Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2024 i Country Style

Luckily For Me, January passed in a blur of extra annual leave and an extended long weekend to make that summer holiday feeling last as long as possible. So, it’s only now in February, that I’ve started thinking about 2024 and the year ahead. I was thinking it should be a quiet year, with work and not much else organised. Then the reality hit me. This is my youngest daughter’s final year at high school so I will be supporting her through her HSC. Then there is all the lovely ceremony that goes along with leaving school: formal, Vale, assemblies, graduation lunch. These events will have extra poignancy for me as this will be the end of my time as a mum with schoolage children. I already know I will…

A NEW YEAR. It’s a big one for my family, because our two eldest children are going into their final year of school. Soon they’ll be 18-year-old, grown-up humans. This summer has been different from all our other summers as a family because we have two P-platers, and they’ve been doing a lot of driving away from us, leaving me dizzy with time’s passing, and a little more lined with worry. “I’ve been asked to a party at [redacted]’s place. There’s room for swags and I reckon his parents will be there, but don’t ring them because then I’ll be the only one whose mum gets weird and asks questions.” (I always get weird and ask questions, and I always find other mums doing the same.) All the driving away…

WHEN YOU THINK OF DENMARK, you can’t avoid the term ‘hygge’. Hygge essentially means a warm, cosy atmosphere where you enjoy the good things in life together with your loved ones. And the place in Denmark with the highest hygge factor is said to be the small island of Ærø, located in the Baltic Sea. Nicknamed ‘the Danish South Sea’, this region of the Baltic, between Funen, Langeland and the German region of Schleswig-Holstein, is sprinkled with more than 55 islands. As soon as you arrive on Ærø, in the South Funen Archipelago, you feel transported back to a time when everything was slower and more tranquil. The noises of the city, and its ceaseless hustle and bustle, are conspicuous by their absence. Even the clocks seem to tick differently…

IN EVERY HOUSE I’VE lived in since I left home over 30 years ago, I’ve grown a sweet potato plant. When I was in high school I became a vegetarian for various reasons. I was a farm kid who was completely horrified when my favourite calf (Gavroche) was sent off to the butcher. I also had a music teacher and vocal group coach whom I idolised, who was vegetarian. Mr Wild (his actual name), a wonderful teacher now retired, lent me a vegetarian cookbook, the first I’d ever seen, called Laurel’s Kitchen. In it, Laurel Robertson describes a kitchen full of homemade bread and bowls of soaking lentils, wonderful soups and broths and healthy green sweet potato vines running up every wall and across every doorway. I was instantly smitten…

CONFIT GARLIC AND ROSEMARY FOCACCIA Take 1 garlic head and carefully peel each clove. Pop in a small saucepan and cover with 1½ cups (375ml) olive oil. Place over the lowest heat possible and infuse for 30 minutes or so. You want the garlic cloves to have turned a light golden colour but not burned. Grab a jar and pop in a rosemary sprig, then pour in the garlic cloves and oil. Seal and store in the fridge. Follow the recipe opposite, and right before you are ready to bake, dot the top of your lovely bubbly dough with about 10 confit garlic cloves and drizzle with some of the oil. Top with a few sprigs of rosemary and bake until golden. CAR AMELISED ONION FOCACCIA Heat 20g butter and…

FROM SUN-KISSED BEACHES to foodie haunts and a vibrant community spirit, it’s not hard to see why Byron Bay is a popular holiday spot, but venturing off the beaten path sometimes reveals the best finds. Just a 20-minute drive south-west of Byron Bay in NSW, The Brooklet is nestled in the hinterland, where a collection of villas and hideaways form an unforgettable retreat across 50 hectares. Owned by Greta Smith and her family, The Brooklet (named after the town Brooklet) was previously a fruit and dairy farm, which they lovingly transformed into an Italianesque stay where wellness and nature combine. From each of the six villas, lush views of the countryside come to the fore, with a private terrace for dreamy sunset dining. Inside, the decor is nature-inspired with solid…

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DID YOU CATCH THAT recent news item about the dividing line between city and country all but disappearing? Well, fancy that! Maybe the social scientist who reached this conclusion based it on the fact that city hospitals are now nearly as bad as country hospitals. So, maybe there’s a less distinct geographic barrier between city and country these days. But there’s sure as hell a division and I suspect it’s the division of inequity. If you don’t have broadband or mobile phone coverage, it’s a safe bet that it’s because you live in the country. Just because city homes are now full of country kitchens and kitchens in the country are now full of pizza-makers and tagines, it doesn’t mean that city people have any better understanding of country life.…

