I first heard about Satellite Island in 2014 in what seemed like whispers. A rugged and remote island which lies unspoiled off the southern Tasmanian mainland. I had bought a one-way ticket to Tasmania to really immerse myself in the search for authentic Australian homes, for my book I was shooting, Shelter.

I would ask people I met in Tasmania about Satellite Island, and became rather obsessed with it. Subconsciously I would weave the island into all of my conversations, ‘Have you heard of Satellite Island?…’ It seemed like a mythical place which no one could tell me much about, or who it belonged to.

Late one evening when I was feeling a bit down (it had been a few weeks since I’d been away from home in Tasmania), my laptop went ‘boom’ and I received an email saying:

‘Hi Kara, My name is Kate and I follow you on Instagram, and I can see that you are in Tasmania. We have a private island called Satellite Island and I’d love to invite you over for a few days.’

I stared at the email, absorbing each word and then immediately burst into tears. I couldn’t believe this woman found me and not the other way around. It was such a fateful moment. I quickly wrote back to her with a big YES.

The next week I excitedly drove my little hire car down to Kettering, and caught the barge over to Bruny Island, not knowing exactly what to expect. I met Richard, the Island keeper, on the shores of Bruny near the pub, and then Kate and her mum. We all went over the D’Entrecasteaux Channel in the workboat, and that is where I spent the next three nights on Satellite Island. I felt so overwhelmed by the trust Kate had in me. We connected instantly over our love for the wilderness and nature. We spent the first night getting to know each other in a raucous of laughter and stories and wine, then the next day Kate and her mum left, just like that, off into the distance on the workboat to catch a flight. I found myself alone. Just me on the island, with no reception. It was wild.

The island itself is small, but larger than what you might think. There is one main house named the ‘Summer house’ and also another called the ‘Boathouse’, which is where you can sleep above the water. No shops to duck into for supplies, or any other distractions. Though the island itself is very self-sufficient.

Early each evening I would collect mussels and shuck oysters from the ancient rock shelf which circles the remote island. It was wonderful being able to collect what you needed, while observing the natural beauty of the coastal landscape. A primal routine. I would spend the days exploring and photographing the rock shelf and watching the tide come in and out, bringing with it beautiful sea treasure in the form of seaweed, kelp and shells.

I didn’t really sleep the whole time I was there. The weather conditions would change so dramatically, so I was constantly alert, waiting to see what would reveal itself to me. One moment perfect blue skies and sunshine, then a moment later it would be raining. Fronts would move in and then blow away immediately.

I was constantly shooting, as the same scene would completely change within minutes. Even when I was lying in bed in the boathouse watching the stars at night, I didn’t want to shut my eyes because there was still beauty everywhere.

Five years on, and Satellite Island has definitely become a hot destination since those early days, and watching the world discover it for themselves since then has been exhilarating to witness. I decided to return to Satellite Island last month, and brought my family along with me.

Going back after all this time was really emotional. It’s hard to explain, the island has a way of getting into your veins. Coming in by seaplane over the water and seeing the boathouse where I slept on those nights five year ago was like seeing an old familiar friend.

Even though many things have changed since then, for both the island and myself, the raw, rugged beauty of the place still remains strong and so does my intense love for the island. The thing about visiting a natural haven like this is that once you let nature in, it has a way of reconnecting you to what’s truly important and silencing what’s not.

To celebrate returning to Satellite Island, I have made available five new photographic prints from this story, all inspired by the raw abstract beauty that flourishes on the island. Click here to view them in my print shop.

This is an edited extract from Kara Rosenlund’s blog. Read the full entry here!

Find out more about staying at Satellite Island here. 

When Anja de Spa, director of Molecule Studio first visited this two-bedroom ground level apart in the Art-Deco ‘Otway’ block in Hawthorn, she was met with ‘a 90-year-old building well overdue for a birthday.’ The owners wanted to restore the interior back to its 1930s glory, and rectify the 1980s cream and yellow makeover. The brief was to champion the grandeur of the past, while also improving circulation and overhauling the kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and introduce new storage.

