This is the home of Amber Creswell Bell and family, in Turramurra on Sydney’s North Shore.

AMAZINGLY, Amber and co have been here less than one year.  CANNOT believe this!  They have done SO much already to beautify and ‘home-ify’ their gorgeous rambling pad.  Take note, people, it is possible to do a LOT in that first year, and in my own experience, it really is worth doing as much of the cosmetic stuff as you can in the first 12 months, because the most hideous things become kind of invisible after that, and urgency goes out the window… and before you know it you’re living with cork floor tiles and olive green curtains for like, 5 years.  Time flies.

Anyway, I am always in awe of those people who rip things out and get the painters in on the day after they get the keys to their new home, and Amber is certainly one of those people!

‘When we bought this house it was originally a celebration of beige, cream and olive’ explains Amber. The day after settlement, Amber and Andy had 15 (!) painters on site, and not one surface went unpainted. ‘We painted the entire exterior a dark charcoal (Dulux ‘Oolong’) with white trim, and absolutely everything inside was painted Natural White. And the front door was painted peony pink (Dulux ‘Lickedy Lick’) – with a view to changing the door colour annually!’ says Amber. ‘The paint scheme made an immediate and massive difference’.

The pair also built a completely new kitchen, and ripped out what was a pokey kitchen window, replacing it with a big set of French doors that now open up from the dining area to the back deck. ‘Game changer!’ says Amber of this nifty decision.

It was a big call for Amber and Andy to move out to Turramurra, 30 mins from central Sydney. ‘For all of my adult life I have been strictly ‘urban’ – Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, St Kilda in Melbourne, then more recently in Sydney’s Inner West’ says Amber, whilst Andy had moved to Australia from London. ‘NEVER did we think we would move to the North Shore – this was not part of the plan!’ explains Amber.

But, with kids growing up fast, the family needed to upsize.  After putting their Annandale house on the market last year, the pair assumed they would simply buy something bigger in the same area. ‘We were not prepared for how fiercely competitive the Inner West auction scene was!’ recalls Amber.  ‘The auctions were like mosh pits. We just kept missing out, so we decided to keep an open mind. We were so exhausted!’

In the end, Andy found this house online, and Amber headed out to check it out. ‘Sure – it was tired, and there was work to be done in every direction… but it was mid Spring, and there was something about all the green, the views, the smell of flowers on the breeze, the sound of birds, the big windows, the massive garden… the house got under my skin!’ Amber says. Luckily, it was to be theirs.

Indeed, one of the home’s greatest drawcards is its generous gardens, both front and back, which have reignited in Amber a passion for gardening, fuelled by nostalgia for her childhood days in the lush green ‘garden belt’ suburbs of Sydney.

‘The garden here mostly had beautiful bones, but was a bit dry and neglected’ says Amber. ‘While the painters were on site I had 3 tonnes of soil and manure delivered and I literally (and rather obsessively) repaired and replanted the whole garden with all the plants that I love most’.  At last count, she has planted over 50 David Austin roses! It truly is the prettiest collection of slightly random plantings – ‘I just wanted a garden where I could pick flowers and never run out!’ Amber says.

Looking ahead, Amber says ‘we absolutely needed to extend – but our first priority was to refurb the existing footprint, and then relax for a while!’  The family are now just getting a feel for how they want to live in this space, and what a renovation might mean.  All in good time.  Amber’s happy to leave that one on the back burner for a little while long – ‘To be honest, the thought of what the builders would do to my garden fills me with fear!’ she admits.

Amber and Andy are firmly convinced that moving here was the best thing they have ever done. ‘The kids are always outside, riding their bikes or building fairy houses, and I really underestimated how much joy and inner focus the garden would bring me’ Amber says, contentedly.

So, if you’re wishing and hoping for a new abode, and have suffered a few disappointments… maybe it’s time to look a little further afield!  They make excellent domestic coffee machine these days, people!

For more about the journey of finding this house, you can also check out this sweet short essay Amber penned a little while ago for The Planthunter.  It’s like a beautiful love letter to the suburbs.

A loooong time ago we interviewed respected Melbourne designer and ceramicist Gregory Bonasera.  Gregory is a celebrated local craftsman, who completed his BA in Ceramic Design at Monash University back in 1988, followed by an Australia Council funded residency with Besozzo studio in Northern Italy.  He has been an independent designer & maker ever since, working in both metalwork and ceramics.  In the past decade, however, Gregory’s practice has significantly developed, after he went back to study Computer Aided Design (CAD).  Acquiring new skills in technology based design and production has presented countless new opportunities for Gregory’s practice, and has meant a significant turning point for his business.

But that hasn’t been the only turning point!  Gregory met Anthony Raymond in 2009.  With a background in industrial design, graphic design, and visual merchandising, Anthony’s interests were closely aligned with Gregory’s, and the pair quickly became close friends and creative collaborators, before later becoming partners in both life and business.

‘In 2011, Anthony joined me for one day per week to help produce a complex heritage restoration job, re-creating over 400 decorative antique tiles for Scots’ Church in Collins St Melbourne’ explains Gregory. ‘We discovered that we worked well together; we’re both very hands-on, methodical thinkers and workers. Anthony picked up the techniques and methods very quickly, and it wasn’t long before he worked three, then five days per week with me’ explains Gregory.

Previously, the label ‘Porcelain Bear’ had been a sub-brand for Gregory, who had generally worked under his own name for bespoke projects, whilst Porcelain Bear was used as a more commercial identity. ‘Once it was decided that Anthony was to become a permanent addition to the business, PB just naturally transitioned to become the identity for the whole business’ explains Gregory. ‘It’s a name that people connect well with, and we’re both bears, clearly…!’

‘The polar bear is our mascot’ says Gregory. ‘He’s white and represents strength, dignity, beauty, stability, determination but also fragility – he’s the perfect porcelain analogy.’

Having forged a prolific creative partnership, together, Anthony and Gregory design and produce a impressive range of porcelain lighting, functional wares and furniture  (including the most amazing porcelain DINING TABLE – pictured above) from their studio and showroom in Collingwood.  Anthony works mostly in the production side of the business, whilst Gregory focuses on the glazing, firing & finishing.  The pair also design and produce porcelain components and product for various other local designers, such as their exclusive range for boutique Australian furniture manufacturer Jardan.

Beyond simply designing beautiful things, Gregory and Anthony are passionate about pushing their medium, and people’s perception of it, into new territory.  ‘It’s important for us to take our craft to new places, both technically & aesthetically. We produce a lot of lighting but we also do fully functional porcelain stools and a dining table.. yes, it’s functional..!’ insists Gregory.  ‘We all walk on porcelain and stoneware tiles, we drop things on them constantly and they take it all without damage. We use porcelain vanities and toilet bowls every day without a second thought, rarely causing damage. A porcelain stool or dining table will last indefinitely indoors or outdoors – the material is UV proof and surprisingly robust’.

Gregory and Anthony opened their beautiful showroom in Collingwood in earlier this year, but to accommodate their growing collection of larger porcelain designs, they have a ‘Stage 2’ opening planned for early 2015 – their showroom will almost double in size, and will accommodate various new designs launching very soon.  We’ll keep you posted!

Porcelain Bear
23-25 Derby St
Collingwood
VIC

Showroom open 10.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday, or by appointment on Saturdays.

Earlier this year I went to the Westspace annual fundraiser exhibition in Melbourne, which brings together a pretty incredible and very varied collection of artworks donated by both established and emerging local artists, with all sales from the show benefitting this not-for-profit artist run space.  This annual fundraiser is a great opportunity to pick up a relatively inexpensive work by an amazing line-up of artists, all in the name of a great cause.  It was here I first discovered local painter Stephen Giblett – who had one incredible painting included in the show – a haunting out-of-focus portrait, in vivid mauve and pink hues, reminiscent of an infrared photograph, pulsating with buzzing energy.  The work instantly caught my eye from across the crowded  room… and couldn’t quite let me be!  I don’t know what came over me, but I did something quite out of character – I bought it on the spot.

I didn’t know Stephen’s name before this unexpected encounter… but it wasn’t long before I found myself doing a little more research on this supremely talented Melbourne artist, who appeared, at least initially, to be almost entirely absent from the internet (not even a website… can you believe!?).

The truth is, though he’s only in his early 30’s, Stephen is a decidedly ‘old fashioned’ artist.  I hope he won’t mind me saying that – I mean it in the most complimentary way!  For one thing, Stephen is fascinated (one might say obsessed!) with the archival quality and longevity of his painting materials. He favours real lead paints, handmade in the UK, for their superior archival qualities. This commitment points to something of Stephen’s unique personality, and his uncompromising attention to detail.

Inspired by low resolution photographs and pixilated imagery, Stephen builds up his paintings with multiple translucent layers of oil paint, gradually creating fields of luminous colour,  which radiate from the canvas.  Figures are reduced to indistinct, blurry forms, whilst buildings and vegetation appear shrouded, almost ominous.  With a consistent fiery palette of oranges, vivid pinks, burning bright whites and ultra-violet tones, there is something truly mesmerising about Stephen’s work.

Stephen holds a BA in fine arts from Monash University.  He was highly Commended in the John Leslie Art Prize in 2010,  and his first solo exhibition was staged in 2012 at Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale.  We’re thrilled to present three exquisite new paintings by Stephen at our TDF Open House event in Melbourne next week (you can view the works here!)

Tell us a little about your background – what path led you to becoming a fine artist, and to creating the style of work you are currently making?

I have been making art for as long as I can remember. I used to draw a lot when I was a child, and I moved to photography when I was sixteen-years-old. I used to develop and process my own film and photographs in a darkroom that I made at home. I started painting soon after that, with the support of my sister and father, who were also trying to make work in one form or another. I guess art was something that I was born into, and the support of my family was the initial push.

I have always combined elements of photography with painting in my work. I used to treat photography as some form of ideal ‘perfect image’, and I believed that replicating a photo with paint in exact detail was the highest form of art. But as I have matured as an artist, I have come to realise that a lot of photorealism is sterile and lifeless.  Now, I much rather prefer ‘imperfect’ painting, expression, composition, design and above all else – energy.

In 2012, I had a conceptual shift in my work, and I ended up exploring photographs that were of a degenerate nature, referencing low resolution, blurry or pixilated imagery. I found solace in the absence of line created by this digital blur. My mind was forced to create, as there were no outlines, no definite forms, just fields of colour glowing and radiating next to each other. The speed and energy in which I was making work changed too. Imperfection became my new perfection, and I commenced ‘unlearning’ many skills.

