1. How did you first get into styling?
Accidentally when I was finishing my History degree. I have been styling just shy of 20 years. My bestie, Edwina was working at Vogue & thought I’d be good at it & in those days that was the beginning of a career.
2. What are you working on at the moment?
I am finishing my next book called, ‘The Biography of a Bowerbird’. It is about collections & collecting. It delves into the history of collecting, then goes through my extensive collections & offers ideas of display and incorporating them in to your life. I am designing more product ranges with Anthropologie following my decorative hardware range released earlier this year as well as designing commercial spaces including an island resort in the Maldives, a winery in Australia and four restaurants.
And fingers crossed, setting up a studio next year in NYC for my paint range & bringing The Stylist’s Guide to NYC with guided walking tours, more workshops, and making them webinars so they are available for everyone online.
3. What do you do in your spare time?
I go to the beach: running, swimming, walking- anything to be near it. My work often meshes into my relax, there is not a line drawn between the two, so the things that inspire me also relax me: cinema, books, sourcing, exhibitions & galleries, shopping, markets etc.
4. What do you wear?
I only wear pieces that fit into my personal colour palette: warm caramels, browns, and creams. I call it ‘Foundation’ and I have a paint palette of a matching name. Foundation was my first colour palette in my 11 palette paint range (available from my online store, www.thesocietyinc.com.au). I wouldn’t call it a uniform but during the day you will probably find me in cream jodhpurs, a lovely caramel cashmere shawl, leather amulets, panama hat and Golden Goose boots. That is of course if I’m not in my painting gear armed with a brush and tape measure.
At night, there are always alot of functions, presenting, openings etc so leather dresses or full length flow-y numbers with wide belt, fur capes & sky high YSL tributes!
5. Do you see yourself as a photographer?
No, never! I don’t consider myself a photographer despite a lot of published work- it has come purely out of necessity. I do like the immediacy of photography. I like that it was my vision and I was able to capture it. It has nothing to do with the technical side of photography but rather about seeing it through the traveller’s eye. In the introduction of Nomad, I talk about how you can take a great pic even if you’re not a photographer- my job is all about composition and that’s how I take great pics. I do love the collaboration between a photographer and stylist- it makes for a fun day and a better project.
6. How would you describe your style & design aesthetic?
I travel extensively, have a love of detail and all things that are aesthetically beautiful. My appreciation crosses architecture, art, textile, furniture, flowers, product design, installation, old & new: all these things make up my aesthetic.
I am all about lo-fi. The term originally comes from the sound and music industry but I have adapted it to suit my style. To me, it means low expense with ease and casual abandon to achieve a relaxed, liveable space that reflects your personality & lifestyle. Your space is all about you and all of the different aspects of your life should be translated through it: friends, family, travels and loves. My philosophy is based on a sustainable and organic style- transform a space by adding and subtracting, rearranging and recycling. Changing your interiors should be easy and fun and should reflect what makes you happy at the time- life is always evolving and changing, so should what you surround yourself with.
7. Why do you travel so often?
Because I am a Nomad! For about six months of the year I satisfy this desire by adventuring to new terrains. It’s always nice to come home though.
8. As a dedicated collector, how do you keep your space clean & organised?
I always make sure my iPhone calendar is up-to-date and my assistants keep me in check as well. When I returned from my last overseas trip to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia with Anthropologie, my office has just been sectioned into lots of manilla folders and filing cabinets each with their own little labels telling me what’s what. I don’t know how long it will stay like this but my assistants were very proud of themselves. Mainly I’ve just got a good memory and can generally locate most things when I really need them.
I have floor to ceiling shelves & lots of drawers & old carboard boxes labeled with old luggage tags.
9. Why did you come back to Australia after so long in NY?
Nearing the end of my 15 years living & working in NYC I was brimming with cool ideas & projects that I just didn’t have the time to pursue. I knew I’d never slow down in NY and would be backed up with the styling jobs that kept me busy from 6am to midnight everyday (maybe the last few hours might have been a compulsory party or event- but you always need a release!). It took the huge sea change of coming home to seaside Sydney to open my shop, The Society inc., start writing my books (three so far!) & be part of so many cool collaborations.
10. What inspires you?
Everything inspires me: my friends, movies, nature, artists, museums (especially Natural History Museums but I love Herbariums, Shell Museums, personal collections- anything really), words & books, people, colour, rain, travel (which is why I do it so often)- I could go on and on.
11. Who inspires you?
Ilse Crawford, my Mum, Faye Toogood, my best friend Edwina, Gertrude Bell. Photographers I’ve worked with: Martyn Thompson, Chris Court, Mikkel Vang, Hugh Stewart, James Merrell.
12. How do you begin a project?
If I am designing a space, I first determine the function & who will be going there. Once this is established I like to build a colour palette then delve into the history and/or story of the space.
I do not believe in anything being too hard, or too time-consuming, there should be a sense fun & enjoyment in what you surround yourself with!
13. How do you keep every new project exciting? What gets you really excited?
I only take part in exciting jobs. I say no to projects that are not compatible. I get excited easily, anything from a new font, colour combinations, nature, researching for a new book, shooting with my favourite photographers- the list is endless.
My projects always have many layers. This allows me to delve into libraries, museums, libraries, shops, design weeks, other countries amongst many other things. I meet amazing people along the way!
14. What is the most fulfilling project you’ve worked on?
The last one.
15. What is the difference between decorating & styling?
Decorating is adding but styling is from the foundations. Furniture placement, vistas & views from different points in the room or just passing through: all these things must be considered when creating a space that is functional & lovely to be in. But never forget that changing a space is so refreshing- nothing is permanent.
