Signature@home - Volume 3

Austral i a n glamping

retreats

WINTER SKIN SAVIOURS

HOW TO SLEEP SOUNDLY

SIMPLE HOME DECORATING HACKS

CONTENTS

SIGNATURE TRAVEL Travel news The new hotels we’re

looking forward to checking in to, sweet new spirits to sip, the latest ways to see the world (virtually) and candles that inspire us to explore – through scent.

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Relax, revive, repeat The luxe

Aussie wellness retreats we’re adding to our next travel itinerary – and the spa treatments we’re planning to try when we arrive.

20 P itch perfect Social distancing, style and sustainability go hand in hand at these upscale Australian glamping retreats.

28 G reat explorations A new study shows that exploring your own town or neighbourhood is good for your mental health.

LIFESTYLE 30 C ocktails from afar Cocktail recipes courtesy of resorts from where we’d rather be…

32 Th e ultimate cheese board Everything you need for assembling the ultimate cheese board.

34 W inter warriors Our favourite products of the season to boost hydration.

40 S leeping beauties We reveal expert tips on how to catch quality shut-eye.

46 N atural selection Get back to nature – trust us, ‘forest bathing’ is good for you.

48 S often the impact Turn your home into a cosy, winter haven using cushions and throws.

50 S imple home hacks Easy ways to spruce up your abode without spending a fortune.

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Clockwise from top Blissing out at Qualia Resort & Spa; Bubbletent Australia © Destination New South Wales; simple tips for styling your home.

Cover Time out at Sal Salis in WA © Luxury Lodges of Australia

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L U X E L E A T H E R T R AV E L G O O D S F O R T H E E V E R Y D AY WA N D E R E R . W A N D E R E R S T R AV E L C O . C O M

EDITOR'S LETTER

www.signatureluxurytravel.com.au CEO & Group Editor Cathy Wagstaff cathywagstaff@signaturemedia.com.au Editor Natasha Dragun General Manager Tina-Louise Jackson Associate Publisher Cara Wagstaff Head Designer Gemma Kightly Digital Managers Samantha Rowntree, Lisa Wagstaff Guest Contributors Natarsha Brown, Lisa Perkovic Business Development Colleen Hinch, Jess Loudon, Managers Nicola McClean, Howard Shaw, Virginia Shirley Advertising Enquiries sales@signaturemedia.com.au General Enquiries admin@signaturemedia.com.au +61 2 9406 4400 Signature@home is published under the Signature Luxury Travel & Style umbrella.

Signature Luxury Travel & Style is Australia’s leading and highest circuited travel magazine, reaching more than 230,000 high-net-worth individuals quarterly.

A new study has found that exploring your own neighbourhood, rather than staying at home, can help boost happy hormones (read all about the results on page 28).

While global travel is off the map, taking the time to experience everything that’s great about your immediate surrounds is certainly an appealing prospect – especially if it makes you feel good in the process.

This issue, we encourage you to get out and do just that, and venture further afield domestically if it’s safe to do so.

There’s plenty of destination inspiration in our features on Australia’s top glamping retreats and wellness resorts (hey, we all need a way to de-stress at the moment).

The nationwide increase in stress and anxiety over recent months is no doubt playing havoc with our sleep cycles, which is why we also bring you a guide to getting quality shut-eye.

In addition, we reveal tips on creating the ultimate cheese board, talk to experts on styling with cushions, provide simple homedecorating hacks and spotlight the season’s latest hydrating skincare solutions. In short, everything you need to get through the last weeks of winter. Stay warm and safe.

Natasha

EDITOR

natashadragun@signaturemedia.com.au @ndragun

FOLLOW US Published by Signature Media PO Box 1825 Chatswood NSW 2057 Australia

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WANT MORE? For more inspiring luxury lifestyle features, head online to our website, signatureluxurytravel.com.au

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Travel

BBubbletent Australia © Destination NSW

Scenic soaks don’t get much better than this one at Bubbletent Australia, overlooking the Capertee Valley in regional NSW. We unveil other top spots for glamping, and bliss out at the country’s most luxe wellness resorts.

New hotels

WE’RE EXCITED FOR

The Westin Margaret River Resort & Spa Marriott International is set to debut its first Margaret River hotel in 2023. Located on Gnarabup Beach, The Westin Margaret River Resort & Spa will enjoy views over the Indian Ocean from its 120 guestrooms, including 45 spacious suites, and three on-site dining venues.

Bvlgari Hotel Roma

Scheduled to open in 2022, Bvlgari Hotel Roma will be situated in the heart of the Campo Marzio neighbourhood in the central Piazza Augusto Imperatore. The 100 rooms occupy an imposing rationalist building, replete with a fresco by Antonio Barrera and mosaic by Ferruccio Ferrazzi.

The Londoner

Eos Sky City

SkyCity Hotels Group has unveiled the centrepiece of the $330 million Adelaide Casino expansion, Eos by SkyCity. Reservations have opened for the 120-room hotel starting 1 December 2020. Guests will enjoy bespoke experiences, from in-room styling to on-call mixologists, and can make the most of a host of new offerings, including restaurants and bars.

Reservations are now being accepted at The Londoner Hotel, billed as the ‘world’s first super boutique’ hotel, for arrivals from September 2020. Located in Leicester Square, the 350-room property is a 16-storey structure, with only eight of those levels above ground. The subterranean spaces accommodate a spa, pool and two private screening rooms.

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Oscar Seppeltsfield

South Australian winery Seppeltsfield has unearthed plans to introduce an luxury hotel and spa in the Barossa Valley.

