Studio Highlights: October, 2024
Hands down, October has proven to be my busiest work month to date. After a restful return from September’s Tasmanian journey, my calendar quickly filled with client work, events, and new opportunities.
Melbourne has shaken off its winter lull, embracing the spring season with gusto. I attended the launch of The Design Files magazine, celebrated the Robert Gordon x Country Road ceramic collection, and enjoyed a Mediterranean-inspired long lunch hosted by Fenton & Fenton.
A weekend in Daylesford added to the October whirlwind, where I enjoyed a collaboration stay with Dairy Flat Lodge & Farm. Mixing business with pleasure, I was commissioned to capture the region’s charm through photography for Domain and to craft stories for a new client, Australian Traveller.
Speaking of new clients, I also welcomed prominent homebuilders Metricon and ABN Group to my portfolio, writing blog posts and crafting team bios for their sites.
Meanwhile, my regular columns for Domain’s magazines kept me immersed in some truly remarkable Australian homes. For What to See This Weekend, I featured 1/46-54 Foster Street in Surry Hills—a New York-style warehouse wonder that landed the October 5 cover.
Amid all the go-go-go, October has been a richly rewarding blend of creativity and connection, setting the stage for an exciting close to the year.
~ Recent Events ~
I rarely find the time—or confidence—to attend industry events, but October reminded me how rewarding it can be, from hearing Lucy Feagins discuss The Design Files’ new magazine to joining a studio tour and ceramic workshop at Robert Gordon for their Country Road collaboration.
With the Melbourne sunshine finally making an appearance, yesterday’s drive to Portsea to celebrate Fenton & Fenton’s Il Mediterraneo collection felt extra delightful.
In collaboration with Fiat Australia and a Mediterranean-inspired feast served by Pasta Mama, the day was a feast for the senses—vibrant colours, fresh flavours, and endless inspiration for festive summer tablescapes.
Picture a windswept meadow of golden dunes, with seagrass dancing in the breeze, leading you from shimmering shores into lush, open fields. This fusion of coastal cool and country charm is the essence captured by the Lismore 26, now on display at Cloverton estate in Kalkallo.
Featuring the Sidney facade for the first time, this home evokes a contemporary flair while retaining a timeless sophistication. Highlighted by the exterior’s Southampton colour scheme, it blends ‘Industrial Steel’ light grey Austral bricks with lighter render accents. The soft greys bring a modern edge while maintaining a relaxed feel that mirrors the home’s internal colour scheme.
~ Featured Properties ~
In my What To See This Weekend and Coast & Country columns for Domain, I highlighted a selection of standout properties from Sydney to the beautiful stretches of regional NSW.
1/46-54 Foster Street, Surry Hills
A New York-style warehouse dream, this full-floor apartment, spanning 214 square metres, has been reimagined by Alexander &CO. into a sleek urban retreat. “With soaring ceilings, concrete floors, elegant curves, and vast steel-framed windows that infuse the space with natural light, it’s a masterstroke of contemporary design,” says the agent. “Featured in Vogue Living and other top publications, it’s an iconic gem in downtown Surry Hills.”
6 Bulkara Street, Wagstaffe
Morning swims off the private sandy beach or afternoon sails from the state-of-the-art deep water jetty are daily rituals at ‘Agave’, the crown jewel of San Toy Estate. “With a due north aspect and unrivalled views across Brisbane Water, this award-winning home fuses bold design with coastal luxury,” says the agent. “From the lanai room to the saltwater pool, every detail elevates the art of relaxed waterfront living.”
20/33 Milson Road, Cremorne Point
Commanding the top floor of a beautiful Federation block, this remarkable penthouse epitomises elegance on one of the Lower North Shore’s finest streets. “Featuring high ceilings, decorative details, and a sweeping layout, it blends space and sophistication,” says the agent. “Three undercover balconies boast breathtaking views, and the left balcony, dubbed the ‘G&T spot,’ offers sunset vistas of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and city skyline.”
115-117 King Street, Newcastle
Retreat from the urban buzz into this luxury warehouse-style residence, where open-plan living flows to a sunlit terrace and plunge pool. “Formerly a 19th-century fire station, the conversion balances historic elements with contemporary details,” the agent notes. “The award-winning redesign also features a 177 square metre commercial space with soaring ceilings, polished floors, and exposed steel beams.”
~ Favourite Edit ~
For my Design Digest column for Domain’s Prestige magazine, my favourite edit for the month was ‘Homegrown Talent,’ spotlighting some of Australia’s most inspiring brands and design innovators.
When it comes to creativity, storytelling, and sustainability, there's no need to look beyond our own local designers and makers.
STACKED IN STYLE Ellison Studios debuts the Stack sofa as the centrepiece of their first physical brand space, Apartment II, a fully immersive residence in Sydney’s iconic Edwards & Co. building. Upholstered in hemp Cabarita Hazel, the sofa blends nostalgic design with modern comfort.
REST EASY Reimagining waste into beauty, the Camada Daybed by Fisch Designs x ditto showcases a layered aesthetic without glue or fixings. Upholstered in vibrant Vidar 4 fabric, the soft texture contrasts elegantly with the 100% recycled plastic frame for a sustainable, playful design.
HERITAGE WEAVES Willie Weston presents the Kate Constantine Collection, featuring ethereal designs by Gadigal artist Kate Constantine. Available in high-performance fabrics and wallpapers, the collection honours Gadigal practices and celebrates Kate’s deep connection to saltwater Country.
MEETING OF MINDS Celebrating local craftsmanship, Country Road and Robert Gordon have collaborated to create a limited-edition collection of six unique ceramic pieces. The pale eucalyptus green colour is crafted using reclaimed glaze from leftover samples and factory remnants.
~ Copywriting Highlights ~
This month, my property copywriting highlighted grand regional beauties: an elegant estate with park-like gardens in Oakhampton Heights for McGrath Hunter Valley, and a solar-passive sanctuary in Burradoo for DiJones Southern Highlands—both offering endless space and serenity.
2 Forest Hill Drive, Oakhampton Heights
Encircled by manicured gardens, this grand country estate reveals a private and serene retreat. Featured on Better Homes and Gardens, the property boasts extensive garden walkways and elevated outlooks, creating a tranquil, fairytale-like atmosphere. The grounds include a shimmering ornamental lake with bridged paths, terraced courtyards, a lavender field, and vine-covered pergolas.
48C Burradoo Road Burradoo
This solar passive-designed sanctuary melds seamlessly into the rolling greenery of the Highlands. Built with sustainability at its core, the home is a study in German Passivhaus design, showcasing insulated and waffle slabs, triple-glazed windows, and mechanical ventilation. Central to the home is a decked courtyard that breathes life into the open-plan living spaces with a soft, natural glow.
~ Location Spotlight ~
I love writing about unfamiliar places as much as those I know well; they carry a hint of mystery, and with each word, I discover them alongside my readers. In October, I had the pleasure of exploring Springfield, South Australia, for my Living In column in Domain’s Prestige magazine.
