ele HOME Issue 7

ISSUE 7, 2022

HOME

Beautiful Homes from Around the World The Christmas Gift Guide

EAT Summer Recipes from Karen Martini

Christmas on the Coast

$12.95 AUS (inc. GST)

home . interiors . garden . design

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Life takes you unexpected places, love brings you home.

IMAGE: Adam Gibson 3 ele HOME

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editor’s letter

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t sounds cliché but it is hard to believe that Christmas is nearly here. 2022 has flown and what a year it has been. We have had the privilege to visit some of the most incredible homes and places and this issue is no exception.

We were lucky enough to spend some time in Yeppoon, one of Queensland’s coastal gems. We had the pleasure of staying at the newly renovated Surfside Motel and enjoying owners, Kylie and Trevor’s hospitality. Surfside takes motel chic to a new level and is the perfect beachside accommodation for a trip up the Queensland coast or a stay in beautiful Yeppoon.

"We have had

Keeping to the coastal theme, we meet the Raeburn family who turn on the Christmas festivities at their centuries old beach hut at St James beach in Cape Town. Also don’t miss our Christmas Gift Guide for great ideas for the special people in your life.

the privilege to visit We explore three beautiful homes from some of the most Australia and beyond. We visit Logan Brae where owner, Asia Upward, has setincredible homes and Orchard, up beautiful self-contained accommodation in the Blue Mountains. We pop down places and this issue cabins to Tasmania and visit Eton Beach House, a contemporary home built with stunning views is no exception." over Great Oyster Bay. And finally, we meet the Bower family, the proud owners of the Johannesburg based, Bower House and our cover star for this issue. The Bowers renovated their charming cottage to bring in light and take advantage of the stunning views from their home. And finally, if you’re after some cooking inspiration as the warmer months hit, we showcase three perfect summer recipes from Karen Martini’s new book, Cook.

Please enjoy our latest issue and from the ele HOME team, we wish you a wonderful festive season.

Katie S kinner Editor

Libertine Parfumerie Carriere Freres Natural History Museum Acacia Candle $99

HOME Credits

Editor-in-Chief: Mia Cowling Editor: Katie Skinner Social Instagram: @eat.live.escape_home Facebook: facebook.com/eatliveescape Twitter: @eatliveescape Web eatliveescape.com Subscribe eatliveescape.com Advertise Want to advertise with us?

Email: hello@eatliveescape.com eat.live.escape is proudly published by MJC Digital Pty Ltd PO Box 91 Woodend Victoria 3442 Australia mjcpublishing.com ABN 19 630 569 989 Views and opinions expressed by contributors and authors are not necessarily those of the publisher.

All rights reserved. eat.live.escape is committed to sustainable business practices and supporting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Issue 7, 2022 ISSN 2653-049X Copyright eat.live.escape 2022 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY ele HOME acknowledges the Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Peoples as the traditional owners and custodians of the place where this magazine is published. ele HOME also pays respects to Elders past and present.

what I'm loving right now...

Angie Summa Three is Not a Crowd- Limited Edition Print from $168 Bird & Kite Leila Jumpsuit Flora Rustica $229

Front cover This month’s cover image features the Bower family's home in Johannesburg, a charming renovated cottage.

For more of this home, turn to page 42 IMAGE: Levi Appleton and Mikaela Camp Photography

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I immediately fell in love with the property, its surroundings and natural beauty. It brought me back to my childhood home, the landscape filling me with a sense of reconnection and calm.” - page 58

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42 CONTENTS 9 IN STYLE ele HOME checks out some new products for the the world of home and design.

10 VISIT Travelling the east coast of Queensland? Visit the Surfside Motel in Yeppoon QLD. 14 THE ENTREPRENUER Meet Teresa Cutter who created The Healthy Chef, a leading Australian nutrition and supplement brand

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20 CONNECTION AND JOY THROUGH COLOUR The Dulux colour forecast 2023.

38 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE Beautiful gift ideas for the one you love.

25 FEATURE ARTIST Colourful and playful, we feature Belinda Nadwie's joyful art.

41 HOMES TO LOVE Three unique homeowners from around the world showcase their beautiful homes.

28 The ele HOME Summer Reading Guide.

29 CHRISTMAS AT THE BEACH Celebrate the festive period with the Raeburn family at the beach.

86 COOK! Cook! Three fabulous summer recipes from Karen Martini.

90 POSTCODE 3875 Bairnsdale & Surrounds, Victoria. ele HOME

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The Italian Beauty

Revered Italian apothecary brand Santa Maria Novella has opened their second Australian flagship in the heart of The Strand Arcade, Sydney.

Designed by renowned Italian architect Filoppo Burresi, the incredibly detailed and refined store concept blends tradition and innovation to represent the brand’s Florentine heritage and origin. Offering not just the classic collection of products for which the brand is known, Santa Maria Novella at The Strand Arcade will also welcome the latest Firenze 1221 Bath and Body collection.

Shop 26, Ground Level, The Strand Arcade.

Established in Bury, England in 1914, Antler designs premium luggage, bags and travel accessories with the quality and reliability you should expect from a brand with over 100 years of history. The brand’s Clifton collection of hard-shell suitcases is a best seller available in cabin, medium and large, as well as mini and vanity cases perfect for beauty essentials whilst travelling in a variety of contemporary colours.

Sugar Cravings

Palm Beach Collection is here to curb your sugar cravings with their NEW Limited-Edition Salted Caramel & Vanilla Candle. This delicious candle captures the sweet, sticky, salty and buttery elements of rich caramel drizzling down your favourite dessert in this addictively sweet fragrance. With top notes of Vanilla Bean and a hint of Cinnamon, tantalise your senses with this Salted Caramel & Vanilla fragrance - truly as mouth-watering as it sounds! RRP $49.95.

The Clean-Up

InStyle

Time for Travel

Scrub Daddy introduces their new PowerPaste, a powerful natural cleaner for scratch-free scouring on a myriad of different surfaces. Hidden in the lid is a dye-free, white Scrub Mommy, making this one of the most eco-friendly ways to tackle really tough household grime.

PowerPaste is a clay-based, chemical-free cleaning and polishing compound that’s both non-toxic and biodegradable. RRP $19.95.

Mara Hoffman x West Elm

New York-based designer Mara Hoffman brings her distinct perspective and contemporary sensibility to global design company West Elm for an 8-piece home collection. The assortment—spanning across furniture, decorative accessories, and textiles—is grounded in warm neutrals, black and white, and textured fabrications. The pieces are seamless additions to any home.

Whatever the Weather

As well as looking sleek and stylish in the home, the Netatmo Weather Station monitors the air quality using a hygrometer to measure relative humidity and the amount of water vapour in the air. It also measures the humidity level in each room and identifies the causes of excessive humidity in the home. The Netatmo Weather Station cleverly works to protect our home and belongings, alerting us when we need to air out our home to bring down the humidity levels.

The Netatmo Weather station retails for $279.00 and is available from The Good Guys and Amazon.

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Summer Loving

Surfside Motel – Yeppoon, QLD IMAGES: Levi Appleton and Mikaela Camp Photography

The Surfside Motel is situated straight across from the warm, tropical waters of ele HOME Yeppoon.

The ideal location for a holiday.

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Visit

Cocktails anyone? The Surfide pool area is the perfect spot for relaxing into holiday mode.

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ith Queensland’s renowned Great Barrier Reef and tropical rainforest up the road, Keppel Island only a brief ferry ride away and some of Australia’s most beautiful untouched coastlines - Yeppoon has it all. Looking for a place to stay? Surfside Motel is one of the last original motels in the beautiful coastal community of Yeppoon; built in the late 1950’s, it still has that old beachside holiday charm with a fresh plantation flair. Sitting pretty in the centre of Yeppoon’s promenade, Surfside is 50 meters from the beach and, if that’s not your thing, only 300 meters from the new Yeppoon Lagoon.

