At Home with Talisa Sutton

The home Talisa Sutton of Badlands Studios shares with her husband and daughter is a light-filled, coastal-inspired oasis surrounded by nature. With an interior aesthetic inspired by special memories and beachy holidays, Talisa recently added MILOU MILOU in the sandy tones of Todd and Ed to add to the feeling of escapism.

Here, we chat to Talisa about her daily rituals, her interior style and find out more about a few of her favourite things.

How do you begin and end your days?

Lately my mornings have been starting with my daughter sneaking into our bed for a cuddle (no complaints from me!). Then we brew a fresh plunger of coffee and eat breakfast together as a family - it’s not always possible, but I love when we can all sit down for a meal.

After my daughter has gone to bed in the evenings, I like to wind down with a cup of tea. Sometimes I’ll be playing work catchup at night, but if not, my husband and I might try to catch an episode of the series we’re currently watching or head to bed early so we can both read. I try to always try to squeeze in a few pages at night before I go to sleep, I find it helps relax me before bed.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work, Badlands Studio. Did you always aspire to own a creative agency?

My creative dream when I was starting my career was to be an Art Director at a magazine. I very gratefully got to experience life in a magazine art department and spent two years at ELLE Australia before leaving to start my freelance journey. During this time, my husband and I worked collaboratively on a few creative projects, which led to us setting up Badlands Studio. Since then we have been incredibly lucky to work with clients across the lifestyle, fashion and beauty spaces to create brand identities, printed collateral and produce creative content across a variety of mediums.

You’ve just moved into a new house, congratulations, what were you looking for when you purchased this home?

Thank you! Our search was one year in the making and it was the best feeling to move into the space we now call home. Our daughter turns three next month, and the biggest item on our wishlist was more space and a backyard for her to run around in. We also wanted good bones and natural light, and we are very lucky to be surrounded by nature here.

What is your favourite room in the house?

The upstairs living room which opens to a wraparound balcony. I love looking out to the trees in the morning with a cup of coffee while my daughter draws or listens to music. We have recently started collecting records and she loves going through them to pick out her favourite songs. We also get the most beautiful light in the afternoon when the sun begins to set across the valley.

Your aesthetic, both in fashion and interiors, is refined and neutral - what do you love about these tones and what feeling do they bring to a space?

I find neutral tones very soothing and the subtlety of mixing soft tones and textures can make a space feel cosy without being cluttered. For me, the light tones with a touch of warmth and sun streaming in recalls memories of coastal holidays. It’s been a while since we’re travelled, so I love being able to create that sense of escapism at home.

How do you select your furniture and homewares? What is important when finding those forever pieces?

Quality and longevity are two of the things I look to when making a purchase. I want to buy forever pieces that feel timeless yet modern, or rehome vintage pieces that can be restored and given new life. I always look at the quality of materials and craftsmanship, and try to avoid anything too trendy that may start to feel dated within the space.

In these uncertain times we are living in, what do you do to stay grounded and optimistic?

Walking has been my biggest saviour through lockdowns. A little bit of time to myself to listen to a podcast, focus on breathing, and be surrounded by nature. My daughter is also the most wonderful source of positivity - she helps me find joy in the tiny everyday things.

Talk us through some of your favourite things…

People - My family & friends are everything.

Artists - Cy Twombly whose work will forever be an inspiration, Olafur Eliasson, Christiane Spansberg, Skye Jamieson and next on my list is a piece by local artist Angie Pai.

Furniture - Our USM Haller media unit and vintage Caprani lamp

Go-to dinner - Vege pasta with pumpkin, pine nuts, olive oil and fresh herbs from the garden.

Snack - Avocado & hummus with seed crackers

Exercise - Walking or pilates

Drink - Oat flat white or homemade cacao with almond milk

Perfume - Byredo Gypsy Water

Stress relief - Walking, reading, the beach, time away from my phone

Last thing you do before you go to sleep?

A spritz of lavender spray on my pillow