Here at The Countryphiles studio we often get email inquiries from fellow Countryphiles (who’ve either just moved to the country or are about to do so), asking us for tips on where to get help with the large (but exciting) task of renovating and redecorating their new country homes. While some country towns are lucky enough to have wonderful local interior designers and/or stylists, many don’t. So, when I stumbled upon Cabin & Castle in my travels I figured they might prove very handy (not to mention talented) for some of The Countryphiles’ followers.
In particular, I loved that Amy + Lorna are a Niece + Aunt collaboration who both have country upbringings and continue to spend their relaxation time in the country PLUS their talents and passions take them around the world in search of good design inspiration – so they have lots of good ideas + that much needed energy to pass on. They also understand that homes can range from country cabins to city castles and that interior design and style is not one-size-fits-all.
You can subscribe to Amy + Lorna’s Designer’s Notes for some free and insightful style inspiration + tips. Enjoy! {d} x
You are an Aunt-&-Niece team! How lovely! Tell us a little bit about your background/s – what path led you to form your creative partnership ‘Cabin & Castle’?
For as long as I can remember we have always loved playing house, whether it was flower arrangements in Lorna’s hallway, choosing bed linen, designing a new range of cushions or playing with textures, colours and floorplans. We have always shared a love for the home and a passion for textiles, colour, interior design, architecture and travel. Cabin & Castle is therefore where we share our passion and are able to offer what we do to more people.
I guess you could say that I (Amy) bring the ‘Cabin’. Having trained at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, I then went on to work in Visual Merchandising at Saks Fifth Avenue. After this, it was London and Melbourne working in PR and branding. This international experience combined with a keen styling eye provides Cabin & Castle with a youthful influence and inspiration for fresh and affordable ideas.
Lorna brings the ‘Castle’. Melbourne born and bred, but trained at UCLA and worked internationally as an interior designer for over 20 years, Lorna is always on the hunt for new ideas – scouring the globe, inspired by international styles and products to add to the Cabin & Castle range. Her focus on quality and impeccable taste can effortlessly lift the style of any room.
Tell us about Cabin & Castle. What makes you so passionate about interior styling, design and homewares?
Cabin & Castle is an online extension of what we both love to do. Although we are an online business primarily, we also have a lot of regular face to face customers giving the business a variety of clients and custom projects. Running an interior design business (Lorna Wallace Design) over the last 15 years has meant working on a wide range of building and design projects. From an entire house, to renovating a kitchen, designing the perfect sofa, dinning table, customised dog bed, lampshades, cushions or even supplying a client’s corporate gifts at Christmas.
Cabin & Castle is a way for us to collaborate not just in interior design and styling but also in product design. Being online makes what we do accessible to more people and allows us to have a retail side of the business that our clients have been asking for. We love helping people love their homes, as it is a place that needs to reflect the personality of the owners and be a place that they love to be. This is where we find our passion and our drive.
Your creativity, styling skills, eye for gorgeous homewares and love of custom bespoke décor are all very gorgeous and hugely popular. Can you give us a little insight into your creative processes?
I guess we never stop looking and talking! We are always looking at what is around us, at home, in-store, in magazines, books, online and through travel. It could be the colour of a tile or the shape of a slice of lemon and how it sits in a drink. A material or a piece of rope, a shell, tree, or landscape. Anything and everything around us is a form of inspiration.
We are both also looking for what is missing, how we can improve something, make it look better, feel better, be made of better materials and also ask ourselves how can we make it locally or with the environment in mind.
Then, we look at whether it is practical, will it ship well and is the price fair. These are all the steps we go through.
One of our favourite things to do is critique something, the best example being hotel or restaurant bathroom. Each of us go separately and come back to report. Try it, it is great fun to see what you both notice and what one likes and doesn’t like. You can then also discuss how it could be improved, or is it perfect?
You have both traveled widely. Where or who or what do you draw your inspiration from?
Where: Anywhere and everywhere, we never go into a space without observing it. We both get a lot of inspiration from travel and in particular Europe and America, both for different reasons. Europe is a great inspiration for classic design, furniture and architecture. America is a great inspiration for practical design, hardware, fixtures and fittings and how design can solve problems and improve the look of everyday, otherwise ugly objects. We also find Asia an inspiration for art and furniture. As an Asian style piece can work in a contemporary or traditional home.
We both also make a conscious effort to keep up with the industry, going to trade events and seeing industry figures speak, both in Australia and overseas. You can never learn enough, nor can you assume that you know everything..