My most recent work has been painted entirely from my imagination – this is my next challenge.

How would you describe your work?

A bit like a song by Morrisey. I have always taken a liking to imagery that is ‘dark’ in some way. I have found in my life that great things have often come from bad things, so I’m usually grateful for anything that comes my way. It teaches you to realise that all things must change, and that the transitions are beautiful, whether it be a burning house or a wilted sunflower.

My recent work has strong references to the technologies that we use in day-to-day life, mainly smart phones and the Internet. The themes in my work have often commented on the over-saturation of imagery through these mediums.

Can you give us a little insight into your process? 

Many people believe that my work is created with an airbrush, but this is not the case. My works are hand painted with a brush in oils. I’m very particular about the materials I use, I use only the best archival materials – Michael Harding oil paint and medium, and Claessens oil primed linen.

Generally, each painting happens in a three-stage layering process.  The first coat is applied very thin, almost like a watercolour painting. I try to resolve basic colour and composition in this layer. I usually wait a week before adding each layer of paint, sometimes two weeks if the weather is cold or if it is humid. The second coat is fatter in oil content, and I usually apply the paint thickly and expressively, before removing excess paint with a coarse brush and leaving a residual image. The final coat usually glazes colours and unifies the picture surface.

I work on an entire exhibition at once, and I don’t start any second layers until they are all blocked in. It’s important to see how the exhibition will look before you expend labour on something that may not work. It also allows adequate drying time for all works.

All of my recent works have been pre-planned, however, the outcome may be completely different to what was intended – such is the joy of painting.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

On my full studio days, I usually start working at around 10am. I spend the first half hour preparing colours and drinking coffee. I try to make sure that any administration, emails or phone calls are sorted before I start painting. I don’t like having anything that ‘I have to do’ on my mind. Uninterrupted painting sessions are the best way to guarantee a consistent paint layer, in terms of colour and energy. I usually attempt to get an entire layer of paint down on a canvas in a day, depending on the scale of the work. I try not to work beyond midnight, but occasionally I have to pull an all-nighter if I am working towards a deadline.

For entertainment when I’m working, I usually listen to music, audio books or Radio National. Occasionally, I’ll visit my friend Tim Mcmonagle in his studio in Hosier Lane, or I’ll have a knock off drink at Hell’s Kitchen at the end of a session.

Can you list for us 5 resources, across any media, that you turn to for creative inspiration?

1. Martial Raysse, The Exhibition, 2014, Centre Pompidou, Paris. I saw a recent Martial Raysse retrospective at the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and I have been continually looking to the catalogue/book for inspiration.

2. Hockney’s Pictures, 2004, Thames & Hudson, London. I have enjoyed this book for a number of years and I always revisit the work of David Hockney, mainly to serve as a reminder of what an artist can actually get away with.

3. Spieler, R. 2006, Franz Gertsch, Retrospective, Hatje Cantz, Germany. Another book that I continually revisit. I have an appreciation for photorealism and Franz Gertsch is one of my favourite artists.

4. Popper, K. 1945, The Open Society and Its Enemies, Routledge, New York. A book that mixes sociology and philosophy and one that challenges many of my ideas about the world.

5. Google Images. Sourcing images from online, low-resolution images, thumbnails, etc.

Which other local artists, designers or creative people are you most inspired by at the moment?

My fellow neighbours and former studio mates from the Nicholas Building have influenced me over the last ten years and they continue to do so today. These painters include Tim Mcmonagle, Grant Nimmo, Fiona Mcmonagle and Amanda Marburg.

What is your proudest career achievement to date?

My first solo exhibition titled Plume at Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, in 2012. It came about because I was Highly Commended for my work in the John Leslie Art Prize in 2010, and was subsequently offered an exhibition by the curator, Simon Gregg. It was great to have someone take a risk by exhibiting a relatively unknown artist. I exhibited at the same time as one of my favourite artists named Andrew Browne.

What would be your dream project?

I recently visited London and caught up with a friend of mine named Holly-Anne Buck. We discussed the idea of a collaboration and exhibition, but the distance between our two cities makes things quite difficult. I would absolutely love to paint this body of work overseas one day, and exhibit the work in London. This dream is completely possible, however we would like to exhibit these works at Gagosian – that’s the dream part.

What are you looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to starting some large-scale projects that I can work on at a steady pace for a longer period of time. Most exhibitions that I have created recently have been done in a three-month period from start to finish. In the past, I have been known to spend a lot longer working on each piece. It would be great to revisit this working practice, as well as continuing with my quicker studies.

MELBOURNE QUESTIONS

Your favourite Melbourne neighbourhood and why?

I have lived in North Carlton in the Rathdowne Village area for seven years now and I’d have to say it’s my favourite neighbourhood in Melbourne. It is a quiet area, but it is central to many busy spots and it is close to the CBD. I love the Carlton Cemetery and Royal and Princes Park, which are close by. I can ride my bike to the city in fifteen minutes.

Where and what was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

The last great meal I had was at Bar Idda after an exhibition opening at The Alderman in Brunswick. I had pan-fried almond crusted fish with salsa verde and a lovely salad.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

My first stop is the studio at the Nicholas Building. I usually prepare a materials list of what I need for the next three days. Following this, I’m off to sell paint, as I am casually employed at a local art supplies store. I enjoy the slower pace of a Saturday morning as it allows me time to catch up on what I need for my own studio. I study pigments and other materials, talk to other artists and catch up with my co-workers. I have learnt a lot through this work environment, and I’ve met many great artists including Michael Leunig, Paul Ruiz and Ross Watson, amongst others.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

Shandong Mama Mini in Centre Place is a new restaurant in the city. Fantastic food, but still relatively empty in the evening – for now.

After finishing high school, New Zealand based artist Rebecca Phillips initially commenced a design degree, followed by a short stint in textiles, before she finally found her calling and settled into a fine arts degree, majoring in painting.  ‘I never really had any idea where it would lead or if I would even become an artist, but I have been fortunate and have taken advantage of every opportunity that has come my way’ explains Rebecca.  ‘I am very much a person who doesn’t make plans, so for someone who just rolls with the punches, it’s all been working out quite well!’ she says.

Clearly, Rebecca is inspired by nature, and enjoys visiting the botanical gardens in her home town of Wellington, especially the rose gardens.  Her latest works are these striking portraits of majestic, tall roses, rendered using thin layers of paint to create a sense of depth. ‘Seeing as my work is essentially made up of flat blocks of colour, my paintings could so easily end up looking a bit like prints, so I like to layer them in this way, to keep an element of painterliness’ the artist explains.

Rebecca was nominated as a signature piece finalist at the New Zealand Art Show in both 2013 and 2014, which has been a huge career highlight for her so far.  She is looking forward to having solo exhibitions of her own one day soon, and having a studio outside of her flat!

We’re so smitten with Rebecca’s beautiful works, we recently invited her to join the line-up for TDF Open House (happening later THIS WEEK people!) – we’re thrilled to have two of her beautiful paintings in the house!

The Design Files Open House
12 Smith st
Collingwood, Vic

Open this Thursday December 4th – Sunday December 8th
10.00am – 5.00pm daily

Young Sydney based designers Alex Gilmour and Dominic Chong met whilst both studying Industrial Design at UTS.  Often pairing up for group projects during their studied, it was a natural progression to launch their own design studio, Evie Group in 2010.

Initially the pair launched with two tableware product ranges – their ‘Emily’ tea set and ‘Frederick’ glassware, both hand made in Sydney. With these designs, Alex won the Qantas SOYA award and an internship with Marc Newson in London, which propelled this fledgling Sydney design studio into the spotlight from very early days!

Now working from a studio in Lilyfield in Sydney’s Inner West, Alex and Dominic are prolific in their output, designing and producing their own ranges of homewares, lighting, and furniture, sold online and via a range of retailers both within Australia and abroad.  In addition to this, Evie Group are also a design consultancy, offering product and graphic design services for big name clients including Microsoft and Woolworths.

‘We are inspired by the clean lines and simplicity of American modernism, Scandinavian and Japanese design’ explains Alex of her studio’s distinctive aesthetic. ‘We aim to design modern pieces that are elegant and hopefully timeless in their aesthetic. We look to use a combination of natural and machine made materials in our pieces, which is shown through our Hex boxes – combining handmade bamboo box with an aluminium lid’.

Indeed, Alex and Dominic’s sweet ‘Hex’ storage boxes instantly caught our attention when we first spotted them via instagram earlier this year! With clean geometric lines and a deliciously muted colour palette which includes mint green, soft peach and rose gold, these stylish, functional containers are perfect for bedroom, bathroom and even desk organisation.  We’ll be showcasing a selection of these at our Open House event in Melbourne later this week!

Some find it hard to differentiate the line between me (Belle) and what we do over at The Whole Pantry – the resourceful app-book-digital-wellness-community affair that I founded back in August 2013, after recognising a desperate need within my social media space need for a complete wellness, nutrition and lifestyle support-resource.

I often get introduced as my business name or Instagram handle ‘Healing Belle’, which sometimes makes me giggle, as the world forgets I am simply me, more than a username, but really just a (super dedicated, crazy passionate!) woman behind an idea and movement.  Before my team and I launched The Whole Pantry, I was less than blessed, and surely didn’t have a job which included ‘eat dessert for breakfast’ on the job title or resume.

Along my journey to health and finding my groove in the world, I’ve learnt a lifetime’s worth of lessons, and have cultivated a huge passion for functional foods, medicine, ancient healing and cultural traditions. Though I do see a distinction between my life and our TWP movement, a lot of what I have learnt along my own journey has become the foundation for how we encourage our community to live their lives – a philosophy which at its core is about getting back to basics, and encouraging you to live your whole life by eating a little better, moving your bodies a little more and doing it all with the best and simplest intentions.

I’m not out to to convert anyone from one diet or label to another, but simply hope to inspire you to include more fundamental foods (fruits and vegetables) in your everyday cooking. Experiment a little and discover what works for your body at any given moment. That’s the aim – a nourished you and an earth that’s better off for it.

