Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Belle

OUR COVER Photography Nicole England EDITORIAL Editor-in-chief Tanya Buchanan Creative director Lauren Camilleri Art director Shayne Burton Deputy editor Hannah James Senior copy editor Deborah Grant Stylist, Homes Sophie Wilson Contributing editors Steve Cordony (Style director-at-large), Karen McCartney (Architecture), Kirstie Clements (Luxe Files), Judy Pascoe (Library), Carli Philips (Melbourne), Harry Roberts (Art), Jean Wright (Design) EDITORIAL OFFICE GPO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW 1028 Tel (02) 9282 8456, email: belle@aremedia.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Kirsten Bookallil, Sharyn Cairns, Claire Delmar, Nicole England, Sean Fennessy, Jack Fenby, Joseph Gardner, Peter Griffiths, Armelle Habib, Stephanie Hope, Timothy Kaye, Alana Landsberry, Olga Lewis, Megan Morton, Felicity Ng, Tim O’Connor, Eliza O’Hare, Maria Papantoniou, Chris Pearson, Tom Roe, Jacques Romanin, Prue Ruscoe, Anson Smart, Lillie Thompson, Dave Wheeler. ADVERTISING Head of Commercial, Home & Lifestyle Rhyl Heavener…

ITALY TRACE MATERIAL CAFFÈ NAZIONALE, IN THE NORTHERN ITALIAN CITY OF ARZIGNANO, HAS BEEN ARTFULLY REIMAGINED BY AMAA STUDIO. WITH A NUANCED APPROACH TO HISTORICAL TRACES, MARCELLO GALIOTTO AND ALESSANDRA RAMPAZZO HAVE CREATED A SERIES OF COLLABORATIVE INTERVENTIONS WITH ARTISTS – SUCH AS THE DISTINCTIVE ENTRANCE DOOR CREATED FROM BURNISHED IRON WITH A HANDLE OF GREEN SERPENTINE MARBLE, CUSTOM-DESIGNED BY THE ARTIST NERO/ALESSANDRO NERETTI. AMAA.STUDIO MELBOURNE COMFORT INN It’s no surprise that Melbourne practice Kennedy Nolan – with its facility for colour and tactility – won two major awards at the 2025 Victorian Architecture Awards for its project ‘Melbourne Place’. The Marion Mahony Award for Interior Architecture and The Sir Osborn McCutcheon Award for Commercial Architecture recognised the studio’s innate ability to make people feel good through a mix of…

01_LA DOLCE SWIM CDLP meets Passalacqua on the shores of Lake Como – think sun-drenched mornings, espresso in hand and sleek swimwear that could pass for evening wear. This limited-edition collab marries Italian decadence with Scandi cool. cdlp.com 02 SARTORIAL SCENT Penhaligon’s ‘The Cut’ saunters through the ordinary with a spicy sparkle and a twist of rose in its lapel. Inspired by Savile Row tailoring, it cuts a fine figure and imbues the wearer with a spicy and charming allure. penhaligons-qvb.com.au 03_ELECTRIC BLUE The boldest blue from Bang & Olufsen has landed: equal parts sculptural and sonic. This Beosound ‘A9’ sleek speaker brings high-design cool and crisp acoustics to any space. Position it on the floor or on a plinth or console and let the style (and sound) sing. bang-olufsen.com…

Bold, colourful and expressive, the Sydney offices for fashion label Alémais were designed to stimulate the senses and breed creativity. Yasmine Ghoniem of YSG Studio was engaged to create the dreamy interiors, and she shares all the details here. WHAT WAS THE CONCEPT FOR THIS SPACE? Just as Alémais clothes have a way of announcing themselves given their flair for colourful prints and embellishments, arriving within the brand’s new design HQ could be likened to entering a galaxy of limitless imagination. Beneath a constellation of fibreglass moon pendants, myth and fashion fantasy orbit in a dream-like diaspora. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE SET-UP? Located above street level in a Surry Hills warehouse, the space brims with seamless efficiency. Its central nucleus comprises a conjoined design and pattern-making zone where new collection…