Who: There are so many people who inspire us however here are a few….
Ralph Lauren Home – Ralph Lauren has always had an ability to reinvent furniture, taking a traditional style piece and making it relevant today. His ability to adapt his designs to contemporary and traditional spaces is a huge inspiration for us.
Billy Baldwin – Is great inspiration for how to bring the country to the city, showing you that this can be a mixed aesthetic when done well.
Paul Bangay – An old friend of Lorna’s and an outdoor inspiration, he is a man who changed the face of gardening in Australia, making the everyday backyard into a garden. A garden with structure, design and architectural detail.
Thomas Hamel – Thomas Hamel truly understands design and how to mix contemporary and traditional styles, making his work not only adaptable and liveable but timeless.
Kelly Hoppen & Kelly Wearstler – Both inspire us with their fresh thinking and ideas.
Megan Morton – a career stylist and true entrepreneur. Megan is an inspiring source of knowledge and a wonderful asset to the styling and interior design industry.
You are both so good at so many things! Who does what? How do you balance your working relationship with being aunt and niece?
That is a good question, to be honest I think when you do what you love it is so much a part of your life anyway that it doesn’t feel like a working relationship as such. Of course it is clear that Cabin & Castle is a business and it is very important to maintain a sense of that, but otherwise many of the discussions Lorna and I have at work would not be too dissimilar to those we may have over a Sunday night roast. In fact sometimes it is a bit of a joke at the table … “Do you have to style our dinner table and our food …” The answer is yes, of course we do, it is how we view the world! That said, we need to make sure we give each other space, and it is sometimes hard to not end up working 24hrs/7days a week, which is something all business owners are challenged with.
In terms of who does what, we both source and design products, most of this is done together. I take care of the website itself, branding, social media, styling and photography. Lorna does all the interior design work, furniture design, and drafting and is a great source of knowledge and experience for the business. Our Designer’s Notes are a combination of Lorna’s interior design tips and my observations and styling.
We like to think that our business is very flexible, we have a set of products that are ever-changing, however, we also offer interior and styling advice as well as custom-made products and furniture.
Do you have many ‘cabin-owning’ country-based clients? Do you notice a difference in interior styling between the country and the city?
Yes we do, and yes, there is definitely a difference between the city and country homes and this difference is something that we love.
The opportunity to really tap into an area, the surroundings, the house and most importantly the owners, this is the starting point and where everything should speak back to. It is about telling a story and the more authentic and truthful this story is, the better the house will not only look, but also feel. For example the pattern, colour palate and architectural details can all change dramatically depending on; the owners, the location, the era and feel of a house as well as the environment.
Most importantly, we feel that we are looking at how we can make a house not only look and feel better, but how it can be more practical, how a family can use the house better and enjoy it more.
What does a typical day in the life of Cabin & Castle/Amy & Lorna look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?
Well, each day is very different … However, if Lorna and I are both here we will meet at the office anywhere from 8-10am. From there we have a catch up, usually over coffee, and the day is filled with lots of talking!! Product design ideas and research, supplier and client meetings, fabric house visits, and of course everything involved with running an online store and its admin.
We also work with Lorna’s brother and my uncle Paul Hemingway (Hemingway Building Design) so our day also involves discussions about any clients houses he is working on and any problem solving.
The days go very quickly and we have a hard time getting out the door, often still discussing ideas as we leave.
If one of us is overseas we spend a lot of the day on the phone and skype. There is a lot of talking!
Cabins are usually associated with country life. Do you consider yourselves to be ‘Countryphiles’ in any way? i.e. Do you love country life? Why?
We love the country, we both spent a lot of time growing up in country NSW where our family had a lake house. Lorna now has a beautiful sandstone home there which we have spent much time crafting over the years and is a huge source of inspiration for us both. Growing up, my family also had a farm in Flinders in Victoria and my brother now has his own home there that we visit often. My brother’s farm is where my husband and I got married, surrounded by gum and olive trees whist looking over rolling green hills to the ocean. Guests sat on hessian covered hay bales. It was the perfect day in the country. So, yes, we love the country!
What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of interior design and styling?
Often it is difficult to design a house or space for the whole family, as we sometimes find that one client one may prefer a more rustic country or French provincial style and then other is more minimal and contemporary. This is easily worked through, but can take time to find the right balance for both the house and for the clients.