Anja explains that the design approach was informed by ‘responding to heritage conditions, to design new insertions with respect of, rather than a replication of the past.’ The clients discovered that their home was designed by the architects of the Rivoli theatre (H. Vivian Taylor, Soilleux and Overend) in Camberwell, and were ‘keen to ensure that this spirit was not lost.’ The renovations focused on the kitchen as the heart of the home, to reflect the owner’s love of cooking, with the freestanding stove as centrepiece. The layout echoes that of a commercial kitchen, with a series of functional joinery ‘stations’ each with its own designated use.

The interiors maintain and preserve the home’s original hard plaster mouldings and timber work, while also adding subtle references to the Art Deco style with details of curves, chambers and rebates in the new joinery. Newly introduced materials include Ironbark timber, terrazzo slabs, tonal laminate, glazed ceramics, and fluted glass. The rich hues of the rosewood mid-century furniture and the soft green tones in a Brook Holm photograph have informed the colour scheme.

The clients also have a family history in the ceramics industry, so the architects introduced this personal history into the home with glazed ceramic wall tiles by Classic Ceramics and Artedomus, and a handmade ceramic basin by Tasmanian ceramicist Lindsey Wherrett.

With the arrival of a new baby just a few weeks after handover, the owners can enjoy a home that makes clever use of the entire 85sqm footprint, the introduction of new storage, a functional kitchen, and a beautiful space informed by history.

James Lemon’s new Northcote studio and retail space didn’t look anything like this when he moved in, in April this year. What was once a dark, cluttered auto shop with rough concrete floors and harsh fluorescent lighting is now bright, spacious and welcoming, with lush greenery occupying every available corner and surface. It was important to James to create his space and thoughtfully and sustainably as possible. ‘Most of the fixtures and materials in the studio are recycled or second hand, so the space represents what is not in landfill right now’, he says. ‘It’s vital to my space to waste little, and make the most of what I can.’

James painted the entire place white (including the floors), lined the walls with shelving to display his work, and set up a long bench with six wheel-throwing stations, where he currently holds small classes on Tuesday evenings, Wednesday daytimes and Saturdays (and by appointment). ‘Small classes allow me to actually spend time with people, learn where they’re at so I can actually teach and also get to know people, and work on the projects or forms that they want to work on’, he says.

As far as his own practice goes, James says it has ‘evolved quite dramatically’ since he first started making work in 2015. ‘I’ve become more expressive’ he tells me. While he’s still making his simple, signature line of ceramics, he’s also creating experimental pieces that blur the lines between functional pieces and artwork. Meanwhile, the popularity of his functional wares have resulted in collaborations with institutions including the NGV and Heide MoMA.

James truly puts his heart and soul into the work he creates, and his creative practice is about so much more to him than the final outcome. ‘I like ceramics as a material for its physical and sensory qualities, as well as the emotional rollercoaster it can put you through’, he says. ‘I’ve learnt many lessons for life through this weird mud material. It’s allowed me to learn to breathe and know myself.’

What strikes me the most about James, and really the greater ceramics community in Melbourne, is how dedicated they are to supporting one another. Every time I’ve spoken with a ceramicist about their practice and creative philosophy, I never get a sense of competition, or ownership of any aesthetic, but there is almost always a strong focus on building community.

That’s what James is trying to do with his new space, which he is treating as ‘test for something a bigger’, to see whether this model of retail, workshop, and studio is financially viable. He has goals to ‘create more community between creative people, the spaces they occupy and the people that support their work’. Somewhere where creatives can come together, share resources, escape the solitude of their studios, and practice their craft in a collaborative, sustainable way. James admits that right now it’s ‘too soon to know’ whether this is actually feasible long term, but I really hope it happens for him!

