Tag: tasmania

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Architecture Design Travel

Design hotels: Tasmania dominates awards shortlist

Drifthouse. Photography by Martina Gemmola.
Drifthouse. Photography by Martina Gemmola.

Recognising excellence and innovation in design across Australia and New Zealand, the Eat Drink Design Awards just released its shortlisted venues for 2019 and the ‘Best Hotel Design’ category is full of some absolute beauties. From our beloved Calile Hotel to some gorgeous rural retreats, you don’t have to venture too far to find a world-class interior on your next local trip. And with three of the six shortlisted hotels in Tasmania, yet again the island state proves it punches above its weight on the design front.

The Calile Hotel (Fortitude Valley, QLD)
We featured this stunner soon after it opened and it’s no surprise to see the urban resort on the shortlist. Its neutral (but not boring) colour palette looks like a cool drink on a summer’s day – the perfect antidote to the Brisbane heat. We cannot wait to stay there.

Calile Hotel
Calile Hotel. Photography by Sean Fennessy

“A podium level pool terrace transports guests to holiday mode, hotel corridors continue the outdoor experience naturally – ventilated with ceiling fans via customised breeze block screens and significant planting extends across the project, a verdant overlay linking streets to rooms,” says Richards and Spence, the firm behind the design.

Calile Hotel
Calile Hotel. Photography by Sean Fennessy

Denison Rivulet (Denison Rivulet, TAS)
As mentioned, Tasmania is a design mecca but it’s rather impressive to see three of the shortlisted hotels are from the island state – the Denison Rivulet being one. Designed to take in its bucolic landscape, we love the unexpected gold flourishes that feature throughout – a bit of luxe in the bush is always a good idea!

Denison Rivulet. Photography by Adam Gibson.
Denison Rivulet. Photography by Adam Gibson.

“The cabins are spatially compact but high in amenity – as a continuation of the tradition of Tasmanian coastal shacks which provide both prospect within a large landscape, as well as a sense of intense enclosure,” say the project’s designers Taylor and Hinds Architects.

Denison Rivulet. Photography by Adam Gibson.
Denison Rivulet. Photography by Adam Gibson.

Stillwater Seven (Launceston, TAS)
Another of the Tassie hotels shortlisted, this project involved major alterations and additions to the first and second floor of an 1830’s flour mill.

Stillwater Seven. Photography by
Stillwater Seven. Photography by Anjie Blair

“Weathered corrugated iron, heritage sandstone and giant Oregon trusses are highlighted and enhanced throughout the redefined interior. Each new space is filled with tactile patterns and finishes – raw edges, steel thresholds, burnt timbers and textured paintwork yearning to be touched,” says Cumulus Studio, the firm responsible for the design.

Stillwater Seven. Photography by Anjie Blair
Stillwater Seven. Photography by Anjie Blair

krakani lumi (Wukalina Mount William National Park, TAS)
Another Tassie hotel, this unique venue is the result of a collaboration between Taylor and Hinds Architects (who feature again!) and the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania. Located in the Mount William National Park, the venue serves as accommodation for a guided walk through the cultural landscape, from wukalina (Mt William) to larapuna (Eddystone Point).

krakani lumi
krakani lumi. Photography by Adam Gibson.

“The language of the project is derived from the siting, form and qualities of the traditional seasonal shelters of Tasmania’s first peoples. This context and the notion of the story-telling interior is an important conceptual foundation for the work. The telling of the creation is an initiation into the spiritual and cultural interior of the landscape,” says the team behind the project.

krakani lumi. Photography by Adam Gibson.
krakani lumi. Photography by Adam Gibson.

Drifthouse (Port Fairy, VIC)
Two holiday apartments located within a period home, this project is located in the south-western Victorian coastal town of Port Fairy and represents boutique regional accommodation at its best. We love its relaxed, understated interiors.

Drifthouse. Photography by Martina Gemmola.
Drifthouse. Photography by Martina Gemmola.

