travel: botswana

I'm so excited I could burst. I'm off to Africa. To be specific, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. I will write about it for a travel article.

See you in a week or so. Enjoy the archives.

images courtesy of &Beyond Africa

interior designer diane bergeron's home

That Diane Bergeron. She's a clever cookie. Her Melbourne warehouse home, which has been given a jolt of Hollywood Regency, is featured in the latest issue of Vogue Living. If you want to know more about the delightful DB, you can read her Daily Imprint interview here.

In the same issue is the colourful and stylish home of Anna Spiro. Congrats to both women!

images courtesy of vogue living

artist emma hack

The images above are artworks that are also wallpaper, based on the designs of Florence Broadhurst, but have been reinvented thanks to the skill of Emma Hack, a body painter (to say the least!). She will be part of Art Sydney this year, and is fast becoming a name to watch. Emma has won several prizes for her works.

Which five words best describe you? Creative, passionate, colourful, fun and Australian.
What was your first job and what path have you taken since then? I worked at Pizza Hut, studied make-up artistry, hairdressing, worked in nightclubs running promos, decor and fashion shows. Worked as a freelance hair and make-up artist and body artist as well as a stylist and producer for advertising shoots and last but not the least, an artist...
What’s your proudest achievement? Creating my first calendar and exhibition in 1999, a dream I had had since I created my first body painting.
What’s been your best decision? To follow my dreams and focus on my art career. Very fulfilling and now is finally paying off.
What was the starting point for this exhibition? My wallpaper images are inspired by the designs of Florence Broadhurst, the poses, crops and if animals or birds are featured - the emotion derived from the designs. The works I am currently creating are focused on Australian birds and wildlife, with the painted backgrounds based around the featured bird or animal my muses are holding.
Who inspires you? Dali and surrealism, nature, Verushka and design.
What are you passionate about? Learning more about contemporary art and the sky, especially on a floating cloud day!
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt? To take risks and money shouldn't hold you back from achieving your dreams.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Dr David Suzuki
What dream do you still want to fulfil? To exhibit worldwide continually and continuing to create new ways of experimenting within my art form.
What are you reading? Mostly magazines but my downtime is usually spent dreaming up new creations!

images courtesy of emma hack

stylist marie nichols

Marie Nichols has been working for many years in the UK as an interior stylist for a whole host of magazines, including Living Etc, and now she's heading to Australia to live and work. Lucky us!

Which five words best describe you? Creative, passionate, stylish - I hope! A bit of a worrier and I’d like to say domestic goddess, but it’s debatable!
What was your first job and what path have you taken since then? My first job was working as a Saturday girl with a local interior designer, that’s really where my love of styling began (although I didn’t realise styling existed back then). After graduating from a photography degree I did some work experience at BBC Good Homes Magazine, that’s when I discovered my dream job as an interiors stylist. I began assisting an amazing stylist Lucyina Moodie I worked with Lucyina for a year as well as assisting on shoots for Living Etc, Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, and Ideal Home. I started working at Ideal Home in 2003 and have worked my way up to Deputy Style Editor, but after almost 6 years I’ve decided it’s time to go it alone and head to Australia and work as a freelance stylist.
What's your proudest achievement? I’m a little bit square so achieving a first class hons degree in photography was pretty cool - but that’s ages ago now! - since then my first cover for Ideal Home back in 2006 was quite a proud moment. I was shooting in Cape Town when it was published so walking into a store and seeing it on sale there was quite huge for me! More recently turning the wreck of a house I bought with my partner Simon into a stylish - if not a little cluttered! - home was quite some achievement. It was a very low budget affair and we did most of the work ourselves whilst holding down full time jobs. I’m a little sad to be leaving it now.
What's been your best decision? Hopefully deciding to leave my job in London and to travel to the other side of the world to work in Sydney - fingers crossed .
Who inspires you? So many people inspire me - far too many to mention. My number one inspiration has to be my mum. She’s so creative - it’s definitely where I get it my creativity from - and has always encouraged me to follow whatever path I decide. She’s eternally self less, always puts everyone else first and gave my brother and I the most fantastic childhood. Work wise it’s my mentor, the fabulous stylist Lucyina Moodie, she taught me all I know. Not only is she an amazing stylist, she’s so organized and is such a "people person", she taught me how to run a shoot like clockwork. I miss my days assisting her. Simon is also a big inspiration; he’s a graphic designer/illustrator/fellow lover of old tat and is so wonderfully talented.
What are you passionate about? I’m passionate about my work; I’m one of those really annoying people who loves what I do. I get ridiculously excited about a new wallpaper or a bargain vase. I’m, also passionate about family and friends, nothing in the world is more important.
What's the best lesson you've learnt? Never paint a ceiling pink: I was only 10 at the time but a valuable lesson learnt!
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I’d love to meet the photographer Mario Testino, I really admire his work and back in my photography days I wanted to be him!
What dream do you still want to fulfil? So many! To work for some of the gorgeous magazines that have long been of inspiration to me. To “do” a book, something lovely and inspirational that one day I can show my grandchildren and be proud, which leads me to my long-term dream of being a mum and having a family. I’d then like work part time as a stylist/design consultant while running a cute tearooms/boutique, serving home made cakes on pretty mismatched china, where all of the décor is for sale. With 2 children; a cat; a sausage dog and my mum running around in the background; oh and to live happily ever after - what can I say I’m a bit of a dreamer!
What are you reading? It’s so crazy right now what with planning the big shooting for Ideal Home’s Christmas and January issues before I leave, that I haven’t had time to read a book for ages. I love design books though, my current favorites being A Girls Guide To Decorating by Abigail Ahern and Meet Me at Mikes by Pip Lincolne.