Join James to celebrate his new space in an opening shindig on Friday, October 18th from 6.30-8.30pm!  You can book in for a workshop here.

James Lemon Store + Studio
Wednesday-Friday, 10am-4pm 
Saturday, 11am-4pm 
41 Arthurton Road
Northcote, Victoria

1. Share your vision

All too often, I meet small biz owners who are frustrated by their staff’s lack of initiative or loyalty. When I ask if said staff are aware of the key company goals and its big-picture vision, I’m met with blank stares. The best way to engage staff is to bring them along on the journey. That means, to show them the vision for the company.

Let your team see the key business goals and how their work ties in with both. By enabling people to feel that the work they do is actually contributing to a greater goal, you inject a sense of purpose and ownership into their work.

2. See the whole person

Despite an influx of ‘fun’ position titles in the last decade — think Chief Experience Officer (CEO) or Chief Change Maker — most people today will still be employed for a particular skills-based role, and given an associated title i.e. graphic designer, marketing specialist, online editor etc. While this provides a level of clarity over their day-to-day tasks, it also means we can get stuck thinking that’s what the staff member should do 100% of the time, instead of looking at them as a whole person. What other areas of the business might inspire and engage them? What other parts of themselves would they jump to show at work?

A strong company culture is one that allows people to feel free to put themselves forward for new projects or ask if they might assist in a job that doesn’t strictly fall under their remit. If you have staff (even remote ones) consider asking them to fill in a skills matrix, then look at the areas they have interest and skills in, but little/no experience. This can be gold for engaging your staff, while also adding new skills to your business.

3. Give back

In a 2016 study by Cone Communications, 75% of millennials said they would accept a pay cut in order to work for a socially responsible company. Giving back can be one of the greatest ways to engage your staff, while also helping the wider community. For small business owners this may look like providing free services to a not-for-profit/charity, giving a % of sales to a cause selected by your staff or allowing staff to get paid for X number of volunteer days throughout the year.

4. Lead by example

A toxic work culture is rarely powered by people at the bottom. To cultivate a positive company culture, leaders need to be “walking the talk”. That means, if you shout about women’s empowerment on your business’ social media, ensure it’s backed up internally with flexible work arrangements for parents, a strong domestic violence leave policy, private locked rooms for new Mums to pump, and a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to sexism and bullying. Brand values and induction speeches mean little if company leaders don’t reflect the traits their brand promotes.

5. Trust and appreciate your staff

This is perhaps the most important point of all. No one wants to be micromanaged or told what to do 100% of the time. We spend the bulk of our best years, and best hours of the day, at work. Trusting that you have hired the right people, and actually granting them the space to do their job is essential in creating a thriving company culture. Likewise, bringing the sunshine in terms of appreciation and a simple ‘thank you’ or ‘well done’ can do wonders for helping staff feel valued as a key member of the team.

Fiona Killackey is business consultant, author and mentor for My Daily Business Coach. Sign up to her weekly email full of small biz insights and tips here. 

Artist Regina Pilawuk Wilson first started making her artwork in a formal sense in 2002, but has always been involved in cultural activities in her community. She explains ‘we used to teach the kids from school painting and weaving.’ Her work is inspired by her culture and ancestors, and she describes ‘they used to weave before my time, to keep stories alive and the culture strong.’

Regina lives and works in the north-western corner of Australia, in the Peppimenarti community, which she and her late husband Harry Wilson founded in 1973, with a group of Ngan’gikurrungurr people who left a Catholic mission to live on their traditional country. Regina explains ‘moving to Peppimenarti allowed us to continue the practice and build an arts centre that helps promote cultural participation. We needed to move back and look after our land and totem, not just the art.’

Deme Ngayi Nimbi – I made it with my hands is both a retrospective of Regina’s detailed and finely crafted work, and an opportunity to see new pieces she created recently while on residency in Sicily. The pieces are informed by teachings from her mother and grandmother, who passed on the practice of harvesting and weaving. Regina has taken this skill and transferred to painting, describing ‘my idea was to take weaving onto canvas.’

