Wednesday, October 30, 2024

We feature A LOT of incredible houses on The Design Files – which we know sparks much wistful dreaming (and a hint of green-eyed envy) imagining what life might look like in one of these homes.

With this in mind, we have compiled a roundup of the BEST architectural homes you can actually stay in. Bask in these archi dream-homes from around the country, just don’t make yourself toooo comfortable as unfortunately, you do need to leave…

Last month our partnerships manager, Alice Johnson, escaped Melbourne for a dreamy getaway to Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia.

Here, she shares her experience staying at Southern Ocean Lodge, where luxury relaxation meets the rugged wilderness of the South Australian coastline.

Fortuitously, one of our fave travel photographers, Kara Rosenlund, was there too! Today, Alice shares highlights of this incredible trip, accompanied by Kara’s spectacular photos.

Sydney has a new(ish) boutique hotel and we can confirm, it’s our new favourite.

Paramount House Hotel brings a rare magic to the ‘staying in a hotel’ experience. It really is quite unlike any hotel we’ve stayed at in Australia.

This is a ‘curated’ establishment, in every sense of the word. Designed by award-winning Breathe Architecture, and layered with furniture, artwork and handcrafted details by local artists and makers, this is a hotel with its own very unique personality.

Can we have one in Melbourne next guys!?

It was bucketing down with rain as we drove out of Auckland. I was in New Zealand to cover the Auckland Art Fair, and lucky to have found myself in some pretty unbelievable scenarios over the course of the trip (including my first-ever meeting of a Sir at an art-filled estate, but I’ll save that story for another day).

Miraculously, the clouds parted just as we pulled into Gibbs Farm. Part Jurassic Park, part Westworld, part am-I-still-on-planet-Earth, entry to the private sculpture park caused such a collective jaw drop I’m surprised the car didn’t tip over. 

You might have noticed, if you follow us on Instagram, that I (Lucy!) recently spent a blissful weekend away on the East Coast of Tasmania, in Freycinet National Park.

I was incredibly lucky to stay at the Coastal Pavilions, Freycinet Lodge – a brand new development of nine architecturally designed private pavilions on the water’s edge, set amongst impossibly beautiful natural surroundings.

Today, I’m sharing a little tour of this very special new accommodation offering in the Apple Isle!

Are we reaching peak collaboration? Possibly. But stick with us – this one has us genuinely intrigued.

The Collectionist Hotel is a new hotel in Sydney, in which four Australian design studios have come together to create a unique hotel experience, where no two rooms are the same.

 

Summer might be over, but we’re still dreaming of coastal getaways!

We’ve got an enticing one to share with you for our latest Travel feature – by Arent & Pyke interior designer, Dominique Brammah.

Taking some time out of her maternity leave, the former Sydney commuter and then mother-to be (now mum to newborn Freddie!) took us along to explore her favourite spots in her home of Austinmer and nearby Thirroul, where the mountains meet the sea, 70 kilometres south of Sydney.

I’m not entirely sure how I landed the gig of TDF’s resident travel writer, but I’m certainly not complaining about it!

A few weeks ago I was lucky to stay at the impressive boutique hotel, Lindenderry at Red Hill, where the robes are fluffy, the grounds are grand, and interiors brand-new!

I didn’t notice my chipped nail polish until I walked into a room full of beauty editors.

I was at Halcyon House in Cabarita Beach, one of the best loved boutique hotels in Australia, to see the development of the new resort spa, alongside editors from all the major publications. SOMEHOW, I had forgotten to remove the remnants of a forgotten pedicure I’d had eight months ago.

Sorry Mum.

 

This year for our annual Christmas Giveaway, we’re offering three lucky winners the BEST. DAY. EVER!

We’ve curated a line-up of truly amazing itineraries in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The prizes include a stay at our pick of local hotels, lunch and dinner at top eateries, awesome experiences for art and design lovers, plus store visits complete with shopping vouchers, for three lucky readers and their BFFs!

FIRST UP,  our ultimate day out in Melbourne! Check the full line-up below… and stay tuned later today as we roll out the Sydney and Brisbane itineraries!

How to enter? Simply take our annual reader survey this week to be in the running to WIN!