I believe, and hope all of you are with me on this, if food is just food, then you should be able to eat whatever you’d like at whatever time of day you desire. Food is there to nourish us and share with the ones we love, including dessert. Dessert should be put back on the ‘allowed’ list and celebrated just as much as your green juice, herbal teas and fancy quinoa-asparagus-superfood-whatever salad. Dessert is food, and at TWP, we are here to encourage you to eat these Tasty Tuesday recipes whenever You feel like it!

All of the recipes in our App and Book are not only sugar free, but free from gluten too.  This is a beautiful recipe to add to your repertoire. The coconut sugar gives the pastry a lovely caramel chewiness, yet just enough earthiness to offset the sweet tartness of the filling. While I love the baked peaches, you can top it with any fruit you like – try poached pears, caramelised apple, roasted plums or just a handful of fresh raspberries. I have to confess, I’ve been known to inhale a sneaky slice of leftover tart after breakfast, but I don’t feel guilty (and nor should you!)

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced).

Combine the chickpea flour, almond meal and sugar in a medium bowl. Add the oil and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Gradually add 1 tablespoon of water and use your fingertips to mix until the crumbs just come together. Divide the crumbly mixture evenly among 4 x 10 cm fluted loose-based tart tins. Spread the mixture evenly over the base and up the side of each tin and press gently to hold together. (Wet your fingers slightly if it’s too sticky.) The crust will be quite thin.

Bake for 10–12 minutes or until just cooked through and beginning to change colour. Do not overcook or the pastry will become too firm. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes before gently removing from the tins (this needs to be done while they’re still warm) and then leave to cool completely.

For the baked peaches, place the peaches in a baking dish and pour over the maple syrup. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for a further 5–10 minutes or until the peaches are slightly coloured and soft, but still holding their shape. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Meanwhile, for the filling, blend the macadamias, almond milk, lemon zest, lemon juice and ½ cup (125 ml) water until smooth and very creamy. Add the tahini, to taste. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate until required.

Divide the lemon filling among the cooled tart cases and smooth the surface. Refrigerate for an hour to chill and firm slightly. Serve with the cooled baked peaches.

Tip: The tart cases can be made a day ahead. Store in an airtight container until needed.

James Powditch is a celebrated mixed media artist, with a background in set building for the Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Dance Company. He is a four times Archibald Prize finalist (this year with a portrait of Nick Cave) and also this year is a Doug Moran Portrait Prize finalist, with a portrait of fellow artist Ben Quilty.  James’ work, seen extensively throughout his eclectic family home, is heavily influenced by cinema, architecture, science and politics.  His distinctive, multi-layered artworks have, in part, inspired the design of his family’s impressive warehouse conversion in Annandale, in Sydney’s inner West.

The Powditch family bought their home in 2009 as an empty 320 square metre warehouse shell, one of three subdivided warehouse spaces. ‘It was essentially a big, empty space that we could build anything inside of’  explains James. The project took a year and a half to get the relevant permits through council, and just eight months to build.

Initially, the building had only windows and a roller door facing the street, with solid party walls either side, and a solid wall at the rear.  It was, however, high enough to put in a first floor without touching the roof trusses or having to lower the existing floor level, which gave James the freedom to design and build his home almost entirely within the existing footprint of the warehouse.  ‘‘About 80% of the building was just beautiful high, clear span space ready to fill!’ says James.  The addition of an internal courtyard was imperative, allowing northern light to permeate the home’s main living zones, and to create some separation between the house and James’ self contained studio, which sits just across the courtyard.

James and Diane retained the existing window and roller door openings at the front (South) end of the property, and added a HUGE (7 x 4.5m) ‘Renlita’ folding tilt door to the North, facing the courtyard. This incredible industrial door is, without a doubt, the home’s most impressive and distinctive feature!  The first floor is a suspended concrete slab, supported by exposed concrete columns and walls that lend an incredible layer of industrial texture to the living areas downstairs.  On this second level are four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a deck and a cantilevered mezzanine which looks over to the dining area below.

With the help of architect friends, the home was designed by James, and in a way, it has been an extension of is own creative practice, reflecting many of the distictinctive features of his mixed media artworks.  ‘The building reflects my aesthetic through a sense of logical order, raw materials, reuse and layering – a throwback to my years as a set builder, and my own work now’ says James.  The heavy use of concrete also reflects James’ love of 60’s and 70’s modernist buildings.  The space is unashamedly modern, yet is filled with a rich sense of history and nostalgia, on account of James and Diane’s impressive collection of industrial and vintage furniture, and extensive collection of contemporary Australian art.

‘In my art work I start by building a neutral background over which more materials, collage and paint can be layered, building up complexity. The same principles were applied to the design, detailing and finishes of our home’ says James.  ‘A very neutral palate of raw concrete, blonde plywood, dark formwork plywood, expansive white walls, black original steel trusses and glass formed the bones onto which all the artwork and furniture could be overlaid’.

James and Diane’s home is full of art, furniture and stuff that has been either bought, found or in some cases swapped for James’ own work.  Treasured favourites from this extensive art collection include pieces by artists including Paul Ryan, Craig Waddell, Lucy Culliton, Martin Sharp, Peter Goodwin, Nike Savvas, Julian Meagher, Jasper Knight, Peter O’doherty , Rodney Simmons, and James’ father Peter Powditch.  James’ own works also feature prominently throughout the house, including his large scale ‘Eucalyptus’ (finalist in the 2011 Wynne prize), hanging in what James calls the ‘primo spot’, up high in the void above the light-filled dining area.

Above all else, what the Powditch family really love most about being here is the incredible sense of space.  ‘It’s all about space, which rare in the inner city’ explains James. He is especially happy with the seamless flow through from indoors to outdoors here, from the living areas to the garden – and that towering 6 metre high void above the dining area, which is the perfect space to hang and view large scale art works.

Being a talented creative and self-taught carpenter himself, James is very keen to mention his builder, David McNabb of KBK Building Services, who he worked with closely on the build.  ‘David was our builder, whist I project managed, drew up detailing as we needed it and worked on the building everyday’ says James. ‘My carpentry skills as a former set builder enabled me to work on a lot of the timber work, plus a good share of general labouring. It was a great collaboration and we have remained good friends’.

Huge thanks to James and Diane for sharing their incredible home with us today!

After an epic few months of planning, building, and transforming our warehouse space, we are SO pumped to throw open the doors at The Design Files Open House today, and share this very special project with you all!  If you’re in Melbourne please do pop down and pay us a visit! We’re open today for four days, 10.00am – 5.00pm, from today until this Sunday Dec 7th…. and just in case you need a little further encouragement to pay us a little visit, we thought we’d share a little sneak peek today! These beautiful shots of the house were captured earlier this week by Eve Wilson.

ENORMOUS THANKS once again to all supporters and sponsors who have been instrumental in getting this project off the ground for the fourth year running!  We’re immensely grateful to Bank of Melbourne who are our inaugural Major Event Partner this year, and who have really enabled us to bring Open House to life on a larger scale than ever before!

We also have five wonderful Major Sponsors supporting the event this year.  Jardan have been with us ever since our very first event in 2011 – we are so grateful for their ongoing support.  Australia’s leading paint brand Dulux are also with us again this year, and we’ve selected a palette of stunning Dulux colours to feature throughout the house.  Thanks also to Fiat for their generous support of this event – you’ll be able to see our super cute customised Fiat500 by Georgia Perry parked outside the Open House event each day.  Thanks also to Royal Oak Floors, whose beautiful range of wide oak and herringbone floors can be seen throughout the house.  AND last but not least, building Open House from scratch has enabled us to design and build a full scale KITCHEN ourselves, which has been possible with the generous support of Siemens, whose sleek kitchen appliances feature in the house.

HUGE THANKS ALSO to all the amazing artists, designers, local businesses and friends who have participated and supported this crazy venture once again this year – especially Cookes Food who cooked up a storm for our opening event last night, serving wine from All Saints Estate.  Charlie and Wona from Loose Leaf alongside Georgina Reid aka The Planthunter all deserve a mention for all the amazing leafy plant life they have installed in here over the past week… and I also must give a well deserved shout-out to Esther at The Project Agency – the most amazing, hardworking and passionate publicist any client could wish for.

A special thanks is in order also to our most excellent team, especially the bump in crew who have worked tirelessly over the last two months to pull this thing off –  My talented fella Gordon Johnson, Huw Smith (you guys are truly superhuman, thank you!) Nat Turnbull, Gemma Portelli, Marni Kornhauser, James Clark, Jona Gunn, Chrissie (my wonderful Mum!), and Lisa Marie Corso (Words fail me… LISA YOU ARE one in a MILLION!).

ONE FINAL THING.  Those who follow us on Instagram will know that this year for the first time we have decided to harness your incredible support of Open House, by asking all visitors for a gold coin donation for the Aslyum Seeker Resource Centre. The ASRC do life-changing work supporting asylum seekers and refugees in our community, providing housing, food, legal aid and vital services to those desperately in need, right here in Melbourne.  We’re aiming to raise $10,000 for the ASRC Christmas appeal by end of day Sunday!  Please dig deep, bring your loose change and help us smash our target! x

The Design Files Open House 2014
12 Smith st
Collingwood
Vic 3066

Open from today until this Sunday December 7th,  10.00am – 5.00pm daily.

FOUR DAYS ONLY people – come visit!

Elliott ‘Numskull’ Routledge is an Australian-based contemporary artist, working out of Sydney in a variety of fields and mediums including painting, sculpture, illustration and large-scale murals. Bypassing art school, Elliott credits his dabblings in graffiti as a bored, skateboarding kid as being formative. At that early time Elliott and his brother discovered how to use spray paint, which led to an understanding of other mediums – and ultimately it all evolved into ‘proper art’. Later, enrolling in a private college to learn multimedia and animation methods ultimately gave Elliot the tools to find his unique style.

Unknowingly, until recently I lived around the corner from Elliott in Sydney’s Inner West, which has formed the natural playground for his mural work. Now, in hindsight, I recognise that his work was quite literally EVERYWHERE and I had often admired it and seen him in the act! It is very distinctive, both in form and his signature colour palette of red and blue.

Over the past 15 years, Elliott has been creating public murals wherever he goes; not just all over Sydney, but also in  Newcastle, Queensland, New Zealand, USA, Europe, and beyond. Sydney-siders strolling about the corner of Park and Pitt Streets in the CBD recently would have been hard pressed to miss his significant ‘Here Now’ mural on the side of a building, which formed part of the Art and About Festival.