Owners Trevor and Kylie Thomasson purchased Surfside 15 years ago, which boasted bright green walls, gravel driveways and a busted vibe.

After an unplanned hailstorm event in April 2020, and with over 30 years of experience in the building and design industry, an epic refurb challenge was on.

With an emphasis on keeping that old motel vibe, it was time to switch the lime green out for a neutral white linear board and ditch the gravel for beautiful timber sleeper driveways. The nostalgic holiday feel is sustained with a sitting area, beachside enclosed by breezeblocks and the old-style drive-up to your-door parking arrangement. As part of the project, the pool area was completely refurbished and is now surrounded by polished concrete, an outdoor shower and beautiful, lush grass. The pool area is a summer paradise, perfect for a touch of sun and a beer or two.

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Recently acquired and available to be booked is The Surf House, right next door to Surfside; although not yet wholly renovated, watch this space…. The Surf House rocks that 1960’s ambiance, with a vast indoor sitting lounge area perfect for looking over the luminous islands.

The preferred method of bookings is old style, so give Trevor or Kylie a call or book via their website, to snatch up one of the thirteen rooms or The Surf House. All rooms have kitchenettes, air conditioning, super-fast Wi-Fi and the most comfortable beds, surrounded by furniture predominantly built by Trevor. Upon checkin, Surfside’s friendly staff will greet you and share local knowledge of the Capricorn coast and all the must-do’s whilst visiting.

Check out Surfside Motel!

30 Anzac Parade, Yeppoon yeppoonsurfsidemotel.com.au @surfside_motel Phone: (07) 4939 1272 Mobile: 0449391272

The original motel has been lovingly renovated by owners, Trevor and Kylie Thomasson.

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Visit

The luxury Pandanus Room.

The Surf House with it's 1960’s ambiance, features a vast indoor sitting lounge area perfect for looking over the luminous islands. ele HOME

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The Healthy Chef ele Home chats with Teresa Cutter, who along with her husband, Paul, created The Healthy Chef, a leading Australian nutrition and supplement brand. Their philosophy of “Health by Nutrition” defines the development of the Healthy Chef products. Teresa and Paul believe that good nutrition is not only the road to maintaining our basic health and wellbeing, but also the key to maximizing our physical and mental performance.

Beauty Salad from Teresa’s Earth to Table book

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Q&A

The Entrepreneur

Tell us about how The Healthy Chef started?

It’s been a 10-year journey for the supplement brand and a 30-year journey of health. “The Healthy Chef” was created as my first newspaper column for the Sunday Times in the late ’90s in Perth, called THE HEALTHY CHEF. It was a healthy recipe feature every week that gave traditional dishes a “makeover” into healthier versions, inspired by my work as both a classically trained chef and a fitness trainer. From then on, I was known as “The Healthy Chef” in all my future magazine articles and TV appearances that followed.

By the time my husband Paul and I moved to Sydney in 2001, I published my first three healthy cookbooks, had a weekly Healthy Chef recipe column in Body + Soul and I also designed recipes for other magazines such as Time Magazine, Women’s Health, and The Sydney Morning Herald, as well as appeared on Channel 9’s Today Show and A Current Affair teaching people how to cook and live healthier. There wasn’t really anyone doing that at the time – I was bridging that gap by showing people how to cook simply with more fruits, vegetables, and wholefoods. Keeping it simple has always been the key to the success.

In 2006, I launched The Healthy Chef café at Avalon Beach in Sydney, where I brought the concept of healthy, nourishing food to life. Based on its success and the search for my own personal wellness, I decided it was time to grow The Healthy Chef into something bigger and it then evolved into a whole food nutrition company.

At the same time, I was also dealing with my own digestive health issues which I had been battling since I was a young girl. My immunologist told me I needed more protein in my diet to support both my immune and gut issues, however, I couldn’t find any protein that supported my digestive health (and I had tried them all!). Some made me gain weight, some constipated me for days, and some made me feel bloated. This was the main reason I decided to design my own protein that supported my needs, and

Avocado Scramble from Teresa’s Earth to Table book

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then I wanted to share it with other people so that they could enhance their own wellbeing too. Together with my team, the range slowly expanded to include a range of other wholefood supplements like life without any fuss or effort. It’s our mission to make the world a healthier place and we’ll always strive to provide straight-forward solutions that can be implemented for the whole family.

How hard was it to get The Healthy Chef up and running? What challenges did you face?

While I found I could source healthy ingredients easily, the quality and great taste just wasn’t there. This led me on a global search for excellence!

The biggest challenge was searching for the right ingredients from local and international suppliers that met all of my requirements.

The Healthy Chef products are all made in Australia from the finest whole-food ingredients sourced from around the globe and are free from gluten, fillers, gums and sugar.

I think we are so lucky here in Australia and anything is possible if you have the passion, persistence, and patience. I’m fortunate to have a great team around me who also share the same passion for helping people.

What makes The Healthy Chef different from other products in the market?

The purity and quality in each product we create really is key.

Whether it’s creating a range of protein powders that don’t cause bloating, an everyday greens blend that is low FODMAP or a delicious drinking chocolate that’s sugar-free, dairy-free and gluten-free – these are just a few examples of how we strive to create the best possible blend with the highest nutritional value that everyone can enjoy.

There’s a personal story behind each product I’ve bought out for The Healthy Chef. I design them for me, my husband and for my family to support our well-being and want people to know they can trust our products to enhance their wellbeing, as well as that of their family.

I want to sleep well at night and have the confidence I’m doing the best that I can in bringing out quality products that support health in every way.

Is sustainability and ethical practices important to The Healthy Chef?

Sustainability and the use of organic and natural whole foods is at the heart of our philosophy at The Healthy Chef. We pride ourselves on developing high-quality products and recipes that will inspire a deeper commitment to healthy living.

We need to care for our bodies; but of equal importance, we need to consider our external environment. Foods produced using chemicals or genetic modification deplete our bodies and our environment of health and vitality. It’s important to me that our farmers take a holistic approach to food production and handling, and the whole system is linked: Soil – Plants – Animals – Food – People – Environment – Health.

Tell us about your yourself?

I’m a classically trained chef, nutritionist, accredited fitness trainer and award-winning cookbook author. I’m also the founding director of The Healthy Chef, a company dedicated to improving individuals' health.

I have designed menus and recipes for many companies, including InterContinental Hotels Group to support guests with healthier meal options and help them to stay productive, and energised while travelling and working overseas.

My recipes have been featured in TIME magazine in the US, The Times UK, and The Sydney Morning Herald. I’ve also appeared on numerous TV shows, including The Today Show, Sunrise, The Morning Show, A Current Affair, and The Biggest Loser Australia.

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Carrot Cake from Teresa’s Earth to Table book ele HOME

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Founder of The Healthy Chef, Teresa Cutter.

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The Entrepreneur I’ve written 8 bestselling cookbooks, including my latest cookbook "Earth To Table", which won best Health & Nutrition cookbook in Australia.

Whilst working as a chef, I received a Gold Medal at the Salon Culinaire. My favourite activities are cooking, cycling, kickboxing, submission wrestling, walking and Pilates. I also came 2nd in Australia for the NABBA Fitness Figure Championships and won a Silver Medal for Road Cycling at the Southwest Games in WA. Who and what inspires you?

The inspiration for new products comes about from a personal need for myself, my family, my husband, and my customers. What I love, is that we are always redesigning and improving on the products we currently have, as well as designing new products that no one has yet.

The functional food products I’ve created for The Healthy Chef wouldn't be possible if it weren’t for my small network of experts that help and advise me along the way. It’s so important to learn from people that you admire and respect, as there is always more to learn.

