Innehållsförteckning för February 2025 från Country Style

FOR ONCE, I SEEM TO BE sticking to my New Year’s resolution. It was a simple promise to myself, and not original (I think I saw it on Instagram): it was to do more. More laughing, more walking, more joy, more friends, more sleep, more family, more fun, more cooking. To prove my point, I’ve already caught up with some friends that I went to university with for a night away, and it’s only February. ‘More’ does not mean exhausting myself, it means carving out time to do more of the things I want to do. Saying yes more, but not from obligation. I will have more time for me this year. Both my daughters will be at university: Sienna, who is now in her third year in Canberra and…

On Instagram @countrystylemag Di and Anthony Loone’s 1950s coastal shack in Tasmania appeared on our February 2022 cover. Rediscover the inspiring story behind the beautiful photos on our Instagram and online. Newsletters homestolove.com.au/country-style Get updates straight to your inbox with Country Style newsletters. They’re filled with sneak peeks. Scan the code below to sign up. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK… the drop-in debate: Would you ever pop in to a friend’s home unannounced, or is it a must to ring first? Hop onto our Facebook page and let us know your thoughts. On Facebook facebook.com/CountryStyleMagazine PHOTOGRAPHY MARNIE HAWSON…

1 Pinto large storage basket in Multi, from $129, from Città. 2 Bowen two-door rattan shoe cabinet, $169.99, from Temple & Webster. 3 Mud room hooks, $85, from Farmhouse Trading. 4 Callie storage banquette bench in Beach Linen, $759, from Castlery. 5 Bees wall hook, $32, from Bonnie & Neil. 6 Large five-piece spice jar set and stand, from $39, from Oliver & Tom. 7 Martinique large blanket box, $229, from Early Settler. 8 The Kit locker in Olive, $349, from Mustard Made. 9 Handy hampers set in Tan Stripe, $139, from Bon Maxie. 10 Macey iron frame wall mirror, $129, from Living Styles. 11 Stunner sofa bed in Kakadu, $2290, from Koala.…

FALLS CREEK IS A BYWORD for winter fun: it’s Victoria’s biggest ski resort, and every year tens of thousands of visitors flock there to enjoy the slopes. Liz Hermann was one of them – born in France to a French father and an English mother, she moved around the world until Sydney became home when she was 12. But every winter, she visited her aunt and uncle in Falls Creek. “It always felt like home,” says Liz, “because it was the only place we’ve always come back to. I have family and friends here, and I’ve always loved the skiing.” A much more recent love – and the reason we’re chatting about all things Falls – is jewellery-making. As soon as Liz found it, she fell hard. “I met a…

JOCHEM AND EVI ELSNER HAVE BUILT many homes in their time, but none are quite as close to their hearts as this one. The couple – Jochem is the practical, hands-on builder, and Evi the interior designer, a connoisseur of the flea market and the vintage store – have been building, decorating and selling houses for more than 20 years. After moving to South Africa from Germany and spending a number of years in Somerset West, they relocated to their present hometown, the coastal village of Yzerfontein, in 2018. The choice of this seaside location only just won out over a more rural one, as both Evi and Jochem are lovers of nature and animals, and they originally toyed with the idea of creating a large greenhouse on this plot,…

The start of a new year is an excellent time to resolve to do things differently in the garden. In the Northern Hemisphere, the new year creeps in quietly in the depths of winter when, in many places, all growing things are in stasis; dormant and underground. What an easy thing to do – to write lists of garden resolutions in front of a fire when the growing season is months away. In Australia, we do it the hard way. The new year comes rushing in at top speed in the middle of summer and at the height of our primary growing season. With harvesting and maintenance and long lists of garden jobs, it is not an obvious time for resolutions. Aussies, however, are resourceful, and across this country we…

FEBRUARY. BACK TO SCHOOL AND WORK, and back to routine; a ritual that never seems to get any easier, despite the fact that we do it each and every year. Before my children started primary school, I used to dream of the time when I could drop them both off at school and return home to enjoy a day of productive, fulfilling work – with the odd cup of tea, drunk hot in uninterrupted glory, thrown in for good measure! Now that both my kids are at school, I realise this idea was quite a foolhardy one – a dream of days that will, in all likelihood, never materialise. Instead, I find myself busier and more scattered than ever, and still mostly drinking lukewarm tea. But it was a nice…

ALONG A DIRT DRIVEWAY, past rows and rows of flourishing grapevines, you park your car beside a thick hedge. It is verdant and impenetrable except for an opening cut around a gate. Ducking to get through, you enter into an established, manicured garden with irises and bluebells in bloom. Sparrows dart around and the towering pine trees cast welcome shade. Directly in front of you is Rowlee Guesthouse, a self-contained, newly renovated one-bedroom cottage that was part of the original 1880s farmhouse. That residence is right next door, and it’s the current home of Rowlee Wines owners Nicole Samodol and James Manny. The revamped Guesthouse is totally private, with separate verandahs and no shared walls. Inside the cottage, you feel a world away from everything. It’s quiet and comfortable, with…

