November 01, 2017
At home with Felicity Bonello
You have recently renovated your house. Any advice? For us it was all about maximising natural light so my advice would be (if you can afford the time) to sit in your un-renovated home for a full turn of the seasons while you work through your plans; the light is so different from summer to winter and it’s a good way to observe those changes throughout the year. Spend time in the design stage and you’ll avoid making costly changes on the run while you’re in construction mode.
One thing you cannot live without at home? One? If I’m only allowed one, then it’s got to be my family; they’re the best little pack of incredible, curious, happy, contented, time-consuming, interesting, sweet individuals. There’s no other crew I’d rather watch Cheaper By The Dozen with. But if I’m allowed a few more then I’d have to include my friends (and all their kids too) (usually on a Friday night), music, and fresh cut flowers from Haven and Sarah.
What does ‘home’ mean to you? Home is somewhere to relax, a place to make memories with our family and it’s a place we share with our friends. It’s where my hubby loves to potter in the garden and the kids can totally unwind. It’s also where I work a lot of the time too so on school days when the kids aren’t here it’s my quiet refuge where I can research and write.
Favourite fragrance? Vintage Gardenia. Reminds me of my garden when I was growing up; my mum used to pop a stem or two in a glass next to my bed when they were in bloom. The scent takes me straight back to my 14-year-old self.
Describe your style. I don’t really know how to describe my style…I’d have to say I’m a bit of a chameleon when it comes to style; it can change from day to day. I love an off-duty jeans and a t-shirt combo just as much as I love a little dress up session for a night out. There’s a lot of pre-loved clothing in my wardrobe alongside a few key grown up pieces too; and if all else fails, my girlfriends have some pretty fabulous wardrobes and they’re always willing to share.
