“My dad used to say the room was like a museum, he used to just wander around looking at bits and pieces. I think he loved it. Mostly people like to stare at the walls and find little things that remind them of something or someone..or some time..”
“I’ve collected buttons from a very young age. There was a lady from my childhood days at Walkerville, where my grandmother lived, Mrs. Handkock I think. She had a button box and would let me rummage through them when I visited.The thrill it gave me as a child was wonderful. I always remember her and she was definitely the inspiration for the collecting. I didn’t want to just rummage in the box with my own collection, I had so many. So I put them where I could see them whenever I wanted. There are some beautiful buttons in that box, collected from all my travels to different parts of the world.”
“My dad’s chair. He sat in that all of my childhood, In front of our fire in the old house. When my parents moved, over the road as it turns out, the chair was pretty old and they sat it on the front porch where my dad would go out and sit to watch the garden and birds .After he died, I was wandering around the garden with my mum, noticed the chair and decided to do it up. I sanded it quite a bit , but when my friend Tim came to stay, he finished it. He is a marine varnisher and knows about restoration. I had the cushions redone and it all came together. And now its my favourite ‘go to’ chair.”
“I have an old soldering contraption collected by by father, I think we appreciated similar things such as old tools of trade. He died in 2012, was gone in a flash, it’s nice to remember him this way.”
“I have hung all the art that I can fit on the walls. Some of mine and some of other artists.”
1.What’s the room and who uses it?
My lounge room. My friends and family.
2.What do you do (or did you do) for a crust?
I have always had a retail business. I started in Greville street in the 70’s, I
sold vintage clothing and all sorts of vintage stuff. I revamped clothing into
some wild and wonderful creations. I loved it, I must have, because I’ve
been doing just that forever. In the 80’s I discovered silk painting and created ladies lingerie, teddies, slips and kimonos, which I am proud to say were
purchased by David Jones and Myer…so exiting… but alas just for one season.
A gallery at Phillip Island, which evolved into a creative space, fashion and
home wares. The business closed in 2011 when I moved back to Melbourne
to be closer to my family.
3.What goes on in the room?
I have hung all the art that I can fit on the walls. Some of mine and some of
other artists. Mainly so the place looks a bit styled and not cluttered. Well
that’s what I think, and I’m sticking to it.All the new acquisitions, of which
there is at least one a week. But these days whilst I love the pastime of
rummaging in the occasional Op shop, I try not to buy too much. I am now
hard to please and I am thankful for that. So old kids toys, bits of unusual
wooden things, metal and anything rusty…
4.Favourite piece in the room and why?
Probably my cabinet of perfume bottles, collected for over30 years. I can’t fit
any more in so I have had to stop buying them. There are some vintage but
some are from lampwork glass artists. I have always had a passion for glass
so I’ve collected small pieces so I could have more.
5.Anything on your wish list that you would love
to add to the space?
I think I would love some gold Rococo or Baroque furniture. I adore the
decoration of the 17th century chateaus of France. Louis 14th that sort of
thing. Ha, it would probably look quite out of place…
6.What do other people say when they see your
room for the first time?
My dad used to say the room was like a museum, he used to just wander
around looking at bits and pieces. I think he loved it. Mostly people like to
stare at the walls and find little things that remind them of something or
someone…or some time..
7.Why do you love this room?
It just makes me happy. I love the little things myself. Little memories of
where they were purchased. Some memories of the people who donated
them to me, people who have left us even.
8.What’s one lovely memory you have whilst
being in the room?
I think it would be my dad, funnily enough. I have an old soldering
contraption collected by him, I think we appreciated similar things such as
old tools of trade. He died in 2012, was gone in a flash, it’s nice to
remember him this way.
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The Room Illuminated 
Karen is my interior sole mate! Stop buying doll parts Karen – there will be none left for me! Loved your room :)
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from little things, big things grow… a lovely pictorial of your room, your style, showcasing your appreciation of aesthetics in natural elements and practical objects. What next?
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Good job Kate… It’s nice to see the room from some one else’s eyes..It looks so bright.. Ha, suppose cause we opened the blinds…Well done you..
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Thank you so much Karen. It’s a fabulous space with a lot of creativity and heart. My absolute joy to capture. Xx
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