We recently had the great pleasure of catching up with one of our long term retailers, the wonderful Suzie of Suzie Anderson Home, a collection of perfectly curated homeware boutiques in Australia.
We found out all about Suzie’s passion for creating beautiful spaces, her penchant for European design and her touching childhood memory of a love for the fire and family. Continue reading to discover more about Suzie’s inspiration and how she came up with her intuitive approach to design, based around what she calls the 5 L’s – Lighting, Layers, Lustre, Living Energy and something Loved.
Could you tell us a bit about your background and how you came to be interested in design?
My interest in design came early on in life as I would watch my very creative parents in their various crafty restoration pursuits. From sewing and decorating to model building or vintage car restorations. I would also regularly change my bedroom around to create new looks! Then during my married life my husband and I renovated constantly – buying, renovating and flipping both our family and holiday homes. I would devour books and magazines, particularly French and English ones, and would explore design stores in Europe, America and locally here in Australia. This lead to me opening retail stores so I could continue to source unique homewares from around the world, and share them with like minded people.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration all over the place. From travel, history, hotels, restaurants, movies, books and nature.
We’ve read that you love travel and history. Is there a particular place at a particular time that speaks to you?
I love the 18th and 19th Century French and English styles in terms of décor, architectural features, layering and with a preference for the Georgian look.
Your design philosophy is ‘The beauty is the detail’. What is your favourite design detail you’ve spotted in the pieces you’ve collected?
I greatly appreciate the timeworn patina of objects and architecture the most. How the effect of time and use changes their appearance, often for the better! It makes me ponder about previous owners that have lived and loved a space or an item, and how this interaction adds soul and character to a piece or space. Whether it is the layers of paint revealing themselves on a French chest, the rust on a French café table, the moss on a stone pot, the wear on a bronze door handle. I prefer timeworn to brand new and shiny.
We enjoy surrounding ourselves with books that ignite inspiration, so we’re always interested in learning about the books that others find inspiring.
I enjoy the coffee table books by Wim Pauwels for Beta-Plus such as Urban Mansions and Apartments, and Family Houses. I also love the Rizzoli titles by India Hicks such as An Entertaining Story and A Slice of England. Also, Ralph Lauren’s A Way of Living and Carolyne Roehm’s Design & Style. For Belgian style inspiration I also like Flamant Style and Axel Vervoordt’s Wabi Inspirations.
What is a book that you share with friends and family?
There is a book that is the ultimate book gift to give for anyone interested in photography and culture. It is called Before They Pass Away by Jimmy Nelson. It is breathtakingly beautiful. It does come in a smaller size but the original oversized coffee table size book is the one to search for! Incredible.
Could you tell us a little bit about how you developed your personalised approach design?
Creating a space is about creating a feeling. A feeling of welcome, of family, comfort and connection and one’s individual character. I have developed a blueprint called the 5 L’s to ensure the spaces I design ‘feel right’. There are five key elements to include: Lighting, Layers, Lustre, Living Energy and something Loved. I have covered these concepts in my YouTube videos as well as a downloadable guide. I can intuitively see that one of the L’s is missing. I always look to see that these elements are present within the environment I am styling… whether it is my retail spaces, my clients or my own home.
How and when did you first discover Eldvarm?
I first discovered Eldvarm at Maison&Objet Paris in 2016 and have been passionate about the brand since. We carry a full range of products, from the Emma Companion Sets to the lanterns, wood baskets, benches and wall sets.
Which is your favourite Eldvarm product and why?
My favourite item would be the Emma Companion Set in Noir with the matching Emma Basket. Within the set, my favourite is the blow poker. What a clever dual purpose tool! We go to such lengths to create beautiful interiors and a fireplace is such a sought after design element to include within a home, to create coziness and a place to gather with friends and family. Eldvarm products provide form and function, they are compact, stylish and with a variety of colours to suit all décor styles whether the interior style is modern or classic. I love that the fire basket can be styled in Winter with logs or pine cones and in summer, fresh flowers or even ice for a wonderful ice bucket for wine and champagne.* (Editors note – If you are putting any liquids into the basket, make sure you put a water tight container in there first.)
We like to think of collectibles in the home as a way of connecting with moments and memories. What is the most precious item in your home and what is the story behind it?
One of the most loved décor items in my home would be a pair of painted wooden antique decoy ducks that I purchased on one of my buying trips to France. They are timeworn and beautiful and they sit on my mantelpiece so I get to enjoy looking at them on a daily basis! I am always on the lookout for these for my clients when on buying trips. They are always snapped up so quickly because they really inject a sense of fun to a scheme and bring inside.
We think of the fireplace as the heart(h) of the home. Do you have any particular memories or associations with the fire from your childhood or more recently?
I was always homesick as a child and rarely wanted to leave home to go to camp or for sleepovers. I remember being away on a trip with a school friend and her grandmother. I was miserable and I was desperate to go home, even though we were having a lovely week by the beach in a cute little caravan.
When asked why I wanted to go home, I remember saying “My parents have just installed a fireplace in our home and I want to be home enjoying that with them!” Every house I have lived in ever since that first, has had at least one fireplace. I’ve always had a wood burning one, so the smell, the ritual of lighting it, and of sharing times with my family around it, is deeply rooted in me. My now adult children share the same passion and the first thing they say when they are planning to come for a visit is “We can’t wait to get the fire going and have a game of scrabble!” The fire is such a positive association for us all.
We believe that lighting the fire or a candle can really have the effect of lowering the sounds of life, taking a moment to slow it down. Is this something you relate to?
Absolutely. I light candles every night at home as part of my transition from work to home. I love the energy that the flicker of candles brings as well as adding my favourite scent to the room. There is nothing better to me than when the first days of Autumn hit, and the fire is on. To come home at the end of the day to find my partner or sons have the fire roaring is the best gift and the best place to relax and unwind!
Eldvarm has built itself around four core elements. These are Love, Beauty, Generosity, Vulnerability. Which of these elements speaks to you the most and why?
I would say Love. I have a love and appreciation of beauty in all aspects of life for nature to art to relationships and experiences. Love allows for a deeper appreciation for the world around me and fosters a sense of wonder and gratitude. I also think that the other three elements are all aspects of love. Generosity is an expression of Love, both to oneself and others. Giving without expecting anything in return can create a very positive energy and strengthen bonds and connection with others. I also personally feel that through vulnerability love can grow closer and deeper. Trusting and being trusted in vulnerable times encourages authenticity and allows you to be loved for who you are in all of your states!
Be sure to visit Suzie Anderson Home next time you take a trip down under. They have boutiques in Moss Vale and Bowral and would be delighted to welcome you. In the meantime, keep up with Suzie on Instagram and take a look at her website, a fabulous place to find inspiration for your next project.