images courtesy of marie nichols

designer lisa poulier

There are a lot of products I write about and review for real living magazine. But only a few of those also make the journey home with me because I can't resist them (and they fit in with my decor). And this was the case with the bold and graphic tea towels from Poulier & Poulier. Here is one half of the clever design team, uber stylish Lisa Poulier.

Which five words best describe you? Sensitive, loyal, emotional, impatient and optimistic.

What was your first job and what path have you taken since then? My first job was working over the school holidays at Georges in Collins Street, sadly it no longer exists but at the time it truly was a Melbourne style icon and no doubt influenced my decision to study design. After finishing my degree in Graphic Design at Swinburne I was lucky enough to work for a number of leading studios before heading overseas. We started our family as soon as we arrived back in Australia and I made the decision then to freelance from home- which was a great solution as it allowed me to enjoy the best of both worlds. Recently I returned to study, this time in Interior Decoration and Design at RMIT. Juggling the course work and family life was challenging at times but extremely rewarding as it ultimately led to us launching our first range earlier this year.
What's your proudest achievement? Obviously our three beautiful children - Lily, Tom and Bella.
What's been your best decision? To go traveling with Mark to London where we lived and worked for a year, a fantastic experience!
Who inspires you? Difficult to say as it changes constantly but at the moment I'm particularly loving the work of Ilse Crawford - her aesthetic is so elegant and understated.
What are you passionate about? That would definitely be our next range. We're really excited about getting it out there!
What's the best lesson you've learnt? Do what you love, don't compromise, just follow your heart.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Clive James, Paul Smith, Nigella Lawson, Billy Connoly, Sir Terrence Conran, the list goes on.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? We'd love to see our work stocked internationally- that would be amazing.
What are you reading? The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas - it's so Melbourne and even better the second time around. Also interiors magazines, stacks and stacks of interiors magazines.

Images courtesy of Poulier & Poulier

designer hijiri shepherd

I don't know if you saw the kitchen of real living's deputy art director Renae Lovett in the latest issue but it is gorgeous. I popped over on the weekend and it's just as good (if not better) in real life too. One of the little finds she tracked down while looking for decorative items for the space was the print above. The Brooklyn-based designer, Hijiri Shepherd, has a great little Etsy shop as well as a studio website and a graphics blog Heart Fish.

