Sommaire pour July 2017 de Country Style

I used to spend my life on a horse and travelled all around NSW competing, so my 17-year-old self would never have imagined that I would end up where I am today — working in an office and without a horse, although I’m trying to rectify that last bit. (Everyone jokes that any story with a horsey angle will make it into the pages of Country Style and I have to admit that they might have a point.) Christian and Laura Hayes of Hidden Trails by Horseback, on page 104, really do have my dream job. They spend their days guiding riders through some of Australia’s most spectacular landscapes, from the Victorian High Country near their home just outside Mansfield to Western Australia’s East Kimberley region. One day I would…

 JAMES BJORKSTEN, FOUNDER of Hereford Red Beef is a third-generation cattle farmer, and a thoroughly modern man. Fresh from dropping daughters Grace and Lola at school and day care, we meet outside the Yeoval village pub in central NSW — 20 kilometres down the road from Wandoo Wandong, his family’s cattle farm. “We introduce a few new bulls each year but we haven’t added any new cows for 55 years.” It’s a hot day, pushing 41 degrees, but James, 36, a qualified agronomist and animal nutritionist, is as cool as a cucumber. Red dirt billows after his ute as we head down the long driveway to his family property. Handsome Hereford bulls with their signature white faces, and rust coloured bodies as big as small cars, lie languidly under tall…

1 ‘Speckle’ jug in Seagrass, $39, and ‘Speckle’ tumbler in White, $29, both from Zakkia. 2 Leff Amsterdam ‘Tone’ wall clock, $180, from Design Stuff. 3 Mohair throw in ‘Natural’, $199.95, from Provincial Home Living. 4 ‘Squat Geo Cage’ pendant light, $695, from Temple and Webster. 5 Low-sheen acrylic paint in Pireaus, $45.40 for 1L, from Porter s Paints. 6 Low-sheen acrylic paint in Lambs Wool, $45.40 for 1L, from Porters Paints. 7 Embelton Aqua Tuf flooring in Pewter, from $49.90 a square metre, from Carpet Court. 8 ‘Jensen’ large floor lamp, $322.50, from Temple and Webster. 9 ‘Melibu’ rug, $899, from Freedom. 10 ‘Broadwell’ vase in Green, $39.95, from Sheridan. 11 Jute ‘Braid’ hamper and basket, $79.95 each, both from Freedom. 12 Flared cereal bowl in Slate, $78, from…

Your bedroom should be your haven, a place where you can rest your head on soft cushions and find warmth and comfort under layers of cosy woollen blankets on a cold winter’s evening. Make a stylish statement with beautiful wallpaper and complete the look with finely detailed pillowcases. Love these decorating ideas? Find even more at homelife.com.au/decorating…

Of all the fruits, quince is probably one of the most misunderstood. The knobbled, luminous yellow fruit, inedible when raw, only reveals its fragrance and jewel-like ruby colouring with long, slow cooking. If you’ve never attempted to cook one before, now is the time. Quince can be made into jam or paste, to serve with cheese or as a sweetmeat, baked in butter and honey and served with cream, made into pies or puddings, or added to savoury stews. MEET THE PRODUCER Charlie Arnott, Charlie Arnott Grass Fed Beef — Naturally, Boorowa, NSW When Charlie Arnott took over Hanaminno — the family farm in Boorowa, NSW — he farmed it the same way his father had. “We ran a conventional mixed farm; cattle, sheep and crops,” he says. “It was…

BANKSIA CABIN DOLPHIN SANDS, TASMANIA Beachcombers will love this rustic getaway in the dunes behind Nine Mile Beach on Tasmania’s east coast. Surrounded by white sand and dune grasses that sway and rustle in the breeze, Dolphin Sands is a relatively untouched stretch of land almost surrounded by water — on one side is Great Oyster Bay and on the other is the Swan River. The pink granite forms of the Hazards in Freycinet National Park are visible from Nine Mile Beach, which is “great for collecting shells in winter,” says Missie Austwick, who bought Banksia Cabin — a cluster of “old hydro Tasmanian huts” — six years ago and has renovated them using reclaimed timbers. Best suited to couples, the vibe here is earthy and laidback — there’s a…