As far as street art is concerned – Elliot’s work is pretty major. But, much like another recent TDF interviewee, Fred Fowler, Elliot has managed to transcend his roots in street art, creating paintings on canvas which are now highly collectible, and have shown in galleries throughout the world, in London, Vienna, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Singapore, Amsterdam and Hong Kong. The last couple of decades have seen Elliott’s painting style evolve, and he has chosen to focus on ‘colour hierarchy, typography, abstract heroism and themes of idolism within modern contemporary culture’.

In an example of Elliott’s diversity as an artist, he recently collaborated with skincare brand Kiehl’s, to produce a Limited Edition label for their Ultra Facial Cream, with proceeds from sale donated to the ‘Adopt Change’ cause.  In addition to undertaking various projects, exhibitions and commissions, Elliot also runs his own excellent blog called The Opening Hours, which showcases local artists and art events.

And if you think all the success and acclaim that Elliot has achieved in recent years might have has gone to his head – you would be entirely wrong, as you will see!

Tell us a little about your background – what did you study and what path led you to what you are doing today?

I never made it into art school. I just couldn’t get the right qualifications, and at the time I wasn’t interested so I chose to study animation instead. Somehow I found an animator by the name of Rodney D’Silva who taught traditional animation classes in his home studio in Lane Cove. He used to animate for Hanna Barbera and others and taught me a lot about motion, characters and generally how to enjoy life. He was wild. This combined with a Certificate in Multimedia led me to design, and has influenced my style to merge my painting background and graphic nature.

My mum was always encouraging us to try creative things too. She would let us paint all over our bedrooms and set up big sheets of ply in the back yard for us to paint whenever we wanted. This had a profound affect on me.

What have been one or two of your favourite projects in recent years and why?

It’s really hard to choose, but the two that stick out are my Residency in Vienna and the cover artwork I did for Sunday Style. 

In March this year I lived in Vienna for a month where I had a residency at the Museums Quartier. Something I will always remember as a big change in my career. It was a unique opportunity for me to take time out, paint in a different environment, meet people and share ideas and experiences and in the end show a whole body of work to a completely new audience with no expectations. It’s now one of my favourite places in the world.

The second would be the cover of Sunday Style magazine. Basically Cleo Glyde randomly found and invited me to create my work over a photo they took of Miranda Kerr. It was a great way for me to get my work out to a wider audience and an interesting process, but also very surreal to have my work next to three well-established artists.

How would you describe your work, and what influences your style? 


I would say my work is bold, bright, full of contrast, and abstract. 
My influences come from all over the place. Weird people I meet, social situations, fashion, textiles, nature and anything else that randomly hits me. I’ve recently been looking at the contrast between natural objects and foreign, man made textures. I find influence in some of the smallest things. My phone is filled with the weirdest photos.

Tell us a little about your creative process – what materials do you employ, is it an intuitive process or meticulously planned, and how long does each piece take to complete?

My creative process is both chaotic and strategically planned. I have multiple projects going on at the same time. When I’m in the studio creating paintings, I have a pretty strict process, which I have perfected over the years through trial and error. If I’m painting a mural, I try to plan ahead of time as best I can, but every wall is different and has it’s own challenges and variables. So quite often my plan gets aborted quickly, leading me to improvise on the spot. I never used to be so organised. Maybe having my son has changed that in me.

What does a typical day for you usually involve?

My day starts at around 6am when my son wakes up (and wakes me up). We hang out in the morning and go walking around Black Wattle Bay, grab a coffee at The Little Marionette, then I head off to my studio in Annandale where I spend a couple of hours sitting on the computer sending emails, blogging and planning out the day. 
Every day is different, but if I’m in the studio preparing for a show, by around mid morning I start painting or using the wood work room to make sculptures and build frames. If I can swing it, I’ll sneak in a game of ping pong or excursion to find a new food spot, then the afternoon into the night is spent face first into a canvas. 

For my murals, it’s completely dependent on the brief, location and situation.

Can you list for us 5 specific resources across any media you tune in to regularly? 


I spend a lot of time browsing blogs and reference websites. I run a blog called The Opening Hours, which showcases local artists and events, so I try and scan blogs for as much up to date information as possible. I use Feedly to keep up to date with my blogs, which are too many to list.

 For inspiration I choose to look at a lot of fashion books, photography amongst other things. If I’m painting in the studio, these days I tend to listen to podcasts instead of music. I’m so hooked on them now. This American Life, 99% Invisible or Joe Rogan are solid favourites, but a friend has told me to start getting into audio books, so I’ll try that soon.

Which other local artists, designers, creative people do you admire?

I share my studio space with around eight other artists who I respect and admire. It’s something I’ve always done as I like to be able to talk to people while I work or bounce ideas and concepts off them. As far as local artists and people I admire, Rone, Matt Rabbidge from Mild Manners, Hiroyasu Tsuri, Jonathan Zawada, Lynes and Co, Will Cooke, Trent Whitehead, my brother Marty Routledge and so many more.

What has been a career highlight for you so far?


I can’t nail it down to one thing, but I think one of my favourite aspects of my art, is travel. I love it so much, and believe it truly does have an affect on my work as a whole. I’m so lucky to be able to experience different parts of the world through my art.

What would be your dream creative project or collaboration? 


My dream collaboration would be to have a show with my son one day. That’s if he’s keen. He might be off it.

What are you looking forward to?

I’m going to Fiji for a holiday! I haven’t had a proper holiday in a very long time so I’m super excited.

SYDNEY QUESTIONS

Your favourite Sydney neighbourhood and why?

The Inner West. I live and work in Annandale, so for me the Inner West area of Sydney is my favourite type of neighbourhood. Having such a close proximity to the city, but without being in the city, is a nice feeling.

Where in Sydney do you shop for the tools of your trade?

For bulk acrylic paint either Bunnings or Dulux Trade Centre in Redfern. Spraypaint either directly from Ironlak or there’s a store on King St in Newtown called 567. For my canvas work I use a paint made in Sweden called Lascaux that can only be bought at one store in Sydney called ArtScene. Thank god for them.

What and where was the last great meal you ate in Sydney?

At the moment, Great Aunty’s in Enmore is running pretty hot on my list. It’s a lunchtime thing, but they do the quickest and tastiest Vietnamese takeaway food around like Banh Mi etc. The Coconut & Lime shake is one of the best things in the world. If we get a chance to go out for dinner, we usually go to any of Dan Hong’s restaurants. We went to school together and I admire his style of food.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Walking with my wife Billie and son Hunter down to the Little Marionette cafe in Annandale on the corner of Trafalgar and Albion Street. It’s a small operation so you wait outside, but it’s a nice place to stand around waiting, especially when it’s sunny.

Sydney’s best kept secret?

The TGS Clubhouse. A secret painting spot in Sydney that only a handful of people are allowed in. It hosts some of the country’s most famous street and graffiti artists, but is on private property so no one can see it.

Sydney ceramicist Milly Dent completed her studies in 2013, graduating from COFA with a Bachelor of Design, and launching her own studio, Milly Dent Design, in April of this year.  With her distinctive style and colour palette, Milly’s brand has quickly gained momentum. ‘It has been a whirlwind experience as more and more people have shown an interest in my work’ says Milly. The momentum is really what’s driving me!’ she says.

After school, feeling an inherent desire  to ‘make’, Milly moved herself from Brisbane to Sydney to complete her studies. ‘I started working with clay and everything fell into place. Using the material was intriguing and exciting, and I enjoyed exploring both the possibilities and limitations,’ she says.

It was a six-month study sojourn to Montreal following her degree where Milly discovered an appreciation for the true capacity of clay, and expanded her style with this new and different perspective. Returning to Sydney, she knew she wanted to keep making. ‘I found myself a small studio space, and from there Milly Dent Design grew,’ she explains.

Milly’s business philosophy is based upon the simple ideal of ‘putting beautiful, functional, thoughtful and unique pieces of handmade design into the world’, with the intention to make daily dining rituals interesting and exciting. Her creative process is intuitive and unpredictable, as it employs a mix of techniques. ‘I find myself taking a lot of photographs of objects, shapes and heaps of images of the ocean, prior to initial sketching and mood-boarding to find forms, colours and textures to use. Moulds are then made of existing forms, or of forms I have carved myself from plaster’ Milly says. ‘The marbling part of the process is very fluid… Even if it means a lot of disasters before one success, that make the success all the more rewarding!’ she says.

It’s been a big year for Milly, but in 2015, even bigger plans are afoot.  ‘I’m super excited about my new range, which will hopefully be released at the beginning of 2015′ she explains.  ‘This range further explores the translucency and glow of porcelain, and includes bigger, more ambitious entertaining-type tableware pieces’ Milly says.  In the future, she’s hoping to expand her use of materials to include precious metals, wood and textiles… we can’t wait to see what comes next!

‘I’ve been setting goals since I was a teenager’ says Mi Goals founder Adam Jelic. ‘back in 2010 I had the idea of creating a diary which allowed me to write my goals, be inspired and stay organised throughout the year. I told my friend, Alec Kach who is a graphic designer, and together we started designing and coming up with the types of products we wanted to see out there, to inspire others to dream big and achieve their goals.’

Mi Goals’ designer and creative director Alec Kach is a fan of minimal design and clean crisp typography.   Mi Goals’ design aesthetic is all about paring back to fundamentals, removing unnecessary decoration and really creating a strong, graphic range which encourages the end user to simply TAKE ACTION and realise their goals, however big or small!   Quotes including ‘Get Sh*t done!’, ‘This is your year’, and ‘ Prove them wrong’  punctuate the range, emblazoned in gold foil on a collection of beautifully designed paper products, designed and made in Melbourne.

Stylist Marsha Golemac and local photographer Brooke Holm worked together to shoot this striking campaign imagery for Mi Goals 2015 range. ‘The primary objective was to create a concept that showcased the Mi Goals product as an essential component to life, almost like milk and bread in a sense!’ says Marsha. ‘Yes, they are beautifully designed products, but their main purpose is to act as tools for everyday life, whether that be assisting with time management or a dream project’ she explains.

Shop online at www.migoals.com or at stockists listed here.

I recently spent a short time in Japan, learning a little about the local culture and planning content for our Japanese community. The Japanese place a great emphasis on eating seasonally, not out of trend or status, as most of us were taught back home, but as a way of life.

