When I first started gardening, I identified with English and French formal gardens and their clean, orderly lines, with endless topiary and pleached hedging with one or two flower types. The gardeners I spoke to always talked about pests and disease

The stately home dates back to circa 1872 and has lived many lives, once reconfigured into a multi-dwelling block of flats before becoming a family home again. The exterior of the building has been updated with new landscaping, sympathetic to the ori

The 1883 former grocer’s shop has been painted Porter’s Paints Tiramisu (brickwork) and Alpen (trims). Inside Chair, GlobeWest. Table, Australian Design & Co. On shelves Vases, H&M. Sculpture by Emma Lindegaard, Curatorial+Co. Artwork by Tristan Qasa

Rammed earth wall, Whelan Project Builders. S Joinery in wire-brushed American white oak veneer painted Dulux Dieskau, Crafted Kitchens & Cabinets. Shelves in Navurban ‘Balmoral’ veneer, New Age Veneers. Wall light, Volker Haug. ‘Stuv 16’ fireplace,

Roof in ‘Curvado’ roof tiles in Lucentum and Aitana, Bristile Roofing. Exterior painted Dulux Antique White USA Half. Shutters painted Porter’s Paints Timberline. Timber doors and shutters, Acacia Joinery. Front door, NICCO. ‘The Devonport’ solid bra

1 Synergy by Michael Mitsas, $1700, Saint Cloche. 2 Mana by Mim Fluhrer, $2800, Curatorial+Co. 3 Sine Wave 1 by Daniel O’Toole, $1800, Saint Cloche. 4 Pink by Stacey Rees, $2200, Saint Cloche. 5 Close Your Eyes And Count To Ten by Emma Labattaglia, $

‘Hardie Oblique’ cladding painted Dulux Grey Port, and roof in Lysaght ‘Snapseam’, both James Hardie. Windows, Stegbar. Wall lights, Beacon Lighting. Front door, Corinthian Doors. Feature wall stone, Artisan Exterior. Walls painted Dulux Still. Sofa,

Bethany Linz ‘Fern’ wallpaper in Beige, $235/roll, Milton & King. ‘B345l’ floor lamp in brass, $2420, Contents ID. 20th-century portrait, $1580, The Vault Sydney. ‘Gia’ reversible linen chequered cushion in Mocha, $88, L&M Home. French flax linen pil

When I was growing up, Dad was in the Navy, and as a consequence, we moved around over the years. So I ended up at boarding school, which afforded me endless hours in the art block creating images in the darkroom and making things with clay on the wh

The wonderful thing about our homes, whether owned or rented, grand or petite, city-based or rural, is that they are the backdrop for our lives, hobbies, family dramas and a constant source of puzzle-solving, as we try to work out how to improve or r

1 Toile de Jouy porcelain teapot, $1100, Dior. 2 Christofle ‘Albi’ silver-plated teapot, $2778.68, Net-A-Porter. 3 Sophie Conran for Portmeirion white teapot, $119.95, David Jones. 4 Two-cup style teapot in Ash, $210, Mud Australia. 5 Wedgwood ‘Renai

Photograph by Will Salter. ■

Custom steel doors by Wild Orchid Spaces draw in natural light, onto a sandstone wall from Hayda Natural Stone. ‘Retto Collection’ industrial sconce in Bronze, Lamps Plus. Jute rug, Temple & Webster. Palecek ‘Seychelles Coco’ chandelier, Horchow. Wea

Why have an idle tennis court when instead you can score a lush, free-form garden with deep, layered beds as inviting as this? That was the willing sacrifice the green-fingered owner of this home in Melbourne’s south-east made and he has never looked

Painted Dulux Grey Pebble double strength; windows Dulux Whisper White. Robyn Holt’s eye for art is evident. From top, artworks by Les Burcher, B. I. Mayorv, and English artist Henry King. Table and wicker chair, The Bronte Tram. Chair, Anna Spiro De

The history of a Melbourne family home is enhanced by Maine House Interiors with rich colours and prints in the form of wallpapers, upholstery and art. Turn to page 102 for more. Facade painted in Dulux Natural White. Front door painted Dulux Duck Eg

Patti Southern, Laura Lalaurette with Rufus, the Cavoodle. A plant section by Ivy Alley adds a flourish of greenery, while interesting decor abounds, thanks to the 50 vendors onsite. United by a common love of all things interiors, design buffs Laura

Facade painted Dulux Colorbond Dover White. Custom cedar battens. Dolphin aluminium angle standing seam profile roof system, ARC Roofing. Walls painted Dulux Natural White. Le Forge console, Boyd Blue. On console, pot plant, stylist’s own. ‘Daphne’ t

With glimpses of bushland and river from the sink, this newly renovated kitchen is a favourite spot for family get-togethers. Anna-Carin and Lauren Ryan of Anna.Carin Design Studio collaborated with Jake Dowse Architects to maximise space for cooking

Walls painted Dulux Vivid White and trims Dulux Ghosting. On the Side of Warmth artwork by Claudia Bagnall. Console and coffee table, both Anibou. Vintage vase, Lunatiques. Kelly Wearstler chandelier, Bloomingdales Lighting. Blind, Master Workroom. ‘

Hair and make-up by Samantha Powell. Our family travelled a lot when I was young, and I think that had an enormous impact on me. We lived in Malaysia, the US and Italy for years at a time, and the different cultures expanded my view of the world and

What plans do you have on the homefront this year? I have started strong with a big garden focus, adding another compost worm farm, replacing the gutters (not an exciting purchase but necessary) and finally getting a gorgeous laundry door installed w

The Block winners Steph and Gian’s Kinsman kitchen features joinery in Porto Maple Woodmatt. Benchtops and splashback from Cosentino. Tapware, Häfele. Stools, Satara. Lights, Beacon Lighting. BROUGHT TO YOU BY: KINSMAN Produced by Debbie Duncan, Bet

Walls painted Porter’s Paints Newport Blue. Resident chair, and Toogood vase, both District. Artwork by Marisa Purcell. Mosaic hearth tiles, Teranova. Turn the page for more of this colourful terrace, designed by Studio Gemma. Styling by Corina Koch.

A timeless and spacious kitchen was top of the list for Sydney-based interior designer Olivia Giangrasso, but first she needed to alter the original layout of her terrace home. The kitchen floorplan was maximised by reducing the size of a nearby bath