FLACK STUDIO: INTERIORS Known for a bold approach and exceptional creative flair, Melbourne’s Flack Studio has been making waves since 2014. This is the first published compilation of projects undertaken by the studio and each one displays innovation, an adventurous spirit and fine execution. From pop star Troye Sivan’s multilayered home, through to shiny hotels and restaurants, as well as colourful and unconventional properties around Australia, this is a studio that keeps reinventing the wheel of design. David Flack, Rizzoli, $114 CIT Y, COA ST & COUNTRY Growing up in country Australia indelibly imprinted the colours, patterns and textures of the landscape in the creative consciousness of interior designer Adelaide Bragg. Here she distils her love of nature and organic materials. Each chapter is colour coded with evocative titles like…

She was a majestic Victorian Italianate villa lying dormant in the heart of Kyneton on a 5000-squaremetre block. And while she was heritage-listed, she was also completely irresistible. “Catherineville was a sleeping beauty on the brink of subdivision,” explains owner Richard Parker, founder of Rationale skincare, who prescribed extensive love and restoration to bring her back to her former glory and reach her potential of becoming a cultural and social hub for family and friends. The idea was to create a mix of original Victorian features padded out with modern comfort, with a touch of high-tech wrapped up in some sharp design. Specialists were called in to restore the lime and crushed-marble stucco lustro walls, take care of the gilding and wallpapering and repair the intricate original tessellated tiling, while…

It can be incredibly gratifying to reinvigorate a home where the residents have enjoyed 20-plus years of living. The shared memories and experiences can feel like a warm hug. This property in Melbourne was first renovated by the owners more than 20 years ago, and a decade later, a major landscaping project delivered a lush green oasis as its frame. Recently, with the two sons growing into teenagers, the need for a refit was keenly felt. This time the undertaking involved extending the original footprint with the addition of a split level and a second storey. The owners engaged Lucy Marczyk Design Studio, along with Three C Architects and Lisa Ellis Gardens, for the project. “The vision was to blend heritage with a contemporary lifestyle, right in the heart of…

1 INTERIOR DESIGNER YSG Studio CASUAL INTIMACY [ Byron Bay, NSW ] Photography PRUE RUSCOE Styling FELICITY NG THIS RETRO-INSPIRED KITCHEN BY SYDNEY’S YSG STUDIO navigates the needs of two very different cooks – one messy, the other ‘a neat freak’ – with the introduction of an L-shaped counter configuration and scullery behind. A fixed slatted timber screen conceals any mess while ensuring conversational connections between the two zones. In the centre, a circular island topped with pearlescent marble and fitted with a chrome footrest acts as a casual leaning post for drinks, playing to the owners’ love of ’70s design. “Our clients, a sociable couple with two young kids, wanted their home to function intimately, yet morph into eclectic breakout zones that sparked conversations when entertaining,” says YSG co-director…

THE WALLS OF ERIN MURPHY’S studio at Sydney’s National Art School read like a picture dictionary sprung to life, with familiar objects as fragmentary entries in a tender taxonomy of a happy-go-lucky world. Drawing on eclectic images from scientific volumes and vintage encyclopaedias, nature illustrations and children’s books, Erin reimagines her curiosities in a painterly style that blends storybook whimsy with wit and pathos. “It’s the dry, straightforward nature of these pictures I find interesting,” says the artist, who’s nearly finished her master’s. “Indifference isn’t something we associate with painting, which we expect to be expressive or poetic. By bringing matter-of-fact imagery into art, a funny awkwardness can arise – I like that.” Erin’s paintings also tap into an undercurrent of melancholy that’s evident even in lighthearted works such as…