I have three main mentors: a medical professor, an accountant, and a lawyer. We’ve known them for almost 30 years, and I trust them i mplicitly.

I also listen to my natural instincts and my husband Paul: at the end of the day, it’s me and him that make the final decision. We are committed to producing effective products that you and your family can trust and being one of Australia’s leading health and wholefood nutrition brands. I’m also proud that the company is 100% Australian-owned and operated by me and Paul.

The Brand ecosystem is powerful, we make the purest functional foods and supplements, we publish our own cookbooks and recipe app that includes wellness programs for gut health, weight management, detoxification, brain health and immunity. We also collaborate with businesses including hotels + restaurants inspiring healthy eating and living to their clientele. I also love hosting cooking Masterclasses and sharing my recipes on TV. I want Healthy Chef to be a premium experience for everyone.

What do you love about your work?

I’m passionate about developing effective supplements to support gut health, menopause, heart health and blood sugar based on my own personal needs, my family and the hundreds of emails we get every week. I want to be taking my own supplement – and know that I’m doing the best that I can nutritionally to support health and well-being for everyone.

I also love hearing the positive feedback from people of all ages telling me how my recipes or supplements have helped them and their family on their journey toward better health.

LOVE what you do!

WORK hard.

HAVE a plan.

NEVER accept the word NO BE persistent!

What is your favourite Healthy Chef product?

I love all my products, but my three essentials every day are Organic Pea Protein, Gut Collagen, and the Everyday Greens. I use them religiously and my body thanks me for it.

What is the first step you recommend to people who want to start living a healthier lifestyle?

There are three steps that are equally important: nutrition, movement and rest. You need all three to experience optimum health. Nutrition is 80% of your results with a quality diet rich in wholefoods and really making sure you’re getting a great base of vegetables and fruits in their most natural state. It’s important to exercise regularly: whatever you can be consistent is great, and of course making sure you get enough sleep and have strategies to make sure you unwind + relax from everyday stress. @thehealthycheftofficial thehealthychef.com ele HOME

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Connection and Joy Through COLOUR The Dulux Colour Forecast 2023 STYLING: Bree Leech IMAGES: Lisa Cohen

Dulux Lexicon® Quarter (Cabinets) Dulux Perplexed (Island) Dulux Paper Brown (Walls)

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Colour Trends

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Dulux Lexicon® Quarter (Walls) Dulux Princess Pink (Feature Wall)

fter a chaotic couple of years, many of us feel an overwhelming desire to live more simply and authentically.

There has been a conscious stripping away of the unnecessary and superfluous, both in terms of what we surround ourselves with and how we spend our time, to create space for more meaningful connections.

In response, the Dulux Colour Forecast 2023 reflects our desire to bond with the environment, or communities and the people we love, with warming, earth-drawn neutrals, natural textures and an array of uplifting brighter hues.

The annual Dulux Colour Forecast is based on year-round research into the latest global and local trends that are predicted to influence Australian design and how we live. The Dulux Colour Forecast 2023 – led by Dulux Colour and Communication Manager Andrea Lucena-Orr in conjunction with Dulux Colour Forecaster and Stylist Bree Leech – has been informed by seminars, including Future Laboratory London and Colour Hive, Milan Design Week, trend reports and editorials, fashion catwalks, product and design launches, engagement with global and international brands, and customised research through Dulux’s extensive networks in the UK, Italy and France.

Filled with playful, uplifting brighter colours, such as rose pink, breezy blue, sunshine yellow, emerald, violet and burnt orange, the Dulux Revive palette is an instant mood-lifter – just what many of us need after the gruelling last couple of years. With unexpected colour combinations, graphic floral patterns and furniture in cloud-like forms, the message is clear: interiors shouldn’t be taking themselves too seriously in 2023.

“As we emerge from trying times, we’re looking for lightness and a sense of freedom to revive our spirits. So, when it comes to our homes, it’s out with the rule book, and in with the possibilities to create something truly magical,” says Lucena-Orr. “Pairing retro influences with futuristic features, such as pixel patterns and digital art, the Revive palette cleverly merges the past and present.

Dulux Lexicon® Quarter (Walls) Dulux Breezy Half (Ceiling)

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Dulux Lexicon® Quarter (Walls) Dulux Breezy Half (Stripes) Dulux Paper Brown (Stripes) Dulux Pink Chi (Front Door)

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Colour Trends Dulux Diorite (Walls) Dulux Pharaoh’s Gem (Ceiling) And with its colourful, look-at-me accent walls and statement seating, it creates the perfect Instagrammable moment,” says Lucena-Orr. So how should you go about incorporating Dulux’s 2023 trend colours into your home? “There are no rules – just pick up a paint brush and get creative!” says Leech. “If you’re new to colour, these inspirational images are a great place to get ideas and build your confidence - the curated palettes are designed to be used as schemes for paint, as well as soft furnishings, artwork and décor. See which palette you’re naturally drawn to and then look around your home to work out which areas could benefit from a colour lift.”

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Dulux Colour Forecast 2023 integration tips

by Andrea Lucena-Orr To introduce colour, try painting the skirting boards or architraves in your living room, the edge of a door, the back of a bookshelf, a bedhead in your child’s room, or breathe new life into an old lamp base , chair or front door with a coat of paint.

You’ll find that colour really makes a house a home – once you get started with paint colours, you’ll never look back!

Before you start painting, it’s crucial when selecting colours for walls or soft furnishings that you consider other fixtures and fittings in your space that you can’t change easily – it might be carpet, tiles, laminate or stone, and/or curtains and blinds that you will need to ensure work with the new colour(s) chosen.

For colour surety, simply order A4 stickers or Sample Pots from dulux.com.au in your chosen colour(s) for your space - view these colours in your home’s natural light conditions.

Alternatively, Dulux has an online colour advice team and a Colour Design Service if you want a design professional to assist in curating your space.

Dulux Lexicon® Quarter (Walls) Dulux Perplexed (Ceiling) Dulux Day Glow (Feature Back Wall) Dulux Golden Sand (Feature Side Wall) ele HOME

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The Artist

Feature Artist Belinda Nadwie IMAGES: Jazzy Photography

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Q&A Tell us about your yourself?

I love the simple things in life such as nature, animals, the sunset, exercise and swimming in the ocean with the salt on my face. I love reading books, hot baths (lava temperature) and switching off and just being while I paint. Travel is another big love of mine and I feel the world is a big playground so I am always looking to see where we should play next.

My three kids are everything to my husband and me. We spend lots of time with our children and as a family as we both work from home; we have the flexibility to do so. Every day we pinch ourselves and treat each day as a new adventure.

Where are you based?

We are based in the leafy suburb of Galston in The Hills District, Sydney. It is a stunning area of the world which gets cold enough to have cosy fires in winter and the other six months is warm and glorious with lots of pool time. We live on acreage surrounded by trees and birds with a pretty creek running through our block.

The sound of the frogs at night is incredible. It’s a real orchestra but they are so hard to find.

How would you describe your creative style and mediums used?

My creative style is forever changing with the influences around me although the inspiration seems to be three main subjects: nature, love and being positive. However, my technique remains consistent. Generally, I use a flat brush, (various sizes depending on the scale of my work) I use thickly applied oil paint to canvas and love a good textured piece.

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The Artist

How did you begin your career?

Funnily enough I have always been an artistic person. Many people received drawings or paintings as gifts throughout my childhood as I felt it was a special and personal thing to give someone. After years of travel and working in various jobs such as marketing, hospitality, promotions, and sales I decided to take a leap and give a painting career a proper go (thanks to my husband who gave me the nudge).

Who and what inspires you?

