THE MUTLI-TALENTED INTERIOR DESIGNER TELLS ELIZA O’HARE WHAT IT WAS LIKE
TO GROW UP IN THE QUEENSLAND PORT TOWN OF GLADSTONE IN THE 1980S.FOR DARREN PALMFOR DARREN PALMER, ER, mmaking beautiful spaces was always aking beautiful spaces was always
the end goal —the end goal — he just didn’t know it. “I finally realised he just didn’t know it. “I finally realised
I was constantly walking into people’s homI was constantly walking into people’s homes, pulling es, pulling
down walls and mdown walls and moving things around in moving things around in my head. y head.
I couldn’t help it, I needed to be doing interiors,” says I couldn’t help it, I needed to be doing interiors,” says
the designer, author and television presenter, who credits the designer, author and television presenter, who credits
his country childhood with helping to shape his aesthetic. his country childhood with helping to shape his aesthetic.
This year when Darren launched his own luxury This year when Darren launched his own luxury
homhomewares range, available exclusively through Mewares range, available exclusively through Myer, yer,
he wanted a talismhe wanted a talisman froman from his childhood in the room his childhood in the room so so
he filled vases with cotton bush. “I love cotton —he filled vases with cotton bush. “I love cotton — I clearly I clearly
remrememember the road being piled with white snow fromber the road being piled with white snow from
the cotton that had fallen fromthe cotton that had fallen from the transport trucks.” the transport trucks.”
HHis range includes textured cushions, bed linen is range includes textured cushions, bed linen
and towels, as well as signature scented candles and and towels, as well as signature scented candles and
ornamornaments. “I can’t wait to see how people use the pieces ents. “I can’t wait to see how people use the pieces
in their own homin their own homes,” he says as he scrolls Instagrames,” he says as he scrolls Instagram..
Darren, now 40, was born in Gladstone on the Queensland Darren, now 40, was born in Gladstone on the Queensland
coast, 520 kilomcoast, 520 kilometres north of Brisbane, to parents Selwyn etres north of Brisbane, to parents Selwyn
(call him(call him Sellie), who was a boilerm Sellie), who was a boilermaker at the local power aker at the local power
plant, and mplant, and mumum Rosem Rosemarie (never, ever call her Rose). arie (never, ever call her Rose).
HHe and his older sister, Danielle, were born two years apart.e and his older sister, Danielle, were born two years apart.
As a kid Darren wasn’t aware of interior design. “I had no As a kid Darren wasn’t aware of interior design. “I had no
idea... didn’t even occur to midea... didn’t even occur to me.” He.” He went to the local prime went to the local primary ary
school Gladstone Wschool Gladstone West and onto Gladstone State Hest and onto Gladstone State High, igh,
leaving town for good at 17 years old, bound for Rockhamleaving town for good at 17 years old, bound for Rockhampton ptonto study fine art and graphic design at TAFE. “To mto study fine art and graphic design at TAFE. “To me e
RockhamRockhampton was a mpton was a metropolis —etropolis — they had two M they had two McDonald’s!” cDonald’s!”
After a detour into advertising in Brisbane, Darren decided After a detour into advertising in Brisbane, Darren decided
to pack his car and head for Sydney on Decemto pack his car and head for Sydney on December 31st, 1999 ber 31st, 1999
with $5000 in the bank. Hwith $5000 in the bank. He started his own graphic design e started his own graphic design
firmfirm but soon realised that wasn’t his calling. but soon realised that wasn’t his calling.
By 2007 he’d fulfilled his dreamBy 2007 he’d fulfilled his dream of buying and renovating of buying and renovating
an apartman apartment in Sydney, and it caught the eye of an interior ent in Sydney, and it caught the eye of an interior
designer friend, who photographed the place and submdesigner friend, who photographed the place and submitted itted
it to an interiors mit to an interiors magazine that promagazine that promptly published it. ptly published it.
So when the new reality television show So when the new reality television show HomHomememade ade was was
seeking budding designers as contestants in late 2008 for seeking budding designers as contestants in late 2008 for
the 2009 season, Darren was interested, but reticent. the 2009 season, Darren was interested, but reticent.
“I had just got m“I had just got my first good press and I had no idea what y first good press and I had no idea what
was going to happen with this TV show. It was a risk.” was going to happen with this TV show. It was a risk.”
Of course, it all worked out for the best. Darren finished Of course, it all worked out for the best. Darren finished
in second place in the design contest, which only fuelled his in second place in the design contest, which only fuelled his
hunger and lead to guest appearances onhunger and lead to guest appearances on The Block The Block. Those. Those
appearances soon developed into a role as a regular judge on appearances soon developed into a role as a regular judge on
the popular Australian renovation show and two subsequent the popular Australian renovation show and two subsequent
design books, design books, Easy LuxuryEasy Luxury and and HomHome Spacee Space..
Darren hasn’t been back to Gladstone since his parents Darren hasn’t been back to Gladstone since his parents
mmoved to Hoved to Hervey Bay five years ago. “Mervey Bay five years ago. “My oldest friend in y oldest friend in
the world, Ange’s mthe world, Ange’s mumum m moved there too so now all of our oved there too so now all of our
catch-ups happen in Hcatch-ups happen in Hervey Bay.” ervey Bay.”
For mFor more informore information, visit darrenpalmation, visit darrenpalmer.comer.comI N T E R I O R D E S I G N E R , A U T H O R A N D P R E S E N T E RI N T E R I O R D E S I G N E R , A U T H O R A N D P R E S E N T E RDARREN PALMER
FROM LEFT A young
Darren; and proudly Darren; and proudly
showshowing off his catch ing off his catch
at nine years old. at nine years old.MMYY C COOUUNNTTRRYY C CHHI L DI L DHHOOOODD
30 30 CCOOUUNNTTRYRY S T S TYYL E L E NOVEMNOVEMBER 2017BER 2017