In addition to the painterly representations and translation of weaving on canvas, the exhibition also features three-dimensional woven pieces, which Regina explains ‘is a technique from my ancestors that has not been practice in over 40 years.’ After viewing similar work in a South Australian museum, the artist was inspired to reconnect with the practice or rolling ochre into merrepen (sand palm) to create woven pieces.

Regina’s travels and international residencies inform this exhibition, as she connects with other artists, landscapes and experiences. But her weaving and painting will always be connected to culture and her community. As she describes, travel can ‘change my choice of colour, but my messages stays the same. The symbols of my ancestors.’

Deme Ngayi Nimbi – I made it with my hands
Regina Pilawuk Wilson
Until October 16th
Michael Reid Gallery
Standard House 105 Kippax Street
Surry Hills
NSW

The Light House is nicknamed as such because natural light permeates every room of the home, and the owner is the director of lighting design practice, The Flaming Beacon.

Layan Architecture + Design were engaged to design the project, which is an extension of an existing single-storey, weatherboard Victorian in Hawthorn. The aim was to create a light-filled oasis, connecting the home to its central garden courtyard.

Tasked with blocking out views of the surrounding properties, and complying with local development provisions, the architects and client devised an innovative upper-façade screen. This design draws on their mutual love of modernist architecture – particularly Austrian-American sculptor Erwin Hauer – and features hollow, circular polycarbonate elements housing small LED fittings. The impact of the screen is threefold; enabling light to beautifully filter through the home during the day, while illuminating the façade at night, and screening out neighbouring properties.

‘Lighting changes constantly with shadows wandering over the well-crafted internal bricks walls. It is a very peaceful and beautiful space,’ says Johannes Hart, principal of Layan Architecture + Design.

The home’s design not only filters out surrounding properties, but also facilitates privacy throughout the interiors. ‘You can be anywhere in the building and not be affected by what goes on around the house,’ Johannes says.

The success of this project is a credit to the relationship between the architect and the client, who have a long history of collaborating on international high-end hotel projects.

‘As a result, I better understand the way the client is looking at light, and the effect this has on the wellbeing of the inhabitants,’ Johannes says. ‘As this aspect of the design took centre stage in all design considerations, we managed to get quality daylight into all of the spaces in the house, and connect the inside to the outside in a rather poetic sort of way.’

The completed Light House is a calm, sophisticated and well-resolved space, steering clear of fleeting trends to offer timeless and meaningful design outcomes. The excellent synergy between the parties underpins the entirety of the completed home. As Johannes puts it, ‘A shared passion for doing things well, despite the obvious budget challenges, is really critical to avoid taking short cuts during the execution of the design.’

Anne and Richard Barker approached interior designer Suzanne Gorman of Studio Gorman in September of 2018 to redesign their kitchen and laundry. In an existing architectural home on the beachfront in Clareville, surrounded by ghost gums, taking on the project was a no-brainer. The only catch was, the Barkers were keen to have the new rooms finished in time for Christmas festivities! Unperturbed, Suzanne and her team set about creating a space that made the most of its idyllic position.

Designed by the previous architect owners, the home comprises a series of airy pavilions that open completely up to the garden, creating breezeway-style rooms that connect fluidly.

Bringing the angular details of the architectural ceiling into the kitchen design, Studio Gorman included vertical slabs of limestone, fashioned to create distinctive forms in the island bench and dining joinery. ‘We were determined to enhance and repeat architectural elements originally introduced, yet to create a warmth and “Sydney casual” vibe that is our distinctive style’, Suzanne explains. The sweeping views across Clareville beach to Lion Island, in particular, the vista through the ghost gums, set the tone for Studio Gorman’s colour palette of subtle gum leaf grey and sage, and other natural materials, such as sand-blasted oak and limestone, echo the tones of the spectacular surrounds.

