bath from Stonebaths anchors the bathroom, which also features floor-to-ceiling tiles from Trend Ceramics.
ABOVE. Felicia designed the bathroom cabinetry choosing Aries Natural finish by Laminex, a Cosentino benchtop in Silestone, and hardware by Linear Standard. The timber wall panelling by Porta softens the space.
MATCH THE MOOD TOP TO BOTTOM. Silestone Et calacatta gold q40 surface, POA, Cosentino. Knoll Gehry Hat Trick chair, $9,878, editeur. Raw Meh wood stool, $199, Empire Home. “Composition” art print by Berit Mogensen Lopez, $539, Angove Street Collective. Aveva Flower Pot 18, from $27.90, Bar Botanik. Galley Bay buffet, $2,850, Villa Kula.
A bleached palette is the perfect canvas for natural materials and vivid colour.
MARK MORRISON OF ZERASCAPES MAKES A COMPELLING CASE FOR LESS IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO GARDEN WATERING.
WORDS ELIZABETH CLARKE PHOTOGRAPHY EMMA VAN DORDRECHT
Beautiful gardens bring structure and beauty to exterior spaces and are shown to reduce stress while boosting happiness and creativity. For centuries, they have been fastidiously planned and manicured, but of late gardens are taking on a less formal styling. A more organic approach incorporating desert plants blends outdoor spaces with nature, creating lush and low-maintenance eco-friendly gardens, proving that environmental responsibility can produce stunning and liveable outdoor spaces.
“In Western Australia, we live in a semi-arid climate, yet we’re fixated on thirsty roses, gardenias, Japanese buxus balls, hedges and lush green lawns,” says horticulturist and landscaper Mark Morrison. “People are becoming more water-wise and realising how expensive it is to keep this style of garden thriving. It just takes one of Perth’s hot summers, your reticulation dies, and you can lose your entire garden.”
Mark runs boutique landscaping business Empire Landscapes and discovered xeriscaping eight years ago after researching designers and nurseries in the US. His destination retail nursery Zerascapes in North Fremantle introduces a new generation of garden lovers to the joys of xeriscaping, translated from Greek as “dry-scaping”. Originating in Arizona, it is a landscaping method that rewilds our gardens with environmental awareness.
Originally a mecca for succulent plant enthusiasts, Zerascapes has also moved into full-service pot and garden design and installation. Mark’s Zerascapes gardens and pot installations are peppered all over the western suburbs, even on the streets of Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove, wellknown for their classical ornamental gardens.
“I like to push boundaries when it comes to water conservation,” Mark says. “At the height of summer, ornamental gardens need watering multiple times per week, while a dry garden might need only a hand-water every fortnight due to their fleshy leaves that hold extra water. They’re in their element during the hottest months and suited perfectly to Perth’s harsh conditions.”
With the great Aussie lawn requiring weekly mowing, weeding and watering, homeowners can struggle to keep
grass green and thriving, especially in summer. Mark says while grassy areas are necessary for families and pets, plant species such as Pig Face, Dymondia, or Echidna Grass can be alternatives better acclimatised to the environment. “You save money on water, automatic lawn irrigation, [and] eliminate chemicals and pests,” Mark says. “In winter and spring, it even brings in birdlife.”
He cultivates most of his plants over 10 acres (4.05 hectares) in the Perth Hills. “We can’t import plants from overseas, and bringing them over from the eastern states is expensive. We often buy seeds or plants from avid collectors that produce pups [the little succulents that sprout up around the base of the parent plant] that we propagate.”
Xeriscaping is a style expressed in different ways. For some, it’s grouping plants for ease of efficient watering; for others, it’s creating landscapes with artfully placed rocks, pebbles, and layers of vibrant cacti and succulents. “It’s a great option for people downsizing to apartments and townhouses, too,” Mark says. “We design and install arrangements in courtyards and balconies, ideal places for feature pot installations.”
The world of succulents is wide and wonderful, from pink-tipped echeverias and kalanchoe orgyaslis (copper spoon) to many agave species. While some plants can be pricey, their longevity makes them cost-effective. “Some plants can live for up to 30 to 40 years, and the money saved on water and maintenance is huge – it can be tens of thousands of dollars over that plant’s lifespan,” says Mark.
