Cultivated Elegance
CREATE INTERIORS
CIAO CIELO ALGHERESE PAELLA
20 BELTY DRIVE, DENVER
CULTIVATED ELEGANCE
IN CONVERSATION WITH
CREATE INTERIORS
20 BELTY DRIVE, DENVER
ALGHERESE PAELLA
CIAO CIELO
EFFICIENT CAMPAIGNS, EXCELLENT OUTCOMES
The current sales takeaway is stability. Auction clearance rates are again holding in the high seventies, reinforcing a market defined by consistency rather than volatility. Quality listings continue to attract depth of enquiry and spirited competition, and that demand is evident across a range of price points and suburbs. Campaigns aligned with buyer expectations are progressing efficiently from initial inspection to negotiation, whereas aspirational pricing is best served by a data-driven buyer engagement plan. On the Mornington Peninsula, activity has lifted as buyers aim to be settled or summer-ready in time for the peak holiday period. These conditions have translated into stronger open-for-inspection numbers, quicker second inspections and a firming of buyer intent for well-located, wellpresented homes.
The Reserve Bank’s decision to hold the cash rate came as no surprise to active buyers, and sentiment now leans toward the view that the next meaningful move will be down. That outlook is supporting confidence, but the real driver remains a sense of normality. Vendors are pricing pragmatically, buyers are doing their homework, and transactions are progressing smoothly. Expat participation is also significant at this time of year, with international families looking to secure homes ahead of the 2026 school intake. For sellers, presentation, realistic pricing and decisive campaign settings are delivering reliable outcomes, particularly for turnkey family homes and downsizerfriendly properties close to amenities.
Ready to understand your home’s current value and the best strategy for the months ahead? Book a confidential appraisal with our sales team for clear advice and a tailored campaign plan. ■
By John Bongiorno
CULTIVATED ELEGANCE
20 BELTY DRIVE, DENVER
Renowned as one of Australia’s most significant private gardens, Stonefields embodies the artistry of acclaimed designer Paul Bangay. Set across 39 acres (approx.) between Kyneton, Trentham and Daylesford, the estate offers luxurious country living amid wineries, fine dining and sweeping rural views.
Designed as a sequence of seasonal garden rooms, Stonefields reveals Bangay’s mastery of scale, proportion and botanical harmony—from tulip-filled spring avenues to vibrant autumn foliage and serene winter structure.
At its heart, a Tuscan-inspired residence curated with the late Stuart Rattle features four bedrooms over two levels, elegant interiors in granite and sisal, and a grand sitting room with a 2m stone fireplace. The gourmet kitchen includes Belgian slate benchtops, Miele appliances and a La Canche oven, opening to a flower room and herb garden.
Completing the estate are a solar-heated lap pool, guest gatehouse, comprehensive water infrastructure, Starlink connectivity, and secure gated entry—just over an hour from Melbourne. ■
“The Paul Bangay–designed gardens are breathtaking – every detail is perfectly considered, creating a sense of calm and beauty that you simply have to experience in person.”
MARCUS CHIMINELLO - DIRECTOR, AUCTIONEER
ALGHERESE PAELLA from Ciao Cielo
Bring a taste of Ciao Cielo’s tradition, community and la dolce vita home. Bryan Nelson, Executive Chef & Co-Founder, shares his customer favourite, Algherese Paella.
Serves 2-3
INGREDIENTS
Paella:
200g fregola
0.3g (a small pinch) saffron
130g passata
1 clove garlic
Extra virgin olive oil
Flat-leaf parseley, chopped
Seafood:
8 large mussels
4 scampi
8 green prawns (either king or banana)
100g calamari
120g white-fleshed fish (such as barramundi or snapper)
Any other seafood of choice
METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 220°C.
Prepare the fregola
1. To pre-cook the fregola, bring 1 litre of water, saffron and salt to the boil. Turn off the heat and let the saffron infuse for 20 minutes.