The proposed $50 million project is earmarked to open in 2022 and its ultramodern design aims to rival that of Hotel Marqués de Riscal in Elciego, Spain. The new accommodation offering aspires to lure new markets to the region and drive growth in the domestic and international visitor economy.

Six Senses Rome

Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas is adding the capital of Italy to its collection. Six Senses Rome will occupy the Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini, built in the 18th century in the centre of Ancient Rome. Opening in late 2021, the property will feature 95 guest rooms and suites, a spa, restaurant, events terrace, outdoor courtyard garden and rooftop terrace with a 360-degree view of the surrounding city and monuments.

The Langham, Gold Coast

Langham Hospitality Group has confirmed plans to open a luxury hotel on Queensland’s Gold Coast at the end of 2021. Located on the beachfront in Surfers Paradise, the company’s third hotel in Australia will be housed in the central and tallest of the three landmark towers of the much-anticipated Jewel development.

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We Are Not Alone

We might not be able to amble through the Louvre Abu Dhabi at the moment, but we can glimpse this incredible structure through a new cinematic podcast by Soudwalk Collective. We Are Not Alone guides you on a tour of the landmark gallery’s architecture, through a sciencefiction narrative that takes place in the future. Depending on your native tongue, the story is told by the likes of actor Willem Dafoe (English) or singer Nina Kravitz (Russian).

Where Dreams Are Made Of

Addresses don’t get more exclusive than Park Avenue in New York. It’s here you’ll find the landmark Waldorf Astoria hotel, not to mention dazzling residences, which you can now tour from the comfort of your sofa. These stylish suites are set to open in 2022 and 2023 – grab your checkbook.

Morocco’s Moment

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Love LUMIRA fragrances? The Australian brand is taking you to the source of its aromatic inspiration with new LUMIRA Journeys, a range of hand-crafted tours highlighting the destinations that inspire notes in LUMIRA’s candles and perfumes. The debut trip in 2021 takes you to Morocco, with luxe inclusions and commentary by the company’s owner.

Travel glow Light an aromatic candle to be reminded of all those destinations you miss most.

LUMIRA From Bali to Sicily, LUMIRA’s

candles are all about travel. The ‘Arabian Oud’ is our fave for winter, all notes of musky oud and powdery rose, with hints of sandalwood and patchouli. Light this to bring warmth to a cool evening. RRP $70

Anouk Gania This Australian brand

channels the aromas of Greece in every candle produced. While the weather’s chilly, try the ‘Winter’ fragrance, all woodsmoke and cedar forests with hints of crushed violets. RRP $69

Glasshouse Fragrances We love

the limited-edition ‘A Moment in Tokyo’ think, sensual notes of rose, birch, incense, violet and leather, all wrapped in a decadent indigo-and-teal glass vessel. RRP $49.95

WALK THIS WAY

The Australian government recently announced it would spend $233 million upgrading the country’s national parks, including hiking trails. Which is great news for outdoor enthusiasts who love to get off the beaten path.

And, it seems, there are a lot of you, with walking holidays growing in popularity by 47 per cent between 2014 and 2018. We predict the trend will increase further over the next 12 months, with a number of companies (including Abercrombie & Kent and APT), announcing new guided domestic offerings. At a time when stress levels are high, this type of travel makes sense: hiking in the great outdoors not only keeps you fit, it’s calming, soulfilling and eco friendly - it also gets you to places cars can’t go.

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REEF REFLECTION

Aussies may not be able to travel to Monaco at the moment, but this petite slice of Europe is certainly getting its taste of the Land Down Under right now thanks to the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. The gallery’s new interactive exhibition, Immersion, is dedicated to the magnificence of the Great Barrier Reef, revealing the majesty of this World Heritage Site through a multimedia installation offering visitors the opportunity to experience a dive below the surface and meet the marine species that inhabit the planet’s largest coral ecosystem. Combining contemplation and interaction, the show is designed to engage and educate the public to better protect the marine world.

Float With Flicks

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Want a novel way to social distance while still seeing your favourite films? Enter Paris’ Cinéma sur L’eau’ (or, ‘Cinema on the Water’), a summer series that sees 38 electric boats bob on the city’s river in the shadow of an enormous movie screen. There will also be 150 well-spaced deck chairs set up on the banks of the Seine. First film off the ranks: Gilles Lellouche’s Le Grand Baie. Perfect for Sydney Harbour, we reckon.

WOLLUMBIN MT WARNING - AN ICONIC VISTA SWIM WITH TURTLES AT COOK ISLAND

CABARITA - AUSTRALIA’S BEST BEACH 101BESTBEACHES.ORG

FOODIE MOMENTS

Find your moment

Endless memories are formed in a place where sparkling seaside villages and riverside towns lead to our gorgeous valley and hinterland hamlets. From a morning surf lesson to an afternoon browsing galleries, lunchtime river cruise to a gin distillery tour and country drive to beach view cocktails. Welcome to The Tweed.

LUXURY RAINFOREST G E TA WAY

Honeymoons & romantic escapes. Privacy and seclusion is assured, Featuring plunge pools, fireplaces, large double spa baths, floor to ceiling windows and rainforest views. Call 02 6679 1591, crystalcreekrr@bigond.com ccrr.com.au

P I C N I C S O N WAT E R

Australia’s #1 outdoor dining experience is now on water with Mount Warning Tours. Step onto cozy rugs and plush cushions taking in 360º views. Cruise while enjoying 100% local and seasonal produce. bluegingerpicnics.com

VISITTHETWEED.COM.AU

S I G N AT U R E L U X U R Y

HINTERLAND CHALETS

With views to Mt Warning and the Border Ranges, La Rochér offers an idyllic escape in sublime luxury.