“Fundamental to the brief was to work with the clients’ relaxed aesthetic and to ensure that the new work sat comfortably within its garden setting, juxtaposed by not jarring with the heritage buildings, the past omnipresent and pivotal,” says Multiplicity, the firm behind the project.

Drifthouse. Photography by Martina Gemmola.
Drifthouse. Photography by Martina Gemmola.

United Places Botanic Gardens (South Yarra, VIC)
Comprised of three two-bedroom and nine one-bedroom suites, this minimalist yet luxe boutique hotel is located in Melbourne’s South Yarra.

United Places
United Places. Photography by Sharyn Cairns.

“We were briefed to create an immersive environment for discerning guests in a category dominated by ever-expanding art hotels. Our approach was to employ cross-disciplinary collaboration to celebrate exceptional local creatives. From the Laura Woodward kinetic sculpture in the foyer to the digital Community Guide created by the hotelier, spirit of place is at the heart of our approach” says Carr, the firm behind the project.

United Places. Photography by Sharyn Cairns.
United Places. Photography by Sharyn Cairns.

For more on the awards | Melbourne hotel penthouse transformed into seven loft rooms

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Art Styling

Kara Rosenlund returns to world’s most pinned boathouse

Kara Rosenlund, the Australian stylist and travel photographer who shared Tasmania’s Satellite Island with the world through her images, has returned to the much pinned boathouse and released five limited edition prints for your walls.

Ocean Swim by Kara Rosenlund

Her now iconic 2014 images of the Satellite Island boathouse were published worldwide and the island became a must-visit destination for global travellers who sought to experience it for themselves. Now, five years later, she has returned to the secluded private island to photograph its rugged beauty once again.

“In 2014, I received an invitation to spend time on Satellite Island. I was photographing chapters for my book, Shelter, and had heard whispers about this secret remote island through the grapevine. At the time, it was still a mystery as to who owned it and where it was.

Twinkles by Kara Rosenlund

“I spent three days and nights alone on the island, absorbing the wild nature of this remote place. I would lie awake in the boathouse at night, not wanting to close my eyes and miss a thing.”

This year, she returned with her parents and husband and captured more stunning photographs.

“Watching the world discover Satellite Island has been exhilarating,” Kara says. “It is a place of raw natural beauty and my new print collection celebrates the abstract nature of this wild place on the edge of the earth.”

Foraged by Kara Rosenlund

The new prints (from $290 unframed) are available in four sizes and are limited to 30 of each size. They are hand signed, numbered and dated by Kara.

Shop the prints.

A photo Kara took on her recent trip
A photo from her original 2014 visit
Categories
Design Homewares Interviews Shopping

Boutique Tassie design store amasses global following

LUC Homewares and Design
LUC Homewares and Design

There’s no doubt that Hobart has undergone a cultural renaissance over the last decade and now boasts some of Australia’s best food, wine, art and design (it’s particularly impressive when you consider the population is a diminutive 207,000). And one person who has been part of that transformation is Lucy Given, the owner and creative director of Hobart’s LUC Homewares and Design. Not only has Lucy amassed 337,000 Instagram followers but she was recently awarded the 2019 Telstra Tasmanian Business Women’s Small Business Award – not bad for a boutique, high-end homewares purveyor!

LUC Homewares and Design
LUC Homewares and Design

“I moved back to my home city, Hobart, after being away for 20 years. While it is a small city, on a small island, with the feeling of being on the edge of the world, it has definitely been discovered as a ‘destination’. We have a strong wine industry, an emerging foodie culture, and a design movement with a similar ethos to the Scandinavian countries – well built, timber focused, quality design. But what was lacking was a sophistication, a sense of world-style,” says Lucy who opened LUC. to fill a gap in the homewares and design market. “I knew that with my experience and history, I could offer a retail outlet that would stand out.”

