Belle

subscribe to belle

SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE » 8 ISSUES OF BELLE FOR $74.99 VIA AUTOMATIC RENEWAL » TWO BONUS COFFEE CUPS VALUED IN THE PATTERN OF YOUR CHOICE – CHOOSE FROM ‘AMALFI’ OR ‘PALAZZO’ » SAVE 18% OFF THE NEWSSTAND PRICE » FREE DELIVERY OF THE MAGAZINE TO YOUR HOME EACH MONTH Already a subscriber? SIMPLY EXTEND YOUR SUBSCRIPTION WITH THIS OFFER TO RECEIVE YOUR BONUS GIFT. MAGSHOP.COM.AU/COFFEE 136 116 AND QUOTE M222BEL For Terms and Conditions, visit www.magshop.com.au/coffee. Savings are based on retail cover price of $11.50. Please see Contents page for location of our Privacy Notice. If you do not want your information provided to any organisation not associated with this offer, please indicate this clearly at time of order or notify the Promoter in writing. Offer valid from 10/01/2022 to 23/02/2022 to Australian residents only. The offer includes a bonus…

editor’s letter

Eclectic is a controversial word in the world of interiors. I can remember Belle’s former editor-in-chief and now TV personality and design aficionado, Neale Whitaker, banning its use for a while. I can see his point – it is one of those words you can lazily bandy about in place of a better, more thoughtful description. But many global forces are bringing about a new eclecticism – it can be maximalist, minimalist, luxe or pared back. It is partly driven by a more considered and conscientious effort towards sustainability. Recent pandemic-induced supply issues have also given us a push to buy more local and vintage. And always at the heart of a great interior is an interest in history and art, and a recognition that a lot of older pieces…

influences

A PAST WINNER IN THE BELLE INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS AND A FINALIST IN THE 2021 EDITION, INTERIOR DESIGNER YASMINE GHONIEM FIRST ROSE TO ATTENTION IN AMBER ROAD, A DESIGN BUSINESS WITH HER SISTER, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT KATY SVALBE. NOW PRINCIPAL OF MULTI-DISCIPLINARY YSG STUDIO, HER ENERGETIC VISION IS DRAWING ACCOLADES FROM ALL QUARTERS FOR HER BRILLIANTLY CUSTOMISED INTERIORS, WHETHER BOUTIQUE HOTEL, CELEBRITY RESIDENCE OR COLLABORATION, SUCH AS HER ‘FANTALES’ KITCHEN FOR LAMINEX (PICTURED). “PERFECTION IN MY BOOK IS ABOUT COHESIVE CLASHES AND UNPREDICTABLE CONCLUSIONS. IT’S IMPERATIVE THAT DESIGN OUTCOMES SUPERSEDE OUR CLIENTS’ WILDEST EXPECTATIONS,” SHE SAYS. YSG.STUDIO 01 INSPIRING SPACES 02 ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS 03 BOUTIQUES 04 DECORATION 05 LUXE SUSTAINABILITY 06 DESIGN 07 ART & COLLECTABLES 08 CREATIVE TYPES + ARTISANS ANDÉOL MOIRÉ IMAGE TAKEN AT QUANDANG COTTAGE, A SUSTAINABLE RESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE, BYRON BAY.…

potent vision

I AM OFTEN ASKED, if I had a house to build, which architect I would choose from the many I have interviewed over the years. And while there may have been dalliances here and there, Timothy Hill of Partners Hill in Hobart, Tasmania, remains my enduring flame. The reasons are many but gather around the notion (adopted from Alvar Aalto) of ‘life-enhancing charm’ and how this is created from a certain unevenness born of a ‘high’ and ‘low’ mix of materials. Add to this his wisdom as to life’s mutability and hence a sensibility around future-proofing design decisions, and in this winning trifecta, how gardens, folded in and around the built form, quite simply make everything better. He is also witty and smart so you need to bring your best game.…

street smart

THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS 2021 NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AWARDS CELEBRATE THE VERY BEST NEW BUILDINGS THE NATION HAS TO OFFER IN A BROAD RANGE OF CATEGORIES, FROM RESIDENTIAL TO CIVIC, PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL. TAKING OUT TWO KEY AWARDS THIS YEAR WAS THE WORK OF SMART DESIGN STUDIO (FEATURED IN THE MAY 2021 ISSUE OF BELLE AND SHOWN HERE, LEFT AND THIS IMAGE) FOR ITS COMBINED STUDIO AND LIVING SPACE IN SYDNEY’S ALEXANDRIA. IT WON THE PRESTIGIOUS HARRY SEIDLER AWARD FOR COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE AND THE EMIL SODERSTEN AWARD FOR INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE. THE JURY NOTED THAT THIS PROJECT EFFORTLESSLY COMBINES “STRIDENTLY NEW AND INNOVATIVE STRUCTURES AND ADAPTIVELY REUSED INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE FABRIC”. SMARTDESIGNSTUDIO.COM…

star turn

Astronomer and mathematician Basil Borun was determined that he should be able to view the stars from his wheelchair in the living room of his yet-to-be designed home in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Step forward architect Peter Stutchbury, who gave him that opportunity by including a massive unglazed oculus (it’s 3.5 x 2.5 metres) in his design. Named Night Sky, the home is constructed from recycled bricks, and includes hydronic underfloor heating, a photovoltaic system with battery storage and a 60,000-litre rainwater tank. Unsurprisingly, it won the 2021 Robin Boyd Award for Residential Houses (New). peterstutchbury.com.au…