IT’S WITCHING HOUR on a Tuesday evening. One mum finds a moment of peace in the pantry, another finishes up a day in the yards. Juggling bedtimes and timezones, toddlers and tantrums, breastfeeding and bookwork, a bunch of strangers, dotted in some of the most far-flung corners of the country, jump on a Zoom call, forming the start of a lifelong village for bush mums. It’s a community that Queensland mother-of-three Melanie McNaughton credits for changing her life. On her farm at the foot of the Bunya Mountains in the South Burnett region, some half-hour drive from the closest town, Melanie, a schoolteacher by trade, also runs shorthorn cattle and a kelpie stud alongside her husband, Jason. Having struggled with isolation and mental health issues after losing a baby, Melanie,…

ARRIVING AT MARIA DANCUK’S NUNGURNER HOME in East Gippsland, around four hours’ drive from Melbourne, has a similar effect to turning on your out-of-office. Perched on a cliffside overlooking the serene Gippsland Lakes and beyond to Bass Strait, on the traditional lands of the Gunaikurnai people, it evokes memories of languid childhood road trips and makes one appreciate the true luxury of time. “When you drive down into this place, you automatically think you’re on holiday; it just calms you,” says Maria. “This is not a place you go through; you go to it.” There was an instant attraction when Maria came across the property in 2017 in an online real estate listing. “My first thought was, ‘Where is this place? It’s amazing!’” she says. But having just purchased a…

MODERN MOOD As part of a new build in the heritage township of Berrima in the NSW Southern Highlands, this home office mirrors the monochromatic colour scheme selected by owner and interior designer Jess Hunter, which features throughout the home. With the walls, joinery, desk and chair all in black, it presents a sleek and uncluttered space to get on with the day’s to-dos. An oak floating shelf, brass accents and indoor greenery provide fresh contrast. Visit jesshunterinteriors.com OFFICE CHIC style buys Stanford wooden writing desk in Black, $545, from Living Styles. Norfolk rattan table lamp, $165, from Fat Shack Vintage. Shay dining chair in Black, $479, from Pottery Barn. ARTIST’ S CORNER “Spaces that have the power to transport are everything,” says travel writer and tour guide Jason Mowen,…

“We try to use everything from each ingredient, and we only source from responsible suppliers and farmers.” THOUGH HE GREW UP among the gracious Georgian terraces of Bath, in England, Simon Furley has always been a country boy. “Having only worked in rural, beautiful locations, I have a great respect for nature and wildlife,” he says. Those locations include Michelin-starred restaurants and, after moving to Australia seven years ago, hatted diners in Queensland’s Scenic Rim. He’s now head chef at Rowlee Dining and Bar, a fine dining venue in NSW’s Orange wine region. “There’s plenty of freedom to be creative, which is a rare opportunity,” he says of his decision to head up the new eatery at Rowlee Wines. Plus, “It’s nice to see a cold winter and vibrant spring…

I’ve been selling, writing about, discussing, tasting (and drinking) chardonnay for my entire life in wine – now more than 50 years. I’ve seen chardonnay emerge from the vinous shadows to centrestage, only to be banished to the bargain basement. Chardonnay is an aristocratic grape and never destined to sulk quietly in a corner of the cellar. Over the last decade, chardonnay has emerged trimmer, tauter and more popular than ever, especially at the premium end of the market. And chardonnay is popular: it’s Australia’s largest volume white grape by far. More than 330,000 tonnes was harvested in 2024, pushing chardonnay in front of shiraz as the largest volume grape variety that year. Australian chardonnay is internationally acclaimed with Giaconda’s 2022 Estate Vineyard Chardonnay named the ‘best white wine in…

SAIL AWAY Discover the spectacular Kimberley from Ponant’s luxury small ships Le Soléal or Le Jacques Cartier. Bookings are open for 2025 and 2026, and if you like the sound of venturing out to explore this isolated coastline with its rugged gorges and dramatic waterfalls, then returning to ship for gourmet food and wine with topnotch service, it’s time to get on board. Visit au.ponant.com BEACH BLISS Gorgeous Aussie brand Saardé’s Totem Turkish beach towels, $85 each, made of OEKO-TEXcertified cotton, are a lightweight, absorbent and stylish option for the beach or pool. Visit saarde.com wheels up Premium luggage brand Monos makes its hard-sided cases with polycarbonate (it’s tougher and longer-lasting than polypropylene). From $315 for a carry-on. Visit monos.au HELI HEAVEN Fly over the Sunshine Coast in a private…

Alpha-H Melting Moment Cleansing Balm with Wild Orange Leaf Extract, $69.95, from Adore Beauty, sinks beautifully into skin and dissolves make-up, sunscreen and impurities. Packed with moisturising plant-based oils and lipids, Dermresults Advanced Cleansing Balm with Avocado Oil, $91, from Arbonne, removes product build-up without stripping skin. Caudalie Vinoclean Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil, $43, from Sephora, thoroughly but gently cleanses skin and is suitable for all skin types. The plant oils in Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil, $49, from Boniik, hydrate and nourish skin while effectively removing heavy make-up. Jurlique’s Nourishing Cleansing Oil, $47, helps you achieve a healthy-looking complexion with this oil-to-milk formula enhanced with natural seed oils and botanicals. A unique formula that transforms from a balm to an oil and milk, Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, $103,…

