Real Living Australia

I’VE JUST BOUGHT SOME new dining chairs. They arrive in a few days and I can’t wait. I’ve spent years looking for the perfect vintage ones: ladder-back, woven rush-seat, not too ornate but with some decorative detail. It’s a style that my Dutch grandmother used to have and I’ve always loved. In my own home they’ll take on a new look as I’ll team them with a more contemporary table and tableware. But the nostalgia of childhood meals with my family in The Netherlands will be there every time I sit down. Do any of your furniture pieces have a special meaning? Perhaps it’s something that’s been handed down, or a new purchase to signify a milestone or achievement. For anyone looking for the later, this issue we’ve rounded up some…

force of nature An easy and cost-effective design element, blankets are the pretty yet practical warming solution your interior needs, providing a low-risk opportunity to express your personality and explore new styles. gently does it Choosing the most functional and attractive throw rug or blanket for your space requires consideration of colour, size, texture and location. While minimalist homes benefit from a fresh hit of colour or pattern, a character-filled interior may find success through the exploration of scale and texture in a location that could use some visual layers. model ashleighm/viviens | hair + makeup michellecox | styling assistants rikke harker, annacampbell…

little gems Byron Bay studio Temple of The Sun has released its Lucia fine jewellery collection. We love the ‘Riva’ garnet earrings, $579. Templeofthesun.com.au HYDRA HELP Soothe, restore and hydrate your skin with Go-To’s new Much Plumper Skin Hydrating Serum, $48. Gotoskincare.com style crush Power through the winter months in style with gorgeous new active/leisure wear from The Upside. The label’s Love Club spring/summer 2022 collection features elevated basics in soft fabrics. Our pick? This go-anywhere ‘Retrograde’ jacket in Black, $249.99. Theupside.com.au HOLIDAY VIBES The Islas summer 2022 collection from Faithfull The Brand showcases luxurious basics and timeless shapes in fresh white, bright green and soft tangerine. The ‘Paradise’ shirt, $169, and ‘Sereno’ shorts, $159, in Maya Stripe are on our wishlist. Au.faithfullthebrand.com staff pick IERACE Art director fine and dandy New to the Dandelion collection from Bonnie and Neil are…

WHEN INTERIOR DESIGNER ALEXANDRA PONTING first saw the proposed Fella Swim location in Sydney’s Paddington, it was bleak. “The site was pretty derelict,” says Alexandra, founder of AP Design House. “It was a dirty concrete pit with a very illegal makeshift staircase and a dodgy sliding front entry door. It needed to be gutted – which suited me!” Alexandra removed walls, built a new staircase and constructed a fresh street facade in order to fulfill her clients’ wish of achieving an elegant, European-style boutique influenced by Milan and Capri in Italy. “The New Guinea rosewood French doors with walnut stain and sidelight windows with beautiful detail are classic,” says Alexandra. “The pairing of the black and white awning, brass hardware, Carrara marble front stoop, black lacework balustrade and the original…

ADDING TO THE EXTENSIVE LIST of things the Swiss are superior at, USM has inscribed its name as a modular furniture brand rivalled by none. USM is an acronym derived from the name of its founder (Ulrich Schaerer) and the village of Münsingen in Switzerland, where the brand was established and is still based. Originating as a metalwork company in 1885, USM started out by developing window fittings and ornamental hinges. The company has undergone significant developments in its products and services since its origin. Today, USM is revered by design connoisseurs around the globe for its simple furniture lines that champion flexibility and modularity. The 1960s was arguably the most significant era of innovation for the family business, with a headquarters, factory and private Schaerer family residence conceived and built. All…