Australian House & Garden April 2022

“We showcase a selection of houses that represent the CONTEMPORARY Australian aesthetic.” The Australian House & Garden team doesn’t often get time to go on team outings – the deadlines come around quickly, and there are many moving parts in each issue. We made a fabulous exception just before Christmas, spending a wonderfully creative afternoon at a shibori workshop in Sydney, hosted by Karen Davis and Pepa Martin, the dynamic and very talented founders of textiles studio, Shibori. The word inspirational gets thrown around a lot these days, sometimes prematurely, but these women really have done the hard yards together. They have forged a strong friendship, a successful business and teaching practice and myriad commercial collaborations. Perhaps most importantly, they have worked together to accommodate Pepa having MS. Pepa acknowledges that the…

‘Precious cargo has arrived’ was the text message my husband sent me while he was out doing our weekly grocery shopping. A picture of February’s H&G was attached. I love him so much – after 37 years of marriage, he always knows exactly what I need. I curled up on the lounge with a cuppa and enjoyed an afternoon of complete relaxation as I turned each page. Lynda Bonson, Fannie Bay, NT FRESH PERSPECTIVE All I wanted was new cushions for my family living space, but an almighty (and rather overwhelming) search gave me nothing but donuts. Feeling somewhat deflated, I picked up the latest issue of H&G on the way home and sat down to relax with a cup of tea and my favourite magazine. With my own decorating issue at the…

Many architects worship minimalism and its simple, uncluttered aesthetic – Richard Archer included – but in his own home in inner-city Sydney, he has left it at the door. Within this urban hideaway, he celebrates maximalism to the… er… max, and is quite unapologetic about it. The always surprising results are an exuberant expression of his personality and all that he loves and values. “I am most certainly no minimalist when it comes to my own style,” he says. “In fact, I am inspired far more by [19th-century English Neoclassical architect] Sir John Soane than [contemporary Minimalist architect] John Pawson.” He even conjures up Versailles when asked to describe what makes this house unique. “‘Reflection’ is an obvious word to describe my home – it’s like a small Hall of Mirrors.”…

“MY FAVOURITE COLOUR? CELADON. IS THERE A MORE CALMING TONE?” FIRST HOME? A Minimalist (yes!) apartment designed by Engelen Moore. It was a tiny blank slate that, due to great planning and detailing, had an aesthetic that responded well to just a bit of layering… FAVOURITE DESTINATION? New York (4)! Home to many dear friends, it is a city I simply never tire of visiting. My blood pumps faster as I approach Manhattan, as it inspires me professionally and culturally. FAVOURITE RESTAURANT? China Doll in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo. Its idyllic waterside setting and perfect blend of Asian and Australian flavours never disappoint. SIGNATURE DISH? Does opening another bottle of Bollinger (6) count? Oh, I guess I do make a rather tasty plum and rosemary tart. DREAM CAR? A Jaguar E-Type (8). FAVOURITE PLANT? The New Zealand pohutukawa…

TIMBER, GLASS, METAL, FABRIC… THERE’S A LIGHT FITTING TO MATCH EVERY AESTHETIC.A BEAUTIFUL, GLOWING LIGHT IS LIKE A PIECE OF JEWELLERY FOR THE ROOM.A PENDANT LIGHT IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU SEE WHEN YOU WALK INTO A ROOM: IT CAN ADD A SENSE OF DRAMA OR POISE – OR BOTH.MULTIPLE LIGHTING SOURCES ARE IMPORTANT IN OUTDOOR SPACES TOO, HELPING TO EASE THE SWITCH FROM DINING TO LOUNGING. For Where to Buy, see page 188. Stylist’s assistants Kate Lincoln, Nonci Nyoni & Pavarne Lambert.…

Produced by Saffron Sylvester. Photograph by The Ingalls (12).…