Editor KYLIE IMESON Creative director SARAH FARAGO Deputy editor HANNAH JAMES Queensland contributing editor CLAIRE MACTAGGART Art director BERNHARD SCHMITZ Stylist KATE LINCOLN Features writer REBECCA HOOTON Junior writer LISA EASEY Chief copy editor, Homes Group PETER GRIFFITHS Senior copy editor GRETA DUMBLETON Copy editor STEPHANIE HOPE Editorial coordinator ANNA CAMPBELL ADVERTISING AND PRODUCTION Commercial brand manager JO-ANN TAYLOR Advertising production manager KATE ORSBORN Director of sales – NSW, VIC, SA KAREN HOLMES Head of direct sales – VIC, SA, WA WILL JAMISON Queensland head of sales JUDY TAYLOR Creative director CLARE CATT Head of events and sponsorships CATE GAZAL Head of Directories REBECCA WHITE Production controller KARA STEAD Advertising production controller DOMINIC ROY All advertising inquiries ADVERTISING@AREMEDIA.COM.AU MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Marketing director LOUISE CANKETT Marketing manager JESS TAYLOR Circulation…

NEAT AND TIDY Give your hallway a dash of sophistication with the Leather Hallway Set, which includes a storage basket and umbrella stand for a rustic welcome to visitors. Exquisitely handcrafted, each piece has a timeless feel and offers the option of a personalised leather tag. It’s the perfect choice for an elegant, homely gift. Visit hardtofind.com.au in ship shape Refresh your home, car or boat with these nifty, air-purifying eco packs. Sporting a charming nautical print, each eco bag naturally removes odours with activated bamboo charcoal. Visit kingpinpegs.com.au ON THE CARDS With woven cane, brass edges and a suede interior, the ’70s-inspired Colette card set is a decorative way to let the games begin! Visit palmerandpenn.com.au take it easy Cotswold InOut Furniture’s Lento collection is made for lazy afternoons,…

FOR AS LONG AS she can remember, Abigail Mickan has loved to cook. Growing up on a cattle and sheep station in Queensland’s Longreach region with her younger brothers, Jeremy and Lane, Abigail, now 30, learned how to turn a passion into a business from her parents, Marisse and Richard. Not only did they run two outback stations, they also founded Outback Pioneers, a family tourism business that showcases the region’s history. From the age of six, Abigail was homeschooled, and in her spare time she would cook using recipes handed down from her grandmothers and mum. Her grandparents later retired and moved to Clermont, but Abigail’s love of the art was already burning bright: “At our Outamorella station, I took over Mum’s kitchen to do all the cooking because…

ANDREW AND CLAIRE Mactaggart’s Central Queensland house has withstood the comings and goings of busy farm and family life for the past 25 years. The couple moved in as newlyweds in 1999, raised their four daughters there and now, just as the rhythms of daily life have shifted with only the youngest, Grace, nine, still living at home, the house itself has undergone its own transformation. The Mactaggarts’ 18,200-hectare property, Balcomba, two hours’ drive west of Rockhampton, on the traditional lands of the Gangulu people, has been in Andrew’s family for more than 100 years. Andrew, 52, and Claire, 48, run composite beef cattle and have a strong focus on soil health and grazing management. “The original Queenslander homestead deteriorated over time and was replaced with a pre-fab modular house…

PICTURE PERFECT Australian artist Dee Jackson creates beautiful watercolour portraits of people and animals, including Bella (pictured). Preserve your memories and capture life’s special moments with a commissioned artwork. deejackson.com.au FINE WINES Escape to Orange, in NSW, this autumn and enjoy some of the district’s best cool-climate wines at the awardwinning, family-run Brangayne of Orange. The cellar door, in the historic orchard coolroom, offers a rustic and authentic experience. brangayne.com SLEEPING BEAUTY Salt Living’s Sea Green bed linen range conjures a coastal aesthetic with its fresh colour palette. Enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep on 100 per cent European flax sheets, which are breathable and luxuriously light. saltliving.com.au ADVENTURE AWAITS Australian cruise company True North has just released its new 2024/2025 itineraries, so it’s time to plan your next big travel…