We also find we need to help our clients understand the importance of avoiding a “20-minute trend” by understanding the difference between a low quality product and the well made alternative. We source, design and sell products that we are proud of, and that we would own ourselves..
Quality and good design over trend is something that is very important to us. It’s not always obvious to the consumer, so explaining the vital difference can be a challenge.
Do you visit the country often?
Yes, Lorna and I both spend much time at the Lake house in NSW and my family spend a lot of time down at the farm in Flinders. The country is a great escape from the city. Fresh air and being away from the hustle and bustle, and our computers for that matter, is great for the soul.
Your favourite country café and why?
There are a few…. some may technically be restaurants rather than cafés but we love:
Somers General Store – Mornington Peninsula
T’Gallant – Mornington Peninsula, VIC
La Petanque – Mornington Peninsula, VIC
Innocent Bystander – Healesville, VIC
Bella Vedere – Yarra Valley, VIC
Poachers Pantry – Hall, ACT
The Tea Rooms of Yarck – Yarck, VIC
Fodder – Coonawarra, VIC
And… D.O.C in Mornington, VIC. which is not so much country but coastal and on the trip down the coast to the country.
What and where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?
One of my favourite meals by far was at La Petanque. It was a summer’s evening and my husband and I were driving home to Melbourne. Realising we were rather hungry and in the mood for something a little more gourmet than the usual car trip pit stop, we pulled into La Petanque. With only a few tables, they were setting up for the evening and we took the last one. The sun was setting and the evening was warm. It was completely spontaneous and one of the best country meals we have had.
Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?
Amy: A local café with our son followed by a fresh food market in Melbourne, usually the Prahran Market. We will plan a delicious meal for that evening at home with friends. Getting fresh flowers for the house is my favourite part of the day.
For Countryphiles visiting the city, what is the city’s best kept secret?
It depends what you are after, but for a good dose of country living right in the heart of Melbourne the Collingwood Children’s Farm in Collingwood is a hidden gem. For beautiful rustic and classic French Antiques that are beautiful in city or country homes, Cote on Brunswick St, Fitzroy. For exceptional food and a great cosy atmosphere dinner and a drink at The Woods of Windsor, in Windsor.
What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of redecorating their home?
First of all, choose your style. A way to do this is to go to your kitchen cabinet and get your crockery out; the crockery that you use everyday. If you love it and you are planning to keep it around, that is a pretty good indication of your style. For example if you have a Versace style pattern or even a floral pattern you should stick to traditional. If you have plain white, black, or minimal details, this means you are more likely contemporary. If you are more art deco you can mix contemporary and traditional. For more Cornishware and rustic painted terracotta crockery styles, this suggests you like the country feel. The point being, if you are traditional and design a contemporary house, it will never feel right, and vice versa. Then take the following steps:
1. Look at all your furniture and decide which pieces you would save if there was a fire, get rid of the rest. It seems extreme, but it goes a long way in defining your style. Secondly, choose either a painting or a rug as a focal point to take all colours and themes for the room from here.
2. Next, take time to create a mood board, fill it with all the elements and pieces you want to use. If something is not going to work this will be clear when you place it on the mood board. Keep adding and subtracting until you get the right balance.
3. Other than that, always take your floorplan, tape measure, pen and paper shopping with you. Plan your space, don’t end up with pieces you have to plan around.
4. Also, don’t forget, a room should evolve over time, so don’t feel you need to finish every element at once, let the room develop and change over time.
What can we expect NEXT from you/Cabin & Castle in the future?
More quality products to help you love your home. We have just finished our own range of indoor, outdoor rugs and children’s rugs and are now working on some furniture, door hardware, cushions and lighting. We also have a great new range of lacquer boxes and trays available, they are just beautiful!
What are you looking FORWARD to and why?
We are looking forward to growing a business that we love, helping our clients customise the perfect items and finding more new products on our next trip away.
What would be your dream project?
Dream project …. A book, or several! Lorna and I have always wanted to compile a book on Doors, we love doors! What they say, what they mean and where they go. That is definitely something we are always working on and will do. One day!
Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of country life?
1. When we can, drive to NSW and stay at Lorna’s lake house
2. When we have less time, go down to my brother’s farm at Flinders
3. When we only have an hour or two, go for a long walk along the less urban parts of the Yarra River
4. On the weekend, visit the Collingwood Children’s Farm
5. Or drive an hour or so out of Melbourne to somewhere like the Yarra Valley for a long lunch
Amy + Lorna
Cabin & Castle