Which five words best describe you? Nice, creative, fun, easygoing, and caring... :)
What was your first job and what path have you taken since then? My first job in a real creative world was at an advertising agency as an intern right after graduating my art school in San Francisco. They hired me three months later and I worked there for seven years as an online art director/designer, learned everything there and then, I moved to New York in 2008, started freelancing on my own, started learning letterpress printing and now I am working on both my online/offline design projects and letterpress projects at the same time!
What’s your proudest achievement? Opening my own letterpress shop at etsy and being loved by many people. And being featured at many awesome blogs and being asked to be featured at such a wonderful blog like Daily Imprint! Thank you :)
What’s been your best decision? To marry my husband, Randy. Without him, I won't be where I am and as happy as I am right now.
Who inspires you? My families, friends, husband, all my people I love, all the creative amazing talented people in the world.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about designs, typography, letterpress.... You can see my passion through my design blog Heart Fish.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt? To follow your heart, your instinct and creativity.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? My grandfathers. Both of them. They were passed when I was born so I never got to spend time with them so...
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Oh, god, lots of dreams... I am a dreamer. I think the most realistic and not realistic one at the same time would be to buy our own house...
What are you reading? I am reading my latest magazine subscription, Uppercase magazine. So good!

images courtesy of Hijiri Shepherd

ceramist samantha robinson

Tea Petal was a beautiful shop in Bondi that closed down about six months ago and there hasn't been another shop quite like it. The displays were beautiful and I would often drop by to buy a bunch of flowers and admire the handmade ceramics of Samantha Robinson. My favourites would have to be the "watermelon" bowls, pictured above. Sam is now based in Alexandria and regularly has a stall at Paddington and Bondi markets.

Which five words best describe you? Tornado. Positive. Chaotic. Naughty. Loving.
What was your first job and what path have you taken since then? Paper round when I was a little girl. The path I followed was always art first. I was a dancer and then photography, then painting, then finally ceramics.

What's your proudest achievement? My two daughters Fauve and Willow.
Who inspires you? Roger and Dierdre Law. Both amazing creative and interesting people. Roger Law was the creator of Spitting Image and is a great artist and his wife is a talent her own right.

What are you passionate about? Ceramics, food, music and living life to the fullest.

What's the best lesson you've learnt? To believe in what you and don't be afraid do it on your own.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? The grandparents I never got to meet.
What dream do you still want to fulfill? I want to make pots all my life until I am so old and get my PHD in ceramics so I can be a doctor, and also to watch my kids have there own children and get married.

What book are you reading? Kimono as art: the landscapes of Itchiku Kubota.

images courtesy of Samantha Robinson

stylist kim ficaro

Even though I work on a magazine, and I know how each stylist has quite different style and aesthetic, I didn't pick up so much on the subtleties of stylists who worked on Domino magazine until now. You see, some of my favourite features - and I'm not just saying this - are the work of Kim Ficaro. Her inspiring website also includes beautiful food shoots and fashion pics.

Which five words best describe you? Ease, thoughtfulness, contemplative, driven, compassionate.
What was your first job and what path have you taken since then? In terms of styling, I first assisted stylist Sibella Court beginning in 2002. We met while I was working in a shop called Lake, on 9th street. She shopped there often. I knew I wanted to get into styling and I asked her if I could work for her. The path from there was that I assisted a stylist whose work I loved and whom I sought out, until I began to style on my own. Sibella and I are now good friends and I have learned so much from her. She taught me the fundamental rule that what is the point of the work unless you have fun doing it.
What’s your proudest achievement? Marriage.
What’s been your best decision? Taking my job at Domino Magazine, which I have such a special place in my heart for. It was a very unique environment to be apart of. After its untimely demise, I've been challenged to explore ideas and interiors in a new way.
Who inspires you? My husband and his sensibility and by extension, his blog secretforts.blogspot.com, which is very much an extension of who he is. Agnes Martin, Ilse Crawford, the design team Roman and Williams, Ditte Isager's photographs, Martyn Thompson's photographs, Ted Muehling's NY shop, Charlotte Gainsbourg, my mom.
What are you passionate about? About what I see in my surroundings, whether it's images I put up on my office wall, an old postcard or a handwritten note, collections I have acquired over the years, whether it be fabrics or ceramics, old finds from the flea markets, worn out colours faded from time, from weather, old typography, a piece of art work I look at everyday at home. I am passionate about finding, seeing and feeling things which makes you dream, whether it be art, film, photography, music, or as simple as an object.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt? I have two lessons I try to remember: the first, when styling, try to see the picture beforehand, and the second and most important, have some fun while you work.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Agnes Martin
What dream do you still want to fulfill? Having children, owning a shop with my husband, a house by the beach, yoga three times a week.
What are you reading? NY Times online, rereading Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast", another huge inspiration.

