Kara Rosenlund
Homes
23rd November, 2011
The Brisbane home of stylist Kara Rosenlund and her partner Timothy. Photo - Jason Starr
Incredible vintage details in the tiny but gorgeous loungeroom! Photos - Jason Starr
When someone is doing something creative and interesting pretty much anywhere in Australia I feel a certain sense of obligation to know about it. So, in my usual late night internet surfing haze back in September I stumbled across this person called Kara Rosenlund (can't even remember how), and had one of those instant 'HOW ON EARTH DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS PERSON BEFORE NOW?' moments. (That happens more often than you'd think around here, I must admit). Ah well, slow on the uptake but better late than never I guess!
Kara is one seriously multitalented creative - with a background in photography, Kara moved from Sydney to London in 2007, and found work as a props buyer and stylist. Two years ago she returned home, settling in Brisbane, and has since been juggling styling contracts for cookbooks, magazines and events with her sweet side project - Travelling Wares! Travelling Wares is the cutest caravan you ever did see, which Kara fills with beautiful antiques and vintage nik naks sourced from far and wide, setting up shop at various markets and temporary locations up North. SUPER CUTE concept, and even cuter execution. Love your work Kara!
Kara lives with her fiance Timothy (and a flock of happy Pekin Bantam chickens) in this sweet workers cottage in Nundah in Brisbane's inner Northern suburbs. How outstandingly cute is it!? They've been here almost two years since leaving their much loved previous home in East London.
Interestingly, Kara and Timothy actually purchased their house whilst still living in the UK. How do people do that!? Amazing. Within an hour of returning to Australia this creative pair had already set to work sprucing up their new home - Kara says they made pitstop via the hardware store enroute from the airport! 'Nothing like a shock to the body to jolt the jet lag' she adds!
The pair have since gutted and redesigned the kitchen and bathroom, and are currently (like right now!) white washing the floors. 'These sorts of houses tend to be ongoing projects that are hungry for maintenance and endless weekend devotion' Kara says. Hmmmm something tells me these two wouldn't be content with a finished project anyway!
When asked what she loves most about living here, Kara paints such a picture perfect image of her home and enviable Queensland lifestyle. 'I love the ease and casualness that comes with having a workers cottage in Queensland. The architecture lends itself to a certain way of life, where in any season you can bet that all the doors and windows will be open, the chickens will be roaming (usually under the neighbours mango tree) and a breeze wafting through.'
Massive thanks to Kara for sharing her stunning home with us, and to Jason Starr for allowing us to use his beautiful shots. We're very excited to announce that Kara will assist us with some more Brisbane home stories for The Design Files in the new year... Queenslanders, we know we've been neglecting you a little, but we're thrilled to have Kara on the case to rectify that!
Do pop by and check out Kara's website and blog where you can see lots more of her beautiful work! ALSO Queenslanders can catch Kara and her Travelling Wares pop-up this Saturday November 26th at the The Powerhouse Farmers Markets in New Farm. Say hello from me!
Loungeroom details - Photo - Jason Starr
Love this kitchen! Photo by Kara Rosenlund.
Kara in the kitchen! Awww cuteness! Photo - Jason Starr
Lovely linen cupboard. Photo - Jason Starr
Shelves in the loungeroom. Photo - Jason Starr
Home office. Photo - Jason Starr
Bathroom. Photo by Kara Rosenlund.
Beautiful hallway / bathroom / loungeroom details. Photo - Jason Starr
Hallway. Photo - Jason Starr
Gorgeous!!
Ah, Lucy! Thank you! You are very kind! xx
Such fantastic use of texture – just beautiful!
Yay for Brisbane homes!! Love! xx
Beautiful! Everything a Brisbane QLD cottage should look like and more!
Really gorgeous – she could only be a stylist!
The White Home…Love it!
Amazing house and design!! Love your work Kara
Such a beautiful and calming home! Simply stunning Kara. And I am so excited to see more of Brisbane and Queensland homes featured on your amazing site. Thanks Lucy.
You had me from the first photo! What a simply beautiful home.
Gorgeous. Perfect way to start the day : )
what a gorgeous and light filled home. I love the vintage/antique pieces mixed with the white and linens – truly lovely.
Wow what a wonderfully inspiring home! Being a fellow north Brisbane girl, I love our casual way of living, I to always have the windows open with the balmy summer breezes we’ve been having this week – I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else! :) Looking forward to the Powerhouse Markets this weekend! :)
What a gorgeous aesthetic! I really love this
So gorgeous! what a wonderful calm interior.
Please more photos of the bantams Kara!
What a gorgeously serene home. I love Wednesdays on the Design Files! thank you for sharing:)
Absolutely beautiful Home!
Love your home Kara. I too live in a worker’s cottage in Brissy that is always a work in progress…wouldn’t have it any other way! The character and verandahs make it all worthwhile.
ahhh, pretty nostalgia! Bris is my hometown, and Nundah is where my dad grew up in the 1930s… It’s wonderful to see people caring for these old timber houses again, instead of bulldozing and building brick venereal boxes…
Just gorgeous! Bring on more Brisbane stuff, whilst I love drooling over all the talent and beautiful houses you feature south, it would be nice to see more local inspiration.
I love those glass specimen jars that are shown here filled with fruit for styling purposes – however, can you tell me if they offer any practical benefits such as keeping the fruit fresher or do they trap in moisture and cause the fruit to age faster? They look so lovely!
I downloaded the app and loved it so much I went and bought the mag at the newsagents, it’s a beautiful issue. Did I mention I’m making the blondies today! Yum!
Beautiful!
I saw the mag last night and loved it – I would absolutely love a subscription what a great treat that would be
Your home is absolutely stunning! Im totally in love with all your table lamps!! Can you possibly share where you got them??? Just beautiful!
Hi Sally! Thank you – Do you mean the glass based table lamps? I actually make them myself. Pop over to my website (kararosenlund.com) and subscribe to the newsletter. I will be launching my online store very soon… and there will be lamps available! K xxx
Hi Sonya! I can speak for my own experience with the glass cloches and they do indeed make my fruit sweat. Purely for aesthetics – which isn’t such a bad thing! Kara x
Hi Margie! Its such a shame so much bulldozing takes place. Nundah would be a very different place now to what you father would remember. Kara x
Thanks Gaz – you would be all too familiar with the hard work no doubt! haha! All worth it in the end! Kara x
Hi Miss Polly! You might have to pop over to my blog to see more of the bantams! Our girls are so gorgeous! Kara x
Thank you, Kara, they do look beautiful. I am glad to know their proper name now too.
Hello Kara
Congrats on your beautiful home. I am on a white paint search at the moment….how hard is it to choose the RIGHT WHITE? Could you please share the white paint you used for your walls?
Thanks
Nicole
Hi Nicole, White is indeed tricky! We used Porters Paint in Popcorn! No nasty colour casts, very neutral. Thanks! Kara