Pumpkin features in both sweet and savoury recipes everywhere in Japan, and when it isn’t available, they often substitute it for sweet potato.  One morning I had sweet potato and pumpkin tiramisu at a natural foods cafe in Tokyo, making me feel right at home.

The Whole Pantry is all about inspiring you to include more ‘fundamental foods’ in your diet, and re-introducing more fresh fruit and veggies. That doesn’t mean missing out on sweet treats, but it means being a little creative and ensuring even your sweet indulgences are filled with goodness and have nutritional benefit.

At The Whole Pantry, we believe dessert should be put back on the ‘allowed’ list and celebrated just as much as your green juice, herbal teas and fancy quinoa-asparagus-superfood-whatever salad. Dessert is food, and we are here to encourage you to eat these Tasty Tuesday recipes whenever you feel like it!

Now while this seems like a very adult recipe, this semifreddo is absolutely one for children and their parties, too!

Method

Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan–forced). Line a roasting tin and a small (1.25 litre) loaf tin with non-stick baking paper.

Put the pumpkin in the lined roasting tin and drizzle with the coconut oil. Toss to combine, then roast for 20–25 minutes or until tender and lightly caramelised. Cool and purée in a blender or food processor until smooth. Stir in the coconut sugar.

Using an electric mixer, beat the ricotta and lemon zest until smooth. In a separate bowl, use the electric mixer to whisk the eggs and maple syrup for 5–6 minutes or until the mixture is thick enough to hold a trail when the beaters are lifted. Scoop half the egg mixture into the ricotta mixture and fold in until well combined. Gently fold in the remaining egg mixture and the macadamias.

Spread 2 good scoops of the ricotta mixture over the base of the lined loaf tin. Gently fold the pumpkin purée into the remaining ricotta mixture and carefully spoon over the ricotta mixture in the tin. Smooth the surface, cover and freeze for 2–3 hours or overnight, or until firm and completely frozen.

Meanwhile, for the macadamia and pepita shards, line a baking tray with non–stick baking paper. Lightly toast the nuts and seeds in a small heavy–based frying pan for 2–3 minutes over medium heat. Spread the toasted nuts and seeds over the lined tray. Bring the syrup to the boil in a medium heavy–based saucepan over medium–high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer (being careful that the syrup does not bubble up too high) for 6–7 minutes or until it reaches 150°C (hard crack stage) on a sugar thermometer. Pour over the nuts and leave to cool, then break into pieces.

Remove the semifreddo from the freezer 30–40 minutes before serving to soften slightly. Serve topped with macadamia and pepita shards.

OK I have a confession to make. Until recently visiting this beautiful, colourful little home perched on the edge of a nature reserve and surrounded by trees in Melbourne’s North East, I had never actually been to Warrandyte.  Ridiculous, I know! I was pleasantly surprised to learn that despite feeling a world away from the hustle of the city, with it’s village atmosphere, towering gum trees and beautiful State Park, Warrandyte is just 30 mins from Melbourne’s CBD. It feels like a well kept secret!

When Paula and Pete first purchased this home they were looking for a change. Having arrived in Melbourne in 2007 from South Africa (and London before that), and after renting for a few years in the Eastern suburbs. when it came to the big decision of buying their own home, they knew they wanted more space. Priced out of the market in Kew and Balwyn, where they had been renting, they started to look a little further afield.  ‘We initially started looking at land around Warrandyte with a view to build, but one day we saw this little cottage for sale and fell in love’ explains Paula. ‘Although it is not a big home, it is surrounded by bush, and definitely had the sense of space we were after’.

Indeed, the proportions of this home are by no means extravagant, but are perfectly suited to the Mills family.  One large basement rumpus room beneath the main living area has been turned into a shared bedroom for all three girls, whilst two modest bedrooms positioned just off the main living area serve as a master bedroom and Paula’s home studio respectively. A large deck adjoining the main living space acts as a generous outdoor living / dining room, surrounded by towering trees.

Soon after purchasing the home, Paula and Pete set about making a few essential cosmetic changes.  As a starting point, they knocked down internal walls to open up the kitchen and living room, and painted almost everything white, including the floor boards (which Paula says were previously a very orange pine).  To liven things up, one wall in the living area was painted a pretty washed out turquoise blue. which provides a striking contrast to the white timber boards throughout, and creates a focal point around the vintage mantelpiece in the main living room,

‘I do love our old open fireplace’ says Paula, who picked up the vintage Tasmanian Oak Mantelpiece on the way back from a camping trip, at a junk shop along the Princess Highway!  ‘Thankfully we had the trailer with us, so we just strapped the mantelpiece on the back and kept going!’ she says.

With a decorating style that is relaxed and eclectic, Paula and Pete have created such a warm and welcoming home here.  The space feels artfully cluttered and lived in, comfortable and creative, adorned with vintage finds and Paula’s own illustrative artwork.  Downstairs, the girls’ bedroom is an explosion of PINK (!), punctuated by pretty details and colourful craft projects.

Paula and Pete love living here.  After many years living as expats in both London and Melbourne, after leaving their native South Africa, it feels good to have settled in Warrandyte and to ‘grow roots’ here, surrounded by a vast canopy of trees and bushland.

 ‘I love so many things about living here’ says Paula.  ‘We are surrounded by nature. The bird life here is amazing. My kids walk down the road to school. We have a state park behind us. I have a light filled studio to work from home in. We can walk down to the Yarra river with Bella. You see people walking around – there is a sense of community, you always bump into someone you know at the local IGA. I could go on!’

Huge thanks to the Mills family for sharing their idyllic family home with us!

Sophie Storen and Nicole De Bono are the industrious pair behind Cookes Food, and I am constantly in awe of their incredible energy and infectious enthusiasm for what they do.  Over the past four years, I’ve seen their business grow and develop, yet Sophie and Nicole still maintain that awesome ‘start up’ attitude, you know, where you can tell that running their own business is something they truly LOVE doing, and every challenge is met with enthusiasm.  They pride themselves on starting each job with a  blank canvas – that means a tailored creative idea for each and every client – no cookie-cutter packages!

Sophie and Nicole are kinda young (well, my age… early thirties!) and started their business in mid 2008.  With a shared love of great produce and a creative approach to food, they started out with the premise of offering seasonal and locally grown ingredients in the catering realm. ‘The catering industry seemed to be over populated at that time with very standard menus and lots of fried foods – we wanted to work towards changing those catering clichés by offering a more personalised approach, and great, exciting ideas to a variety of clients’ says Sophie.

Since launching in 2008, Cookes Food has gone from strength to strength.  Originally a fledgling operation with Sophie in the kitchen and Nicole as event manager and ‘front of house’, they now have a full-time chef (Simon), part time project manager (Philippa) and a team of experienced service staff and contractors, which expands and contracts seasonally as required.  The business has also recently upgraded to a brand new premises – moving from a small combined office and kitchen space into a larger premises with industrial kitchen in St Kilda.  ‘It feels like it has taken forever to get here, our new location now really reflects us and our business, and we both feel so proud!!’ says Sophie enthusiastically. ‘We feel completely re-inspired to work harder towards our new challenges and goals as a young business’.

We dropped in to visit Sophie and Nicole in their new space recently and grilled them on the remarkable growth of their small business.

Can you tell us a little bit about your business – how is your business structured, how many staff do you employ, what services do you offer?

Our business is all about offering our clients an opportunity to start from a blank canvas, and we try to keep that way by steering away from standard packages or looks. Our services are flexible – we arrange as much or as little as our clients like. We look after food, beverage, staffing as well as event management and production of styling and all creative touches.

Sophie manages clients, the kitchen, its people and suppliers, and from time to time steps back on the tools. Nicole is more office based, managing admin, accounts, clients and all the casual staff whilst training up our own event managers in house.

Over time we have employed so many staff, many of them come and go, and others have stuck by us since day dot!  This year we employed our first Kitchen manager and Head Chef Simon, he is a complete God send and now we have him we don’t know how we ever managed before! We also have on board another project manager Philippa who is incredibly awesome, efficient and super reliable!

What does a typical work day at Cookes Food involve?

Sophie – At the start of every week I go through the job folders for the following 7 days, I print them out and highlight any hard to source items I might have put on the menus. I run through these with our head chef Simon, and we discuss logistics and transport and which recipe we are using for what.

I am sometimes light on details within my menus, and that’s because I don’t want to feel trapped by an ingredient that might not be perfect due to weather or availability. If I say salad leaves, is it wasabi leaves or sorrel? I just want the best quality outcome and I want it to be Australian not Peruvian.

Beyond this I check through my emails then review and update my ‘WIP’ – an office tool that Nic got me into. My WIP is my ‘Work in Progress’, it’s ultimately a list – the list! I once cried because I could find my WIP, this is how precious it has become to me! Without it, there would be a hell of a lot of post its everywhere!

On event days we are both up at the crack of dawn, it’s casual comfortable attire and in the kitchen there is endless checking off, counting and packing until we are ready to go. The office printer is going crazy with print outs of schedules before the setups commence and the countdown is on.

On site we are problem solving, doing walk throughs and in constant discussions about who is doing what and when. We are setting up tables, chairs, laying out menu cards and place settings whilst making sure band members arrive and celebrants are on time.

Before the event starts we ‘hit the refresh button’ as Nic always says, and we spruce ourselves up before the guests arrive. Any services can be intense, it’s go-go-go, and when we have completed the food component we all relax a little and then start to catch our breath before going straight into pack up mode. We and our staff work so hard on these days, and we appreciate them all so much as they all do it with a smile!  Together we all have fun and make the most of it before it’s over!

What are some daily office rituals and systems you employ to enhance your team’s productivity?

It has to be our weekly Work in Progress meeting.  We all sit down together and run through the events ahead, we raise any concerns or issues and then work through logistics and planning.

Our internal events calendar is also super important, it gets updated constantly, all day every day, and we all rely on this to tell us what is on and when!

What computer programs, apps and software do you utilise to streamline your daily tasks and keep everything running smoothly?

We have just upgraded the office computers, we all use PC here, we would love Macs but Nic’s a PC girl from way back and for her to keep the office admin humming when we moved, we felt it was a better choice to stick to what we (she) knew.

For internal communication and file sharing we use Google Mail, Google Drive, Dropbox.

Out of all the phone apps, it goes without saying that we could not do our job very well if Google maps did not exist…. even though sometimes we go far and beyond where the maps work!

For inspiration and reference gathering, Pinterest is a personal favourite.