Restore yourself by soaking in our luxuriant bath, relaxing at the pool or by the fireplace. larocher.com

MAGNIFICENT OCEAN VIEWS

Six beautiful chalets nestled in the pristine and ancient Northern NSW hinterland. Surrounded in understated luxury and comfort, the property is designed so you can experience a closeness with nature. ecoasis.com.au

GOURMET TOURS

Located directly on the beachfront of ‘Australia’s Best Beach’ as voted in 2020.

Spacious, self contained, apartments and Penthouses set amongst tropical gardens and three outdoor pools. thebeachcabarita.com.au

@THETWEED

@THETWEED_NSW

Intimate tours focusing on the best Northern Rivers NSW food and produce. Settle in as we explore the back roads and sample from the best restaurants, providores, farms, breweries and distilleries. tastingplatetours.com.au

TASTING NOTES Rugged up at home? Here are our three must-try spirits of the season.

Wine Time

Adelaide Hills Distillery Native Grain Whiskey Distilled from native wattleseed and malted barley, this is like Australia in a delicious, boozy drop. It’s aged in French oak, adding notes of chocolate and caramel. Move fast – there are only 150 on the market.

Take a look at the three Australian estates that made the ‘World’s Best Vineyards’ list for 2020.

Penfolds Magill Estate

Rank 24 Where Adelaide Hills Why This is the birthplace of one of Australia’s founding winemaking stories: the legendary Grange shiraz.

Linger After visiting the cellar door, settle in for lunch at the fine-dining restaurant, or try blending your own wine.

Henschke

This new spirit includes ingredients that stem from the Queen’s very own palatial garden at the renowned palace. Think, citrus and herbal notes derived from 12 botanicals, hawthorn berries, bay leaves and mulberry leaves among them.

d’Arenberg

Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996

Rank 25 Where Barossa Valley Why Emblematic centenarian vineyards that produce the stunning Hill of Grace shiraz.

Linger Tour the vineyard then enjoy a tasting of 10 wines, some of them limited edition.

Rank 34 Where McLaren Vale Why Vibrant New World wines in a diversity of styles – 70 wines from 37 grape varieties.

Linger The jaw-dropping d’Arenberg Cube cellar door, the Salvador Dali exhibition and the food, enjoyed overlooking vines.

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Buckingham Palace Gin

This 23-year-old whisky is the oldest liquid to be matured in Glenmorangie’s bespoke casks. Lush, creamy and with bursts of citrus, spice and fudge, the limited-edition drop is like winter in a bottle.

Would you like to

fly private

around Australia?

At a time when crowds are discouraged and safety is a priority, this kind of travel – offering highly personalised service and the ability to visit remote regions of the country few dream of seeing – is the new luxury.

See an immense amount of the country in a short amount of the time Travel in style with only around 30 passengers Enjoy business-class comforts Book all-inclusive journeys

Click here to read how you can be part of the trend and fly private with Aussieowned Captain’s Choice.

Clockwise from top left Hayman Island © InterContinental Hayman Island & Tourism Australia; Flying private; Margaret River; Kangaroo Island © Ben Goode & Tourism South Australia; Macq01 Hobart © Stuart Gibson & Tourism Tasmania; Outback Queensland © Luke Workman

nders TheOFwoWELLBEING

Now, more than ever, we’re all looking for ways to unwind and forget about reality – at least for a few hours. Read on for our favourite Aussie wellness sanctuaries, and the treatments you should try when you arrive.

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RESORTS

DEVILISHLY GOOD Spa Saffire, Saffire Freycinet, TAS Pared-back villas at this resort look out over native scrub framed by the rugged rose-hued Hazards mountains, a stunning backdrop also enjoyed by Spa Saffire. The menu offers body and beauty treatments that channel the property’s remote location on the island’s Freycinet Peninsula: hot-stone massages incorporate polished spheres of pink granite from the nearby range, while Australian sandalwood, clay and cloves are used in essential oils.

Don’t miss The 'Hazards Heated Stone Relaxation' – a hot-stone massage plus customised facial. Two hours of bliss.

A TIMELESS EXPERIENCE One&Only Spa, One&Only Wolgan Valley, NSW

The stunning location of this spa, on vast bushland in the Blue Mountains, is only outshone by the menu of native-inspired therapies at the spa.

The six sublime treatment rooms are fitted with Japanese-style soaking tubs, and designed with views of the heavenly surrounds in mind to deliver a complete sensory experience.

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Don’t miss The 'Radiance' package is the ultimate indulgence: 2.5 hours of body and face pampering. It begins with a soothing bath and back massage, followed by a thermal infusing mask to tone and restore skin complexion.

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ISLAND IDYLL

Spa Qualia, Qualia Great Barrier Reef, QLD The spa at Qualia – hillside on Hamilton Island and overlooking the Whitsundays – features a menu of holistic therapies that range from reflexology and lymphatic drainage to guided meditation and private yoga. Got a full day? Book one of the pampering sessions that can include up to five hours of indulgences.

Don’t miss The 'Whitsunday Escape' is three hours of wow, taking inspiration from your surrounds: a body exfoliation featuring macadamia nuts, a kaolin clay body mask, a massage, heat therapy, a scalp treatment, a marine facial… what more could you want?

