Lara Hutton is one of Australia’s most inspiring creatives. The interior stylist and designer has worked as a magazine stylist for over 14 years, starting out as a Fashion Editor on Marie Claire before moving into interiors, food and lifestyle...
Mother to Holly, 8, and twin boys, Bailey and Baxter, 5, Hutton has lived in her current home for a little over a year. Her beautifully styled abode reflects her chic, eclectic style: it’s all effortlessly thrown together and each room is filled with treasured objects, furnishings and art. Everything has a meaning, too. There are shells collected on beach holidays, a rock from a trip to Tibet and a framed scribble from one of her children when they were babies. “All three of my children are very creative souls,” says Hutton. “All of them love art, craft, and ceramics. I am constantly asked ‘when can we do clay’. Pottery is something we love together. They all love colour, design and painting.” Reflecting on motherhood, Hutton says: “I wish someone had warned me that it can be so overwhelming at times, especially for a perfectionist! People often aren’t forthcoming with the reality that motherhood is one of the toughest jobs on the planet.” She tries to take one day at a time. “My advice to new mothers is to just enjoy today. It helps us be in the moment. Be in the moment to enjoy, and to learn and grow with each challenge and discovery. Just enjoy and appreciate today and all its gifts and learnings!”. Given she now works as a freelance stylist for leading luxury brands such as Sheridan, it’s no surprise that her home is filled with covetable bed linen, towels, cushions, candles and more. For Hutton, her bedroom is the ultimate sanctuary. “It’s my peaceful place that feels lovely to go to sleep in and wake up in. A bedroom is where we start the world each day. So it should be a place that feels great to be in. I have a few sets of linen, which I mix up in shades of white, stone, pale pink and grey.” To add interest to the room, she’ll add in throws. “They help to add an extra layer of interest, like my quilted Sheridan linen bedspread,” she says. We visited Hutton and her adorable children at home to chat everything from ice-skating to pottery to why motherhood is the best thing that ever happened to her. Scroll down to shop her look…
I try to start each day in gratitude…
A little meditation or even a quick mantra if I’m in a rush. But the perfect morning is when I get to have a super early 5.45am skate (figure skate) and am home in time to get everyone off to school. My life can be pretty hectic, so mornings are generally crazy getting myself and my little people ready for their day. I often end the day in meditation. It’s my way to ground and take stock of the day.
Motherhood has taught me more than anything else in life…
In a way, it can be so confronting. It holds up a mirror to show you your strengths and weaknesses and gives you a chance to grow in the most incredible ways. It has taught me that these three little miracles were a gift that I need to treasure, nurture and guide. It’s my duty to be the best teacher possible for my children, and to prepare them for the world the best way I possibly can. It’s important to me to help them discover and bring out who they are as little beings. To guide and nurture them, and to help them develop their passions and interests. To be the best they can be in life.
“ I love bedding. I love playing with different sets and mixing tones and textures ”
I’m very disciplined with my time…
I have a really strict schedule for everything so it all fits! I don’t sleep a lot, but it allows me to fit in as much as I possibly can! I literally make a time slot for all that has to be achieved in a week for the children, my work days and demands. We stick to the schedule! I definitely need to work late at night. It’s the only way it all can get done because when I’m with the children, I like to be 100% with them.
“ My style is very neutral, minimal, but an eclectic mix on Sixties modernist and industrial with a hint of Scandi influences! ”
The kids are definitely on a regular routine and they love it…
In fact they rely on it. I know with my guys they seem to thrive and feel secure when they know “ok so today is Tuesday – that’s sport uniform and library day, and basketball is after school… and that’s Japanese takeaway night.” That’s not to say sometimes we don’t break it. We all need to be kind to ourselves in life and to have the ability to go with the flow at times.
I always say to the children ‘you can do whatever you put your mind to in life’…
I want them to flourish into who they are. For me, I don’t necessarily want to pressure them about what that is. It just needs to “feel” right and make them happy. When we are in our happy place, doing what we love – we thrive. And always, always dream… life is waiting to be discovered!
We’ve lived in our home for a year…
It is a lovely 60’s bungalow with beautiful light and the most peaceful tranquil energy. It’s just a happy space that we all feel great in. There’s lots of texture and layering in furnishings.I love the light and the feel here.
I remember as a child constantly styling and restyling my room...
Everything had a very particular place. I also remember always wanting to help redecorate the house and help choose the colours. Although my career did actually begin in fashion after studying arts at university and then fashion design at The Whitehouse School. I spent the first 10 years travelling the world for shoots and to fashion shows. It was an amazing base for learning but on weekends, I always had my head in an interior magazine. I still love fashion and I do the fashion for Country Style magazine. I love to tell stories, to take people on a journey through beautiful images. I made the transition to interiors when a magazine I was working on closed unexpectedly, and the publishing company offered me an interiors position to keep me on board. It was such an amazing gift that changed the course of my career.
My decorating philosophy is that it needs to ‘feel’ right…
It needs to be a space that reflects you and that you love. It’s always a process for me to really understand my clients and help them achieve their vision and ‘perfect space’.
Everything in my home has a meaning…
Each artwork or object has sentimental value. A framed artwork from a photographer I love working with, or from a friend’s exhibition. I love being surrounded by the things that have a special meaning.
I love fresh flowers…
Scent is something I always like to have around. Whether it’s burning an essential oil, or the smell of fresh gardenias. It helps make a space special.
My daily uniform needs to be practical…
I’m almost always on set so comfortable and practical! I love bassike, jac + jac, Scanlan – they all do great modern, basic pieces.
I’d tell my younger self to never doubt ‘trusting’ the process…
Trust and flow. Everything happens perfectly as it should at just the right moment.
The hardest part of being a mum is…
Probably lack of sleep and having very little time for you, which is nothing in the scheme of it all. The best part is bringing up wonderful little people that will hopefully go out into the world and be free, happy and can help make the world a better one.
Lara’s little list of loves:
My ice skating is most definitely my favourite activity in life. My peaceful place. Closely followed by Yoga. Hot baths. Diving in the ocean. Watching the movie Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and thinking about my upcoming trip to India. Art and ceramics. Creative time just for me is rare and I cherish having the space and energy for it. Follow @larahuttonstylist and @sheridanaustralia. In Association with Sheridan.
Beautiful story and absolutely stunning images to go with it.