“A LOT OF THE THINGS WE’VE BEEN TOLD TO DO — USE A FOAMING CLEANSER ON OILY SKIN, LATHER ON MOISTURISER FOR DRY SKIN — ARE ACTUALLY DETRIMENTAL AND EXACERBATE THE PROBLEMS.” WHEN GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING musician Alicia Keys declared she was going make-up free in 2016, the global beauty industry took a collective gasp. Then it demanded to know what the acne-prone star used to get such flawless skin. MV Organic Skincare’s 9 Oil Tonic — a luxurious cleanser that blends camellia and avocado oil with essential oils — was key to her daily routine. “Alicia’s make-up artist, Dotti, is my friend and she’s been using MV on her for six years,” says Sharon McGlinchey, founder of the Sydney-based beauty brand that also counts actresses Brooke Shields, Emma Watson and…

Ace of Something aceofsomething.com.au Andrea and Joen (02) 8399 1818 andreaandjoen.com Assembly Label assemblylabel.com Aura Home 1300 304 269 aurahome.com.au Beacon Lighting (03) 8561 1599 beaconlighting.com.au Bensimon (07) 5446 6992 bensimonaustralia.com.au Bellebird Handmade bellebirdhandmade.bigcartel.com Bunnings (03) 8831 9777 bunnings.com.au Carpet Court 1300 227 738 carpetcourt.com.au Citta cittadesign.com Country Road 1800 801 911 countryroad.com.au Cotton On Kids 1800 420 176 cottonon.com Cult Design cultdesign.com.au Curators Collective 0413 362 020 curatorscollective.com.au David Jones 1800 354 663 davidjones.com.au Dedece (03) 9650 9600 dedece.com Design Stuff (03) 9592 2960 designstuff.com.au Dulux 13 25 25 dulux.com.au Eames shop.eamesoffice.com Established For Design (03) 9509 7209 www.establishedfordesign.com.au Freedom 1300 135 588 freedom.com.au Hale Mercantile Co (03) 9939 1267 halemercantilecolinen.com Haymes 1800 033 431 haymespaint.com.au Heatherly Design (03) 5772 2089heatherlydesign.com.auHouse Doctor curatorscollective.com.auHouse of Orange (03) 9500 9991 houseoforangeshop.com.au IKEA ikea.com/au I Love Linen 1300 859 773 ilovelinen.com.au Inartisan 0432 511 494 inartisan.com Jonathan Adler 1800 021 109 au.amara.com Juju and Co (02) 9698 7769 jujuandco.com.au Lack…

NANCY MERLO Our talented production editor loved working on this month’s travel story in the English countryside, page 88 . “It looks straight out of a fairytale book,” says Nancy of photographer Abbie Melle’s story about her life and work in Wiltshire in the south west of England. “Her photographs really capture the beauty of the countryside. I like that we share stories about real people and families, doing amazing and interesting things with their lives.” Nancy joined Country Style in October last year after working for titles including Virgin Australia’s Voyeur and Collective Hub. She’s always called Sydney home, but has fond memories of visiting her mother’s home town of Shepparton, in northern Victoria, as a child. “I’ll never know what it’s like to ride a horse to…

BEST IN SHOW WA Derby Boab Festival until July 16th Now in its 56th year, WA’s longest-running town festival celebrates the West Kimberley lifestyle and includes a parade, country music, corroboree, horseracing, sporting events, markets and a big line up of art and culture. Highlights include the Derby Bush Poets’ Breakfast, the Ta-Ta Film Festival, the Great Kimberley Art Auction and the Kimberley Art Prize, and the Larrkardi NAIDOC Ball. Bookings required for some events. 1800 621 426; boabfestival.org.au QUEENSLAND Birdsville Big Red Bash July 4th–6th Staged at the base of Big Red, a 30-metre high dune in the Simpson Desert, this three-day festival of music and family-friendly entertainment features some of Australia’s best-loved acts, including Missy Higgins, Lee Kernaghan, James Reyne and Mark Seymour, Kate Ceberano, The…

