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Monthly Archives: August 2011

August 29, 2011 – 5:55 am

Hunter Gatherer with Rohan Anderson – Our Move to the Country

This week we welcome Rohan Anderson to the MAN WEEK edition of the Guest Blog! Rohan is a fantastic photographer based in Ballarat and has a delightful blog ‘Whole Larder Love’. This week Rohan will be sharing tales of moving to the country, growing and gathering food with his family and the photographs of their adventures along the way. A BIG thank you to Rohan, Lucy and I are so excited about this weeks Guest Blog! -Jenny x

Moving to the country – in the back of our minds we knew it was the right thing to do. We’d had so many years trying our best to survive the city but somehow we just didn’t fit in, a square peg in an isosceles orifice.

I’d grown up on a small farm in Gippsland, and I’d had a taste of the good life, it was my responsibility to convince Kim how good it could be. My marketing skills did their best, and we packed up and headed west.

At first it was frightfully intimidating, no jobs, no friends and bugger all local knowledge. The historic town of Ballarat was our choice, if only because there was a course on offer at the local university that I was interested in.  A glutton for punishment,  I decided to go back to uni – but it was the first step of many on our journey to joy. Corny huh!?

We’d heard it was cold up there, and yes it was cold for the first winter, but then we got used to it. Some people think some old country towns are the backwater, but in fact, they’re a blank canvas. You’re liberated from so many city restrictions.

We felt so liberated we made babies, two of them. Two girls, with blonde hair and blue eyes, both little heart breakers. My background is Spanish, so I’ve often pondered their true lineage. Between you and me I have an inkling the country postmen might be a little bit too friendly, but that’s a discussion for another day.

A few years ago we bought a very run down old cottage in the middle of town, a ‘do-er-upperer’ that we subsequently did up. We planted a big vegetable patch in our backyard and totally fell in love with the lifestyle of growing our fresh food, foraging the local forests and paddocks and hunting and fishing for our meat. Our version of the good life.

Since moving to the country we’ve been flooded with wonderful friends, and even some family.  After a few years most of them were convinced we were living the good life, and some even wanted a piece of it too!  It’s been totally worth it, and everyday that passes makes us feel more and more like this is where we belong.

This week I’ll spin a few thrilling yarns about cooking, hunting, fishing, harvesting from my patch and of course daily life with my little family living in our historic country town.  If you not impressed with the calibre of the thrilling yarns, or frustrated with my spelling mistakes…. then just look at the pictures!

- Rohan

Posted by Jenny at 5:55 am
Categories - Guest Blog Comments (14)
August 26, 2011 – 6:00 am

Interview – Amanda Henderson of Gloss Creative

Moet & Chandon ‘L’esprit des Miroirs’ Melbourne Cup Spring Racing Carnival Marquee 2006.  Design and facilitation by Gloss Creative in collaboration with Emma-Jane Pilkington.

Sportsgirl ‘Join Us’ instore installation 2011. Design and facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Photo – Marcel Aucar.

Sportsgirl ‘Join Us’ instore installation 2011.  Design and facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Photo - Marcel Aucar.

Myer ‘Spotlight’ Autumn / Winter Parade Launch 2009 / 10.  Design and facilitation by Gloss Creative.

‘Shells, Architects of the Ocean’ Myer Spring / Summer collection launch, 2010/11.  Co-designed by Gloss Creative and LAVA.

Through interviewing some of the most talented Australian creatives every single week, I have come to realise that the very best of the best, in any field, almost always have one character trait in common – they’re GENEROUS. Generous with their time, their advice, their resources and pearls of wisdom.  To be completely honest, I find it’s usually the ones that aren’t much chop(!) who squirrel their trade secrets away and are reluctant to pass on their wisdom.  Nine times out of ten, if you find yourself chatting to someone who truly is at the top of their game – they’ll be humble, approachable, and genuinely helpful – although they’ll also probably be very busy!

Amanda Henderson of Gloss Creative is the ultimate example of this rule.  The interview below is without a doubt one of the most genuinely insightful and generous interviews I’ve ever shared on TDF – truly!  It is an incredible resource for aspiring creatives in any field – I’ve even taken away a few pearls of wisdom myself!

