Belle April 2025

The Australian Open is a smashing way to start the year, and the Belle team discovered lots of Australian businesses had moved their meetings courtside during January to enjoy the fabulous spectacle of elite sport and high style. I can’t think of an event in recent years that has increased its glam factor and appeal across a broad age range as much as the Australian Open. Obviously, there’s a stellar line-up of players – we saw Sinner show what a winner he is on the day we were there – but also an injection of style from houses like Ralph Lauren. Preppy chic infuses the court, the grounds and the ambience. Speaking of preppy chic, our cover stars – designer Jonathan Adler and his husband, Simon Doonan – need no…

EDITORIAL Editor-in-chief Tanya Buchanan Creative director Lauren Camilleri Art director Shayne Burton Deputy editor Peter Griffiths 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 Jonathan Adler, Mike Baker, Angelita Bonetti, Coloured Pencil, Tom Ferguson, Stephanie Hope, Will Horner, Alana Landsberry, Esteban La Tessa, Jack Milenkovic, Felicity Ng, Chris Pearson, Brahman Perera, Prue Pruscoe, Annie Schlechter, Anson Smart, Kristina Soljo, Jennifer Soo, Pablo Veiga, Dave Wheeler ADVERTISING Commercial manager,Homes Michelle O’Hanlon Brand executive Mikaela Lezcano Advertising production manager Kate Orsborn, (02) 9282 8364 NSW head of sales Blake Wright Head…

THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN is now our hottest ticket in January, and cosmopolitan Melbourne is definitely Australia’s ‘It’ destination. Everyone is flying in and out, and board meetings have reconvened to centre court at the Rod Laver Arena as a mix of tennis and style-mad spectators file in for epic battles not just on the court but in the dress stakes. Superhuman athleticism, elegant onlookers and fabulous food and wine make for a heady mix. Leading the charge in the transformation of the Australian Open is the house of Ralph Lauren with its preppy pieces appealing to tennis teams and fans alike. The gorgeous collections pop up on court – on ball boys and girls – and are worn with an edge or classic flair in the stands, depending on the…

AS THE SON OF A NEW ZEALAND BUILDER, architect Ian Moore moved house 34 times before his 18th birthday. It doesn’t take a psychoanalyst to tell you why he now wants to build houses that last 100 years. Ian is a champion of adaptive reuse, creating globally publicised projects that work into the existing fabric of the building to produce contemporary living conditions that skilfully hold on to traces of the past. His nearly completed house (shown opposite) on a prominent corner in Sydney’s Surry Hills illustrates what a precarious practice architecture is, as one client segued to another over time. “The original client, who was based in Singapore, was very honourable, ensuring the house was sold to someone who had the intent to follow through with my design,” says…

NEW SOUTH WALES TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS Group show ‘Tender’ writes a second chapter in Ngununggula gallery’s series celebrating Australian women artists – exploring the soft power of the title’s emotional register, its notions of care, and significance beyond a gendered lens. Joining works by Laura Jones, Julia Trybala, Amber Wallis and others, India Mark’s exquisitely composed, intimately scaled still-life paintings balance elegant restraint with a quiet intensity expressed via fiery underpainting. April-12–June 15. ngununggula.com PERTH YES, MOTHER! The idiosyncratic installations of Turner Prize-winning French artist Laure Prouvost (left) cascade and unspool like an exploded cabinet of curiosities in her solo exhibition at PICA – exploring the roles and legacies of grandmothers (real and symbolic) through a dynamic assembly of video, objects and organic materials. Reflecting on Laure’s radical, pathfinding…

01_QUEEN BAYA Injecting a shot of coastal luxe into the alfresco experience, Baya’s Summer 25 collection includes outdoor cushions and the ‘Rhodes’ floor rug in Teak, featuring 100% recycled PET yarn in stylish sandy hues. bayaliving.com 02_WALKING WITH SUNSHINE Since its debut in 1933, the Longchamp ‘Le Roseau’ bag has balanced reinvention and timelessness. For Summer 2025, the iconic design has evolved into versatile tailored silhouettes such as this tote bag – ideal for transitioning seamlessly between bustling city streets and peaceful weekend escapes. longchamp.com 03_SNAKE CHARMERS Created to celebrate Lunar New Year, Fornasetti has introduced snake decor to some of its creations: porcelain objects, various home accessories and scented candles. fornasetti.com 04_BUTTER UP More than just a colour, butter conjures memories of slow Sundays in the kitchen and the…