Alifetime of creative influences bounces off the sleek mirrored walls in the Sydney home of art director, artist and creative dynamo Anna Viniero, reflecting her love of 1970s and ’80s avant-garde art, music, fashion, film, architecture, design and interiors. Riffing on the era’s sensual textures, geometric forms, cinematic mood and languidly seductive tempo, the result is a visual remix played at a sultry rhythm – perfectly in sync with her ultra-fabulous DJ alter ego, Sophia Moroder. WHO LIVES HERE? Me, myself and I… and sometimes Sophia. HOW HAVE YOU UPDATED YOUR HOME? Not long after moving in (back in 2007), I installed a seamless concrete epoxy-resin floor and had my dear friend – and now full-time boss – Greg Natale design a new kitchen for me. The kitchen is timeless…

1 Antonio Citterio for Flexform ‘Parker’ screen, POA, Fanuli. 2 Studio HAOS oak wall light, $3500, Tigmi Trading. 3 ‘Sea Sabot Walk’ espadrilles in Marron, about $1160, Loro Piana. 4 ‘Camilla’ floor lamp, $999, McMullin & Co. 5 Afghan ‘Ziegler’ rug, $14,000, Cadrys. 6 Loro Piana ‘Milan’ suit jacket, about $7977, Mr Porter. 7 Loro Piana suit trousers, about $2306, Mr Porter. 8 ‘Classic Cabin’ suitcase in Silver, $2315, Rimowa. 9 Chopard ‘Alpine Eagle XL Chrono Automatic 44mm’ watch in Lucent Steel and 18-Karat Rose Gold, about $54,668, Mr Porter. 10 Flexform ‘Thomas’ armchair, POA, Fanuli. 11 Studio HAOS floor lamp, POA, Tigmi. 12 Louis Vuitton Spring 2026. PHOTOGRAPHY: GORUNWAY, GETTY IMAGES…

Jamie Durie’s house on Sydney’s Northern Beaches was going to be a prefab that took three months to build, but ended up being a vast concrete new build on nine levels – involving 16 trades and 30 suppliers. It all began in 2015 with a call from a friend, alerting the high-profile landscape designer and TV personality to a deceased estate for sale on a coveted patch of Avalon waterfront. The original 1950s ‘beach shack’ on the block was cute and livable (its black mould, asbestos and invasive weeds were just about under control), so bachelor Jamie moved in and began planning his ideal home. “I wanted to see where the sun fell et cetera, and to modify it from there,” he says. “In my business as a landscape architect,…

Less is more in this handsome two-storey home in Melbourne’s south-east, which delivers maximum impact after minimum intervention. Its designer, Sonia Simpfendorfer of Nexus Designs, has devised a magical transformation without moving or removing any walls or ripping out the kitchen and bathrooms, demonstrating the dexterity of interior design. “We don’t believe in change for change’s sake,” says Sonia. “Without any structural interventions, we were able to give the owners a brand-new home.” The couple bought the faithfully preserved Marcus Martin original for their family back in 1992. It had the added bonus of an Edna Walling garden, with bluestone walls and a clutch of original camellias, although the owners didn’t appreciate its significance at the time. A decade on, they undertook a substantial renovation, enlarging their home upstairs and…

WHEN TALKING TO JOSH FITZGERALD, co-founder of Hobart and Melbourne-based architecture practice Archier, I recall a quote that Australian architect Glenn Murcutt often references. His father advised him: “Start off the way you want to finish. For every compromise you knowingly make, the resultant work will represent your next client.” Hence if current work is your portfolio for future work, holding true to your values is the most important thing you can do. It’s a viewpoint that Josh also lives by. “We’re not operating with a scarcity mindset, thinking we need to take on every job that we can. If you actually just wait for the jobs that are best for you and the client, you have a better outcome and then you’ll attract more projects like that,” he says.…

There is a lot going on at MCM House’s Paddington headquarters. Sitting directly across the road from what is about to be one of Australia’s hottest new hotel openings, the 25hours Hotel, MCM is the OG in the neighbourhood, and has held this coveted position for 15 years. Right now, maybe encouraged by the design precinct’s recent resurgence, the team are mid-renovation of their expanding outdoor department, one section of five shopfronts connected to create one super-store. It may be a store refresh, but founder and creative director Charles Hinckfuss is keeping it completely MCM. The look is all about soaring ceilings in a historic-feeling building with enormous windows to the street and a collection of furniture stamped with contemporary comfort. There are lots of oversized, sculptural flower cuttings in…