“I wanted to be on acreage, in a house with high ceilings and with a sense of space.” LIFE OFTEN FOLLOWS ITS OWN familiar pattern until a major event brings change. For Kate Brew, it was her husband Adrian Battiston’s new career as a recruiter in AFL football that was to take her family from their Adelaide Hills home to a new life in a rambling 1930s farmhouse in Ballan, central Victoria. In 2015, just before making the big move, the family’s home was threatened by a bushfire. Miraculously, it survived unscathed but for Kate, the near disaster distilled in her the important things in life. It was also the impetus for Kate, who had studied textiles, to finally follow her dream of handcrafting found objects into original pieces for…

PAUL DE ZWART AND ARIEL CHILDS have distilled life in the English countryside down to its essence, creating a cosy retreat in Dorset, a county three hours south-west of London. Their success in capturing the quintessential, homely country feel is worth noting, because they both come from very different worlds. Ariel was born in New York and grew up in the US, while Paul was born in the Philippines, the son of Dutch parents whose work meant they frequently moved house. Paul grew up in Italy and studied at Boston University, and had never lived in the same place for more than a few years until he moved to London. Ariel and Paul met in 1997 at Wallpaper* magazine, where they were creative director and founding publisher. Now Ariel is…

SCHOOLHOUSE FISH PIES Serves 4 (See photograph, page 73) These golden potato-topped pies are filled with a creamy white sauce swimming with pieces of soft white fish. This is classic comfort food and you’ll find each forkful is a restorative mouthful. 80g butter 1 white onion, peeled, finely diced 2 anchovy fillets, drained, chopped 2 bay leaves 2 garlic cloves, peeled, finely chopped ¼ cup plain flour 2 cups milk 1 tablespoon hot English mustard 500g boneless white fish fillets, cut into 2cm pieces ½ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley 1 tablespoon chopped dill 1 tablespoon baby capers, rinsed, drained 1 lemon, rind finely grated, juiced 4 large floury potatoes, peeled, roughly chopped pinch of nutmeg pinch of paprika ½ cup grated cheddar steamed green beans, to serve Place 40g of…

THE WEATHER turned out and so did our readers, with a record number of attendees soaking up the sunny atmosphere of our ninth annual Producers’ Lunch at Orange FOOD Week. Upon arrival at Nashdale Hall, guests sampled the wares of local producers at the small farmers’ market, which offered a unique opportunity to hear some of the wonderful stories behind the food. Inside, the two-course lunch (with a producers’ plate the centrepiece) was enjoyed with local wines on long tables decorated with seasonal blooms. Don’t miss out on booking ahead for next year — our very special 10th anniversary lunch!…

IT’S A MAGICAL KIND of early autumn day in the magnificent Victorian High Country, when the air is still warm and sunlight filters through the shadows of the towering forest of alpine ash. High up on Howqua Gap, the narrow ridgeline between the summits of Mount Stirling and Mount Buller, Christian Hayes and his staff prepare a barbecue lunch for their group of guests who’ve spent the morning riding horses through this spectacular mountain terrain. Later that evening as everyone gathers around a campfire at Razorback Hut — one of the traditional High Country refuges — Christian is joined by the rest of the team, his wife Laura, and their children, one-year-old Digby and Madeline, now four. “Madeline comes on trips with us and did her first ride with us…

FOR MOST SUN LOVING PEOPLE, winter is their least favourite time of the year. Not me, its my favourite season — seeing the garden and house surrounded with mist brings the word ‘sanctuary’ to mind. Nothing is more nurturing than a warm house with a fire roaring, for me that is a home. For the garden it’s a period of rest. Due to our high mountain elevation and cold winters, often peppered with light dustings of snow, little growth is occurring. By now we’ve cut all the perennials to the ground, fed and mulched the beds, and the trees have shed their deciduous coats. This lack of herbaceous foliage and bare trees leaves only the garden’s structural and green architecture to prevail. Now is the time for the hedges…