My husband is my muse, he is a very inspiring person. All my love paintings are about him and the kids. Attitude to life is another huge inspiration. You can choose to lie in bed in the morning or you can bounce out…I am the annoying bouncy one. I’m grateful for every day I have on this planet and project that into my art. The rest of the inspiration comes from nature.

What do you love about your work?

I love that it helps to make people happy! How amazing to be able to trigger positivity in people through colour and movement. What an amazing gift! Plus, it is super messy and fun, and I get to wear the daggiest clothes all day and I can have as many cups of tea as I want.

What does the rest 2022 have in store for you?

This year has almost gone already! The last term (school mum) will be completing my remaining commissions for the year while painting some “for fun” works and looking at new possibilities for next year. I’m manifesting a European working holiday for 2024…maybe!

Where can we see and buy your work?

Instagram: belindanadwieart Website: belindanadwie.com

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The ele HOME Summer Reading Guide

Editor's Pick INVESTING WITH SHE’S ON THE MONEY - BUILD YOUR FUTURE WEALTH

by Victoria Devine

THE BULLET THAT MISSED (THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB 3)

by Richard Osman

DEAR DOLLY - ON LOVE, LIFE AND FRIENDSHIP, COLLECTED WISDOM FROM HER SUNDAY TIMES STYLE COLUMN

by Dolly Alderton

Victoria’s straightforward guidance and practical activities in Investing with She’s on the Money will have you feeling educated, empowered and ready to grow your future wealth in no time. Everyone has different starting points but it’s never too early or too late to begin your investing journey.

An unputdownable summer read. The third book in the record-breaking Thursday Murder Club series from British national treasure Richard Osman. The Thursday Murder Club gang will have you laughing out loud while following the hijinks of retirees Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron.

Since early 2020, Dolly Alderton has been sharing her wisdom, warmth and wit with the countless people who have written into her Dear Dolly agony aunt column in The Sunday Times Style. Their questions range from the painfully - and sometimes hilariously - relatable to the occasionally bizarre. Dolly leads us by the hand through the various labyrinths of life, proving that a problem shared is truly a problem halved.

CARRIE SOTO IS BACK

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

THE GIRL IN THE CASTLE

by James Patterson

FIFTEEN SECONDS OF BRAVE THE WISDOM OF SURVIVORS

by Melissa Doyle

From bestselling author, Taylor Jenkins Reid, we are introduced again to Carrie Soto (who we met briefly in Malibu Rising).

Carrie, known as the best tennis player the world has ever seen, comes out of retirement at 36 to defend her world record.

Little does she know that her journey back will make her question her life choices and how she views love.

From international best-seller, James Patterson, a gripping psychological suspense novel about a young woman caught between two worlds and the truths that could set her free - or trap her forever.

In this intimate and insightful book, Melissa Doyle shares the stories of some of the most resilient people she has ever met, gently drawing out their wisdom, empathy and heartfelt practical advice for anyone who’s going through a difficult time. A heart-warming read that will make you reflect on the journey of life.

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SHRINES OF GAIETY

by Kate Atkinson

From the inimitable bestselling author, Kate Atkinson, a mesmerising novel set in Soho in the 1920s, when gangsters and politicians, peers and dancing girls, rubbed shoulders in a dazzling new world. With her unique Dickensian flair, Kate Atkinson brings together a glittering cast of characters in a truly mesmeric novel.

THE MYTH OF NORMAL TRAUMA, ILLNESS & HEALING IN A TOXIC CULTURE

by Gabor Mate Dr Gabor Maté has seen how health systems neglect the role that trauma exerts on our bodies and our minds. Medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how today's culture stresses our bodies, burdens our immune systems and undermines emotional balance.

Dr Maté connects the dots between our personal suffering and the pressures of modern-day.

A fascinating read about the triumphant wake of recovery.

Christmas at the Beach For the surf-crazy Raeburn family in Cape Town, Christmas Day is all about catching some early morning waves and celebrating afterwards with a festive beach brunch WORDS: Justine Hewitt STYLING: Tara Sloggett IMAGES: Toby Murphy and Warren Heath

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The timeworn clapboard of the St James beach huts in Cape Town are the perfect inspiration for a nostalgic Christmas picnic on the beach.

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Christmas on the beach is the perfect opportunity to get back to nature and keep things on the simple side – leaving you to enjoy the surrounds and the opportunity to really connect with family and friends.

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It’s easy to make an extra special beach brunch with a little planning!

To avoid your picnic being invaded by sand, a table of sorts is a must – an old wooden board is easy to carry and creates a perfectly flat surface for setting up your feast. Savoury spoils that look and taste amazing and that can be prepared with minimal fuss ahead of time (and served cold) make sense for Christmas in the sun. Here, salmon-en-croûte is an undeniable spoil (you’ll want to pack a pot of dill mayonnaise) while grilled lamb skewers are ideal for carnivores, especially after an energy-sapping surf or swim! And for a jewel-coloured side salad, simply pick up a pillow pack of leaves plus pre-shredded carrots and beetroot on your way to the beach and you’ll be good to go. For something sweet, a beautiful berry pavlova is the perfect Christmas pudding and is so easy to assemble. Simply make (or buy) a pavlova and pop whipped cream and fresh berries in separate containers – your masterpiece will take a few minutes to assemble and will look amazing. Tip: out your pavlova out with the rest of the food so the cream has a chance to settle into the pavlova a little – delicious!

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The view of Muizenberg Beach and it’s famed Surfer’s Corner, long a much-loved haunt of wave riders, novice and serious surfer alike.

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Families that surf together, celebrate together!"

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Christmas GIFT GUIDE ele HOME brings you some the prettiest and festive gift ideas for Christmas

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1. AM Eyewear Tommy Sunglasses $260 / 2. Sheridan Abbotson Pomelo Robe $199.99 / 3. Palm Beach Collection Rose Lemonade Candle $49.95 / 4. ooGee Australia Hat Dingo Creek - Apricot $95 / 5. The Heidsieck & Co Monopole Rose Top $74.99 / 6. Kollab Small Fleur Floral Umbrella $199.95 / 7. Kollab Holiday Mini Cooler Miami $39.95 / 8. Libertine Parfumerie Santa Maria Novella Pot Pour Bath Gel $99 / 9. Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow Palette Cobblestone Lane $85 10. Manly Spirits Coastal Stone Whisky Nor’Easter $99 / 11. Mayde x Cungelella Art Kalkadoon Towel in Clay $99.95

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9 1. Porcelain Brigid McLaughlin - Sustainable Fashion Candice Tie Dress Stripe Blue $439 / 2. Libertine Parfumerie Carriere Freres Siberian Pine & Candied Ginger $99 / 3. Kollab Large Bonnie Doon Umbrella $289.95 / 4. Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer Blossom $1099 / 5.Ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer - White $295 / 6.Porcelain Brigid McLaughlin - Sustainable Fashion Tiered Dress Yellow $349 / 7. Tsarine Champagne Rose Brut $68.90 / 8. Enbacci Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating 3-Step System Gift Pack $200 / 9.Bonita Yellow Brick Road Round Tablecloth $279 / 10.Angel Aromatics x Cointreau Diffuser $49.95

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HOMES TO

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Now and Then

A century-old Johannesburg cottage, revamped for a cook, an art director and their young family, mixes a monochrome palette with a subtle combination of contemporary and vintage design.

IMAGES: Levi Appleton and Mikaela Camp Photography

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he predominantly black-and-white palette of this century-old cottage in Johannesburg wasn’t a preconceived design decision. Rather, it arose as almost inevitably from two opposite ends of the design spectrum. One was the fact that the artworks that homeowners Guy and Nicola Bower had collected tended to be black-and-white prints. (They both studied graphic design, so perhaps strong graphic elements were inevitable in their home.) Less whimsical, perhaps, was the fact that the house itself ended up with white walls and black window and door frames.

