This week I asked my panel of style and design experts to talk love… specifically, objets de l’amour, the treasured items that make their house a home.
So, in celebration of St Valentine’s Day, here’s how my expert panel completed the sentence: “I know it’s not important to anyone else, but the treasured item I display in my home or office is…”
Neale Whittaker, Editor in Chief, Vogue Living
“…my 2014 GQ Man of the Year Award! I won it that year for Best Critic for my role on The Block. I have it on my desk at work. It’s the only award I’ve ever won and I was stoked to receive it. The closest I’ll ever get to a Logie!”
Miriam Fanning, Founding Principal, Mim Design:
“…artwork, each piece means something to me, whether it was when I bought the piece, when it was painted or simply how it makes me feel.”
Kate St James, Interior Designer and Editor in Chief: Universal Magazine
“…my husband bought me a beautiful (red) hand-made ceramic bowl for an anniversary several years ago. It sits proudly on the dining table when we are not eating, when it is then placed on the adjoining cabinet.”
Darren Palmer, Interior Designer
“…I have plenty of this stuff scattered around. I have a ceramic wolf head sculpture (above) which is far less tacky than it sounds. I used it in a GQ shoot years ago and loved it so I bought it. Other stuff from my travels finds its way into my space as well. Things like bronze heads from Africa or coral heads from Bali. I see a theme happening here…”
Colin and Justin, Interior Designers, Style commentators and world savvy Lifestyle gurus
Justin “…my treasured item is a full sized Vespa scooter parked in our Glasgow kitchen that just happens to be signed by Sting! Bought at a charity auction some years past, it’s awesome. We’re huge Quadrophenia fans and love the whole ‘mod’ look (and music) so this unique piece of mod culture totally floats my boat. On a boozy night in, we and our guests always end up sitting on the scooter listening to The Jam, The Specials and The Beat – yup: we often have a ‘Two-tone revival’.”
Colin: “…I picked up a numbered print in a junk store in a tiny Canadian town for $10. Set in a busted gold frame with sticky muck all over the glass, let’s just say it wasn’t being seen at its best. The naïve drawing just touched my heart – I love it, and now I love it even more as last Christmas, Justin surprised me by having it remounted and framed. Honestly, it’s my personal treasure.”
Greg Natale, Interior Designer
“…a set of three vintage B&B Italia coffee tables that I discovered at an auction years ago. They were the first pieces of furniture I bought when I moved out of home and they had pride of place in my first apartment. I’ll never sell them – right now, they’re happily ensconced in my new office.”
Christopher Boots, Lighting Designer
“…my extensive plant collection. They bring clean air and watching them grow is a delight.”
Steve Cordonoy, Interior Stylist
“…a piece of coral Michael found on a beach in Byron Bay for me which holds sentimental value and my vintage trunk which he gave me for my 30th birthday which I stare at everyday and it makes me happy.”
What treasured item means the world to you? Share in the comments on this page
or tweet me @ShaynnaBlaze #EyeforStyle
Read my experts’ thoughts on must-have items for 2016, favourite colour combinations & trends you never want to see again.
Megan Dougherty
Bravo Management Pty Ltd
Level 5, 111 Coventry Street,
Southbank VIC 3006
P: +61 (3) 8825 6641 (direct)
Blank Canvas Interiors
598-600, Burwood Road
Hawthorn East, VIC AUSTRALIA 3123