Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2024 i Belle

THE NATIONAL EMERGING ART PRIZE exhibition is back and bigger than ever – with a fabulous new venue set to host a dazzling assembly of works judiciously chosen by a curatorium of tastemakers, interiors experts and leading contemporary artists. NEAP’s fourth edition, open to unrepresented Australian artists in the fields of painting and ceramics, saw a record response with close to 1700 submissions. Led by curator and author Amber Creswell Bell, director of emerging art at the congregation of galleries that make up Michael Reid, the selection panel pored over every piece to arrive at this year’s finalists. These artists now have the chance to share in a prize pool valued at more than $40,000, including an acquisitive top prize of $20,000 provided by founding sponsor Morgans Financial Limited. All…

WHEN SYDNEY CABINETMAKER Mark Mastroianni walked into the atelier of Latho timber finishes in Treviso, Italy, in 2022, he was like a kid in a toy shop. As he scanned shelves packed with planks and panels in tantalising textures and myriad patterns, and inhaled the heady scent of milled timber, it felt like home. “I lost Mark for a couple of hours in what was meant to be a quick walk-through,” says his wife, Kelly. Immersed in the bounty before him – the building covers 50,000sqm – he sensed this could be the beginning of a fertile collaboration for his bespoke joinery business, offering a world of fascinating possibilities. And now those fabulous finishes front up Downunder as he teams up with the family firm in his premium range…

With its arched French doors and rendered walls overlooking a harlequin-tiled patio with wrought-iron furniture, this terrace home evokes the spirit of villas in the south of France. Yet it is firmly footed in Sydney’s inner west, the dapper, rather prim, Victorian facade contrasting with that alluringly laid-back courtyard. However, when owners David and Adelle bought the home in 2021, Riviera reveries were literally a world away and confi ned to their Pinterest account, in which they had keenly amassed plenty of inspirational images. They were initially attracted by the home’s gracious Victorian style and its generous site. But, having last been renovated in the 1970s – unglamorously expressed in its pink exterior and drab lean-tos at the rear – the hapless terrace had most recently been a share house…

I was luck y to spend a recent weekend at fabulous Bundanon on the banks of the Shoalhaven River near Nowra. It was one of those Saturday mornings when the desire to remain in one place was strong, but on arrival, I was blown away by the scale of the property and the ingenuity and scope of the architecture. What an incredible legacy Arthur and Yvonne Boyd left Australians when they gifted their nirvana to all of us. The investment in significant architecture that is accessible for the public and educational groups to enjoy is impressive. I had seen images of the property, but real life wins. The homestead down the road is also beautifully preserved with artwork by Boyd and his family and is definitely worth the trip. We…

WHAT WERE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR SPACE, AND WHAT INITIALLY APPEALED ABOUT THE SITE? I am always happy to be in one of my studios. I have one at my gallery in The Rocks but my main one is at my home, at Chinamans Beach in Mosman. I don’t have to keep them tidy. I don’t have to sweep the floor. I don’t even have to put all the tops on the paint if I don’t want to. It’s a place of pleasure, experimentation, the occasional disaster, but mostly joy. WHAT DID THE ALTERATIONS ENTAIL? The studio at home was originally a spare room covered with lots of wonderful old travel posters. Unfortunately, we were not able to take them off cleanly. Otherwise, it’s as it always was, with a…

It can be challenging to find a unique destination that sits in a highly desirable area and ticks multiple boxes in terms of solo, couple, family, wellness or multigenerational travel. Visiting Elements at Byron for the first time on a recent trip to Byron I was struck by the beauty of the location and the versatility of the property for myriad styles of getaway. Nestled in the heart of one of Australia’s most iconic coastal towns, set on 20 hectares of pristine beachfront land in Byron Bay, this award-winning property offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, architectural simplicity and indulgent comfort, making it an idyllic escape for those seeking a serene yet sophisticated retreat. The beachfront location offers beautiful views and plenty of walks. The chic villas are well-appointed,…