01 Blissing out at Qualia 02 A tub with a view at Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania 03 One&Only Spa's dreamy suites at Wolgan Valley 04 & 05 Spa Qualia

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HINTERLAND HIGHS Spa Sanctuary, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, QLD

On a plateau overlooking Queensland’s Gold Coast, Gwinganna is a closed retreat, which means that the extensive wellness facilities are exclusively for the use of those checked in to the property’s villas and houses. The Spa Sanctuary offers an epic selection of naturopathy, nutrition, acupuncture, reiki crystal healing and pure pampering. There’s also a crystal steam room, lap pool, gym, sauna, tennis courts and more.

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BYRON BLISS

Day Spa, Gaia Retreat & Spa, Byron Bay, NSW A rainforest-shrouded wellness resort in Byron’s hinterland, Gaia’s wellness programs include gourmet meals, daily yoga and pilates, plus a whole host of workshops. There’s an excellent day spa, so even if you’re not overnighting in the luxe villas, you can still enjoy massages, facials, body masks and scrubs incorporating wattle seed, lemon myrtle, wild rosella and desert salt.

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Don’t miss Book the 'Byron Bay Dream', which begins with a body polish and ends, 2.5 hours later, with a body mask, macadamia oil scalp massage and fullbody relaxation massage.

Don’t miss Gwinganna is one of only a handful of establishments in Australia to offer equine therapy.

06 In the Byron hinterland, Gaia is like a wellness haven. Programs can be as intensive or independent as you like, and the spa menu is extensive 07

T R AV E L

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RESORTS

VALLEY CALLING Spa Elysia, Elysia Retreat, NSW Multi-day wellness packages at this Hunter Valley retreat include everything from tai chi and yoga to deep-water running, gym circuits, educational seminars, low-calorie cuisine and badminton. The serene spa offers a wide range of wellness options, from those focused on nutrition to feldenkrais, kung-fu lessons, hypnotherapy and acupuncture. Phew!

Don’t miss The 'Ultra Indulgence' package unites a salt-infused body scrub with a collagen facial and drift-away foot massage. 170 minutes of pure bliss.

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07 Taking the waters at Hepburn Bathhouse 08 Spa rituals at Elysia Retreat in the Hunter Valley are complemented by wellness activities

TAKING THE WATERS Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, Daylesford, VIC

Hepburn Springs’ historic bathhouse (with attached accommodation) is located in the heart of Australia’s spa country on the outskirts of Daylesford.

Traditional communal bathing in warmed, mineral-rich water is available, but you can also book private bathing experiences, chill out on spa couches, sweat in aroma steam rooms or get a dose of healing minerals in the salt therapy pool.

Don’t miss The 'Mineral Detox', with a body exfoliation using mineralised salts followed by a spirulina body mask.

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PITCH PERFECT Glampers, here’s where to book your next stay. From tented suites enveloped by lush rainforest to scenic oceanside camps, Lisa Perkovic finds solitude, serenity and self isolation in the Australian wilderness.

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Longitude 131°, Uluru, NT BEST FOR Outback adventures

If Uluru is on your bucket list, Longitude 131° should be, too.

This patch of the Red Centre is allinclusive, next-level luxury, but at the end of the day it’s all about view.

Many guests skip the tent for a night and instead take in the stars from the day bed of their private deck.

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01 Lounging on the deck at Longitude 131°’s Dune Pavilion 02 Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay 03 Style and sustainability unite at Sal Salis 04 Spicers Canopy 05 Bliss at Bruny Island Long Weekend 06 Olio Bello in the Margaret River region 07 Bubbletent Australia © Destination NSW

Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay, NSW

Sal Salis, Exmouth, WA BEST FOR Beachfront bliss

BEST FOR Fine dining under

There’s not much between you and the horizon when you spend the night at the all-inclusive Sal Salis.

Forget the campfire – when you stay at Paperbark, settle around a candlelit Wilderness tents blend into the dunes along the Ningaloo Coast, letting the table for a three-course meal. That’s after a soak in your enormous tub. New location and the locals steal the show supersized safari tents are on their way – in winter months, it’s all about the from Africa to cater for families of four. whale sharks. the gum trees

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Sanctuary by Sirromet, Mount Cotton, Qld

Spicers Canopy Luxury Tents, Maryvale, Qld

BEST FOR A quick city escape

BEST FOR Serious creature comforts

Just 30 minutes from Brisbane, Queenslander-meets-canvas in these elevated pavilion-style tents at Sirromet Winery. Hide away in your tent for a day or two, before venturing out for a wine tasting or long lunch at the on-site, and awardwinning, Restaurant Lurleen’s.

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under canvas A hot waterbottle with turn down – now we’re talking! Throw in bath robes, slippers and an outdoor hot tub, and you’ll never pitch your own tent again. One stop on Spicer’s fiveday Scenic Rim Trail Walk, this takes multi-day hiking up a notch.

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Bruny Island Long Flash Camp Coolendel, Weekend, Bruny Island, Tas South Coast, NSW BEST FOR Food straight from the source

BEST FOR Getting back to nature

Go straight to source on this three-day guided walk – arrive via private boat, wade out to an oyster farm to grab lunch, shucked on the spot, and end your days eating Bruny Island cheese and drinking local drops by the fire. There’s a hot waterbottle between your sheets, and the best alfresco shower you’ll come across.

Spend a night under canvas along the banks of the Shoalhaven River at these seriously slick pop-upstyle bell tents. The campsites are all set up for arrival, but are unhosted, so don’t forget to pack your cheese and wine and your appetite for stargazing.

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Olio Bello, Margaret River, WA

Bubbletent Australia, Capertee Valley, NSW

BEST FOR Wine weekends

BEST FOR Stargazing

Spend a few days lakeside on a working olive oil farm, where just six canvas bungalows come with all the bells and whistles of a hotel room. Dozens of wineries are on your doorstep – what could be better than a few cheeky sips before an in-tent massage with products straight from the olive grove?