Celebrating their tenth year in business this year, Gloss Creative is absolutely the best of the best.  Under Amanda’s watchful eye, her core team of five staff work from a simple studio at the rear of her home in suburban Melbourne, and whilst they might be a small team – they’re not afraid to think BIG!  This dynamic group is responsible for some of the very best event design, set design and visual merchandising this country ever sees.  No exaggeration!  Gloss is where creative meets commercial in the most spectacular fashion!

No brief is too tight (or too broad!) to shine given a little Gloss treatment – from spring racing marquees to Sportsgirl shop windows to high end runway shows.  Amanda’s highly skilled team are revered for their most impeccable attention to detail – every Gloss Creative job has a certain sparkle, yet no two executions ever look remotely the same.  But perhaps the most admirable thing about the Gloss team is that they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty!  Whilst a designers’ role too often ends on a computer screen – at Gloss, once a design is finalised, the real fun begins.  The entire teams mucks in with hands on installation of each project, often into the wee hours during peak season.

Gloss is a truly special local creative company – and I feel super lucky to finally be interviewing someone I’ve looked up to for many many years!  Massive thanks to Amanda for her time, and to Tiffany at Gloss for facilitating this interview and supplying too many stunning pics to choose from!  Love your work ladies! :)

Tell us a little about your background – what did you originally study, and what path led you first to visual merchandising, and then to launch Gloss Creative in 2001?

I didn’t study a lot! At school I spent my time doing drama, debating, public speaking and hanging out in the art room with the coolest art teachers making things! I spent a year at uni and quickly realised that my part time job at Sportsgirl was more like a ‘university of fashion’.

I became VM Manger for Sportsgirl Nationally and then National Creative Concept Manager at Country Road. These roles gave me both a sense of creativity and commerciality that created a platform and skill set for my exploration of Gloss Creative in 2001. Both of these companies have an ongoing belief in visual merchandising as vital in business success.

Gloss Creative reaches an important milestone this year – it’s your 10th birthday! Congratulations on this incredible achievement! What have been the most significant changes in the way you run your business over the past 10 years? Are there any key ‘lessons learned’ you would love to share?

We have always been a small business working with brands that have big dreams that need to be put into action.

Early on it was just me, my graphic designer niece, fresh from uni Kimberley Moore, artisan friends and my bookeeper Albina. I have always worked on projects from inception to end and that has not really changed, I have more time to devote to ‘whats next ‘ because our team is now larger and highly skilled, my belief in training people over time has paid off. We have the right people in the right jobs .

As well as our love of creativity, our practical, simple visual merchandising skill set has meant our consistency of delivery has been a major business asset and that only happened because we have developed an amazing in house team and network of collaborators and never failing suppliers.

What has changed is the diversity of projects we work on.  Early on event design was our main activity – that has expanded over the last five years to include set design (my personal love) and retail installations. In the early 2000′s the event industry was the place where the creative freedom was and still is to a large extent, but we noticed a shift about 4 years ago of retailers wanting their creativity back! This lead to wonderful collaborations with retailers such as Sportsgirl , Paspaley, Mecca, Sussans, Myer and now our newest project, together with the amazing team at Fabio Ongarato Design, Melbourne’s GPO -  Our first shopping centre!  Dangerous though, each time I go for a meeting I shop!)

The are a lot more businesses working in this space now which is another major change – the financial crisis really mixed things up , it lead to us being really targeted about who we wanted to work with and became way more proactive about creating projects that suited our skill sets.

Sooo many lessons learnt, I feel like ‘Yoda’ writing this -

1. Keep as much freedom in your processes as you can – you don’t have to be too flaky, just enough room to keep inspired.

2. Work with people you love and who love you, the best chemistry comes from seeing qualities in others you admire, and funnily those qualities you might not know you have that others see in you!

3. Get a book keeper. I have had one since day one. Can’t live without.

4. The best ideas and themes are those from outside your industry.  Before you design look far beyond where you sit for inspiration.  Look at the way other industries respond to their challenges.  New ways of seeing existing material and techniques is the secret to creative renewal. I love looking at work that is so different and yet it looks so obvious, you think, why hasn’t that been done before?

