Easter With Interior Stylist Claire Delmar

Claire Delmar couldn't be more elegant if she tried. The creative interior and food stylist and mother to Leo, 6, and Willow, 1, started her career as a fashion stylist before moving into interiors...

Recently, the talented Delmar started a blog called The Palate Project, which showcases her passion for beautifully decorated tabletops. “From a very young age, I have been drawn to the works of Still Life painters. The Palate Project enables me to create my own briefs that I often find more creatively challenging than being set a brief and the upside is I get to shoot stories I am inspired by and feel passionate about,” says Delmar. “My most cherished memories are of conversations had while enjoying lovingly prepared food in comfortable surroundings,” she adds. To celebrate Easter, Delmar dressed the perfect Easter tabletop for The Grace Tales. Inspired by white and ceramics, Delmar says: “I combined these to form the style of the Easter table. Photographer Felix Forest and I shot the story at one of my favourite shops called Planet in Sydney’s Surry Hills. Ross and I have been friends since I started styling 15 years ago. He has an incredible eye and has supported me from the early days of my career. It’s people like Ross that have formed who I am as a stylist. It was lovely having my kids share in the Easter morning story at ‘mummies office’!”. We caught up with Delmar to find out how she’ll be spending Easter, interiors and motherhood…

Photography: Felix Forest. Styling: Claire Delmar. Shot on location at Planet. Claire wears Aje skirt. Leo and Willow wear clothes from Honeybee Homewares. 

Table used throughout, splayed leg elliptical dining table from Planet. Cultiver White Linen Table Cloth, $135, used throughout. Clay bowl and cup with white detailing, from Planet. 

Napkin from Planet. Small cup resting on napkin, stylist’s own. Ribbed tumbler, stylist’s own. Stacked plates and bowls, Coad hand-thrown pieces from Planet. Egg Goblet, from The D E A Store. Egg from Papaya. Small bowl with bubble detailing on bottom, from Planet. Deep plate in background, Coad hand-thrown dish from Planet. 

Napkin from Planet. Small cup resting on napkin, stylist’s own. Ribbed tumbler, stylist’s own. Stacked plates and bowls, Coad hand-thrown pieces from Planet. Egg Goblet, from The D E A Store. Assorted Eggs, from Papaya. Small bowl with bubble detailing on bottom, from Planet. Large deep plate, Coad hand-thrown from Planet. 

Ceiling light, from Planet. Flat plate, Coad hand-thrown from Planet. Egg shaped chair, from Cult Design. Small, medium and large detailed tumblers, HAY Paper Porcelain. Large flat plate stacked, Coad hand-thrown, from Planet. Small flat plates stacked, HAY Paper Porcelain Dish. Assorted eggs, from Papaya. Egg Goblet, from The D E A Store. Cutlery, from Cutipol. Tall vase, Coad hand-thrown porcelain, from Planet. Stacked plates on right, Coad hand-thrown, from Planet. 

When I wake up...

On my own accord, it’s always a good start to the day.

Before I go to bed...

I like to read and read and read.

Life as a mother of two is...

Challenging and busy but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

My approach to wellbeing is…

Moderation and awareness. Enjoy every moment because does all that other stuff really matter?

I treat myself by…

Weakening to the occasional props that I source.

The biggest misconception about me...

You would think I was the bed maker!

My role model is…

It sounds so cliché but have you met my mother? She is very creative and extremely stylish.

The definition of success is...

Happiness and feeling creatively content.

If I wasn't doing what I'm doing today…

I would be painting with my Nan.

My mother taught me…

To always celebrate and be positive.  

Assorted eggs, from Papaya. Large dinner plates, Coad hand-thrown from Planet. Small dishes stacked with larger plates, HAY Paper Porcelain. Egg goblet, from The D E A Store. Ribbed bowl, from Planet. Clay organic shaped bowls and cups with white drip detailing, from Planet. Ribbed detailed tumbler, HAY Paper Porcelain. Small dish stacked on hand thrown dinner plates, from Planet. Small porcelain rabbit, from Papaya. Small sweet bowl, Coad hand-thrown, from Planet. Platter and salt bowl with spoon, from The D E A Store. 

Egg shaped chair, from Cult Design. Detailed medium tumbler, HAY Paper Porcelain Dish. Egg Goblet from The D E A Store. Platter from The D E A Store. Large flat stacked Coad hand-thrown, from Planet. Small plates stacked on top of large plates, HAY Paper Porcelain Dish. Assorted eggs, from Papaya. Small detailed tumbler, HAY Paper Porcelain Dish. Cutlery from Francalia. Tall vase on right, from Planet. 

Small detailed dish, HAY Paper Porcelain. Large plate, Coad hand thrown, from Planet. Egg Goblet, from The D E A Store. Clay organic bowls and cups with drip white detailing, from Planet. Assorted eggs, from Papaya. 

Happiness is...

Everything. It’s all I wish for the future of my children.

My time management secrets are…

Focus and passion.

My approach to interior design is…

Add then take away then take away again… restraint is often the hardest part!

The ingredients of a great tabletop are…

Handmade ceramics and surrounding it with people that you love.

My career as an interior stylist started when…

I did a freelance job for a leading magazine title and got offered a full time position. Previously I was a fashion stylist but after completing that first interior shoot I have never looked back.

Today I’m wearing…

A beautiful hand beaded skirt from Aje.

Large flat plates, Coad hand-thrown from Planet. Small flat plates stacked on large plates, HAY Paper Porcelain Dish. Egg Goblet, from The D E A Store. Detailed medium tumbler, HAY Paper Porcelain tumbler. Platter from The D E A Store. Assorted eggs from Papaya. Large detailed tumbler, HAY Paper Porcelain tumbler. Cutlery from Francalia. Small salt dish and spoon from The D E A Store. 

Large dinner plate stand alone, Coad hand-thrown from Planet. Small and medium ribbed tumblers, HAY Paper Porcelain. Large stacked plates stacked: Coad hand-thrown from Planet. Small plates stacked and small flat plates stacked, HAY Paper Porcelain. Small bowl with smaller bowl stacked, Coad hand-thrown from Planet. White rabbit, from White Moose. Small bowl, Coad hand-thrown from Planet. Tall vase, from Planet. Various eggs, from Papaya. 

The last meal I ate was…

Korean at Moon Park last night for my mother’s birthday.

I’m spending this Easter…

With the family – my eldest sister is arriving from the UK with my four nieces and nephews.

My style essentials are…

Flat shoes, a nappy and a water bottle. I pack and unpack product every day so when it comes to me the less the better.

Ceiling light, from Planet. Letter ‘R’, from Ici Et La. Assorted eggs, from Papaya. Rabbits, from White Moose. Stacked plates, Coad hand-thrown, from Planet.  

My children have taught me...

To be more selfless.

I relax by…

Dreaming up creative concepts.

I get stressed when…

I drink too much coffee.

My next travel destination is...

Japan… the ceramics! I think Karin from DEA Store needs to come with me.

After I finish writing this I’m going to...

My parents’ holiday house to celebrate Easter.