Spend the night under the stars in a clear, inflatable dome tent. With a telescope next to your bed, it’s tempting to stay up all night, but after a soak in your woodfired tub (outside the bubble), you’ll be happy gazing skyward from your cosy bed. Galactic-inspired playlists are loaded on your tent’s iPad.

" With a telescope next to your bed, it's tempting to stay up all night..."

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GREAT

e’ve all had that buzz travelling somewhere new – goosebumps, perhaps, or an immense sense of joy at seeing the world in a different light. And while that world is currently much smaller than it was a year ago, there’s still a lot of happiness to be found in our surrounds, a new study suggests.

A report published in Nature Neuroscience shows that experiencing new things on a daily basis leads to more positive emotions in those doing the experiencing – even if it’s just in our neighbourhood. The researchers tracked people in the US over the course of several months, and found that those who got out and about rediscovering what makes their town so special, reported being happier and healthier in their emotions than those who stayed at home.

“New and varied experiences are broadly beneficial for the brain and for humans in general,” the study’s co-author Aaron Heller says. These experiences don’t need to be large – just getting out of the house and seeing something fresh can boost the happy hormones. There’s an upward correlation as well: the more places people visited, the higher the reported positive emotions for that day. The more new, places visited, the higher the endorphin levels still. “The findings suggest that novelty is important, but experiential diversity is as well,” says co-author Catherine Hartley.

The take away? It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, there are always new things to discover – and plenty of joy to be had from your adventures.

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1. Make a list of the cafes you’ve never tried, and organise a caffeine crawl.

2. Pump up your tires and try out that bike path.

3. Set up a picnic date with a friend and your dogs, in a park you’ve never visited.

4. Pick up your camera and photograph your neighbourhood’s street art – or interesting doors, or dogs, or signs…

Top image © Alexy Yuzhankov/Shutterstock; bottom image © Redpixel.pl/Shutterstock

Explorations Explore your hood

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A new study shows that exploring your own town or neighbourhood is good for your mental health.

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Lifestyle

From Sheridan’s AW20 decor range

This month we reveal top tips on putting together the ultimate cheese board, spotlight the season’s hydrating skincare products, and talk to those in the know about styling your home with cushions and throws. Plus much more!

GOURMET

/ CO C K TA I L S

Cocktails FROM AFAR Let these cocktails take you back to your favourite European destinations. Sundowners from where you’d rather be...

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Terrace on Lake Como Dreaming of the Italian sun? Be transported to T Bar at Grand Hotel Tremezzo with this delightful tipple by bartender Hatem Alouane.

Ingredients

Serves one

• 80ml Bourbon • 20ml Aperol • Pinch Saffron • 5 pink pepper berries • White celery, to garnish

Method

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with a generous amount of ice. Shake vigorously and strain (to remove berry pulp) into a martini glass. Garnish with white celery.

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Made in Douro The chief bartender at the Six Senses Douro Valley channels Portuguese flavours in this delectable concoction.

Ingredients Serves one

• 30ml Ventozelo gin • 30ml Vista Alegre 10 Years white port • 30ml orange and mint syrup • 25ml rosemary syrup • 30ml lemon juice • 2 dash orange bitters • 1 egg white • Rosemary and black pepper, to garnish

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Method

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and serve in a martini-style glass topped with rosemary and black pepper.

01 Terrace on Lake Como will knock your socks off 02 Made in Douro transports you straight to Portugal

“Vista Alegre white port enjoys fruited, vanilla notes.

It’s sweet, soft, unctuous and slightly oaky. In short, it’s utterly delicious” 31

GOURMET

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THE ULTIMATE

Cheese Board

With winter well and truly upon us, there’s nothing better than getting cosy with a glass of wine and a great spread of nibbles.

Here, pro tips for assembling the ultimate cheese board.

STEP 1:

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STEP 3:

Choose your board

Include savoury

A great wooden board is the obvious choice to use as your base, but you can also add drama by going for slate or tiers, à la high tea – and don’t just think rectangular, either. Got a wooden or stone table? Consider assembling your spread directly onto this surface.

Start with cured meats (salami, prosciutto, jamón, chorizo) and seafood (smoked salmon, herring, anchovies). Then add olives, pickles, artichokes, tapenades and mustard.

Get crunch from nuts like almonds and cashews, and spice from dukkha with olive oil and balsamic on the side.

STEP 2:

STEP 4:

Get cheesy

Add in sweet

You’ll want a selection of milk bases (cow’s, goat’s, sheep’s) as well as textures and flavour levels: vintage cheddar and gorgonzola are powerful in the mouth, while buffalo mozzarella and brie are creamy and mild. See ‘Know your cheeses’ for tips.

There’s nothing like a jammy quince paste to complement and cut through the richness of cheese.

The same goes for muscatels and other dried fruits, plus homemade chutneys and a good-quality honey (our favourite is infused with truffles) or honeycomb.

STEP 5:

Now for the carbs You can’t go wrong with freshly baked French baguette cut on a bias (homemade focaccia is also a winner), but also add in crunch with crackers and lavosh in various flavours and sizes.

STEP 6:

And finally, the garnishes

Know your cheeses

Cheese board © Marcia Jucha/Shutterstock

Thinly-sliced apple and pear, strawberries, figs, bunches of grapes, edible flowers and fresh herbs – this is where you get to have some seasonal fun.

AGED Vintage cheddar, gruyere, gouda.