5. Don’t copy. You can make something way better.

6. It’s ok to show creative vulnerablity.  Remember you don’t have the answers all of the time, if you’re tuly making something original, you’re making it up as you go along.  Embrace precious unformed ideas and teach those around you to be comfortable with incomplete ideas until they develop.

7. The two hour principle. Brilliant ideas can be achieved in two hours.  Not everything has to take days.  Some of the best ideas we had have been born in minutes, you just have to grab the time.

Sportsgirl ‘ Without the Rain’ instore display, 2011.  Photography – Marcel Aucar.

What have been one or two favourite Gloss Creative projects / clients in recent years?

A client who collaborates is gold. Find cool, courageous, brave people who really want something new.  Sometimes the corporate world is risk averse. Do something new and exciting, but that moves their brand forward. Reward them, hold your project tight for them, and deliver something you’ll all be proud of.

My favorite clients have been those who know what they want, understand how I think and allow me and my team the freedom to deliver.

Some of my favourite clients have also been collaborators : Rachael Ruddick, Amy Foster, Emma Hofstede, Barry Wafer and Simon Hayward, Kerry Nelson, Kate Rees Rowie Kelly, Alistair Thompson, Kate Jennings and Paul Bonnici have always come onboard with our ideas no matter how crazy they are!

I’m proud of our collaborations with Sportsgirl – an ever changing feast of freedom and creativity for their customers over the past 3 years. The Sportsgirl team really believe in VM and it shows.  And the Myer fashion launches – a great example of what big business can do when it gives creative freedom to its team. I love the way we have been able to combine design with a sense of theatre to create a brand experience that works on a couple of levels.

Sportsgirl ‘Look Stop Shop’ 2011.  Photography – Marcel Aucar.

Sportsgirl ‘Look Stop Shop’ 2011.  Photography – Marcel Aucar.

Your work is predominantly temporary in nature – runway shows, marquees and corporate events, magical environments that pop up for a short period of time then disappear forever. Does it ever frustrate you that so much incredible talent, energy (and budget!) is poured into such fleeting experiences? Do you ever crave a more permanent project?

I love the temporary, it suits my skill set. I was the girl who could never finish knitting a scarf, couldn’t read a long book. It took me ages to work out that smaller, temporary projects can be very rewarding. Temporary projects tend to have more emotional and visual impact because of that need to grab people’s attention quickly for a limited period of time. It always feels fresh.

We try to reuse elements on projects, we are not perfect but visual merchandisiers are the original recyclers. We put a lot more time and thought into reuse than we did 10 years ago and that’s a good thing . I’m really proud of the fact that half of the MGPO spring orchard installation will be reused again!  although you’ll never know it will be all cleverly transformed…)

BlueScope Steel ‘Colorbond Garden’ Melbourne Cup Spring Racing Carnival 2007.  Design and Facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Graphic Design – Kimberley Witkowski.

I am sure many TDF readers will be curious about the inner workings of Gloss Creative! Can you give us a bit of an idea of how the studio runs?  ie where your office is based, how many people you employ, what significant tasks the studio outsources, and whether you still play a hands on role in every project?

We work in a studio at the back of our house, its relaxed but well organised. There are 5 of us on any one day and grow on larger projects to 20 people, mostly comprising of specialist artisans such as sewers, painters, jewellers, saddle makers, florists, lampshade makers, interior designers, graphic designers, visual merchandisers. We work with larger production, staging, print and signage companies as well as shopfitters, metal workers, builders, electricians etc. We have built an incredible network of people who just know how to make strange and wonderful things!

We work as a team on the top line ideas and then break down into smaller teams to make things happen, then usually coming back together to install our work.  I’m always involved with everything but try to let my team have freedom to show their considerable skills and style.

Myer Spring / Summer Parade Launch 2008 / 09.  Dancing with Architecture.  Design and Facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Graphic Design credit Kimberley Witkowski and Pamela Dale.

Which other designers, artists or creative people do you admire?