images courtesy of kim ficaro

hotel hospes palacio de los patos - Granada

I'm having nightmare IT problems at the moment, so what perfect timing to run away to Spain and this beautiful hotel Hospes Palacio De Los Patos in Granada. A fine recommendation from my friend Bianca. Enjoy.

images courtesy of Hospes Palacio De Los Patos - Granada

(fashion.inspiration) shona joy

I have to smile because as I look at some of the pictures above, and others on Shona Joy's MySpace page, I see quite a few outfits that are in my wardrobe. It's a weird sort of experience. But it's a happy one because I love the feminine but fashionable edges to the pieces. I have a few of the ruffled blouses. It's no wonder the shop assistant at the flagship Bondi store recognises me and Little C whenever we walk inside. That makes me laugh.

Which five words best describe you? BUSY, a dreamer, and indecisive... which means I wold be less busy if I could make my mind up faster!
What was your first job and what path have you taken since then? I worked in a surf shop - because I loved surfy boys... I never surfed myself. Then I became an art teacher.
What's your proudest achievement? Lot's of little things along the way... getting accepted into David Jones, buying my apartment, selling our collection overseas.
What's been your best decision? To say "yes" to my boyfriend's proposal! Now we get to organise the biggest party of our lives.
Who inspires you? My friends probably the most... a big fat air-freight magazine.
What are you passionate about? Cooking - I love it. If I wasn't working in this industry I would love to work with food. I like making things up as I go along.
What's the best lesson you've learnt? Don't put all your eggs in one basket - or they will drop and there will be a big mess. It goes for designing a range too!
What dream do you still want to fulfil? To have a family and still be working on my label -spending half the year in Bali and half the year in Bondi.
What are you reading? Eat, pray, love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I just got back from a work trip to Bali so it's very appropriate.

Images courtesy of Shona Joy

(interiors.inspiration) robbie nicol

Ah, the world is a small place. A few months back I came across the work of Robbie Nicol. I was interested to learn more and so organised an interview and to see her portfolio. Unfortunately, the file of info fell to the bottom of my desk until I had a big clean up after real living's recent relaunch. Then, as it happens, a few days later I was talking to my mum who had just run into Robbie. You see, it turns out that Robbie and I were next-door-but-one neighbours in Queen Street Woollahra about 10 years ago, and my mum and Robbie know each other quite well! While I'm getting over this coincidence, you can enjoy the interview... Oh, and I love that Robbie only fairly recently began a career in interiors - but what an impact she's made. The rooms look and feel resolved and sophisticated. Brilliant.

Which five words best describe you? Creative, vivacious, energetic, efficient, innovative.
What was your first job and what path have you taken since then? A career in radio journalism, since then I have worked as sales and marketing director of a leading exhibition company d3 Group before starting my own business in interior design.
What’s your proudest achievement? Many referrals from my existing clients.
What’s been your best decision? To begin my own interiors business in 2005.
Who inspires you? Geoffrey Clark from The Country Trader and Tony Flamos from Space Furniture.
What are you passionate about? Inspiring concepts and detailing in interiors and architecture along with the clever blending of old and new.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt? Being able to assess the standard of excellence of sub-contractors and to understand the personalities of my clients in order to give the quality and service they expect, without exceeding the budget.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Axel Vervoordt, a Belgium interior designer, antique collector and art dealer based near Anvers, Belgium.
What are you reading? The House At Salvation Creek by Susan Duncan.

Images courtesy of Robbie Nicol