Lucy Given
Lucy Given

But while Lucy was committed to bringing high-end design to Tasmania, she wanted to do it in an accessible, non-intimidating way which is possibly the secret to her success. “I was very determined that we, as a team, present as approachable, accommodating and friendly. Traditionally high-end design stores have a feeling of intimidation or ‘I can’t go in there – I can’t afford it’ atmosphere. I have worked in the design industry for over 30 years and even I didn’t enjoy the experience of some of the leading design stores.”

LUC design

Another highlight of the LUC. experience is that it’s clear that the business really understands design and as such has become an authority on the matter. “LUC. is associated with quality and style, for representing well-known, well-designed brands that are beautiful but also functional. The store’s underpinning value and philosophy of the store is ‘Buy Once, Buy Well,’” says Lucy who enjoys telling the story about the products she sells. “We know the designers and we know the product, we have fun and we are eager to help a customer find what they are looking for so regularly source other brands for them. We have been recognised as a ‘design source’ for the best in design,” says Lucy.

LUCASA
This napkin is part of Lucy’s own brand LUCASA – a Tasmanian focussed homewares venture that launched at the end of 2018

And with 337,000 Instagram followers, Lucy attributes her social media success to a combination of luck (she started it in 2013 and believes it was the perfect timing to develop a following) and a strong dedication to building a feed that appeals to a discerning design audience. “I built my following through sheer persistence and being consistent in my content. It takes me about one to two hours a day to cover all my social media platforms. It’s definitely a job in itself but the benefits have been rewarding.”

Lucy often receives interstate visitors specifically because they have been following her on Instagram for a few years. “It has definitely been a contributing factor to how my store, and my reputation, has grown and to the awards the store has won,” says Lucy.

For more | Designstuff’s new Melbourne flagship store

Categories
Art Interviews

Artist’s unique work: inspired by travel and starting as photography

It took artist Anastasia Parmson many years to realise that when it came to her life’s two greatest passions – art and travel – she could never choose just one. Born in Estonia, studying in France and now living in Australia, her upcoming body of work was created in none of these places, but rather, Fiji.

Glimpses-of-Fiji-web

“In 2013, I tried settling down in my hometown of Tallinn (Estonia’s capital) to work on my art full-time,” explains Anastasia. “But after nine months of being in one place I became restless and miserable. I had to find a way to do both art and travel, so I embarked on a voyage to Fiji to create my first cohesive body of work that would be consciously informed by my travel experiences.”

Yasawa-village-kids-web

Spending five months travelling and sailing around the tropical islands of Fiji, the encounters and experiences reimagined themselves into a series of drawings entitled Glimpses of Fiji, which will be launched online on 2 April. “A majority of the “glimpses” are portraits of local children from small villages all over the islands. It wasn’t an intentional choice, I just really enjoyed photographing them because they were always so curious and happy to see foreigners and they absolutely love posing for the camera. In hindsight, I think it’s a great way to tell a story about Fiji and the South Pacific region because the earnest expression in a child’s eyes is so disarming, it strips us of any prejudice and political bias, leaving only empathy and a feeling of true human connection.”

Yasawa-village-white

While Anastasia’s artworks begin as photographs, the final pieces are far from it. “I bring my camera wherever I go to capture my adventures and to gather material for future drawings. Then, once I’ve taken all my photos, I select one and use it as a template. I start by tracing the black outlines with the help of a graphic tablet and stylus. I create the drawing in several layers, separating people, buildings and backgrounds. Then I add the colors, picking them from the photograph or by intuition.”

Girl-Captain-web

The end product is then printed using archival quality ink on acid-free paper and face-mounted onto a sheet of acrylic glass with a hidden aluminum hanging system, creating a stunning, frameless, glossy artwork. The artworks are unique and contemporary, a style Anastasia discovered in a contemporary art lecture at university. “During high school we had only been taught boring art history, nothing less than a century old. Then at university I discovered that there was a whole big world of contemporary art out there, created by living artists! With breathtaking clarity I knew then and there that I wanted to be part of that.”

west-village-scene-web

Since then, Anastasia hasn’t looked back, holding exhibitions in France, Estonia and Tasmania, as well as having one of her travel sketchbooks in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Art Gallery. Creating art that aims to inspire others to take the time to live their own adventures, you can keep up with her art and travel via her website.