In the world –

I love the scale and playful qualities of the work of Australian artist Sally Smart, the patterns and colours of any Dries Van Noten garments, Bram Bogart‘s work with giant impasto, Constance Spry’s Floral work, Liberty of London‘s ability to combine old and new with so much cool I could cry when I shop there.  Any John Lautner house.

In my network -

Marcus Baumgart always says its important to state the obvious – I’m always inspired by the team that I work with everyday. They have shared my dreams and made them happen alongside me. Lucky me.

Architect Chris Bosse (LAVA), he’s way ahead of his time .

Bruce Keebaugh (The Big Group) – party guru and entrepreneur.  I have learnt so much about business from him, he knows how to make creative links across different industries and he’s a great story teller.

Sportsgirl ‘Make Do & Mend’ instore display 2011.  Design and Facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Photography Marcel Aucar.

Sportsgirl ‘Make Do & Mend’ instore display 2011.  Design and Facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Photography Marcel Aucar.

Can you list for us your current top 5 go-to resources for creative inspiration, across any media?

1. Lsnglobal network. The boys at the Future Laboratory give great Insight into new thinking not just new trends. Puts me in the right frame of mind before designing.

2. I love Yellow Trace blog, Dana makes mood boards to die for .

3. Trendhunter, I love their theme galleries. Always slightly weird

4. I still like magazines. I’m often standing in airport newstands – I buy the latest of whatever is looking the most interesting that month. I’m not loyal to any one publication. I love it when you find an image you cant stop
looking at, you can tear it out and keep it next to you .

5. theflawedmind.com. I’m inspired by Marcus Baumgart’s eloquent writing style and love of the slow, his ability to express what he’s thinking makes me jealous…

Circa ‘The Prince’ Restaurant interior.  Design by John and Lisa Van Haandel with Gloss Creative.  Photography Earl Carter, Stewart Leishman and Paul Mosig.

Circa ‘The Prince’ Restaurant interior.  Design by John and Lisa Van Haandel with Gloss Creative.  Photography Earl Carter, Stewart Leishman and Paul Mosig.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

Talking, talking, designing by talking, scribbling in my notebook, I stand at my desk because I am literally walking around our studio talking all day with Steff, Tiff, Kim, Ross , Albina , Jan or Sam. I rarely sit down, except when we talk as a group. I think I need one of those standing desks.

We work on multiple projects all in different stages so my day is always varied.  A mix of designing with our team, talking with clients, site visits, installations at night, driving to find things and more talking. My day is busy, but I try to think slowly and find pockets of time for free thinking. My phone often runs out by the end of the day.

Sportsgirl ‘How long is a piece of string’ instore display 2010.  Design and facilitation by Gloss Creative.  Photography Marcel Aucar.

What would be your dream creative project?

A set design for Sydney Dance Company.

And… I’m already dreaming about Christmas at MGPO, so I would have to say our next project …

What are you looking forward to ?

Putting up spring carnival marquees at flemington at the end of this month – big Melbourne celebrations just around the corner.

Hanging with my AGA cooker in my kitchen on the weekend.

Melbourne Questions

Your favourite Melbourne neighbourhood and why?

Probably the city – anywhere that has such an amazing retail world and brilliant restraunts, beautiful buildings, laneways and gardens at the same time 12 minutes from my house must be good .

Your favourite Melbourne bookshop for gorgeous reference books and art / design publications?

Often I find inspiration in older books so I’m a fan of the library. I’ve borrowed and bought amazing books at second hand library book sales. School fetes are another great sources of out print inspiration. The Victorian Embroiders Guild library has an incredible array of textile and handicraft books – you have to join up to get access but its worth it..

What and where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

That’s easy – the new Vue de Monde at Rialto. There are not that many places in the world that you can have an experience that is both luxurious and still mind blowingly creative. Shannon’s sense of creativity redefines
what ‘occasion’ means.  Apart form the watching the day views turn into incredible view of Melbourne at night, the restaurant interior draws you into his world of dark but organic luxury.  The table is not set when you arrive – no tablecloth, a leather topped table, and a still life of handcrafted stone shapes and the burnt driftwood pieces on the table. As the meal progresses each piece’s purpose is revealed. Ah beauty and function!  For me this is almost like modern theatre. I’m always inspired when a business has creativity at it’s core – you can feel it!