We also love Instagram – we have nearly hit 2000 followers which is very exciting for us, considering it’s free to advertise and network this way!

With the bonus of hindsight, what do you know now about running a small business that you wish you knew when you started?

Sophie – Trust your gut, if you think something isn’t going to work – i.e. getting swans to tap dance – say no! It’s better to be realistic than to over promise and blur any expectation! It also took me a long time to accept that we are not for everyone and that some you have to let go and not take it personally.

Nic – I was a little naive at the start, and put very little value on all the years that I had worked so hard on building a rapport with my clients and suppliers in all my previous jobs. I thought that being nice was just a given, and I never put a value on that practice and how it transcends into good healthy business operation. Building relationships is really what this business is all about, and I believe also the thing that equals good job satisfaction.  As a result, I never feel like I’m at work, I just always feel like I’m around friends and having a good time!

What are your top three tips for running a successful small business?

Sophie –

1. Treat your staff well, and they will do the same in return.

2. Create a harmonious and fun work environment, so even the action of showing up to work becomes exciting.

3. Work on your business, not in it (From ‘E-myth‘ – yes I’m one of those people)

Nic –

1. Be honest and never make rushed or pressured decisions, take your time and keep a good life/work balance.

2. Find great staff and reliable suppliers, go local where you can, and build up good relationships with all of them.

3. Listen to everyone around you, whether it’s your bestie, your supplier, your parents, the person you get your coffee from in the morning, ask questions and use all of their feedback to help make good choices and also get inspiration for each and every day!

Cookes Food
Ph. (03) 9510 9443

11 & 11a Wellington Street
St Kilda
Vic, 3182

(Meetings by appointment)

Whilst we feel it’s our duty to introduce the newest emerging makers and designers across Australia, we’re equally committed to shining a spotlight on those more established local creatives businesses who really have paved the way for the recent resurgence of all things ‘handmade’.   Nadia Husiak and Jason Cesani of Printink studio in Collingwood are two such veterans of their craft, having first launched their own design studio back in 2005.

Nadia and Jason studied Textile Design together at RMIT in the 1990s, and later went on to work together at Vixen Australia – which at the time would design and hand screen print all their own textiles.  Their time working for this prolific and respected local textile house was a defining time for both Jason and Nadia, extending their combined skill set and giving them a strong understanding of the skills required to run their own design based business.

After working for Vixen for 5 years, Nadia and Jason founded their own design studio in 2005 with a third partner, Lisa Carroll.  Now in it’s 9th year of operation, the business is run solely by Nadia and Jason, with a the able assistance of intern-turned-printer Georgie Cummings, and the odd distraction from 1 year old Pietra!

Aside from producing an extensive range of soft furnishings, homewares and wallpaper under their own in house label ‘Tinker’, Printink also offer a bespoke design and printing service, working closely with clients on many varied projects.  Past commissions have included custom wallpaper for Hells Kitchen in the CBD and The Grace Darling in Collingwood, to name just a few.

Tinker by Printink homewares and accessories can be purchased online, and at numerous national stockists listed here.

Tell us a little about your background – what did you study, and what led you to creating the style of work you are currently making?

We were both drawn to textile design for various reasons, however there was always a strong mutual passion we both shared – a passion for pattern and surface design. We studied together at RMIT in the mid ’90s, completing our BA’s in Textile Design, majoring in screen print (Jason is now a sessional lecturer at RMIT). Hand screen printing is certainly a niche industry in Australia, and after many years of developing our skills, we are proud of where we are at now, what we are creating and who we are working with.

What led you to starting your own design studio, Printink Studio, back in 2005?

Printink Studio originally began with a partnership of three, all graduates from RMIT’s BA in Textile Design course. After finishing university, we all had the opportunity at different times to work with Georgia Chapman, formerly of Vixen Australia. It was an inspiring environment to work in, everything we did was hand screen printed. It allowed us to gain incredible knowledge of different techniques that helped structure our skill set.

Around the same time, there was a resurgence of the ‘handmade’ that was starting to make a comeback. With our confidence and desire to create something that was our own, we took the plunge and started Printink Studio.

This year saw your studio launch a more extensive range of soft furnishings and bedding under your house label, ‘Tinker’, alongside a comprehensive children range. How would you describe this latest range and your design aesthetic? How long has this range been in development for?

With all our ranges, our mantra is to incorporate a variety of geometric designs and work them back alongside florals. We use a combination of hand drawn elements and motifs to create all-over patterns and then juxtapose them with bold lines and shapes. Colour is a major component and alongside pattern is one of the most important qualities that make up the Tinker brand.

Can you give us a little insight into the inner workings of Printink? How is your office structured, how many people do you employ, and are you still each very involved in the design process day-to-day?

We are now the sole partners at Printink Studio, and we’re also a husband and wife team. Since the arrival of our baby, Pietra (who is 100% involved in the business as well!) Nadia has stepped away from most of the screen printing, and works closely with our wholesalers, dispatch, online sales and general everyday operations of running the business.

Georgie Cummings, who began as our intern many years ago, is now also our screen printer, taking over some of Nadia’s printing responsibilities. Two people are required to screen print yardage fabric, so Georgie works alongside me (Jason) on our day to day operation of printing. Georgie is our number one tea towel printer!

Each day is different in the print studio, either we’re printing commission works for other designers or printing our ‘Tinker’ range, fulfilling orders, printing wallpaper or restocking our online store.

In terms of all the design work, this is all created and shared between us. We work on a theme and then collate each other’s ideas and narrow them down. It’s quite a lengthy process from initial design concept to end product, with lots of colour testing, swatching, trialing different fabric bases etc.  This is the beauty of having your own screen printing studio, you can sample, resample and resample again, until you are finally happy.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

Fortunately, there is not a typical day for us, especially when you introduce a one year old into the business. As a small business, we are the face of the business, as well as being the key creatives and printers and decision makers, so juggling our time to meet deadlines for our clients and be the creative force behind Tinker is certainly challenging, but we would not have it any other way.  The only ‘typical’ thing you can be assured we do almost every day is hand screen printing.

Can you list for us 5 resources across any media that you turn to regularly for creative inspiration?

We regularly visit Instagram, Pinterest, Kinfolk Magazine, Decor8, and The Design Files.

Which other local artists, designers or creative people are you most inspired by at the moment?

Sandra Eterovic – She is an illustrator/artist and we love her sense of humour she brings to her work. The sense of colour and objects she chooses to paint on has a fun quirky quality, which inspires us.

Koskela – We are inspired by their consideration of the environment alongside their commitment on working on projects closely together with Australian Aboriginal artists. We like their aesthetic of the other Australian brands they choose for their retail store, and we’re proud to be stocked by them.

Lucy Folk – She is a jeweller and we love her obsession with food, which ironically is an inspiration for a lot of her work. Her bold designs combine kitsch naïveté with subtle humour.

What is your proudest career achievement to date?

There are a number of achievements that we are proud of. Our new recruit, Pietra, our baby daughter, our new website (who knew it would be so much work?) and of course our milestone of reaching 10 years in 2015!

What would be your dream project?

Okay, you said ‘dream’… so here goes.  It wold be decking out a multi-storey hotel, collaborating with a favorite architect. We would have complete freedom to create each floor, decorating and designing everything from the walls, floors and all the soft furnishings. There would be no boundaries, it would be an over the top explosion of colour and pattern on pattern.

What are you looking forward to?

Christmas break in Queensland with Jason’s family, and then a summer week off in the New Year in Melbourne.

MELBOURNE QUESTIONS

Your favourite Melbourne neighbourhood and why?

We would have to say Collingwood, it’s where our studio is, and a few blocks from our house in East Melbourne. We love that it is a suburb that seems to be always re-inventing itself. It’s the energy and the creative vibe that the suburb offers and we like being part of that.

Where and what was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

Last night’s salsicce, mash potatoes and a nice bitter salad. Jason’s dad is Italian, each year a group of us head north to keep the traditions alive and make our own sausages. Clearly we practice handmade where we can! The result is 80 kg + of homemade sausages for us to eat all year round.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Saturday mornings are always work related, however it never seems a chore. To kick start the morning, we visit our favourite café around the corner from our studio – All Press. They have the best coffee and if we are feeling a bit peckish, their mixed plate of egg, avocado, tomato and provolone with either salmon or prosciutto set the pace for the day. Collingwood is so quiet on the weekends and it’s just great being able to spend a few hours in the studio with the roller door up and no one around, or phones ringing. We believe our most creative work is usually achieved on a Saturday morning.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

I’m not too sure if it is a big secret as thousands of people go, but for anyone who loves great food and a bit of fun, the annual Lunar Festival Street Party at Victoria St, Richmond is a must. It’s summer, there is Karaoke in tents, dancing, dragons, fire crackers, fried calamari, Vietnamese mini pancakes, BBQ betel leaf, beer, rides, it’s too much fun! Next year it’s on 1 February 2015, see you there.

WELL dear readers.  It’s been a hell of a year!  Thanks for sticking with us through all the madness, we reckon it’s been our best, if not certainly our busiest year yet!  We re-designed our website (in a pretty big way!), we launched TDF Collect, our quarterly art exhibition series… we staged another huge TDF Open House event (this time built from scratch, because we just don’t know any better), and we hit over 100k followers on both Facebook and Instagram (thank you all for following!).  On a personal note, I managed to get married, have an awesome honeymoon, move house and move offices – twice!  HOLY Moley.  Now that I think about it, 2014 really has been insane!

Today we are thrilled to have a gorgeous line-up of Christmas gift ideas for you, which doubles as our ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!  OH YES.  Each and every supremely photogenic item pictured in today’s post is up for grabs for 25 lucky readers. The items pictured here have been sourced from some of our favourite local retailers, and, if, like me, you have done ZERO Christmas shopping and have 20 people still to buy for, we hope today’s post will encourage you to shop local for your Christmas gifts this year!

Now dear readers, before you pounce on the comment button, please note that in keeping with our annual tradition, in order to enter the Christmas Giveaway, there is just one little thing you have to do – enter our yearly TDF reader survey. Please CLICK HERE to fill out our 2014 Reader Survey! (After taking the survey you will be automatically entered into the giveaway!).

We value your feedback immensely, and would be so grateful if you could spend just 10 minutes on the survey to let us know your thoughts on our new website design, the new content we have introduced this year, what we could do better, and how we can improve in 2015!

