Tell us a bit about yourselves, please. Rachel: I’m a mum to three
beautifulchildren, Poppy, Wren and Oak; wife to Joel; and designer
of ethical fashion label Frank & Dolly’s. Joel: I’m a lover of all things
creative and colourful; a dad; a designer; a music maker; and an
adventurer! Best known for making ethical clothing with my wife
Rachel, and for throwing the best dress-up parties in town.Where do you live? J: In an incredible valley overlooking 35 acres of
forestland in Bellbrae, just off the Great Ocean Road, behind Bells
Beach.R:Our house is a three-bedroom, split-level, super-cosy
wood cabin. The living, dining and kitchen are all one big room,
which is perfect, because that’s how we live – all together, eating
and sharing in the day.
What goes on in the house (aside from sleeping)? J: Home is
everything to us, and we spend a lot of time there! We cook and
feast on delicious food, play music and sing the night away. We also
design our ranges for Frank & Dolly’s and brainstorm our dreams;
have friends over for dinner parties; and laze about on the floor on
Sundays drinking tea and eating bagels.
What’s the first thing you see when you walk in the door? J: Our
bigbookcase and loads of plants. The bookcase, which is made
from two ladders and old wooden beams, is really the centrepiece
of the open-plan living room. It’s colourful and full of all our little
treasures – our world globe, plants, record player, and obviously our
favourite books! R: A home well lived in and loved! Paintings on the
fridge;foliage freshly picked on the table; a big fruit basket ready to
eat; lots of books and our comfy couch ready to sink into.
How would you describe your decorating style? J: For me, it’s
aboutpieces we love that tell a story. We do a lot of travelling, so
our house is pretty much full of fabrics, artworks, cushions and
trinkets we’ve found on the road. R: We don’t follow a rule or colour
scheme.We value treasures that have soul and history, like our
hand-embroidered cushions from Iran, our indigo Batik throws,
and a collection of art from our favourite local artists.around the house