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

You would find me being slow. I’ve always been a slow person, so Saturday is my chance to go at a snails pace, whether its sleeping, walking, food shopping, coffee, I move at a “glacial pace” (quote from The Devil Wears Prada!)

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

Its weather – no seriously, I love the fact that it keeps you guessing. My favourite melbourne page is Weatherzone, I love the watching the live rain radar!

Sportsgirl ‘Understated is Overrated’ instore display 2010.  Photography Marcel Aucar.
Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
Categories - Event Design, Interview, Styling Comments (15)
August 26, 2011 – 5:55 am

We Love Perth – Enjoy some Afternoon Tea

We have had such a fantastic week touring around Perth with Jelena and Claire of We Love Perth, thank you both for showing us some of the highlights of your home town! Of course there is plenty more to see so be sure to bookmark We Love Perth! Congratulations to Sarah A who is the lucky winner of the $50 Ruck Rover Gift Voucher - happy shopping! Thanks again Jelena and Claire! – Jenny x

It’s been so lovely hanging out with you this week. We thought we’d finish the week off with our favourite non-meal of the day – afternoon tea! We like it so much we’ve even dedicated a section to it on We Love Perth. There are so many scrumptious places to get baked goods popping up in Perth, but here we’ve selected our top three picks!

Absolutely delectable French pastries of the sweet and savoury variety are baked fresh at Choux Café, deep in the leafy suburb of Swanbourne. Perfect for filling up the picnic basket, then heading down to the beach, or up to King’s Park. Feed the belly as well as your eyes!

Bright and tasty pastries at Choux Café in Swanbourne.

Although it’s located in a small (though beautiful) building that used to be a corner store, Lincolns 102 is jam packed with incredible sweet treats! There’s so much choice we are often tempted to sample one while we are there and take another home with us. Behind the scenes is one of the best bakers in Perth, and she churns out sponge cakes, tarts, gingerbread and all sorts of deliciousness. Oh my, it’s just the best range of old favourites and exciting, new ideas!

Delicious home baked goods at cosy Lincoln’s 102 (top left); A lovely range of sweet and savoury treats are on offer at West End Deli (top right and bottom)

While Jelena has a sweet tooth, Claire cannot resist savoury items for afternoon tea! This is where West End Deli delivers, with homemade pies and sausage rolls, as well as baguettes served with butter, on offer. Mmmm, how scrumptious!

Now you can have your cake and eat it too!  Thanks for having us – we hope to see you over at We Love Perth more often!

Happy Friday!

- Jelena & Claire x

Posted by Jenny at 5:55 am
Categories - Guest Blog Comments Off
August 25, 2011 – 6:00 am

Where They Create by Paul Barbera + Giveaway!

Paul Barbera‘s highly anticipated new book WHERE THEY CREATE has arrived!

Stunning pagespreads from Where They Create – including the beautiful work of our very own Nicholas Jones!

It’s hereeeee!  Australian photographer Paul Barbera‘s highly anticipated new book Where There Create has arrived!  And can I just say – it is so so SO beautiful.

It is kind of impossible for you to NOT know who Paul Barbera is, (especially as I interviewed him many moons ago!) but I guess I probably should give him a brief intro, in case you have just returned from 3 years in outer Mongolia.  Paul is responsible for Where They Create – an incredible blog which documents the workspaces of artists / designers / generally cool creative people across the globe.  Think ‘The Selby‘ but a bit more grown up, a bit more restrained and a bit more fly-on-the-wall.  Paul travels between NYC, Europe and Melbourne for work, therefore the website (and subsequent book) is truly a globe-trotting affair.  Studios featured in the book include Acne Studios in Stockholm, Fantastic Man in Amsterdam and Confetti System in NYC – closer to home you’ll spot the familiar work of Melbourne artist Nicholas Jones and designers Tin & Ed!

Where They Create is truly such an exquisite tome – of course Paul’s photography is the highlight,  but it must be said that the carefully considered layout, beautiful type and velvety paperstock are the perfect pairing for this stunning body of work.  ALSO there are alternate front covers – one for each of the different creatives featured in the book!  Amaze.