WEAR FAIR Dalcheri’s knitwear for men and women, ethically made in merino or silk, combines sustainability with timeless style and down-to-earth sophistication. (03) 5728 2711; dalcheri.com.au WHAT’S COOKING? Smeg’s Thermoseal 90cm freestanding cookers are the result of decades of development in oven technology and allow you to whip up chef-quality meals with ease. (02) 8667 4888; smeg.com.au GET CLUCKY Spoil your chickens rotten with a ‘Chicken Palace’, Royal Rooster’s Australian-made walk-in backyard home for between four to 10 birds. Extended runs are available for larger broods. 1800 817 745; royalrooster.com.au BON VOYAGE Trish and Dave of Petit Tours en France do all the hard work so your French vacance can be au parfait. Their guided tours for groups of six people are well-planned and feature luxury accommodation and local cuisine…

“RURAL PEOPLE PROBABLY THINK CITY DWELLERS FOLLOW TRENDS RATHER THAN VALUES.” NOW LOOK HERE, it’s just not true that when an aeroplane flies over our place, the villagers all rush out and point to the skies. And okay, we’re now smart enough to know that the NBN rollout would never come this way, but we no longer think that the ‘internet’ is where we want the fish to go, and that ‘laptop’ is where the cat sleeps. I’m making this clear because city folk seem to cling to the belief that out here we’re a little behind the times, a little slow to embrace progress. I read a recent survey — yes, a surprising number of us can read — which stated that urbanites believe rural folk stand in the…

INSTAGRAM One of our Country Style Instagram followers@suzy andrew albore kindly shared with us that her 12-year-old son read the article about woodworker Erin Malloy (@erinmalloy) in our May issue. Her son was so inspired by her handmade pieces (right) that he insisted his mum track down a local wood crafter. He and his two young brothers are now taking lessons. Photography Marnie Hawson. Follow us on Instagram @countrystylemag We shot the cover for May’s Handmade Issue at Georgie Leckey’s Acheron valley farm in central Victoria. Georgie launched her business Heatherly Design, making upholstered bedheads from one of the sheds on the farm. Photography Lisa Cohen. Styling Tess Newman-Morris TUSCANY DREAMING Country Style has long been a monthly highlight — I enjoy the places it takes me while sitting on…

I CANNOT TELL you how many times a day I think about what I can do to improve my house. Not to make it more efficient, less dusty or maybe mouse-proof, but just to make it more beautiful and somehow bigger, while leaving the footprint unchanged. So much thinking (almost zero actual action, mind you) and I would very much like it to stop. Shelter is one thing. As is comfort. But this constant pinging in my head of: “Oh, wouldn’t it be nice to knock out that wall and shift our bedroom into here”, or “Everything will be okay once I have sanded and lime washed the cypress pine floorboards and don’t have to look at that orange anymore”, or “Why are those aluminium windows so damn ugly?” I…

“We consider ourselves lucky to be part of such a warm community, and Jarrod has had amazing help in learning to farm.” STYLIST CARLIE OATES HAS WORKED with some of fashion’s most famed beauties. Miranda Kerr, Poppy Delevingne and Rachael Taylor among them. But when she left behind her career, and moved with her husband Jarrod Medley to Jugiong, about three-and-a-half hours’ drive south-west of Sydney in NSW’s Riverina, she became acquainted with another species of long, lithesome creature. “King brown snakes are the only things that ever make me regret leaving the city for our life here,” says Carlie, 32, visibly shuddering. “I like to think our dogs, B and Buddy, deter them to a degree, but the brown snakes are the reason our front door — which in…

“As the weather warmed, wild garlic and bluebells sprung up in the woodlands.”  LAST APRIL I FLEW to the other side of the world, to a small hamlet among the green fields of Wiltshire and the welcome of one very energetic English pointer dog called Mr Whiskey, and photographer, Marte Marie Forsberg. “We lived on the edge of an old estate with oak trees and woods stretched out behind.” I went to assist Marie as she wrote and photographed her cookbook — a series of recipes and reflections on her journey from Norway to England. I had admired Marie’s stunning depictions and imagery of her life in Wiltshire for many years, while living myself in the small country town of Yass, located in the Southern Tablelands of NSW. Marie’s…