How To Buy Solar (as painlessly as possible)

Without a doubt, solar is the cleanest, cheapest form of electricity and we are entering a long overdue Renewables Revolution. I don’t want confusion to slow us down, so I'm sharing my top straightforward, non-technical, insider tips for How To Buy Solar (as painlessly as possible)!

6 Australian Mother's Day Gift Ideas That She'll Really Want

Stuck for a Mother's Day gift idea? Look to Australian designers and artisans for a gift that supports our local talent and that Mum will really love (or share this list with a loved one for yourself!). Here's what I'd really love for Mother's Day.

Mid-century Pettit and Sevitt home tour

Our love of mid-century architecture drew us to our home - a Pettit + Sevitt house designed by Ken Woolley in Cheltenham, NSW in Sydney's north west - and with a few small tweaks, we made it our own and after six years, have now passed it on to its new owner. Read on for before and after photos, including a fairly dramatic kitchen makeover!

The perfect match - ceramics and honey at Win's Creek Pottery and Meadery

More beautiful locally-made gift ideas for you: the lovely ceramics and honey (and ceramics holding honey!) from Win's Creek Pottery and Meadery near Canberra. Snap up ceramics and honey from this talented bunch!

The can't go wrong gift - a Crayon Chick rope necklace. Or bowl. Or wall hanging.

Another great Australian-designed and handmade gift idea! Crayon Chick's Michelle Harvey creates beautiful rope necklaces, bowls, wall hangings, earrings and more in her Melbourne workshop. 

The perfect Aussie Christmas dress from Doops Designs

This is totally my pick for a Christmas dress this year. And for every other day of the year. This is the Cowley Fields design by Doops Designs who handmake beautiful, sustainable, ethical clothes in the Byron Bay hinterland.

Goose and Dust make sustainable kids sunglasses that you'll want too

Here’s a stocking stuffer that will get heaps of use and is recyclable at the end of its life! Aussie designers Goose and Dust make the best sunnies and eyewear for kids that I ever did see.

These cups made from coffee husks make the best Secret Santa gifts

This is my pick for the best Secret Santa gift out there. Aussie designers HuskeeCup create these cups made from coffee husks and have a design award under their belt to boot! They are perfect for your coffee run of course (with matching lids) but great for all liquids; I was introduced to them at a work meeting at a crowd-funding investor’s office, used for water for all the guests. They have a nice feel, look good, and have a great sustainable story.

A magpie silkscreen artwork by Roofus Australia to turn heads

This silkscreen artwork by Melbourne-based Roofus Australia stopped me in my tracks. Magpies are Australia’s favourite bird (despite the odd divebomb) and this mid-century modern-inspired version would work in any space. 

The mid-century modern inspired artwork you have to have by Inaluxe

Another amazing Australian-designed Christmas gift idea: the Sleepy Lion art print by Inaluxe - the masters of mid-century modern-inspired artwork. It's a piece that transcends all ages, and would look pretty fabulous with some beautiful mustard linen sheets, or even adding a massive pop of colour in a neutral space. It's certainly a head-turner.