In the future, he envisages Perth gardens flourishing with succulents as they do in the US. But for those hopelessly devoted to buxus balls, hedges and rose bushes, Mark says succulents can also be blended for a perfectly balanced garden with a modicum of maintenance.
“Some succulent varieties are incredibly lush and suit an ornamental garden, like a large feature aloe or a mix of crassulas and kalanchoes alongside roses and hedges,” he says. “It’s important to experiment, but once you enter the world of desert plants, it’s pretty hard to turn back.” »
1 2 GARDEN
Be careful not to over-water your succulents. Potted arrangements need only a light hand-water once to twice a week at the height of summer, and garden areas once every 10-14 days.
Choose pots with varying heights and always arrange in groups of three. Choose plants with contrasting colours and textures, and consider draping succulent varieties for taller pots.
3 HAVENIST.COM.AU 160
W hen arranging succulents, position tall species at the rear of the garden, then medium, and shorter plants in the foreground. Carefully consider each species’ growth size, textures and colours for a beautifully balanced landscape design.
Find more inspiration at @zerascapes
YEARNING FOR A DOSE OF COUNTRY FUN AND A LITTLE R & R?
HERE ARE THREE MARGARET RIVER DESTINATIONS YOU WON’T THINK TWICE ABOUT BOOKING.
The Row is an unexpected delight nestled deep in the magical Forest Grove National Park. Comprising four charming stone cottages, built by two brothers from local coffee stone and jarrah, each of The Row Cottages – lovingly overhauled by owners Janie and Bobby McGregor – is a stylish, comfortable, well-appointed country escape with verandas at both front and back, a tin roof and rustic stone floors.
A cosy lounge space, kitchen and bathroom take up the ground level and upstairs are two bedrooms lined in jarrah wood that feel ubercosy and comfortable. All the touchpoints of luxury are here – Bedtonic linens and Empire Homewares quilts, cushy GlamSwags, Baina towels and always, says Janie, fresh wildflowers. "The highlight is the linen, which we launder ourselves on the property, but I adore styling the cottages and arranging wildflowers throughout," she says. "It's my favourite part."
Janie identifies Mr Barval Fine Wines, Si Vintners, and boutique farm and vineyard Glenarty Road as "our locals". Or guests can explore the nearby pristine beaches, ancient forests and bush and coastal walk trails, including the Wadandi Track and the Cape to Cape.
If you can't tear yourself away from your novel and the warmth of the pot belly stove, never fear – you will always be close to nature. The Row Cottages are embraced by stunning Karri trees and swaths of kangaroos, emus and birdlife. "There's enough space between the four cottages to make you feel like you are all alone," says Janie. "It's just you, nature, and absolute quiet. It's heaven."
For couples in dire need of a little peace and quiet, we think it's a humdinger. »
Check into The Row Cottages atDeep in the heart of Yallingup's Millbrook Valley, one of the South's most stylish getaways offers a soothing dose of rest and relaxation.
There's no hullabaloo at Plane Tree House – it's just quietly perfect. An original and petite millworker’s cottage built in Manjimup in 1915 and moved to the most charming of locations, it has been refurbished and refreshed beautifully by its super-stylish owner, Elizabeth Barclay.
Lines are clean, ceilings lofty, and colours cream and woody. Elizabeth has filled its airy spaces with a smattering of chic, modern furnishings by brands such as Fermod, Ferm, Sarah Ellison, Mud Australia, Muuto, and Menu. See something you like? Snatch it up at its very own online store, www.planetreehouse.studio
It's all sweeping verandas, grazing roos, deciduous trees, and 10 acres (4ha) of gently rolling fields. Days slip past languidly with the home's close proximity to magical Smiths Beach, Barnyard 1978 restaurant, Cullen Wines and Wild Hop brewery. Or simply loll on the veranda with a wine, or have a soak in the outdoor bathroom.
With its timeless sense of style, old-world sensibility and quintessential Australian charm, Plane Tree House is the ultimate refuge for stressed-out urbanites and style aficionados alike. We're booking in pronto. »
PHOTOGRAPHY SAMIRA DAMIROVA
Looking for a pitch-perfect camping experience without the muddy shoes, sleeping bags, mozzie bites and cold showers?
Gourmet Glamp by Walk Talk Taste Margaret River is the back-to-nature camping experience of your dreams – if you like it with a side order of five-star luxury.