Thanks to the very generous Mr Barbera and his sweet PR team, we have TWO copies of Where They Create to give away!  Ooh la la that’s DOUBLE your chances, peeps.  To be in the running, simply leave a comment on this post before 10.00pm tonight.  Two winners will be drawn at random and contacted by email tomorrow!  Massive thanks Paul!

*UPDATE – two winners have been drawn!  The lucky ladies are Amy and Alice who left comments #181 and #20 respectively. Congratulations ladies, and thanks to everyone for all your comments!

You can buy Where They Create in Melbourne from Metropolis Bookshop and other good bookshops (which I don’t actually have a list of, but you know, the usual suspects :)

Lovely type!  Lovely layout.  Such restraint.  Oooh ahhh…
Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
Categories - Photography Comments (258)
August 25, 2011 – 5:55 am

We Love Perth – Local Art & Design Shops

Jelena and Claire of We Love Perth are taking us on a tour of Perth’s best local art and design stores today. We get a peek inside Claire’s own shop, Ruck Rover General Store, and if you leave a comment before 10pm today you will go into the draw to win a $50 voucher to be used in-store or online! Thanks Claire! – Jenny x

You’ve probably heard that Perth is the most isolated city in the world. We think that is why we also have some of the best creative and original minds! Today we’ve put together our top picks for art and design shops and other businesses in Perth.

Let’s start with our favourite North Perth pick, Future Shelter. Fronted by husband and wife team, designer Jane King and engineer Adam Coffey, here you’ll find all sorts of products adorned with their incredible work. They’ve got functional items like lampshades and magnets as well as prints and other fun bits to liven up any room. One of our favourite pieces that they did was inspired by Kings Park and the gardens we talked about yesterday! They’ve also done work for the Perth International Arts Festival – our favourite event where the city esplanade comes alive as the best live music venue.

Products by local design business Future Shelter in North Perth.

In the next suburb of Mount Lawley, and just near Claire’s shop Ruck Rover General Store, is the design shop Test Tube. Their motto is ‘the ordinary: less ordinary’ so what you’ll find here is a brilliant range of functional items but with cutting edge design. They pride themselves on sourcing the most interesting, innovative and aesthetically pleasing products from around the world.

Interior of beautiful design store Test Tube, in Mount Lawley.

Now, don’t start thinking that only the best things happen in Melbourne and Sydney. Eastern states based Outre Gallery recently opened in Perth, and is keeping our walls happy with beautiful retro style art and prints.

Beautiful art from Outre Gallery

Still haven’t had enough? We also like browsing through Remedy, as well as checking out the monthly exhibitions in Claire’s own teensy gallery space, Mini Art Mart in Ruck Rover General Store.

Ruck Rover General Store in Mount Lawley (top); Ruck Rover’s very own Mini Art Mart (bottom)

If you appreciate a coffee with your art, then check out Venn in the city, or the Fremantle Arts Centre where multiple exhibition spaces, a gift shop and a quaint café all sit in beautiful grounds. And don’t overlook Mr Sparrow, a lovely, little, sunny store packed to the brim with design and vintage goodness. In fact, you can read more about Mr Sparrow in our current Monthly Feature!

Lovely little store Remedy (top left); Fremantle Arts Centre (top right). Artist space, café and design store Venn (bottom left); sunny store, Mr Sparrow (bottom right)

Don’t forget we’re also interviewing some fantastic local artists and design geniuses over on our blog this week!

Happy shopping,

- Jelena & Claire x

Posted by Jenny at 5:55 am
Categories - Guest Blog Comments (10)
August 24, 2011 – 6:00 am

Sydney Home – Megan Morton and Family

Megan Morton schjoozes the dining room of her light-filled Lane Cove home. “I love working a corner, here a duplicate hanging includes a pair of architectural drawings, a mirror and old linen oil painting, topped with a small french clock perfectly similar in diameter to Sarah King‘s prototype Sound Made Visible ceramic side plate” says Megan.  All photos by me.