WHAT APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT YOUR HOME? Kim McKay: I was captivated by the property’s inherent potential. The location was just what we were seeking but the interior was an unflattering interpretation of a 1980s aesthetic.The layout was a rare find that spoke to incredible possibilities and wouldn’t need much structural change. It gave us the perfect mix of large open entertaining spaces and the ability to create a suite of rooms away from the living areas. The original architect had oriented this home perfectly for the highlands weather and we were also happy to find that, always important, feng shui considerations could be met. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE INTERIOR? Our goal was to create a chic, laid-back retreat. From an emotional point, we wanted a high-end finish with…

1 Kingsman cotton and linen-blend velvet tuxedo jacket, approx. $2484, from Mr Porter. 2 Tom Ford pre-tied velvet bow-tie, approx. $485, from Mr Porter. 3 ‘Tank Louis Cartier’ watch in rose gold and leather, $21,200, from Cartier. 4 Oval ice bucket by Florabelle, $567, from House of Isabella. 5 Lee Broom ‘Half Cut’ Champagne coupe with square base, $165, from Space. 6 George III carved giltwood mirror, $28,943, from 1stDibs. 7 Men’s leather and fabric gloves in Brown by Adolfo Dominguez, $279, from Hardtofind. 8 Louis Vuitton Spring 2025. 9 Large silver scalloped-edge tray, $240, from Highgate House. 10 ‘Cristal & Gold Man’ EDP by Amouage, $2990/50ml, from Libertine Parfumerie. 11 Demi-tester Spanish Baroque carved bed with gilded leather, $49,902,…

What can an architect do when asked to enlarge a home but is not able to venture upwards or outwards? What the ever-resourceful Luigi Rosselli of Luigi Rosselli Architects did here on Sydney’s Lower North Shore: burrow downwards and create an immersive subterranean world, with surprises at every turn. And the pièce de résistance at the lowest level, the ultimate destination, a magical swimming pool under sweeping stone arches, which owes its inspiration to the wild and wonderful Antoni Gaudi. The results even caught Luigi unawares. “I never thought I would be designing an underground swimming pool,” he confesses. But, he stresses, such below-ground delvings are not new. So-called cryptic architecture was around in ancient times and he maintains such urban infill could provide a viable alternative to expanding our…

While the delights of Noosa are widely recognised, the attractions of some of its surrounding environs are less well known. Boreen Point on the Lake Cootharaba shores is just such a spot but savvy early adopters such as jewellery and fashion designer Lucy Folk and her family are keenly aware of its peaceful charm. Having lived around the world, most recently in Paris (see story, Belle, April 2018), the Melbourne-born Lucy fell in love with a romantic, two-storey weatherboard Queenslander nestled in subtropical surrounds with views of the lake. Named Le Bateau Ivre (The Drunken Boat), inspired by a poem by Arthur Rimbaud, the 1930s former guesthouse has a colourful past, playing host to artists and musicians including The Rolling Stones during one of their early visits to Australia. With…

Tucked into a historic inner-city enclave with the Sydney Harbour Bridge almost arching overhead this terrace house is redolent of the past yet is strikingly contemporary in spirit. It is one of a row of terraces formerly used as government housing and offices that have been gradually transformed into elegant abodes. The late 19th-century Georgian property was an attractive proposition for the buyers, a family with three young adult children. Quite dilapidated when they bought it, the house was also subject to stringent heritage constraints on alterations. The owners engaged specialist heritage architects Long Blackledge, and structural work had already been decided and approvals granted before design studio Arent & Pyke were invited to work their magic on the home. “We knew what we could and couldn’t touch before we…

WE LIVE IN A DIGITAL WO RLD with a tsunami of daily visuals and in this era of manipulation, editing, cropping and colouration all may not be as it seems. So when Mathieson founder and design director Phillip Mathieson and architects Ariel Ophir-Verheyden and Edwina Spence suggested we join them on an archi-tour of some of their Sydney projects it felt entirely appropriate to slow down, look at the work, experience the spaces and examine the detailing. This was apt as direct engagement with the work of Mathieson seems to be a strong generator of commissions for the practice. For example, the client who visited the Bondi House commissioned the Balmoral House and the client who, in turn, asked Mathieson to design their Bellevue Hill House had toured the…

