Leah Bartholomew

 The Coolangatta Home of designer Leah Bartholomew.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The Coolangatta Home of designer Leah Bartholomew.  Society 6 Cushion, Beneath The Sun large Gem Vessel, Wire chair bought on Gumtree.  Brick wall painted by Leah in Dulux Coral Blossom.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The Coolangatta Home of designer Leah Bartholomew.  Society 6 cushion, Beci Orpin cushion, Ikea cushion.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Leah painting on her back deck.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Leah Bartholomew at home.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

You might recall around this time last year we interviewed one very clever and particularly versatile local designer, Leah Bartholomew.  After five years working in Melbourne as Beci Orpin‘s right hand woman, Leah moved north in 2011, settling in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast, not far from her childhood hometown of Bilambil, which is half an hour north of Byron Bay.  Though she loved living in Melbourne, Leah craved all the usual things Melbourne is not very good at - sunshine, surf and a generally relaxed pace of life. It didn't take long for Leah to settle in to her new surroundings, after securing a lease on this sweet surf-shack style home, just minutes from Kirra beach.  She now lives and works from these perennially summery surroundings, tackling various freelance graphic design projects whilst also running her own fabulous homewares label, Beneath the Sun, from her home studio. Since its a rental, Leah has made only minor cosmetic changes since moving in here, such as installing shelving in her little studio, and painting the brick wall on her back deck in her favourite summery shade of coral.  Inside, she's filled the home with op shop treasures, sweet handcrafted details and her signature pops of cheerful colour in every room!  Many of the cushions and decorative elements you see here are Leah's own designs - from cushions, to original artworks, ceramic 'gem vessel' planters and her super cute 'woody' printed timber objects. Leah's home reflects her relaxed, free spirited nature - she loves prettying up her surroundings with sweet handmade details, and is particularly skilled at op shop / roadside treasure hunting!  Some of her favourite furniture finds are the geometric pale pink side tables, found on the side of the road in Tweed Heads!  (This would not happen in Melbourne!).  Another much loved second hand find is what Leah calls 'the most comfortable lounge in the world' - the seventies velour corner lounge she scored for a steal on Gumtree! As a former Melbourne resident, its no surprise that the real drawcard of this home for Leah is its proximity to nature - both Coolangatta's impressive beaches, and nearby bushland.  'I was really happy to find this place' says Leah of her relatively new home.  Surrounded by lush foliage, Leah says it really feels like you could be living in the mountains.  'Gorgeous Kirra Beach is 500 metres away, and I have views to the hinterland, where I see the most incredible sunsets every afternoon'. Massive thanks to Leah for brightening up another freezing Melbourne morning with her fabulously summery home!  If you share Leah's passion for bold colour, do check out the full Beneath the Sun product range online here!

'Bike On Grass' photograph by Conor O'Brien, Beneath The Sun hanging pot, German vase from Found Furniture, 1970's velour lounge, kilim cushion, Sisauvage cushion from Etsy.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kitchen detail.  Top left - Lucas Grogan plate, local pottery, Country Road mugs and bowls, op shop finds.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Loungeroom detail.  Artwork by Leah Bartholomew, Ikea lamp, Beneath The Suncushions, Beci Orpin cushion, Rug picked up at a garage sale, handmade timber lounge purchased in Brisbane.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Loungeroom.  Themis hanging mono mobile from Douglas and Bec, 1950's chair - an op shop score.  Printed wooden objects on dresser by Beneath the Sun.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Bedroom.  Artworks by Leah Bartholomew, pillowcases - a mix of Beneath the Sun and Country Road,  Beneath The Sun Applique Linen Quilt, bedside lamp from Found Furniture, pink bedside table picked up on the side of the road!  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Bedroom details.  Fleur chair from Found Furniture, locally made Bangalow palm basket, Artwork by Leah Bartholomew.    Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Leah's home studio.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Details from Leah's studio.  Beneath The Sun timber objects, Holly Leonardson hanging rainbow, Mould Map images.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Russell Lewis surfboard, Gem Vessel.  Photo - Toby Scott, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.