The heart of the home – corner fireplace. “Walnut heaven in the form of an armless Cherner chair, flanking my kooky corner fireplace. When lit, winter magic happens” - Megan.

Details from the fireplace - “Botanical books found at Seasonal Concepts while propping for my own Propery – holding back a few sweet things is an occupational hazard” says Megan. And on the right, a “gentle and stirring” painting by Marcella Kaspar.

Today’s home is SERIOUSLY special.  When I first met fabulous interiors stylist Megan Morton nearly 3 years ago, I was super excited to visit her Sydney home – but of course she was very clear that it was far from perfect, and there would be NO PHOTOS!  Ain’t it always the way – the stylist always put their own home last?!

Fast forward to 2011 and FINALLY the Morton family home is ready for it’s close up – because after 6 glorious years here, The Morton family are moving on!  That’s right – Megan Morton’s home in the leafy Sydney suburb of Lane Cove is currently on the market – check out the real estate listing here.   I must say I feel incredibly lucky to finally have the opportunity to share this very special home with you all!  (Nothing like an impending auction to get people enthused about a TDF home feature!)

Megan lives here with husband Giles, and gorgeous kids Millie (12), Sebastian (10) and Bea (18 months).  Given Megan’s passion for beautiful details, it’s no surprise the home is styled to perfection.  The bathroom and kitchen have been updated in MM’s signature style – classic with a touch of clever and quirky detail.  It’s a home full of creative energy – and as with all genuinely ‘lived-in’ spaces, it’s an ever-changing work in progress.  Megan says really the home has been like her extended studio – “I have used walls here to shoot details and stories for magazines, and have used this home to research which floorboards are better, either white or dark – I did both to see!”

When asked for her favourite aspects of her home, Megan’s answer is too wonderful not to include in full!  Because she’s my favourite, and because no one can speak more eloquently and entertainingly about a home than MM, I’m handing the rest of this post over to her (even the captions!)… Enjoy!

5 Great things about my house.  By Megan Morton.

1. Its number 24 and that is SUCH a great thing as it also happens to also be my favourite pose number in yoga!

2. There is a tree house that has been built to fit three camping mattresses for little boys to sleep over in.  Our local pizza place deliveries care of ‘the tree house’. Dead cute and the little fellas love it.

3. Because of its spoilt position on a big block (for Sydney standards, it’s ginormous – close to 900 square metres), the house itself sits high up and dead set in the middle. This gives it, what can only be described as a sense of gentle elegance within its suburban landscape. The house itself though truly looks like its smiling. You need to see it to get it, but it really does. Its like ‘Which house do you live in’,  and I am like, ‘you know the white smiling one’ and head nods.

4. I grew up with parents who were city folk and right at my most important time to live in the big smoke, they upped sticks and learnt to be small time farmers. They learnt it all through Grass Roots magazine. (it is still around and totally ahead of it’s time in theory). I like to keep one toe in the selfish city and the other in the soil. So at my house there is a proper vegetable garden that is seasonally rotated – it can feed a family of five no worries. There is also a secret side alley that was my chicken run. Sadly our dog forgot his manners one day and while free eggs are awesome, I didn’t have the heart to replace the lost chooks, in case he forgot again.

5. It has shamelessly modest proportions, which means space for everyone to hide, but not sprawl.  Small kids rooms, which gets them out from behind closed doors and out to outdoor pursuits. Because it’s architecturally barren, creating wall vignettes and mini focal points are easy and necessary.

So if its good, why leave? It has been the loveliest place to have a family. This suburb has sourdough, proper single origin coffee, top schools and all the other rah rah that people like. My older kids are now teens and I didn’t want to be one of those people who starts to giveaway the trampoline and the slip’n'slide when the ‘kids’ are heading into their twenties!  This way a new family can enjoy all it’s spoils.  Oh sweet house, I have loved you.  For what you are now, but more so for what you will go onto be.

- Megan

Huge thanks to Megan for sharing her stunning home with us, and for such thoughtful words and captions!  A truly fitting farewell for a much loved family home. :)

CLICK HERE for the full tour and many more pics!

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Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
Categories - Australian Homes, Sydney Homes, Uncategorized Comments (52)