Flooring is the essential first building block in all good interior design, and carpet is the perennially stylish option. The local natural-fibre market received a boost in 1994 when David Crook established International Floorcoverings Australia – and 30 years later, it remains a key player. David started off as a carpet layer, moving from England to Australia six years before opening his doors. “I started to import natural-fibre carpet,” he says. “It was niche and new, and looked really good on the floor. Soon it was being seen in interior design magazines, and the top architects and interior designers wanted to use it in their projects.” Starting the business required a substantial investment in stock and warehousing. “It was a leap of faith,” recalls David. “I remortgaged my house and…

1_CLASH AND CONTRAST Strong sorbet shades strode the catwalk at Willy Chavarria’s Spring/Summer 2026 show in Paris. willychavarria.com 2_COOL BLUE Smeg’s iconic freestanding fridge in Light Blue, $3990, brings ’50s style and brilliant hues to your kitchen. smeg.com/au 3_RED ALERT For a screen-siren smile, try Gucci’s Rouge à Lèvres Mat in Rosso Ancora, $72. davidjones.com 4_STAND OUT This ‘Bounce’ carry-on suitcase in Cherry Red, $772.99, is super-tough – and super-saturated. casetify.com 5_LOW GLOW Tomato-coloured powder-coated aluminium brings the Bloody Mary to your living room. ‘Circula’ low cocktail table, $395. bludot.com 6_ POP OF COLOUR A fragrant collaboration between Italian luxury brand Xerjoff and the British pop-rock band, NeoRio, $549. libertineparfumerie.com.au 7_THINK PINK “I want the whole issue pink. I want the whole country pink!” The magazine editor in Funny Face…

One of the more felicitous outcomes of this Sydney Eastern Suburbs home renovation is that “it has more room to breathe”, says architect Adam Williams, director of Studio Williams. Called on to mastermind a second renovation of the property 10 years after he’d completed the first, Adam and partner and fellow director Erin Field say the owners had a different mindset the second time around. “For the first renovation they were in a bit of a rush and had a young family. This time they were determined to be engaged in the process. Though the property was large, they felt they’d outgrown the house, the kitchen was too small and they spent most of their time in the smallest area, a combined informal living and dining room. They also wanted…

Upon moving back to Australia after 15 years abroad, this young family sought to embark on chapter two of their lives, settling into a peaceful area in Victoria’s south-west and building their dream, H-shaped home. The courtyard-centric layout – a nostalgic retelling of the owner’s childhood home – was realised by Torquay-based building designers Section Studio. After construction had commenced, interior designer Sally Knibbs of Sally Caroline was brought on board with the stated goal of adding soul to the home by way of luxurious materiality, sophisticated furniture, art and decorative accessories. Sally credits Built by Wilson as the bow that tied the project together, multitasking in their roles both as builders and managers with an eye to the finer architectural details. The family had lived in both Geneva and…

ADELAIDE BRAGG’S MELBOURNE OFFICE IS A SPACE THAT’S BEEN CAREFULLY DESIGNED TO FOSTER CREATIVITY AND COLLABORATION. WHERE IS YOUR OFFICE LOCATED AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FROM THIS SPACE? The office is in High Street, Prahran, and after a two-month renovation we moved in at the end of last year. The renovation allowed us to soften the palette, create more open areas and an abundance of surfaces to prepare schemes and show presentations. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE LOOK AND FEEL OF YOUR WORKSPACE? It’s a spacious, light-filled office with north- and west-facing windows allowing sunshine to stream in all day long, sitting in the midst of High Street – Prahran’s bustling design precinct. It is a place that gives us immense joy and creativity with the light and…