SOFT Brie, camembert, goat, mozzarella.

FIRM Manchego, Parmigiano-Reggiano, edam.

BLUE Gorgonzola, Roquefort, stilton.

Always make sure your cheeses are at room temperature when you serve them.

La Mer The New Concentrate SERUM | RRP $555 If the bottle of this serum looks like kelp, that’s because it’s inspired by the intense marineinfused concentrate within.

Restorative, concentrated and formulated to boost skin health and cell renewal.

WINTER

Warriors

As the mercury drops, so, too, do humidity and hydration levels in your skin. Whether for your face or your body – here are our favourite products of the season to boost moisture and set you up to glow.

Bobbi Brown Skin Nourish Mask MASK | RRP $78 Slather this creamy mask on for five minutes, then tissue off the excess for a gorgeous, nourishing glow.

Deeply hydrating without being heavy and oily, it’s infused with marine actives and muru muru butter to add plumpness.

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Sisley Black Rose Precious Facial Oil OIL | RRP $280 This is a facial oil, but not as you know it. Super lightweight and rich in plant-based actives, the silky-smooth, dry formula nourishes while giving a radiant complexion. The deep rose aroma is intoxicating.

WELLNESS

/ B E AU T Y

Jurlique Moisture Plus Rare Rose Cream

Ellus & Krue Intensive Night Repair

DAY CREAM | RRP $55

NIGHT CREAM | RRP $155

This hydrating cream delivers ongoing moisture to your skin throughout the day. The rose extract is soothing when paired with cupuaçu butter and senna seed, which attracts water for a fresh, dewy complexion.

This nourishing night cream is packed with antioxidants that stimulate collagen production and promote cell renewal.

Plant actives include fatty acids to ensure optimal hydration and a smoothed complexion.

QED Skincare Body Lotion BODY LOTION | RRP $65 Once you’ve removed dead skin cells using QED Body Exfoliator (RRP $68), slather on lashings of the Body Lotion – we like ours customised with lemongrass and cardamom, but there are other scents available. It absorbs fast, and is infused with jojoba and green tea for added hydration.

Collagen + Peptide Eye Serum EYE | RRP $99 Nourishing doesn’t need to equate to thick and oily. Case in point, this lightweight eye serum, containing collagenboosting peptides and ceramides that brighten, firm and plump the eye area.

Glow from the inside, out New Zealand’s Egmont Honey is helping your winter skin glow from the inside, out.

The brand’s new range of supplements is packed with powerful, natural ingredients – produced by bees. There’s Royal Jelly and Collagen, for anti-ageing and skin plumping; Propolis, a source of antioxidants and flavonoids; and vitamin C Manuka Honey Chews, to support immune function and boost antioxidants.

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A WORLD OF WANDERINGS Australian Wanderers Travel Co. is all about luxurious – yet durable – leather accessories inspired by the world’s most seductive destinations. You may not have an airline ticket in hand (just yet), but you can still look the part.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT European summer days are not far away. Fuel your wanderlust with ‘The Maronti’ sunglasses in brown tortoise, RRP $299; make the moment memorable with your stash of hightech equipment in ‘The Bologna’ camera bag in tan, RRP $339; and then step out on the town clutching your ‘La Rochelle’ tan wallet, RRP $169. Main image: the luxe ‘Les Revoires’ handbag in tan, RRP $249.

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S I G N AT U R E

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT Hankering for sunshine (and a cheeky Aperol spritz) in the Med right now? When it’s time to pack your bags, you’ll need a ‘Universal’ luggage tag in black, RRP $39; and then the main kit of a ‘Wanderer’ cabin suitcase in black, RRP $649; then sashay into the sun with your ‘Positano’ sunglasses in black, RRP $299. Main image: sitting pretty with the ‘San Montano’ handbag in black, RRP $249.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT European summers are all about lazy days in the sun. You’ll need ample space to stash everything you need for a day out. Enter the ‘Ravello’ handbag in blush, RRP $349; then don your sleek ‘Positano’ sunglasses in brown tortoise, RRP $299; and never leave home without your ‘Capri’ clutch in blush, RRP $169. Main image: pretty in pink ‘San Montano’ handbag in blush, RRP $249.

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Head online to check out the full range of luxe leather bags, jackets and accessories from Aussie-owned Wanderers Travel Co.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT Those stunning whitewashed European villages sure are blinding! Pop on your ‘Forte Dei Marmi’ sunglasses in brown tortoise, RRP $299; then strut your stuff to your luxury villa holding your ‘San Raphael’ travel clutch in tan, RRP $129; or head out into town with your ‘Athens’ handbag in tan, RRP $299. Main image: sleek ‘Saint Germain’ evening crossbody in tan, RRP $199.

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WELLNESS

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SLEEPING

Beauties

These are stressful times, and sleep can be broken at best, non-existent at worst.

Shea Morrison of The Goodnight Co. provides tips on how to catch quality ZZZs.

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1

Routine, routine, routine

Your nightly sleep routine should include a number of factors to quieten your mind and calm your senses. First, cut out all technology (TVs, laptops, phones) at least an hour before bed (two hours is ideal). Next, dim lights or turn off any excess lights in your house after dinner to allow your body to adjust to ‘softer’ conditions. This will send a signal to your mind that it’s time to start preparing for sleep. Then, pull out a real book. According to the University of Sussex, reading a paper book can help reduce stress levels by 68 per cent.

2

Get some sunlight

Get moving in the morning outside in the sun. Studies from the Lighting Research Centre at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that people exposed to greater amounts of light during the morning hours fell asleep faster and had fewer sleep disturbances during the night, compared to those exposed to low light in the morning.