You have between today and next Wednesday 24 December 2014 to take the survey. Winners will be drawn the week commencing 5 January 2015 and contacted via email.  25 winners will be drawn from all survey respondents at random – unless otherwise stated below, the prizes will be grouped by supplier.  Please note this giveaway is open to all, however bulky / fragile items will not be shipped internationally.

Good luck all, and THANKYOU SO MUCH for reading and supporting all our ramblings and random happenings…!  You are a top notch bunch of readers, and we love you madly. x

THE FULL CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY LINE-Up

Evie Group – Spun Pendant Light Silver ($595.00) and Hex box silver and gold ($140.00)  - after recently discovering the clever young duo behind Evie Group in Sydney, we have fallen head over heels in love with their sleek, contemporary designs for the home.  We’re especially drawn to their ‘Spun’ pendant lights, available in either a silver, gold or rose gold finish.

Resident GP - Menu Jewellery flacon ($119.95), Menu Gridy Me Mirror ($199.95), Martin Jakobsen Himo Glass ($59.00) and Martin Jakobsen KarPPi Water Jug ($109.00). - Resident GP are a Melbourne based online store, and are relatively new on our radar!  We are super impressed by their extensive and carefully considered range of designer gifts and homewares, plus they offer free shipping on all orders over $50.

Monk House Design – Tilly Jewellery Flower Drop Earring ($139.00)  - Brunswick based fashion retailer Monk House have a special place in our hearts, they are ardent supporters of emerging Australian fashion designers, stocking and promoting many local brands. These sweet 60’s inspired flower drop earrings are made by Brisbane jewellery designer Tilly Sinclair.

Alpha 60 – Alpha 60 Maggie Slide ($260.00)  - Another of our fave local fashion brands, Alpha 60 is the label of brother / sister team Alex and Georgie Cleary.  These Maggie Slides are our top pick for open-toed footwear this summer!

Bride and Wolfe – Lip keyring ($30.00) and Small Lips Mirror ($65.00) - SO if you attended our recent ‘TDF Open House’ event in Melbourne, you might have noticed our current obsessions with LIPS (and eyes, and really all things ‘facial’).  Melbourne makers Bride and Wolfe are certainly feeding this latest obsession… we love their lip mirrors, and key rings, and brooches!

Grace – House of Holland On A Promise round sunglasses ($249.00) - BLOODY HELL how amazing are these sunglasses!?  ‘Look me in the eye, tell me you love me’ – what more is there to say..!?  Get your very own pair from those gorgeous fashionistas at Grace in Hawksburn, Melbourne (their online store is also well worth a look for those all important ‘presents to self’ this Christmas).

Kester Black – Nebula Nail Polish ($20.00)  – Our top pick for nail polish is always local label Kester Black, because it’s made in Australia, vegan and Cruelty Free accredited.  Kester Black nail polishes are also ‘Five Free’ which means they contain no harmful chemicals (no Toluene, DBP, Formaldehyde, Formadehyde resin or Camphor!).

Mecca - Saint Germaine 34 Boulevard Candle ($100), Nars Digital world set lipstick ($24.00), Le Labo Rose 31 Solid Perfume ($112.00) and Byredo Parfums Morjave Ghost ($164.00)  You’d think the world would be over scented candles now but, NO, we’re not.  We love the Saint Germaine 34 Boulevard candle in its beautiful ceramic vessel – a classic beauty.  Though best known for its gorgeous ladylike gifts, Mecca shouldn’t be overlooked for the blokes either, they have an impressive range of men’s skincare and fragrances including Byredo Parfums which are just stupendously sexy…. seriously, your nose will thank you later.  Note – We’re splitting these prizes up – 3 prizes for 3 people.  

Jen Booth – ‘Mixed Doubles’ bracelet in Strawberries and Cream ($49) Our dear pal Jen Booth is the Melbourne designer behind those cheerful leather lockets we’ve been wearing for the past couple of years.  ‘Mixed Doubles’ are her latest creation – a series of hand painted leather bracelets in the most delicious colour combos.

Cult Design - HAY Black Gym Hook Medium ($58.00) and HAY White Gym Hook Small from Cult Design ($42.00)  – OH HAY.  You really can do no wrong.  Always the perfect balance of stylish / quirky, you never disappoint.  (Buy anything and everything from Danish design brand HAY from Cult in Melbourne and Sydney).

Incu – Baxter Safety Razor ($120.00)  - Incu is one of our fave local fashion retailers, with stores in Melbourne and Sydney, and a extensive yet perfectly curated edit of menswear, womenswear, gifts and accessories.

Tailfeather - Finch (Roo) Wallet ($120.00) - Tailfeather are makers of fine leather goods, designed and handcrafted in Tallarook, Victoria.

Two Hills - Money Clip ($189.00) - Two Hills is an independent jewellery label based in Melbourne, specialising in small run, handmade pieces.

Daniel Emma – Block Book Ends ($120.00) – the darlings of the Adelaide design scene, Daniel and Emma To make functional objects for the home that often double as striking sculptural pieces.  These solid block book ends are another future classic from the DE archive!

Make Design Objects –  Kakkoii Wow Speaker ($90.00) - Make Design Objects is a brilliant Melbourne store with an exhaustively impressive range of international homewares and design brands all under one roof.  This sweet little Carlton store appears somewhat modest in size from the street, but expands over 2 levels inside – an excellent spot for gift hunting.

Lightly – Brass Bowl (comes in a set of 2) ($35.00)  - Lightly is one of our favourite local design houses, known for their lighting, ceramics, brassware and countless other locally designed functional pieces, stocked across Australia and Internationally.

Country Road – Tide Gold Carafe ($45.00), Itta Marble Rolling Pin ($59.95), Toru Bottle ($60.00), Ora Clock ($59.95) and Mitch Book End ($40.00). I’ve said it countless times before and I’m sure I’ll say it again, I am the biggest fan of Country Road – especially their homewares.  What is not to love about their beautiful new ‘Itta’ solid marble rolling pin – or that insanely beautiful ‘Tide’ Gold Carafe pictured above!? There is truly SO MUCH GOODNESS in there right now people, from tableware to bookends to clocks… and let’s not forget CR are famed for their complimentary Christmas gift wrap. Get onto it. Note – We’re splitting these prizes up between 2 people.

Top 3 Design – Normann Copenhagen Flip Table Mirror White ($160.00) – Top3 By Design is another brilliant one-stop shop for a great variety of design-inspired gifts.  We particularly love their range from Normann Copenhagen, like this striking Flip Table Mirror – an elegant, contemporary addition to any bathroom or dressing table.

Safari Living – Normann Copenhagen Stelton Jug ($220.00) and Tom Dixon Gemm tea light holder ($41.00)  - Safari Living has long been one of our fave go-to local stores for homewares and gifts for all occasions.  This year AS ALWAYS we’re loving Tom Dixon’s stuff (the man can do no wrong) – the ‘Gemm’ series is suitably festive, yet supremely versatile.  Meanwhile, the Normann Copenhagen Stelton Jug is almost too beautiful to use!  Many more gorgeous gift ideas can be found in store and online, so do have a look!

Third Drawer Down – Diamond Box ($24.00) and Tom Dixon Gemm Collection Tall Vase ($133.00) –  Third Drawer Down is another firm favourite for unique and stylish gift shopping in Melbourne (and online!).  More Tom Dixon goodness can be found here, alongside a wonderful and, at times, slightly wacky edit of gifts and stocking fillers for all ages.

Gorman – Connie Lichti Eye Platter ($89.00) – Gorman’s homewares line, ‘Home Time’ continues to go from strength to strength – we love this Eye platter by local ceramicist Connie Lichti, just one in an extensive range of locally crafted ceramic vessels.

Minami – Teruhiro Yanagihara 1616 / Artia Japan Squae Bowl (from $27.00) and Scholten and Baijings Arita Japan Coffee Cup ($89.00) - Minami is a new online store from local foodie Julia Busuttil Nishimura and her husband, Norihiko Nishimura, stocking a treasure trove of lovingly sourced Japanese tableware and homewares, bringing a touch of Japanese minimalism and restraint to a kitchen near you!

Champ – Rhombus Table Trivets ($59.00) - These Rhombus table Trivets / coasters are designed and made in Melbourne from recycled aeroplane tyres. Their tessellating shapes give rise to endless geometric shapes, encouraging playfulness at the dinner table!

Marble Basics – Basic Square Trivet ($55.00)  - These solid marble trivets from local label Marble Basics double as serving platters, and also are ideal for displaying makeup and toiletries in the bedroom or bathroom, protecting timber surfaces from drips and spills.

To enter, please CLICK HERE to fill out our 2014 Reader Survey! 

Jen Booth first invented the tiny leather locket.  You remember it.  WELL documented in these parts, Jen’s leather lockets took the internet by storm when she first launched them back in 2012.  Then came the ‘Large-ish’ leather lockets (aka, cross-body bags)… another instant classic.

AND though it has been a little while since those early days of locket-mania, this week, just in time for the last minute gift-hunt, our dear pal Ms Booth has launched her latest design – these bold and supremely stylish ‘Mixed Doubles‘ rolled leather bracelets, hand painted in a range of superb colours, and made right here in Melbourne.

After taking a leatherwork course in New York last year, and experimenting with various leather rolling, stitching and clasping methods, Jen sourced the perfect rolled French leather for her creations – we especially love the ‘liquorice’ thickness, and those elegant gold clasps!

But mainly, let’s face it… it’s all about the colours.

‘The tricky thing with leather, is that on a small scale, you can’t dictate the colours you want it to be – frustrating when you are obsessive about colour!’ says Jen. ‘Whilst trialling various hand dying and painting methods in my studio, I found that I could mix my own leather colours, and all my dreams came true!’

As the name suggests, these do tend to look particularly awesome when worn in pairs.  ‘I wanted the dual toned bracelets to be something you could wear solo, give one to your bestie, or wear in couplets or stacks in tandem colourways…’ says Jen. Like most things in life, more is more!

‘Mixed Doubles’ bracelets are $49 each and are available online here.

You can thank us later for the quick, last minute Christmas or end of year gifts these make, but more importantly, report back on how something so crunchy-delicious makes you feel. Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of Zinc, a vital mineral many of us are deficient in. Zinc plays an important role in sleep, mood and skin health, with the healthy fats protecting you from premature ageing.