Suzanne selected the new Fisher & Paykel Column refrigerator and freezer to reflect the way the Barker family shops and eats – plenty of fridge space, with a smaller freezer to best suit their needs. A CoolDrawerTM Multi-Temperature Drawer was also installed at the end of the kitchen, closer to the dining room, allowing easy access to drinks and nibbles, and the perfect place to store all the elements for a cheeseboard when entertaining. Priorities!

While the other appliances disappear seamlessly behind the paneled cabinetry when not in use, Suzanne treated the induction cooktop almost like a feature of its own – the contemporary black glass top adding a ‘striking design element’. Similarly, the built-in oven sits neatly below a microwave oven in the same sleek black tones, offering maximum kitchen functionality while taking up minimal space. The laundry design echoes the tones of the kitchen. Plenty of storage has been integrated behind the same panelled cabinetry, and a Fisher & Paykel washer and dryer sit side-by-side underneath a long stone countertop, with a handy open shelving unit perched above.

The end result is a simple, fresh solution that knits itself perfectly to the existing home and reflects the best of beachside living and entertaining – and just in time for Christmas!

Fisher & Paykel, New Zealand’s award-winning appliance brand, has become a global force not just in product design, but also in kitchen design. The company is committed to research, development and collaboration and works closely with architects and designers to seamlessly integrate their appliances into kitchens in innovative ways. Visit, www.fisherpaykel.com to find out more.

This multi-award winning garden from Outdoor Establishments was a two stage process. The Melleray Gardens were initially redesigned from 2011-2012 on the lower levels, with the ‘bones’ of the upper garden gently updated later on, co-director Mathew Hook describes. Stage two was delivered in 2015, with the completion of the rear garden, and the introduction of the Eco Cladding from Eco Outdoor.

The brief from the client was to create a beautiful and comfortable space for entertaining, and spending time with loved ones. Mathew explains ‘the garden was really designed to be a space for family, meaning plenty of room for games and recreation.’ Due to the two stage development, the team were able to develop a strong relationship with both the owners and the site, and watch how the garden grew and changed over time. Mathew highlights how the garden grew-up with the owners, and the cubby house has now been extended to include an outdoor gym!

The design uses sandstone throughout the project, much of which was recycled from the original renovation of the house. Mathew describes the meticulous and time-consuming work of spending 6 months on the large stone wall that retains the upper garden levels, over the swimming pool and pool house. After the success of this design, the 2015 iteration was envisaged to continue with similar materials in the lower garden. Mathew explains ‘Eco Outdoor’s Crackenback was the answer for us!’

The use of recycled brick paving and sandstone walls reflect Sydney’s construction histroy, and connects the project to the surrounding neighbourhood. These materials are brought to life by the surrounding north shore plant species, including the blooms of Frangipani, Magnolia and Camellia. The addition of newly planted trees required some inventive operational work (craning in Olive and Jacaranda trees!), as well as establishing topiary Buxus, Bougainvillea, and Rhapis Palms.

Not only is this project an epic two-stage feat, but the horticulture team have been maintaining this garden on a weekly basis since 2012. Mathew explains that ‘as with all gardens, some things didn’t work out, and we have been able to address that and make improvements over the years.’ A lesson in allowing things to grow and develop, and reminder that good things take time!

Eco Outdoor specialises in natural stone flooring and walling, together with outdoor furniture and fabrics to create an inspiring life outdoors. Eco Outdoor is committed to innovative products that maintain integrity and quality and possess an organic aesthetic that transcends style and age gracefully.