The frames were certainly a conscious decision, but the walls were a choice by default. After carrying out a renovation and alteration, Nicola says, “We tried to paint some of the interior walls a colour.” (Their bedroom remains a muted grey green.) “But it was just too dark, so we decided to paint everything white to start with and see what happened after that. And they just stayed that way.”

Neither of them practices graphic design any more as such.

Nicola is an art director at an advertising agency and Guy is what you might call a “food entrepreneur”, running his own business called The Bowery, which does everything from catering to innovative meal kits and office lunch and take-home dinner deliveries.

Nonetheless, says Guy, aesthetics matter to them both: “We both have a creative eye and like beautiful spaces.”

They chose their home, however, more for the gardens and the sunset views than the house itself. Local landscaper Tim Conradie was among the house’s previous residents, and he had created a beautiful terraced garden dropping down to a swimming pool on the sloping site.

In the TV room, Jack the whippet has curled up on a sofa is from Tonic Design.

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Olivia on a skateboard in the passage. The pill-shaped windows, part of architect Victoria de la Cour’s design, are one of Nicola’s favourite features.

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The view from the back porch, Guy adds, was spectacular. “The patio has unbelievable sunset views through the plane tree,” he says. “At sunset, you get a golden glow most of the year. Even in winter, I find myself in a jacket sitting outside just to see the sunset.”

The house itself, however, they found less compelling.

While historical cottages like this have tons of charm, they weren’t designed with light and views in mind, so they can seem dark and pokey. “But it had nice bits, like the pressed ceilings,” Nicola concedes. It was exactly 100 years old when they decided to intervene with a renovation. “I didn’t think we were going to renovate,” says Guy. “I thought we were going to paint it, and maybe add a garage…” “I always knew,” says Nicola.

Architect Victoria de la Cour provided advice and drew up plans for them, and Guy took on the project management.

“We found out that it wasn’t originally a house; it was a social worker’s office,” says Guy. It had been somewhat altered in the 80s.

They preserved the pressed metal ceilings so sought after in the city’s older suburbs, but after one too many sandings, the original Oregon pine sprung floors had to be replaced. They chose cushiony engineered oak floors that Guy says are so luxurious, “you wanna lie on them.”

Some carefully inserted glass stacking doors and windows, including a wide pivot door at the front entrance, brought light into the interiors and opened them out onto the gardens.

One of Guy’s favourite features arose from the somewhat counterintuitive choice that the windows should extend all the way down to floor level rather than being raised to look up into the trees. The raised position of the house, and the descending levels of the terraced gardens meant that low windows actually let in the best views.

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The main living area has been opened up and simplified, but nevertheless includes nooks and designated areas, including a lounge, dining area, TV room and workstations. The worn-out original Oregon pine floorboards have been replaced with luxurious engineered oak. The lounge area includes a Kyoto Sofa and Round Marble Coffee Table, both from Mezzanine Interiors, and an Ercol Love Seat. A Diner Bench by Houtlander serves as a bench at the dining table, which is a beloved vintage find, along with a pair of Tulip Chairs by Guideline Manufacturing, sourced at Mezzanine Interiors. Another pair of Tulip Chairs serve as seating at the twin workstations in the nook beyond the lounge. In the TV room, the sofa is from Tonic Design. The Moore Server is from Mezzanine Interiors, and the prints above it include work by Jonathan Garrett.

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The fireplace is positioned between the living and dining areas to warm both. A section of Arabescatto marble protects the engineered oak floor. The crockery cabinet was a vintage-store find, as was the pill-shaped dining table at which Nicola works. An Ercol Studio Couch and a pair of Tulip Chairs from Guideline Manufacturing surround the table.

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COLOUR INSPIRATION Dulux Theatre Black

Dulux Green Beret

Dulux Highgate

“My favorite feature is the pill windows,” says Nicola, referring to the elegant capsule-shaped windows that let light into the passages and create views with an almost art-deco flourish. “It’s such a smart idea that added so much.”

A long window that stacks away between the kitchen counter and the patio is an absolute gift to the cook and entertainer in Guy, who loves to fill the big patio table with family and friends on weekends, sometimes with more than one “sitting” a day!

“I just put all the platters out on their kitchen counter, and people can serve themselves,” he says. Apart from having a vantage point from which he can enjoy the sunset while he cooks dinner, he’s never excluded from the action when guests are on the patio.

So, with sleek black window frames and crisp white walls as an architectural base, and black-and-white artworks for the walls, it followed almost inevitably that the interiors and furniture would follow suit. “And my favorite colour is black,” adds Nicola. “It also seems quite practical with dogs and kids.”

The eclecticism of their furnishings, particularly the easy combination of old and new, harmonized perfectly with the mixture of contemporary and century-old architectural features.

“Nicola and I sourced old vintage light fittings from all over Joburg,” says Guy. Vintage-store finds ranging from the coincidentally pill-shaped dining table to the crockery cabinet rub shoulders with sleek contemporary South African design pieces: sofas from the modernist-inflected Mezzanine Interiors, who also designed the marble-topped circular coffee table and the server in the main sitting room, and Tonic Design. An Ercol Studio Couch from a vintage shop in Cape Town, spotted while on holiday, with its modernist take on a classic English Windsor-chair, chimes with the narrative of classic meets modern design, especially when in the company of Houtlander’s spindle-backed Diner Bench.

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The master bedroom features an original brick fireplace. Stacking aluminium doors open on to the garden, as they do in the children’s bedrooms, in one of the crucial interventions of the renovation, allowing a once-introverted house to “live out”.

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Nicola and I sourced old vintage light fittings from all over Joburg,” says Guy. Vintage-store finds ranging from the coincidentally pill-shaped dining table to the crockery cabinet rub shoulders with sleek contemporary South African design pieces.”

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The kitchen, of course, was crucial to Guy, and while he says he might have tended towards the industrial look of a test kitchen, he concedes that it “had to look pretty”. Nicola points out that because the kitchen is open to the living and dining areas, it was made to recede, to be “nothing” as she puts it. The handle-less black cabinets and drawers all but disappear in the little 4x3m nook, the fridge concealed behind them, while the marble countertops were a hard-won dream come true. “We just used birch ply plywood for a while until we could replace that with some Carrara marble,” says Nicola.

It’s small, but that encouraged a very careful consideration on Guy’s part of what he needed and what’s actually superfluous, so it is designed to have everything he needs, and absolutely nothing more. Everything that matters has a place, and if it doesn’t have a place, it doesn’t stay!

It’s an approach that seems to have percolated through to the rest of the house, where the decisions are clear and the restraint admirable. Together with the coherence of the palette, the harmonious combination of original and contemporary architecture with vintage and of-the-moment design achieves that holy grail of lifestyle and design: tranquility. The perfect canvas for life.

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The children’s bathroom features Nicola’s beloved Arabescatto marble.

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Architect Victoria de la Cour helped homeowners Guy and Nicola Bower design the renovation of their century-old cottage in Johannesburg’s Parkwood area. She let in light and views of the beautiful landscaped garden – established by landscaper Tim Conradie, a previous resident of the house – with large glass doors and additional windows, including the aluminium-framed pivot door at the front entrance. ele HOME

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Guy and Nicola Bower with their two daughters, Olivia (right) and Paige (left) on the patio, with their whippet, Jack.

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Escape to the Country ele HOME chats with Asia Upward, the founder of the luxury retreat, Logan Brae, situated in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Asia and husband, Sam, have lovingly designed and created one of the most popular Airbnb’s in Australia.

IMAGES: Supplied WORDS: Asia Upward

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I grew up in the country, in a place called Boree in the Hunter Valley.