Smack-bang in the middle of wine-starry country, your own private bell tent provides all the comforts of a swanky hotel – but with an ecoconscience. Sleeping outdoors with sumptuous upgrades, such as a private bush bath and outdoor copper shower, takes the edge off traditional bush camping.
"There's only one tent, so you experience complete solitude and feel immersed in nature without compromising on your comforts," says owner Kellie Tannock. "Come with nothing but your toothbrush!"
Pitched right next to the Wadandi Track that runs into Margaret River town and Witchcliffe, you are within cooee of Voyager, Leeuwin and Xanadu Estates. Prepare meals in your fully equipped kitchenette, or order a deluxe picnic box or gourmet breakfast basket filled with local farm produce, including granola, fresh chook eggs, free-range bacon, and grapes plucked straight from the vineyard.
Indulge in the glamorous amenities, such as a heated outdoor bath for moonlight soaks, stocked up with Vasse Virgin products and luxe Cultiver linen robes. Come sleep time, turn up the heat and climb into your cloudlike bed dressed in Bedtonic linens, with an electric blanket and extra throws for uber-cosiness. n
IT USED TO BE ALL ABOUT THE WINE LINE-UP, BUT NOW IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE FOOD, DESIGN AND AMBIENCE. WELCOME TO THE NEW-LOOK NEIGHBOURHOOD BAR WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME.
WORDS ELIZABETH CLARKE
Imagine you've joined the mass Euro-summer exodus with this little slice of Paris on Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley. Owners Sarah and Liam Atkinson describe their renovated 1920s establishment as "French-ish", with its lofty ceilings, sexy ambience, and three levels of wining and dining.
"We looked to favourite Parisian bistros in New York like Balthazar with great wines and amazing French food," says Sarah, who has curated the wine offering of French top drops and smaller local brands.
Chef Liam, formerly of Print Hall, Ku De Ta, Star
Anise, Kitsch Bar and Lalla Rookh, knows better than anyone how to give local produce a European twist. Regulars clamour for classics like glazed Wagin duck, frites and bearnaise, and their signature crab toast, both menu mainstays from day one.
"We are obsessed with cheese and make our own from guernsey cows’ milk fresh from the South West, and goat's milk from Bookara in Dongara," says Sarah, who adds that their crottin-style goat's cheese served with house-made preserves is not to be missed. lerebelle.com.au »
Out of Fremantle's clutch of neighbourhoodstyle bars, Vin Populi (pronounced “pop-you-lee” and Italian for “wine for the people”) is the one Perthites are crossing the bridge for. "We wanted to bring to Freo what we love most about Italy and its neighbourhood bars, where you can enjoy a good glass of wine and plate of pasta any time of day," says co-owner Emma Ferguson of Italian meccas No Mafia and Balthazar.
Along with partner Dan Morris, Emma collaborated with East Fremantle design practice, Rezen, on the bar's interiors, where the Italian institution, Roma, stood for 60 years. Emma says the restaurant's history visually and emotionally impacted the design process. "We took the site over from Lucy, the daughter of Roma's original owner
Frank, and she met with our two daughters and me and was so happy to be handing the keys on to another family," she says.
The menu, by head chef Leo Crescenzi, who hails from Lazio, makes a strong case for Fremantle as the flavour capital of WA. Reading like a “love letter to Italy”, it is smart, fresh and stylish with standouts including authentic antipasti and lobster fresh from Fremantle harbour served alongside handmade pasta prepared daily.
"As in Italy, we only drink [wines originating] where we are from," says Emma of their impressive wine offering. "It's all about wine, and you won't find a single bottle of South Australian here!" she laughs. The exception? A good line-up of Italian drops – as there should be. vinpopuli.com.au
Once upon a time, 433 Hay Street was home to EA Lums Grocery and General Store, the go-to for hungry and discerning Subiaco foodies. Fast-forward 100 years, and it is still frequented by locals but of the more wine-loving variety.
Lums is owned by the team behind Bark, the West Aussie-themed bar just up the road. "Bark copped it during the pandemic and has been a slow burn, but Lums has come out of the gate," says co-owner Mitch Jenkin. "We've learned lessons and know our community."
Ordering a glass of wine can sometimes feel daunting and Mitch says it was important that Lums be honest, friendly and welcoming. "We have around 20-30 wines by the glass that are local and international, especially Spanish, and that also ties in with the food," he says.