Pumpkin seeds are also great for gut health, and are a staple amongst the TWP recipe collection, not only as a substitute to nuts, but as a topping to ice cream, salads and dinners. Buy your wholefoods in bulk to have them on hand for our recipes, or as a nutritionally dense addition to your own family favourites.

This brittle is also free from refined sugar, making it a surprisingly guilt-free indulgence for those with a sweet tooth!

Method

Line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Toast the pepitas in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat for 5 minutes or until fragrant.

Meanwhile, combine the bicarbonate of soda and spices in a bowl.

Bring the syrup and 1/3 cup (80 ml) water to the boil in a medium heavy-based saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer (being careful that the syrup does not bubble up too high) for 6–7 minutes or until it reaches 150°C (hard crack stage) on a sugar thermometer.

Working quickly, stir the pepitas and spice mixture into the syrup – it will bubble up slightly. Pour the mixture onto the lined tray and spread it out to a rectangle, about 30 cm x 25 cm. A silicone spatula is great for this job. Set aside to cool.

For the raw chocolate, whisk the coconut oil, cacao, maple syrup and salt until smooth and well combined.

Break the cooled brittle into shards and dip half of each shard in the melted chocolate. Return to the lined tray and sprinkle with a little salt and cacao nibs, or even some extra chopped pepitas. If you’re getting impatient, pop the tray in the fridge for a few minutes to help set the chocolate.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Rebecca (Bec) McJannett and Fatima (‘Fatty’!) Bertolini live in Marrickville with their two young sons, Sid and newborn Bowie (plus pets Sookie the Labrador Retriever, and Tazer the little black cat!).  Fatima is Brazilian, and the pair lived together for many years in the UK before moving to Sydney together.  They purchased their run down weatherboard cottage three years ago, after shifting through various rentals across Sydney, trying to find the area that suited them best.

Impressively, almost all the extensive renovations here have been done by Rebecca and Fatima themselves – aided by the fact that Rebecca works at IKEA  (handy!) and Fatima is a licensed plumber (even more handy!?).  ‘I planned the redesign and interiors, and Fatty regularly has to build/demolish and work closely with other trades so we have a pretty lucky skill set between us’ says Rebecca. Along the way, this industrious pair have sought the help of professionals where necessary – such as an excellent tiler, and an electrician.

‘We have almost completely rebuilt the house’ explains Bec.  ‘We started slowly by gutting the old bedroom/study/walk in robe that is now Sid and Bowie’s room, and reworking the bathroom, and it escalated from there!’.  The real work started in earnest when the pair  soon realised the kitchen ceiling was bulging because of the old leaky roof… at that point, it was on!  While renovating, the pair uncovered beautiful wood panelled ceilings and walls, some of which they were able to repair and retain.  (Much of their impressive renovation work has been documented on instagram using the hashtag #thelittleblackhouse – worth checking out for progress shots!)

‘We ripped up the old slate floors, reworked the kitchen living and dining to create an open plan room that opens onto the back deck and replaced horrid brown aluminium windows and doors’ says Bec.  The kitchen was recycled from an IKEA ex-display room set, with Bec planning the cabinet configuration perfectly to suit the space. The biggest job was the kitchen roof / ceiling.   ‘We removed the old roof and structure ourselves – my dad and brother came round to lend a hand because I was 3 months pregnant and suffering with morning sickness at the time!’ Bec recalls.

Though they’ve been here just three years, according to Bec, with its layers of history and nostalgia, this house has really been 15 years in the making.  ‘All the furniture and art is a reflection of mine and Fatty’s life together’ says Bec. The Cherner chair was Bec’s gift to herself for her 30th (‘I did have help to fund the purchase from friends and family!’ she says). The 100 year old battered leather armchair in the lounge room was a gift from Bec to Fatty for an early anniversary – they’ve been together 12 years.

The house is also full to the brim with art by creative friends – the large abstract painting in the living room is by British artist and illustrator James Daw, who is a dear friend, and Dad to Bec and Fatima’s two sons. There are portraits of Bec, Fatty and Sid are by another UK creative, Bec’s old friend and flat mate, photographer Brock Elbank.  Many more treasured pieces have been gifted/swapped/collected/found/repurposed and made by Bec or Fatima and their friends.

After nearly two years of weekend and evening renovating, Bec and Fatty are happy to finally lay down their tools and just enjoy the space they have created.  ‘Mostly we love that we have a relaxed, functional a family home’ says Bec. ‘But I think rather than an aesthetic, our home has a feel. A feeling of familiarity, and of love because of the collection of memories throughout. The stuff that fills our house reflects the days Fatty and I have shared. There are memories attached to most of the bric a brac… and while it’s a challenge keeping it dusted (!!), we walk into the house and we ‘feel’ home’.

When Melbourne not-for-profit organisation the Aslyum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC, for short) found themselves with the ambitious and somewhat daunting task of relocating to a 3,000 square metre run-down office space over two levels of a commercial building in Footscray earlier this year, they put a call out for help.  Amongst the many businesses and individuals who offered donations, furniture, decorating materials, and valuable time was Melbourne interior designer Petrina Turner.

Having been a volunteer at the ASRC for almost five years prior to this project, Petrina was the ideal candidate to offer her assistance in revamping the interiors for the new ASRC ‘Home of Hope’ centre.  In early February, she attended a working bee at the new site in Footscray.  The sheer scale of the space was overwhelming  (See here for a a pretty daunting ‘before’ pic!) but Petrina was buoyed by the efforts of an army of fellow volunteers.  She rose to the challenge, joining the ASRC team to create a welcoming, colourful and uplifting space here – with almost zero budget.  Relying on the generous donations of local businesses and individuals, Petrina worked closely with Kon Karapanagiotidis, the ASRC’s passionate CEO and founder, to turn a soul-less commercial shell into a friendly, functional space. No mean feat!

As Kon Karapanagiotidis knows, creating a safe, comfortable space and a feeling of ‘home’ is central to the ASRC’s mission.  ‘With the brilliant work of Petrina Turner we have been able to design a sanctuary for refugees. A place where people fleeing war & terror find peace, dignity and welcome’ explains Kon. ‘Many of our people are survivors of war and torture: open space, colour, warmth, and a ‘non institutional’ feel are all key to creating a feeling of home, diffusing a sense of disempowerment, and creating a sense of security and freedom from fear’.

Everyday, this new space in Footscray now allows the ASRC and their army of over 1000 volunteers to provide a free lunch to 300 people, food parcels to 200 families a week, and help to over 1500 people a week across 23 programs and two floors.  It’s a buzzing community hub, with an overwhelming sense of optimism, hope and potential.

We spoke to Petrina about her involvement with the ASRC, and the challenge she faced to create a truly welcoming ‘Home of Hope’ here.

Hi Petrina, tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am an interior designer and maker running my design practice Petrina Turner Design, with over 20 years experience in the design industry and covering a broad range of design services including residential and commercial interiors, styling, and product design and development. I have a love of mid-century architecture and design, contemporary furniture and lighting, lush textiles and a passion for the power of colour. I believe that your environment plays a huge role in how you feel, and that everyone deserves a beautiful space to nurture their soul.

How did your involvement with the design of the new ASRC ‘Home of Hope’ headquarters  originally come about?

For almost five years I have been a volunteer at the ASRC in their SASA (Supporting Asylum Seeker at Appointments) program, and have seen first hand the wonderful work they do at the coalface. In early February I helped out at one of their working bees to get the new site in Footscray ready.  On the first day I turned up it was a mere shell of the interior, many of internal walls had already been removed by an amazing army of volunteers.  (See here for a ‘before’ pic!) They had a fantastic turnout by those in the community happy to donate their time to this wonderful organisation and the people they help.

The move was facilitated by the ASRC’s corporate partners, who arranged the bulk of the building works, but I was sure there was some way I could help given my design experience, so I approached Kon (who was there lifting/ moving/ carrying a bigger load than anyone) and asked what he needed. From here we sat down in the empty shell of what would become their new ‘Home of Hope’ and started planning.

I was privileged to be able to give my time and provide my professional services to help with their interiors.

What was the original vision for this space? 

Kon’s vision was to create a place where asylum seekers feel welcome, safe and supported, and the amazing team of staff and volunteers there do just that. My brief was to create a ‘home’ that reflected these values, using furniture and furnishings generously donated by the ASRC’s corporate partners and the community.

Kon and I have a shared passion for colour and the role it can play in lifting peoples spirit. This was the starting point for the ASRC’s new home.  The new space has a large, open plan community zone, with uses including reception, computer hub, recreations, food bank, community meals, music, childrens play area, and a general home away from home for some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Past this open zone you then move into the ASRC’s other important services – legal, health, counselling, aid and so much more.

Colour became a mechanism to differentiate the zones, while at the same time giving a sense of welcome to everyone who uses it: the asylum seekers, the hundreds of volunteers and the staff. I also wanted it to reflect the uplifting spirit of the people who inhabit it. Aside from the importance colour played in the function and feel of the space, there was the need to ensure that the open space would be flexible and work for a multitude of functions.

This is one of those rare projects where there was little or no budget, but a huge amount of goodwill from the ARSC’s supporters. The bulk of their furniture was donated from corporate partners, and my task was to arrange this eclectic collection into practical, usable zones. I also put out a call on instagram for some additional donations of rugs, cushions and art, so that I could truly make it a home away from home, and I was overwhelmed by the response. As someone who loves a challenge I set to work grouping, arranging, editing, curating to create diverse, welcoming spaces within a space.

What has been the response so far?

The response has been wonderful. To see people using, enjoying, sharing this space is so heartwarming. It’s wonderful to see the ASRC being used to it’s fullest, and then some. I think the work that everyone put into the new ASRC, starting with Kon, his staff, the volunteers, their corporate partners, the community, and the amazing men women and children who seek their help, shows the full meaning of community spirit. Just to see the smiles on the faces of those who spend time here is so heartwarming.

In my small way I hope I have helped to contribute to a place that is welcoming and nurturing to everyone who walks in. The beauty of the ASRC’s Home of Hope is that it is continually shapeshifting according to it’s needs, and I will always by available to help them.

The ASRC Christmas Appeal

Amidst the frenzy of Christmas shopping and entertaining today and over the coming few days, do consider making a donation to the ASRC’s annual Christmas appeal – a little goes such a long way to assist with the vital services they offer to refugees right here in Melbourne!  You can DONATE ONLINE HERE.