In the house where we used to live, there was a great slab of sandstone at the door which led out to the northwest-facing verandah. For 200 years, it has been warmed by sun and chilled by frosts. The stone holds the memory of summers and winters; it’s hollowed by the scuffing of bare feet and hard boots; it’s the boundary between the inside and outside. It’s a threshold stone. Every year above the stone, balanced on the ornate frame of the wooden door, a pair of swallows rebuild their mud nest. These tiny birds, ordinary only because of their ubiquity, would return from their winter vacation. Spring arrived with them and our verandah was transformed into a hive of activity as they renovated their nest. They would lay their…

Our magical December cover was shot at Toad Hall in Orange, NSW, and features beautiful festive styling ideas for the Christmas tree and dining table. Inside the issue, you’ll find delicious recipes from The Zin House in Mudgee, edible gift ideas from provedores around Australia, and Christmas decorating ideas. Plus, there are two gift-wrapping papers inside, created for Country Style by Tigger Hall Design. Photography @moniquelovick. photography Styling @ainsleysullivan_ SAVOURY SUCCESS Thank you all for your continued support for rural life and the effort involved in creating such a consistently fabulous magazine. I’m writing to share my mother’s experience with a recipe from the December issue. As an avid reader and long-term subscriber, Mum delights in discovering new recipes in each edition of Country Style. The roast tomato & fetta…

VISIT THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS of New South Wales and there’s a fair chance you will fall under its bucolic spell. Located 90-minutes’ drive from Sydney on the traditional lands of the Gundungurra people, the region’s charm and character lean more toward verdant English quaintness than the sun-scorched rusticity of Australia’s outback. The Highlands are a tonic for Sydney-based interior designer Georgia Boyd, 54. She spends her weekdays in the city, where she lives with husband Mike, 51, who works in tech, and their two children, Charlie, 21, and Heidi, 18. Come Friday afternoon, the couple and their spoodle, Jazzy, head to their weekender in the peaceful enclave of Burradoo, stopping only for provisions and to take in the rolling hills. “I get to the gates and I instantly relax,” says…

THERE ARE FEW FOODS I ENJOY MORE than a plate of dips with some fluffy bread to smoosh through them. I’ve used the word ‘smoosh’ because it, along with ‘smash’ and many other descriptive words, has been added to our culinary lexicon by that modern-day Dickens, Jamie Oliver. For instance, who hasn’t ‘tizzed’ or ‘juzzed’ up a dish before? Until I went to Italy (you may become fatigued by this intro), I had no idea that there was an actual term for dragging a piece of bread across your plate to collect all the gravy, juices or whatnot. ‘Scarpetta’ means ‘little shoe’ and it is this figurative little shoe that one uses – most often bread, but it can also be one’s finger when no-one is looking. However, I am…

THE CENTRAL WEST OF NEW SOUTH WALES is one of my favourite parts of Australia. Having spent some of my childhood in Orange, it’s a region I’ve returned to many times over the years. Despite that, I admit to never having stopped in Bathurst for more than a coffee, thinking of this city of just over 43,000 people as a mere pit stop. Speaking of pit stops, my main association with Bathurst is the Bathurst 1000 motor race. We used to watch it every year growing up and my uncle still loves to go along. Thousands of people from around Australia and the world descend on Mount Panorama for all the race-day excitement. But, as I discovered during a long weekend in Bathurst, the city offers so much more than…

THE ROOTS OF THIS FAMILY business run deep for mother-anddaughter duo Gabriella and Yasmin Kerkez. Co-owners and head designers at Miss Rose Sister Violet, an Adelaide-based fashion label, they are the second and third generations, respectively, to work in the rag trade. “My mother was a seamstress and fashion designer in Rome with her own store,” says Gabriella, 73, who lives in the Adelaide Hills with her husband Tom, a poodle called Bluebell and cavoodle Rosebud. “She and I worked together in designing the clothes I wore and I always had compliments on them. She was incredible; I always feel her spirit beside me.” Although it seems foreordained, the path to their current business wasn’t a straight one. Gabriella and Tom, who have been married for 53 years, started Liberty…

ONE-STOP SHOP Australian-owned boutique store Monty & Moo is all about quality, comfort, and keeping it interesting. Find classic clothing, such as the chic Seasalt Skivvy, along with unique gifts and stylish homewares from around the globe. montyandmoo.com.au MODERN DINING Introducing the Thorin Seven-Piece Dining Suite, featuring a spacious dining table with fluted detailing and a unique cracked oak finish. Teamed with comfortable Cora chairs, it’s perfect for family meals or entertaining guests. amartfurniture.com.au ECLECTIC FIND Housed in a little white cottage in Bowral, NSW, Ferris Wheel is a curated gallery space showcasing the work of contemporary Australian artists across all mediums. You’ll also find beautiful French antique furniture for sale. ferriswheel.com.au SLEEPING BEAUTY Hot summer nights call for soft sleepwear, such as PJ Miller’s pretty Arabella cotton nightie. With…