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House Rules RENO ADDICT

Post House Rules reveal chat with contestants Brooke and Grant

Last night’s episode of House Rules had its fair share of controversy, with Tassie couple Brooke and Grant scoring contestants dramatically low for their zone makeovers.

TAS
Brooke and Grant

“We didn’t know who had done what zones so it was definitely not personal,” says Brooke. “However, it was strategic. We’re on the bottom of the ladder and we needed to do what we could to move up again. So I guess we just had to see what we absolutely loved and we decided seven would be our top score and kind of went down from there.”

As a result, NSW couple Candy and Ryan, who had scored an eight and a nine from the judges, got a five from Brooke and Grant, allowing Carole and Russell to nab their second win, receiving a seven from the homeowners.

MASTER BEDROOM_AFTER_WA ZONE
Carole and Russell’s winning master bedroom

While the scores may not have been indicative, Brooke and Grant were overwhelmed by the transformation of their tiny two-and-a-half bedroom cottage into a huge family home for nine, which thanks to the extension, now has five bedrooms.

“We weren’t expecting the extension at all,” explains Brooke. “We hoped our patio area out the back would be enclosed so our laundry could be undercover but we had no idea they would actually rebuild!”

MASTER BEDROOM_BEFORE
The master bedroom before the renovation

Yet it wasn’t just Brooke and Grant who loved the results; their seven kids were ecstatic to finally have their own spaces to enjoy. “They were so excited to get into their own rooms and have a look,” says Brooke. “They were all so surprised and really happy.”

Surprisingly there’s also been no fighting between the kids, with no one claiming that someone else’s room was better than theirs! “They’ve all been amazing,” says Brooke. “All been really grateful and happy with what they’ve been given. So thankfully, no fighting!”

Candy and Ryan's kids room was loved by the judges and kids but not Brooke and Grant
Candy and Ryan’s kids room was loved by the judges and the kids but not by Brooke and Grant

While it’s all worth it now, Brooke admits that the week away from their home, while the others were doing the renovation, was the longest week of her life. “All you could do was just wait around and wonder what they were doing. Obviously being in the same state but not being able to see the kids, was hard as well.”

Having decided to enter the show after watching last year’s season, the couple hope to continue doing renovations long after the show’s over. “It is something we’ve always wanted to have a go at,” explains Brooke. “We definitely want to buy more houses and renovate them, so that’s why this experience was so perfect.”

Tune in tonight at 7.30pm as the teams make their way to Far North Queensland, where one team will receive the first perfect ten!

Categories
Interiors Addict

Chance for design students and graduates to meet industry experts and learn about the profession

For the third year running, the Design Institute of Australia Victoria/Tasmania Branch’s student and graduate body ED (Emerging Designers) is hosting Inside Nights from 26 to 29 August.

The unique opportunity allows design students and recent graduates to visit studios, meet practicing design professionals and gain valuable insight into their profession.

Continue reading “Chance for design students and graduates to meet industry experts and learn about the profession”
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Interiors Addict

All-whites almost too pretty to eat off

But you really must eat off these Markey & Lockyer creations because it’s totally safe to do so and just look how good they look with cake on them!

Marley and Lockyer 3

You may have noticed a bit of a theme emerging on Interiors Addict recently, of handmade and upcycled products from small, independent businesses. I just love the idea of owning one-offs and things made with love and by hand. I won’t pretend I don’t own my fair share of mass manufactured “stuff” but I also love to pay a little extra for something I know is worth it. And there’s nothing like knowing the story behind something too.

Continue reading “All-whites almost too pretty to eat off”