My artist parents built our stone house by hand, with the help of family and friends. The stone had been blasted from the site itself and collected from the land.

The timber was milled onsite by my dad, who passed when I was just a youngster.

It was a very free childhood based on trust. An overall knowledge of the animals and environment around me kept me safe.

But it was certainly rustic. We had no electricity, no phone line, and our water came from tanks. It sounds hard, but I wish more people could experience it. Some days I wish I could leave all the technology behind and gift the same upbringing to my children. An upbringing that feeds creativity. It certainly set me up for a creative life.

In my 20s I went to art school and became a photographer. For 20 years I photographed everything, but especially homewares and products. I loved the whole process, from building sets to styling and shooting for publications.

Then, about seven years ago, I moved to the Blue Mountains and met my apple farmer hubby, Sam. Sam had bought 100-year-old apple orchard some eight years prior, and he’d put his whole heart and soul into restoring it. I came along at the right time when the house was liveable.

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COLOUR INSPIRATION Dulux Beige Gunmetal

Dulux Leaf Brown

Dulux Black

The stone bath is from Paradise Livingele Co. in Byron Bay HOME

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The bed and couch are from Freedom. Asia says they have been very reliable and good to deal with. For accommodation the quality is there without an exorbitant price tag.

When our first child was born, I quickly realised I had to pivot my career. I needed something I could easily do from home while looking after our baby. So, together, Sam and I converted the old Machinery Shed on the orchard into guest accommodation.

I used my set building and styling experience to create something truly special. And today the Machinery Shed is one of the top three most wish-listed Airbnb homes in Australia.

It turns out, I love designing and running boutique accommodation. So much so that last year we took on a second property in Mt Kanimbla. It was already an established B&B business, with two cabins and a large homestead. We bought the Mt Kanimbla property in May 2021. It took us five months to renovate the two cabins and get them up and running for guests. We did a lot of work to them, but the bones are still all the same.

I immediately fell in love with the property, its surroundings and natural beauty. It brought me back to my childhood home, the landscape filling me with a sense of reconnection and calm I hadn’t felt since I was just 10 years old. This was it. I had to share this with the world.

It’s amazing how our pasts are so entwined with our future. How the decisions we make weave our stories together. It usually happens so organically that you don’t realise it until you sit back and really think about it. For me, most days I’m out working hard, physically on the land with my two kids in tow just like my mum did 40 years ago.

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The mineral plunge pools are from All Cast Pre-Cast in Woombye on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. These were Asia’s biggest splurge during renovations.

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“

We can’t live without a view at Logan Brae and all our places have stunning views. They are all different and take your breath away.”

And my styling and design – I didn’t realise at first, but when I set up accommodation for guests, I think of it like a set build for a photo shoot or some fabulous movie. I want it to feel like something you’ve never experienced before.

So that, when you step out of the car, you’re transported somewhere completely otherworldly. I want each guest to experience something truly unique.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with American ranches and log cabins. Perhaps because it’s similar to how I grew up, but with an American twist that I find very visually appealing. So, to bring that essence to the Mt Kanimbla property was a dream made real. Creating these spaces has been a true joy for me. I hope everyone who stays loves them just as much.

I was a professional photographer. I had to style my own shoots for editorial and magazines. So, I guess in a way I am used to making things look aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I have lately been doing interior masterclasses online as I am becoming more and more obsessed with the styling side of my business. I recently watched a master class with Kelly Wearstler, and she is fantastic. I love how she marries items together. She combines items I would never have dreamt of. Using interesting shapes and textures. I am obsessed with her styling now.

I think of interior design as solving a puzzle. Each home is different, and you need to make the style work for the individual space. If you look on my Pinterest board, you will see

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Asia Upward - founder and owner of Logan Brae

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a mix of inspiration. Maximalism, Mid-century Modern, American ranches, Mediterranean stone houses.

I pull from these what I love and stick to a theme for each space. I like my interiors to be based around the style of the house. At Mt Kanimbla they were reminiscent of the American log cabin, so I played on that theme. The Machinery shed was a converted Machinery shed so it’s a mix of mid-century/industrial.

I do the gardening as well. It was never a structured concept, but it’s always organically grown into what it is today. Talking to people and getting advice along the way has been wonderful too. Each Cabin has a slightly different look to fit the theme and environment. The Machinery Shed is more of a rambling cold climate garden.

The Hilltop Cabin is more Mediterranean with Olive trees and Cacti, and The Woodlands Cabin has more of a cute conifer look that leads you into the Woodlands.

I think it’s important to have some high-end key furniture pieces that are the focus of your room. You can then mix in cheaper items for decoration. You also don’t need to spend a lot on carpets or rugs. You can get some nice ones these days at very reasonable prices. In accommodation your carpet will need to be replaced every couple of years whereas the couch and bed should last a lot longer.

The stunning tap fittings and sink are from ABI

We can’t live without a view at Logan Brae and all our places have stunning views. They are all different and take your breath away. I have worked the spaces to make the most of these. Large windows in all the right spots so no matter where you are sitting you can always take in the surroundings.

At the Lodge Asia painted the tree stumps black and put them between some stylish chairs from Ferm Living. Asia loves the contrast of these organic side tables against the sharp clean lines of the chairs.

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Asia created her own mystery black for The Lodge. Asia used this throughout the interior and exterior. It came about from samples never turning out the way she wanted so Asia stood in the paint shop and added tint to an existing ‘Ace of Spades’ Taubman colour until she achieved the colour she had envisaged.

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I love visiting the Megalong Valley wineries, horse riding at Centennial Glenn and dinner at Ates in Blackheath.

Also, Logan Brae Orchard have the best apple pies, so I am lucky I live there – ha-ha!

My plan is to grow the business. You may see Logan Brae Retreats beach side pop up at some point in the future.

To visit Asia and Sam’s stunning properties including Logan Brae Retreat – Machinery Shed and Mt Kanimbla (including Woodland Cabin, Hilltop Cabin, and The Lodge) check-out @logan.brae.retreats loganbraeretreats.com.au

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Into the Light

Meet Skye Campbell, the owner of the luxury waterfront home, Eton Beach House, located on Tasmania’s Great Oyster Bay. Skye opens her luxury home to ele HOME and talks all things design.

IMAGES: Adam Gibson

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The simplicity of the wood and stone design by Crump Architects and executed by Inhabit Construction.

The Saarinen dining table from Knoll and green Thonet chairs from Anibou, and vintage pendant from Angelucci 20th Century, create a luxe dining space, set against the most incredible view. The outdoor fireplace in the background shot is from Escea Fireplaces.

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The stump stools come from a tree felled on the family’s property and are the perfect seating around the fire pit, to weather the Tasmanian elements.

The home enjoys uninterrupted views of the ever-changing Great Oyster Bay. Massive picture windows take full advantage of the aspect.

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The Artflex Marcenco sofa designed by Mario Marenco looks like the perfect cloud to take an afternoon nap on. The sofa sits perfectly against the dark walls, painted in Porter’s Paints, Jaguar, a warm black. Side table from Mark Tuckey. Linen from Citta. Teapot from Anna Bystrup Keramik.

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Q&A Tell me a bit about yourself.

I am a producer specialising in high-end fashion and lifestyle campaigns, with one of my most long-standing clients being Country Road. My husband, Juan Hamelink is in the construction industry, and we work as a team to bring our projects to fruition.

How long have you owned your home and what have you done since purchasing?

We bought the block of land in 2018 began construction in 2019 with the house completed the end of 2020 and landscaping 2021. It’s been a journey!! We are always working in the house, it’s never done.

Can you give me a bit of background on how you found the property? Are you originally from the area?

We are both Tasmanian, born and bred. I now live here full time after years on the “mainland” We are always looking, and my husband found it online and I knew the spot as I did a shoot close by in 2011.

