Millie and Jessi Poutama are LGBTQIA+ advocates raising their child in an off-grid community. 

When the couple decided to start a family, they began fostering a child, before pursuing their own fertility journey three years ago. Their newborn, Tide, was conceived with a known donor and the services of Rainbow Fertility – a dedicated fertility and IVF provider catering exclusively for the LGBTI+ community in Australia. 

We spoke to the inspiring pair about their experience as foster carers, the IVF process, their expectations of motherhood, and connecting Tide with their donor’s Māori heritage.

Through a year of isolating at home during the peak of the pandemic, Billy Vanilli – who trained as a photographer and graphic designer – began exploring oil painting. Creating hyper-real scenes of food kept him company throughout Melbourne’s lockdowns, whilst separated from friends and family.

From fresh produce draped in translucent materials, to baroque dinner parties set with cheeseburgers, fries and candelabras, Billy’s decadent, delectable scenery vibrate with colour, energy and flavour. Today we meet this promising young artist, in his Fitzroy studio.

Vivarium is a totally transformed Thornbury cottage intended to be ‘consumed’ by its future garden.

Designed by Architecture Architecture, new living areas are entangled with green spaces thanks to curved walls and an enchanting central courtyard. The project also successfully adheres to the homeowner’s requests to minimise their environmental footprint.

Take a closer look at this captivating abode!

Today we’re wrapping up our inspiring and informative ‘Words from the Wise’ series, with Sarah Lynn Rees, Palawa/Trawlwoolway woman, lecturer, curator, and lead Indigenous advisor at architecture firm Jackson Clements Burrows Architects.

Through studying architecture, working in remote communities, and an understanding of her own heritage – Sarah’s practice is rooted in the social, cultural, political and ethical ramifications of design.

In this fascinating conversation with recent Monash Art, Design + Architecture Masters of Architecture graduate, Declan Murphy, Sarah talks about the importance of designing the built environment with Country, culture and community front of mind.

Jarnah Montersino launched Mont Studio in 2020, after making the leap into the design industry, from her first career in human rights and international development. Although worlds apart, the career change was partially inspired by previous work travels, where she found herself collecting fabrics from around the world.

After struggling to find work with a textiles business that aligned with her personal ethos, Mont Studio was born! Jarnah’s Melbourne-based studio creates original fabrics and objects – her latest range of patterned linens and abstract wallpapers is available via textile showroom, Style Revolutionary.

Ben Mooney has always wanted to live above a shop. After years of scouring real estate listings, he signed a three-year commercial lease to finally make his dream a reality. 

He now lives in the upper level of an 1880s Collingwood shop, which he also rents out as a photoshoot and small events space known as Ma House. The large and flexible property is the perfect canvas for Ben’s many, many furniture pieces and design objects, collected locally and abroad – including enough chairs to seat 40 people!

When pastry chef Patti Chimkire lost most of her work in 2020 due to the Melbourne lockdowns, she decided to make the most of her free time and explore a new source of income baking cookies and cakes from her small share house – and boy, are we glad she did!

Soon after she launched Mali Bakes, Patti was producing countless sweet treats each week and experimenting with cake colours and flavours. Her delicious retro-inspired creations – that look almost too good to eat – have been met with overwhelming demand, and now she has her own adorable Thornbury store.

We recently spent a day in Patti’s world filled with colour, sweet treats, and lots of hard work!

According to a recent report by the ABC, developments in the outer suburbs of big cities can get up to 10 degrees hotter than the city centre. This is due to overdevelopment and poor town planning, where every inch of usable land is occupied with a house, thereby leaving little room for either private or public open place.

From both a human and environmental perspective, we desperately need responsibly designed, accessible housing in new suburban developments. The LiveWorkShare House by Bligh Graham Architects is a prototype for sustainable, flexible housing in high-density blocks.

Located in Samford village just outside Brisbane, the project covers only 40% of its 612 sqm site. Formulated with the work-from-home model in mind, the architects emphasise smart design as a way to achieve the trifecta of functional diversity, density and green space at once.

Even when you’re the editor of a real estate platform, it can be surprisingly difficult to find your perfect family home! 

Domain’s national managing editor and property expert Alice Stolz (you might recognise her from The Block!) experienced this unique conundrum when returning to Australia in 2016, following 12 years living overseas with her husband Adam Stolz and three children. A city-wide Melbourne search ensued, leading to this 1900s Canterbury home, oozing with character and potential. 

Alice and Adam worked with Doherty Design Studio to completely renovate the property within the existing footprint. The result is equal parts practical and playful, exuding a certain ‘je ne sais quoi!’