01_CHAIR LEADER Founded in Auckland in 1939, New Zealand-born homewares and soft furnishing brand Baya is the creation of an 85-year-old, 4th generation family business blending antipodean design with the finest materials and craftsmanship. bayaliving.com 02_THE GOOD OIL Chanel recently launched its newest fragrance offering, Les Exclusifs De Chanel l’Huile Corps. Reinventing how to wear beloved fragrances such as ‘1957’ and ‘Beige’, the body oils can be worn alone or layered as a duo to personalise your scent. chanel.com 03_CURVACEOUS Reimagined with a petite shape and creamy new colour the ‘Petit Gaspard’ vase works alone as a sculptural object or beautifully full of flowers from lilies to tulips. maisonbalzac.com 04_ON THE SHELL A very chic addition to any tablescape for spring and summer, this USB-rechargeable lamp is available in a…

1_MODERN TWIST Celebrating ancient jewellery crafts and techniques, Sabyasachi reinterprets the royal jadau necklaces of India, precious gemstones in a contemporary frame with a sarafa sash in Sabyasachi’s iconic printed velvets. POA. sabyasachi.com 2_RICHLY AROMATIC Memo Paris ‘Indian Leather’ EDP contains oud essence, rose and jasmine absolutes evoking the sumptuous aromas of India. Available in October. $460/75ml. libertineparfumerie.com.au 3_A LIGHT TOUCH The ‘Lunara’ hand-knotted Indian oushak wool rug comes in hues of Ivory, Pink, Sapphire and Basil. $2950/305x244cm. isladesign.com.au 4_ PURE GLAMOUR A limited-edition lipstick collection from Estée Lauder and Sabyasachi celebrates India’s colour story. The case is topped with the brand’s gold-plated Tiger medallion. POA. myer.com.au 5_SENSORY OVERLOAD Byredo ‘Mumbai Noise’ EDP blends warm woods and amber with plummy davana, bitter coffee and sweet tonka beans. $298/50ml. mecca.com.au 6_HIGH…

1 George III giltwood mirror, approx. $22,235, from 1stDibs. 2 ‘Rockpool’ shell earrings in yellow gold, $17,600, from Paspaley. 3 18th-century Louis XVI period French mahogany commode, approx. $22,755, from 1stDibs. 4 Ziegfeld Collection pearl wrap necklace, $3550, from Tiffany & Co. 5 Anna October ‘Lara’ long gloves, $694, from Revolve. 6 ’Love 85’ silver glitter fabric pumps, $1325, from Jimmy Choo. 7 Jenny Packham ‘Lux’ crystal-embellished sequinned gown, $6581, from Farfetch. 8 ITHIKA Gifts + Lifestyle ‘Slim’ pen in metallic gold, $23.95, from Hardtofind. 9 Personalised leather journal by Paper High, $70, from Hardtofind . 10 ’Faubourg Mini’ watch, $25,930, from Hermès. 11 18th-century French walnut settee, approx. $13,699, from 1stDibs. 12 Chantecaille ‘Sunstone Radiant’ blush, $125, from…

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORKSPACE? Our Byron Bay headquarters has a shared workspace that is filled with natural light, antiques and a lot of new product developments. Often it can become overcrowded with samples of cacao, herbs and other ingredients. My desk is always tidy and minimal, I like to keep my computer, a pen and paper and generally a drink of some sort, and always a Loco Love. WHAT INITIALLY APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT THE SPACE? Byron has limited large spaces available so when we had the opportunity to secure a whole block of factory units we jumped on it! Initially the space was quite stark and all concrete. I wanted to create a beautiful space that would feel inspiring for our team and for visitors. The showroom…