Do you have design backgrounds?

I studied fashion design at RMIT, many years ago, and have been working in the industry for years. I have had the privilege to work with amazing brands and creative people who inspire my love of architecture and design. My husband also shares the same passion.

How would you describe your style?

I am not sure how to describe my style, but I like to keep it as authentic as possible, especially when selecting materials. I love great modern design that responds to the environment, place and the people who will live within. I respect the craftmanship of older buildings and the restraint of Georgian design. My style is authentic.

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COLOUR INSPIRATION Dulux Glossy Olive

Dulux Black Felt

Dulux Blissful White

Calming blues bring the bay inside to create the perfect guest bedroom.

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The perfect bed linens are layered in natural and green tones and compliment the Japanese glazed tiles. The Ikea cane cabinet sits perfectly in the ensuite space.

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The Japanese glazed olive-green bathroom tiles are off set perfectly by the Brodware brass tapware from Elite Appliances in Hobart. Tiles from Artedomus

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What do you love most about your home?

Eton Beach House was always designed to be a holiday home for us and to share with others.

I love the simplicity and thoughtfulness of the design and the interior choices gives pleasure and comfort.

Who designed the exterior and interior of the home?

Nathan Crump at Crump Architecture designed the house.

With constant consultation with long-time friend, @Kirsten_ Stanwix_Bookallil, I came up with the interior design.

Who designed the garden? What type of planting have you gone with?

My husband, Juan Hamelink (who is an electrician by trade) is predominantly responsible for the landscape design and construction and we have only chosen plants that already thrive in the area.

Your best interior design tip?

Choose wisely where you choose to invest. Investment pieces can give the WOW factor plus, things do not have to be expensive to be cool. Try to be a little idiosyncratic, it is refreshing to see something you haven’t seen before.

What designers inspire you?

Norm Architects, Copenhagen, Denmark and Fearon Hay Architects, Auckland, New Zealand.

What do you love about the Swansea area and Tasmania’s East Coast?

Swansea - Great Oyster Bay and the close proximity to both Launceston and Hobart.

Tasmania’s East Coast – the never-ending natural beauty

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A cosy fire is the perfect spit to curl up with a book and a glass of wine. The Spartherm wood fire available from Stoke Fireplace Studio.

Favourite places to eat and shop in your region? @thewaterloo_inn @homestead.piermont @lobstershack Tasmania @mayfieldestatetas Favourite pieces in your home?

Arflex Marenco Couch and Pouf Saarinen for Knoll dining table Ikea cane cabinets Biggest splurge?

Japanese ceramic tiles from Artedomus Greatest budget buy or budget decorating tip?

The “real deal” holds their value as you invest into the timelessness of the design and quality of the make.

What’s your favourite way to spend a day in your region?

Not venturing too far as in these crazy modern times, luxury is being able to sit and contemplate in a beautiful environment created by you or nature. @eton_beach_house etonbeachhouse.com https://airbnb.com/h/etonbeachhouse

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The perfect place for sundowners, taking in the Great Oyster Bay. Outdoor chairs are from Cedar Magic.

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COOK!

Karen Martini’s new book Cook celebrates the strong fascination Karen has with many different cuisines and contains her best-ever recipes from the simple to the elaborate, for all skill levels and occasions. It's a book that will help those who are tentative about cooking while bringing texture, colour and flavour to more experienced cooks. Cook well and life is good.

IMAGES: © Mark Chew

Prawn & Poached Chicken Vermicelli Salad

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Prawn & Poached Chicken Vermicelli Salad Thai and Vietnamese salads are always ultra-bright, zapping you with an intense vibrancy of flavour, sour lime, exhilarating herbs and dressings laced with heat and sweetness. They’re my ideal hot summer’s day lunch or afternoon snack, especially when I don’t think I can eat anything. I have poached a breast here, but you could easily use shredded left-over roasted bird, or leave the chicken out entirely.

The sweet mango dressed in fish sauce and lime is a real hero for me here. Serves 4 Ingredients: 2 large chicken breasts, about 250 g (9 oz) fish sauce, for seasoning 2 large ripe but firm mangoes 2 long red chillies, finely chopped 1 lime, plus lime cheeks to serve 400 g (14 oz) bean thread noodles or rice vermicelli 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 8 cooked king prawns (shrimp), peeled and sliced in half lengthways 1 × quantity *Nuoc cham 50 g (1¾ oz/⅓ oz/⅓ cup) small salted roasted red-skinned peanuts

Cucumber, Celery Heart & Herb Salad Ingredients: 2 Lebanese (short) cucumbers, semi-peeled in stripes and sliced 5 mm (¼ in) thick 2 limes, segmented and cut into small triangles 1 celery heart, leaves picked, sliced 2 handfuls of snow peas (mangetout), finely sliced 2 handfuls of Vietnamese mint leaves 2 handfuls of Thai basil leaves 2 handfuls of snow pea (mangetout) sprouts, or pea shoots 2 long green chillies, sliced Method: Add enough water to just cover the chicken (but don’t add the chicken yet) to a saucepan, with a splash of fish sauce. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat, then add the chicken. Reduce the heat to low and poach, with the water not moving, for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and stand for 10 minutes. Remove the chicken, then rest for a few minutes before slicing.

*Nuoc Cham

A great all-rounder for dressing and dipping, nuoc cham is a classic Vietnamese sauce of lime, fish sauce, lemongrass, chilli and sugar.

Like its Thai counterpart prik nam pla (chopped bird’s eye chillies with grated garlic, fish sauce, lime juice and a pinch of sugar, combined raw and used immediately), its success relies on a balance between sweet, salty, hot and sour – though the perception of that balance is entirely personal, so you may prefer it less or more hot, sweet, or salty. Makes about 625 ml (21 fl oz/2½ cups) Ingredients: 120 ml (4 fl oz) fish sauce 3½ tablespoons finely grated palm sugar (jaggery), or caster (superfine) sugar 300 ml (10 fl oz) water 2 small garlic cloves, smashed juice of 3 limes 4 red bird’s eye chillies, finely chopped 1 lemongrass stem, white part only, finely chopped 80 ml (2½ fl oz/3 cups) rice vinegar Method: Add the fish sauce, sugar, water and garlic to a small bowl and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the remaining ingredients and leave to infuse for 5 minutes. Adjust with more lime, sugar, chilli or fish sauce to taste and serve.

The sauce will keep in a clean airtight jar in the fridge for up to a week.

Rockling with Thai Caramel Sauce & Herbs Hot and fragrant Thai caramel is marvellous with fish. A quick cook under a hot grill, a vibrant salad and rice is all that’s needed for a stunning meal. Serves 6

Meanwhile, slice the cheeks off the mangoes. Cut the flesh into a checkerboard pattern, then cut each cheek into quarters. Dress on the serving plate to catch all the juices – sprinkle with the red chilli, splash on some fish sauce and squeeze the juice of a lime over.

Ingredients: oil, for shallow-frying 6 stems of curry leaves ½ bunch of mint, leaves picked ½ bunch of Thai basil (optional), leaves picked 3 Lebanese (short) cucumbers, peeled and sliced on an angle 3 cm (1¼ in) thick 1.2 kg (2 lb 10 oz) rockling, snapper or blue-eye trevalla fillets, skin off, bones removed, cut into 120–150 g (4½–5½ oz) pieces 1 × quantity Thai caramel, hot to serve 5 snake beans, chopped (optional)

Cook the noodles as per the packet instructions, then refresh in cold water and cut into shorter lengths.

Staples S&P

Add the noodles to a bowl with the oil and 1½ tablespoons fish sauce, then toss to combine. Pile on the serving plate, then arrange the chicken and prawns next to the noodles.