People getting more morning light were also less likely to report feelings of depression and stress. When your body, face and eyes are exposed to the sun, it increases your system’s production of serotonin. Serotonin takes around 12 hours to convert to melatonin, and it’s melatonin that helps us sleep.

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Set sleep hygiene

Creating a space that supports sleep is important. When was the last time you washed your sheets? The Sleep Foundation notes we should wash our sheets once per week. Try adding a drop of essential oil to your washing powder to add a therapeutic aroma.

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Minimise clutter

A neat, clutter-free bedroom helps to put your mind at ease during the day and before bed. Tidy rooms are known to foster a sense of clarity and promote pride that will follow you around all day.

Make your bed, pick up those clothes from the floor, open your curtains.

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Manage stress and anxiety

Images: Left © Shche Team/Unsplash; Right © Halil Ibrahimmes/Shutterstock

Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether you’re having trouble sleeping because you’re anxious, or you’re anxious because you can’t sleep. The answer may be both. To help reduce your stress or anxiety levels, take time to wind down and create a sleep routine, slowing your rhythms before bed. Add exercise to your day: research shows people who exercise regularly fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. And jot down your to-do list on paper, instead of letting your brain swirl with all the things that you don’t want to forget.

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Try deep breathing

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Use aromatherapy

Have you heard of the 4-7-8 method?

It’s very simple – and a total gamechanger when it comes to finding easy, natural ways to get some shut-eye.

• Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.

• Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.

• Then hold your breath for a count of seven.

• Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight.

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Essential oils have been used for eons to treat illnesses and conditions, from insomnia to headaches. Cedarwood, lavender and sweet orange all work particularly well to alleviate anxiety and reduce insomnia. Lavender is a real star – it has a long and diverse history in the healing world, with research showing it’s a natural, and potent, remedy to help aid sleep. Try it in diffusers and pillow sprays or pockets.

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8

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Avoid alcohol

Think a nightcap may help you get a better night’s sleep? Recent research has found alcohol and smoking are more disruptive to the quantity and quality of sleep than caffeine. While some studies show alcohol may allow healthy people to fall asleep fast and sleep deeply for a while, it significantly reduces rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. And the more you drink before bed, the more pronounced these effects. REM sleep happens about 90 minutes after we doze off. It’s the stage of sleep when people dream, and it’s the most restorative stage. Disruptions in REM sleep may cause daytime drowsiness, poor concentration, and rob you of needed shut-eye.

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Sleepy-time snacks

The best sleep-inducing foods include a combination of protein and carbohydrates. Try a light snack of half a banana with a tablespoon of peanut butter, or a wholewheat cracker with some cheese. Eat one of these snacks about 30 minutes before hitting the hay.

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Get mindful

There have been dozens of studies on whether mindfulness and other meditative movements (yoga, tai chi) can improve sleep quality. Some show that taking a few minutes to settle your mind before bed can help you fall asleep faster as well as help you get more restful ZZZs. Try listening to calming music with your eyes closed, or sitting in child’s pose for a couple of minutes.

Win

THE DERMAL DIARY PRIVATE COLLECTION SKINCARE SET Valued at $515!

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/ CO M P E T I T I O N

Australia’s leading skin clinic, The Dermal Diary, recently expanded its Private Collection with an array of cuttingedge products.

Prize pack includes: • Multivitamin Nourish moisturiser • Dream Mask • Day Cream • C 10 vitamin C 10% formulation • Superfruit Reveal Exfoliator Click here for your chance to win!

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Natural SELECTION Feel the grass beneath your feet, listen to birdsong, watch light filter through tree leaves – trust us, ‘forest bathing’ is good for you.

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B AT H I N G

What is forest bathing?

How does it work?

Despite its name, forest bathing (or shinrin-yoku, as it’s known in Japanese) is not about having a soak outside in the elements. This form of nature-based therapy is focused on awakening all your senses in the great outdoors. You switch off completely, and become intensely aware of the beauty that surrounds.

While there’s a lot of flexibility, there are also some ground rules. You should leave technology behind, and be aimless and slow wandering through nature – this is not a hike or a race. A forest therapy stroll may take two hours, but cover less than one kilometer of trail.

Where did it come from?

Forest bathing took off in Japan in the 1980s as a way to counteract a fast-paced, work-obsessed urban existence with nature-induced wellbeing. The Japanese understood – as we all have for centuries – that wandering in the wilderness makes us feel, well, good. Breathing in clean air, listening to wildlife, smelling flowers, seeing the world through un-polluted light – it’s the ultimate way to de-stress, relax and boost your mood.

Image © Connor McSheffrey/Unsplash

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Does it work?

Increasing scientific evidence backs this up: studies indicate time spent in nature can slow our heart rate and decrease blood pressure. Moreover, organic compounds released by plants (known as phytoncides) have been shown to positively impact our immune system, protecting us from illness and disease.

Where can I try it?

You can practice anywhere outside, really, at any time of day or in any season. A forest is lovely, but as long as you’re in nature, you can enjoy shinrin-yoku. While many people experience it as an individual activity, a number of places offer guided sessions, which can be useful for first-timers. We often need help to slow down – we’re so used to going at full-speed, we’ve forgotten how to do this.

What does it involve?

Sessions generally begin with breathing exercises and sensory awareness activities – you focus on what you hear, what the air smells and tastes like, how sharp the sunlight is, how cool the ground feels. Then you may walk around your outdoor area, slowly and experiencing everything you encounter: touching tree trunks, dipping your toes in water, smell plants.