Melissa Harris (aka ‘Maj’ of cult cakes Those We Fancy) and Harry moved into their Box Hill home in 2012, but the dreamy vintage-inspired atmospheric scenes pictured here took A LOT of work to realise. When they moved in, Maj describes is was a true ‘renovators delight’ of 1940s red brick. It took some creative vision to see past the ‘many layers of wallpaper, icky yellow stained walls, brown and gold carpeted bathroom (!) and the freezing outside toilet/laundry.’ Hard to believe this warm and charming family home was once an ugly duckling!

Before the family moved in, they cleverly knocked out the wall between the kitchen and original bedroom to create an open plan living/dining/kitchen space, and remodeled the bathroom. Maj highlights that resourcefulness was key in undertaking renovations, and when remodelling the kitchen ‘we were on a very tight budget, so IKEA was the perfect choice.’ She cleverly used the basic off-the-shelf options, and then added her own spin, with vintage fittings and handmade timber shelves.

After living in the home for several years, and getting to know the space and the rhythms of family life, Maj and Harry embarked on a second round of renos, to create new connections with the outdoors and move living space. Maj explains ‘I had been creating the space in my head for years before we started, so it wasn’t a hard decision to make it all out.’

The design of the new space deliberately connects with the existing home, and Maj describes ‘I wanted it to feel like it had always been here, so I made sure to keep with the original character of the house, such as continuing the picture railing throughout the new space, adding matching cornices, and adding ceiling roses.’ While it took many years and a lot of work, Maj enthuses ‘I never thought I would ever say that “I love” this home, but over time and a lot of hard work I can now say I truly do.’

The interiors reflect Maj and her family’s character. She describes her style as ‘vintage, vintage and vintage, with lashings of linen, floral prettiness and the smell of baked goods thrown in for good measure.’ You can ALMOST smell the scent of cakes through the photos! The home isn’t overly curated, but is a space filled with objects and pieces the family loves. Maj’s previous training as a florist in her 20s shines through, as floral poseys and blooming bunches are spotted throughout the home. The space is also brought to life through the warmth of Dulux Monument Grey on the exterior and all of the trims.

While this house feels fully resolved to us, Maj’s Instagram handle remains @maj_and_the_half_done_house. She explains ‘with old homes I don’t believe they can ever be completely “done.” The layers of home can always be added to, with another bunch of flowers, and scent of cakes pulled freshly from the oven!’

Nick Bell Architects took inspiration from the existing mid-century home for this outstanding project, The Olphert in Vaucluse, New South Wales. The essence of glamour and style from the original 1960s design have been emphasised, with a contemporary touch.

When the architects first encountered the home, it was in poor condition and offered a fragmented layout, with distinct and separated zoned. The large swimming pool was cut off from the living spaces, and the distinct sections of the home felt isolated. The brief from the clients was to create an oasis, to open up the home and provide a seamless entertaining zone that linked the home, garden and pool.

The architects highlight that the client’s love of mid-century design helped inform the renovations, and the team drew upon this aesthetic to inform the additional bedroom, new living spaces, and kitchen and bathroom fit-outs. Existing spaces were also sensitively updated, by looking historically to the styles and materials of the mid-century period, and refurbishing and repairing joinery, terrazzo paving (!!) and parquetry flooring.

The Olphert takes inspiration from the homes and hotels of Palm Springs, reimagined for an Australian setting. The sweeping rear roof structure swoops around, offering maximum northern light through the interior spaces, with its distinctive curve embracing the pool terrace. The architects emphasise how the material selections also reference mid century design, through large areas of glazing framed in bronze aluminium, pink joinery in the kitchen, and the sandstone crazy paving outside. Jakin Homes and Pools pulled it all together, completing the pool and landscaping as well as the build.

While the end result here signals lazy afternoons of poolside cocktails in palazzo pants, this project wasn’t all smooth sailing. The architects explain that the irregular shape of the triangular garden, and the discovery of asbestos during the build necessitated some inventive design thinking, but resulted in an innovate and considered renovation. Despite the challenges, the Nick Bell Architects team truly nailed this Palm-Springs-meets-suburban-Sydney brief!