Chef Nicholas Young, formerly of Bivouac, Wildflower and Cullen Wines, takes a decidedly Australian approach to Spanish classics, which, says Mitch, has taken their food offering to the next level.
"The dishes coming out of the kitchen have surpassed expectations," he says of crowd pleasers including pillowy soft gnocchi with confit tomatoes, mushrooms, smoked soy and creme fraiche, and burrata with figs, tomato salad and green raisins. lumswinebar.com.au n
AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE FREMANTLE THEATRE COMPANY, RENATO FABRETTI IS PASSIONATE ABOUT SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS.
Born and raised in WA, Renato Fabretti studied acting at WAAPA and directing at NIDA before enjoying a successful career working across Australia as an actor and director. But it was while back in Perth during the pandemic that the avid creative decided it was time to get back to his roots. Saddened by the closure of many of Perth’s small theatres, Renato established the Fremantle Theatre Company in 2020 inside the city’s historic Victoria Hall.
“At some point somebody had to give back, and we’re proud that we are completely independent and that every dollar raised goes to a performing artist, designer or theatre practitioner,” says Renato, who has employed more than 100 local artists since the company’s inception.
The FTC’s first production, The Other Place, was both a critical and commercial success. A drama about a woman facing a dire medical crisis, the show featured international star and Grey’s Anatomy alumna Kate Walsh, who found herself in WA for an extended period, behind closed borders. “That production was COVID-born, and it was hugely successful. And since then we have proven that we can sustain a high-quality, international-grade theatre company that is commercially viable,” adds Renato.
While the company stages classical works (it ran a very successful season of Shakespeare in the Park), it favours scripts with a spikier, political edge that are deliberately topical. The Other Place captured the loneliness of the pandemic, Meats was about sexual consent and came right off the back of the Me Too movement, Last Train to Freo explored the gap between rich and poor, and the next production, The Effect, tackles big pharma. “The idea is to show our capacity to do both classical and cutting-edge while pushing the boundaries a little with each,” says Renato.
Although the company calls Victoria Hall home, productions are staged across the state; from Albany to Margaret River, Bunbury to Kings Park and Joondalup, its shows have been embraced by theatregoers in both city and regional areas.
“We’ve got people driving in from everywhere, including those who are new to the form, and we’ve actively proven that we can create that audience,” says Renato.
Said audiences are perhaps drawn to the intimacy of the company’s productions, with onlookers at Victoria Hall often surprised by how close they are to the stage. The antithesis of an arena-spectacular, the intentionally intimate venue gives Perth people a New York-style theatre experience as there are no borders between audience and artist. “You can really see the actors’ faces; you can smell them and see them breathe. There’s really no substitute for that level of intimacy,” says Renato.
Audiences have also come to expect an inclusive and welcoming feel at the shows – there’s a distinct lack of velvet ropes, and Renato’s beloved dog Audrey is often seen greeting patrons in the foyer. “We see ourselves as lacking in pretension. Ultimately, we want people to connect, commune and empathise, and [for us] to provide audiences with a night out that makes them think.” n fremantletheatrecompany.com
THE OTHER PLACE MEATS
INTERIORS MAVEN MALVINA STONE IS KNOWN FOR HER POLISHED YET RELAXED AESTHETIC, HER KEEN EYE, AND A DISTINCT FLAIR FOR COMBINING ECLECTIC PIECES TO CREATE SPACES THAT ARE AT ONCE ELEGANT AND LIVEABLE.
INTERVIEW ELIZABETH CLARKE“I am completely happy when I am in the ocean. I have a beautiful little stretch of beach 50 metres from my home in North Beach. It has a jetty, and around the craggy corner is a dog beach. There is a series of limestone caves, and if the tide is right I can go to the ‘secret cove’. It has local skinks that pop out to say hello. It’s shallow and defined by the reef, and beyond there it is deep, mysterious, and perfect for diving into. The beach and ocean change daily, which amazes me because it reminds me that nothing ever stays the same.
“I have amazing memories of my husband [now sadly afflicted by early-onset dementia] and me swimming daily in this tiny patch of ocean, and it makes me feel connected to him. I create new memories with my children and grandchildren, and my tiny home is littered with shells from the beaches we have swum in.
“From my happy place in the ocean, I return to my happy place called home, where I often lie on the bed with the doors wide open and the wind whipping through the house. It makes me feel so incredibly alive and grateful for what nature offers.” malvinastone.com.au n
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