GRATEFUL TO ROB Today, I received your gorgeous December issue of Country Style and immediately went to the last page to read Rob Ingram’s A Wonderful Life. My heart paused for a moment… I read it twice, broken-hearted, with tears rolling down my face. Rob, I will miss your wit and humour. Thank you for giving me 30-plus years of laughter and silent smiles. Your cancer diagnosis resonated with me as I also have this wretched illness. God bless you, my friend, take care and thank you. Susan Long, Ocean Grove, Vic SENDING LOVE I would just like to pass on my best wishes to Rob Ingram and his family. I have purchased/subscribed to Country Style for many years and the first article I turn to is the back page…

FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, Jo Runciman has had a precious sanctuary. It’s somewhere to go on weekends, or whenever life feels a bit much. “As soon as I get on the freeway, the weight lifts off my shoulders,” says Jo who splits her time between her home in Sydney’s Northern Beaches and her farm in Dungog, New South Wales, on the traditional lands of the Koori people of the Gringai tribe. “I just love the country, and the farm is my happy place.” Yet it’s not quite what Jo, 54, envisioned when she was searching for a weekender for her and her sons, Tom, 20, and Jack, 19. “In my fantasy life, I wanted 200 hectares,” she says, smiling. “I wanted to stand in the middle of it and…

DECORATIVE TROPES of the much-loved English country interior style include a relaxed mix of charming patterns and antiques, with a ruffled hem and potted colour dotted here and there. Cushion-laden sofas beg to be plonked onto, and layers of art and meaningful objects tell comforting stories. It’s pretty, but not stiflingly precious. It teeters on maximalism but rarely overwhelms. The home of sisters Lisa and Jan nods to this classic style and accords with the quaint village surroundings of the Southern Highlands, on the traditional lands of the Gundungurra people, in New South Wales. The house is not historic – its build was completed in 2005, and the sisters purchased it in 2006 – but the proportions and architectural details, such as French doors and decorative millwork, are traditional design…

timeless timber Surrounded by the warmth of natural timber, this writing space is right at home in its rustic surroundings near Rockhampton. For owners Claire and Andrew Mactaggart, it’s the perfect canvas for family heirlooms. “I love mixing old and new furniture,” says Claire, “and we have some of Andrew’s special family pieces that have been passed down for generations.” A statement timber desk contrasts elegantly with the white walls in this cosy workspace that has a lasting legacy. imperfectly perfect Flooded with light and old-world charm, including a weathered timber table and repurposed chandelier, this work nook sets the right tone for inspiring creativity. For Linda Christall, who owns this restored 1940s bungalow in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, upcycling vintage pieces is an endless source of motivation. “I like…

MIRANDA BALODIS and her husband Harrison came to own Lotte’s Hjem through somewhat serendipitous circumstances. “Harrison house-sat for Lotte Erikson, who then owned the cottage, back in 2013,” explains Miranda. “He fell in love with the house and joked that if she ever wanted to sell, she could sell it to him. Fast forward to 2016 and Harrison got that phone call.” A public servant in her nine-to-five, Miranda also has a passion for interior design, while Harrison works in film and TV (starting out on River Cottage Australia), so the 150-year-old abode is in safe hands. They named it Lotte’s Hjem after the former owner, paired with the Norwegian word for home. “We fell in love with the overall feel that Lotte had created at the house, and we…

JO RUNCIMAN SPONSORSHIPS & PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR AT AUSSIE ARK, 54 Jo splits her time between Curl Curl, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where she lives with sons Tom, 20, and Jack, 19, and her Dungog farm, where she lives with mum Sue. How would you describe your style? Pretty eclectic and probably ref lective of my two lives: city and country. At the farm it’s all about practicality. The reality is you’ll catch me in a holey old pair of jodhpurs, boots and a warm jumper, usually with muddy dog prints on the front. Other than that, I tend to lean towards more of a classic look for day to day with a bit of a mix of boho f loral. For events I like to go all out glamour; I’m…

THE GOOD LIARS Anita Frank, HQ , $32.99 It must have been thrilling and disturbing to live in England in the 1920s. Change, both frivolous and profoundly serious, was every where. Jazz and the sudden sight of exposed knees on perfectly respectable women blew away the cobwebs of the Edwardian era. And the Great War had skewed the male/female balance in the population, forcing surplus women to be self-sufficient. The Stilwell household in Frank’s novel consists of Victor, a predatory and callous friend; Ida, fretting because servants are hard to come by; Maurice, her jittery husband; and his brother Leonard, wounded and in a wheelchair. Enter Sarah who will nurse Leonard and thus make Ida’s life a whole lot easier. Is Sarah to eat in the kitchen or with the…