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SoffenIMPACT the Want to turn your lounge into a cosy, winter haven?

Layering with warm colours and textures will liven up your living space and add comfort over the cooler months. Interior stylist Steve Cordony, in collaboration with Sheridan, shows us how to incorporate this season’s hues into your home.

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Add a splash of colour

The Australian landscape is a constant source of inspiration.

This season, rich midnight navy, toffee-coloured tabac, yellow camel and burnt oranges offer an ease of styling, allowing you to incorporate a combination of your favourite seasonal hues, or style one shade as a block.

Try grouping colours like tabac and burnt oranges with deep, opulent textures; or combine contrasting textures in a rich tone like navy.

Starting with a neutral base colour like ivory, cream or navy allows you to update from season to season with new cushions and throw colours.

Get textural

Layering textures can add visual quality and character to a room.

Combining multiple cushions in a variety of materials will create a luxurious, yet inviting space. Plush fabrics like faux fur and velvet add interest to contemporary spaces, while natural fibres like wool help to create a cosy, relaxed atmosphere.

Flirt with fabrics and fibres Wool is a winter favourite that will add depth to both contemporaryand classic-style homes. Create a visual statement with contrasting

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yarns or use a chunky knit throw as a layering piece.

Silk cushions can elevate a space and add an element of sophistication to the room – try printed silk cushions like those in Sheridan’s Cortina range, which can create a striking focal point in a room. Faux fur adds a soft, cosy texture while creating a luxurious aesthetic.

Design in reverse

If you’re looking for hard working, versatile pieces that will last the test of time, invest in cushions with a contrasting reverse to give you the flexibility to quickly switch up the look and feel of a space. Sheridan’s Westin cushion is a luxurious accent piece that pairs a herringbone-design quilted velvet face with a fine linen reverse – taking you quickly from winter luxe to natural simplicity.

Get coordinated

Adding a throw to the end of a sofa is a really nice way to generate pops of colour and drama, all the while coordinating the room back with your choice of cushions. Choose a throw in a similar palette to your cushions, but with a contrasting, cosy texture that you’ll just want to curl up in this winter.

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SIMPLE

Home Hacks

Looking to spruce up your abode without spending a fortune? Interior experts The Design Paddock share five simple ways to uplift your home’s interior.

1.

The power of paint

“One of the most effortless ways to reinvigorate and transform a space is a fresh coat of paint,” says Millie Alison, co-founder of The Design Paddock. “The hallway or the entry to the home are often overlooked.

These areas are important as they connect to the spaces you live in and can set the initial impression. A fresh coat of paint can make the biggest difference here. Try a gloss trim paint to contrast against a matt or low-sheen wall paint. You’ll be surprised at the impact.” Also, consider repainting your front door or even garden pots for a powerful change. This can instantly achieve a more inviting entry.

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2.

H AC K S

Rearrange the furniture

“Many people use the TV as the centrepiece of the living room, however this should not be the case,” says Katrina Garrett, the other co-founder. “Living rooms should be centred around conversation and comfort.”

Katrina suggests that between the warmer and cooler months, there’s an opportunity to rearrange spaces. “Fireplaces are the perfect focal point to arrange your furniture around in winter. Also consider moving your armchair beside a window to create a reading corner or a spot to wind down and enjoy some sun.”

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01 Refresh living spaces with a coat of paint © Photographee. eu/Shutterstock 02 Rearranging your furniture can change the feel of your home © Phillipp Shuruev/ Shutterstock 03 Add drama with an eyecatching pendant light.© Olga Prava/ Shutterstock

3.

Switch up your lighting

“Lighting plays a big part in the atmosphere and ambience within a room.

Subtle changes can have a dramatic impact on the way a space feels,” says Millie.

“Warm light globes are a must. Also, think about where your lighting is focused, and adjust it. Try highlighting an artwork or incorporating a new feature pendant above your dining table. It’s important to note that lighting should be both beautiful and functional; a directional light in a hallway is a great way to not only feature an artwork but also reflect onto the wall and light up the space beautifully.”

Alternating lighting throughout the house is another way to make spaces feel cosy.

Incorporate varying scales and heights, such as table lamps, floor lamps, wall lights, dimmable ceiling lights and pendants in soft textures.

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/ D E CO R AT I N G

4.

H AC K S

Reprioritise and de-clutter

“With the extra time people are spending at home, there’s no better time to take charge and get rid of clutter. Explore ways to store possessions in cabinets or boxes, and if there isn’t space and you no longer need items, let go. Interiors should feel full, but not cluttered,” says Katrina. “Organising your bookshelves can bring life to a forgotten area. It’s always good to start with larger items such as bowls, jugs or artwork – this will help achieve scale and balance. Books are a beautiful inclusion to an interior. Try stacking them in varying directions to add interest. Add your treasured keepsakes on top of piled books – different heights can help balance your shelf styling.”

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5.

Reinvigorate with soft furnishings

“Soft furnishings present an opportunity to incorporate colour, texture or pattern to a space without the intensive labour,” says Millie, suggesting softening your bedroom with a rug beneath the end of your bed, introducing a bedhead, re-covering a chair or adding throw cushions.

Deciding on your fabric can be difficult. “Be clever with the way you use your fabric. A cost-effective way of achieving a similar result may be to upholster the back of your cushions or bedhead with an affordable plain fabric,” says Millie. “I’ve also previously chosen beautiful tea towels or fabric cuttings and framed them for cost-effective art.”

04 Organise your bookshelves to be a talking point © LightField Studios/ Shutterstock 05 Soft furnishings, like throw pillows, are an easy way to change the feel of a room

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