Method: Heat 2 cm (¾ in) of oil in a small frying pan for 3 minutes over a medium heat. Fry the curry leaves, on their stems, for 2 minutes, until translucent, then drain on paper towel – they will become crunchy.

Add the salad ingredients to a bowl. Dress with a little of the nuoc cham and toss. Pile the salad next to the noodles and chicken. Spoon the nuoc cham generously over everything, then scatter the peanuts over. Serve with any remaining nuoc cham, and the lime cheeks on the side.

Make it different: The poaching technique used here can be used whenever you need poached chicken, with the water seasoned with salt rather than fish sauce, depending on the application.

Preheat the oven grill (broiler) on high. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Meanwhile, combine the herbs and cucumber in a bowl.

Season the fish pieces with salt and pepper, then lay them on the baking tray. Grill (broil) for about 6 minutes, then set aside to rest for 2 minutes to finish cooking.

Plate the fish. Spoon over the caramel. Scatter with the herb salad, finish with the curry leaves and snake beans, if using, and serve.

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Rockling with Thai Caramel Sauce & Herbs

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Thai Caramel Sauce for Fish This is classically sweet, salty, sour and hot, as Thai sauces typically are, but there’s a level of richness and depth of flavour in the caramel that makes it engagingly spicy and somewhat decadent. It can be used to dress almost any fish, whole or fillets, pan-fried, baked or grilled. Just support the dish with a salad showcasing an array of herbs – Thai basil, coriander (cilantro), mint, Vietnamese mint. Makes about 500 ml (17 fl oz/2 cups) Ingredients: 300 g (10½ oz) caster (superfine) sugar 100 ml (3½ fl oz) water 400 g (14 oz) cherry tomatoes, cut in half 2 garlic cloves, smashed 12 red bird’s eye chillies, finely sliced 2 lemongrass stems, white part only, sliced on a steep angle 2½ tablespoons tom yum paste 8 small dried shrimp 6 lime leaves 2½ tablespoons fish sauce juice of 3 limes

Method: Add the sugar and water to a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat and cook, without stirring, until the mixture turns a medium–dark caramel, 6–8 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir the tomatoes through. The caramel will seize a little, but just put the pan back on the heat and add the garlic, chilli, lemongrass, tom yum paste, shrimp and lime leaves, then stir to combine. Once simmering, add the fish sauce and simmer until the tomatoes start to soften, 2–3 minutes.

Set aside to cool a little, then stir in the lime juice. (If you add the lime while it’s still very hot, it will cook the lime flavour and you’ll lose the vital freshness.)

This sauce is best served straightaway, but it will keep in the fridge for several days if necessary. Gently reheat to use, refreshing with more lime juice before serving.

Karen Martini

Drink!

The perfect drops for fresh summer recipes.

Pink Flamingo, Gris Tête de Cuvée BIO 2021 Roseì $29.00 Tread Softly, Rose Limited Edition $15.99

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Tarte Tartin

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Tarte Tatin

Rough Puff Pastry

This is a classic tarte tatin, bursting with buttery, caramelised apple flavour. It’s such a simple presentation, yet it takes my breath away every time I flip it over. And the scent of apples cooking in the house almost sets me in a trance – I find the aroma so soothing. This dish may seem a little intimidating at first, but it’s really not hard to get a great result. A copper tarte tatin pan is perfect, or you can use any appropriately sized ovenproof pan with curved sides (and preferably with a removable handle). This recipe is rather special, as it’s from my sister Odette, who is a fabulous pastry chef. Serves 6–8

Rough puff and classic puff pastry work on a similar principle, with similar results, as both doughs are loaded with butter. As the pastry cooks, the water expands and tries to escape, while the fat in the butter stops the flour forming bonds and creating structure – so the pastry puffs, and you get these flaky layers enriched with butter. It’s a gorgeous little reaction. The more layers you have, the flakier the pastry. With Classic puff pastry (opposite), the butter is pressed into distinct layers between the dough, while rough puff simply incorporates everything together. With rough puff, you won’t get defined layers, but you still get a flaky and buttery result, with less effort. It’s a great place to start your puff pastry journey, and it’s really not hard at all. However, it is very important to work quickly and with well-chilled butter. A hot kitchen or warm butter will mean you’ll need to add too much extra flour, which will make the pastry heavy. Streaks of butter through the dough are exactly what you’re looking for, so don’t panic if it’s not uniform.

Remember, it’s rough puff. Makes about 1 kg (2 lb 3 oz)

400 g (14 oz) Classic puff pastry, Rough puff pastry, or a 400 g (14 oz) block of quality puff pastry 200 g (7 oz) chilled unsalted butter, finely sliced 200 g (7 oz) caster (superfine) Sugar 1 vanilla bean, sliced on an angle (optional) 12 large granny smith apples Method: Roll out the pastry to about 1.5 cm (½ in) thick, then cut out a 30 cm (12 in) circle. Rest on baking paper in the fridge until required. (Always rest the pastry after rolling, and keep it chilled, otherwise it will shrink too much.)

Line a 28 cm (11 in) ovenproof pan or copper tatin pan with the butter, smearing it in to cover evenly. Evenly sprinkle over one-third of the sugar.

Scatter with the vanilla, if using.

Peel the apples, then cut the flesh away from the cores in cheeks. Slice about 5 mm (¼ in) thick, fanning the apples into the pan as you slice, working in a spiral from the middle out, continuing until the base is covered and you have used half the apple.

Sprinkle another third of the sugar evenly over the top, then fan the remaining apple slices around in the same fashion, finishing with the remaining sugar.

Cover the apples with a circle of baking paper, then seal with foil. Place the pan over a low heat and cook for 45 minutes. The apples will cook and the sugar will caramelise very slowly.

Near the end of cooking, preheat the oven to 210°C (410°F) fan-forced.

Take the pan off the heat and remove the foil and paper. There will be quite a bit of liquid, which may seem odd, but don’t worry. Cover the pan with the pastry, quickly tucking the overhang down the sides of the pan.

Bake for about 30 minutes, until the pastry is golden. There will be syrup bubbling at the edges of the pan; it’s important to let this set and be absorbed before trying to invert.

500 g (1 lb 2 oz/3⅓ oz/3⅓ cups) plain (all-purpose) flour 1 teaspoon fine sea salt 400 g (14 oz) unsalted butter, diced and well-chilled 2 teaspoons lemon juice 225 ml (7½ fl oz) water Method: Tip the flour and salt onto a clean bench, then top with the chilled butter. Chop through with a pastry scraper or large spatula until roughly incorporated. Make a well, then pour in the lemon juice and water. Combine quickly into a rough dough. If the dough is sticky, add a little more flour – but you shouldn’t need to if working while the butter is still cold. Wrap in plastic wrap or place in a clean reused freezer bag and rest for 30 minutes in the fridge.

With your hands, shape the rested dough into a rough rectangle, then roll out to about 30 × 40 cm (12 × 15¾ in). Fold in three as you would a letter, ensuring that the pastry meets neatly at the corners. Wrap and rest for another 20 minutes in the fridge. Place the rested dough on the bench, with an open edge facing you. Roll out to 30 × 40 cm (12 × 15¾ in), fold in three again, then chill again for 20 minutes.

Repeat the process, refrigerating for another 20 minutes.

The pastry is now ready to use. Alternatively, you can double wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days, or freeze for 10–12 months. Thaw frozen pastry in the fridge for about 4 hours before using.

Remove from the oven and stand for about 20 minutes, until the syrup has started to thicken.

Cover the pastry with a serving plate larger than the pan, then gently flip the tart over. Serve warm or cold.

Pair with Whipped cream, ice cream or Vanilla crème anglaise.

This is an edited extract from COOK by Karen Martini, published by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $100. Available in stores nationally.

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