2. Bring back to the boil and cook the fregola for 11 minutes.
3. Strain and toss lightly in olive oil.
Prepare the seafood
1. De-beard the mussels and remove seaweed from the outer shell if needed.
2. Halve the scampi.
3. Peel the prawns, leaving the tails on; keep or remove the heads according to preference.
4. Clean the calamari and cut into 5cm-long strips.
5. Remove the skin from the fish and cut into 2cm cubes.
Assemble
1. Place the pre-cooked fregola in your chosen pan (we use a 25cm cast-iron pan).
2. Add passata, chopped parsley, garlic and a pinch of salt; mix well.
3. Place the calamari and fish on top of the fregola, then add the mussels. Set the pan over the stovetop and bring to the boil for 1 minute. Season the scampi and prawns with salt and olive oil and arrange on top.
4. Sprinkle with flat-leaf parsley, drizzle with olive oil and bake for 10–12 minutes.
5. The mussels should have opened, and the scampi will be cooked.
IN CONVERSATION WITH
CREATE INTERIORS
Leah Hallis, Creative Director at Create Expectations and Create Interiors, shares how her journey from staging to interiors shaped her design philosophy — and why collaboration, longevity, and personality are at the heart of every project.
What inspired you to launch Create Interiors as a sister company to Create Expectations?
Create Expectations grew from the need for high-end property styling in Melbourne. Create Interiors came from the relationships we built with styling clients. That feeling when you walk into a beautifully styled home — as if it’s ready for a Vogue shoot — is powerful, but with property styling it’s only temporary. Our clients wanted the ‘Create Expectations feel’ in their new homes to be permanent.
Create Interiors became the natural progression: a full-service interior design studio translating staging expertise into longterm living spaces. Today, we collaborate with private clients on furniture, art and décor, guide full renovations, partner with builders and developers on new builds, and take on commercial projects. Many of our clients first engaged us for styling, creating a lovely throughline from staging to design.
Where do you usually begin when designing an interior — with the client, the space, or a spark of inspiration?
I always begin with the client. Trust and understanding between designer and client form the foundation of a successful project.
Of course, the space matters, but knowing the people who will live there — how they spend their time, what makes them feel at ease, and the details that bring them joy — is key for me.
Every project starts with a client’s lifestyle and story. From there, I draw inspiration from architecture, travel, nature, fashion, and my years in styling. I love the challenge of blending beauty and function to create spaces that feel not only designed but deeply personal.
Are there particular materials, finishes, colours, or design details you return to again and again?
I’m a big fan of bespoke, custom-designed bedheads. Bedrooms are often overlooked, yet we spend so much time there, and they should feel like personal sanctuaries. In many recent projects, we’ve created bedheads that combine luxury fabrics, wall coverings, integrated lighting, power, and joinery — boutique-hotel–inspired havens tailored to each client.
Beyond that, I focus on quality materials, layered textures, and thoughtful finishes to build warmth and longevity into every room.
How closely do you collaborate with clients, and what do you hope they feel when they first walk into a finished space?
Collaboration depends on the client. Some want to be deeply involved; others prefer to entrust us to manage the process end-to-end. The journey matters as much as the result. I want clients to feel excited and cared for — and when they step into their finished space, it should feel distinctly theirs: cohesive, liveable, and quietly luxurious.
What do you see as the biggest shifts in the way people want to live in their homes today?
Interior design feels more accessible than ever, no longer a service reserved only for the wealthy. People are also more thoughtful about how they furnish their homes, valuing longevity and sustainability over fast furniture.
I see more clients investing in quality pieces and being braver with personal expression — moving away from all-white spaces and injecting personality into their interiors. The result is homes that feel personal and enduring, where every element has a purpose and a story. ■
LEARN MORE
INSIDE THE ROOM WITH MENZIES
We spoke with Cameron Menzies, Chairman & Head of Private Sales at Menzies, about the strategy behind their upcoming single-lot sale and what collectors can expect this season.
To begin, could you briefly introduce Menzies to readers who may be new to your auctions: what you specialise in, how often you sell, and the types of collectors you serve?
We are a family-owned and operated auction house, based in Melbourne and Sydney, specialising in the sale of Important Australian & International Art & Sculpture. We conduct three live and one online auction per year – in April, June, August and November. In addition, we conduct private sales, provide written valuations, and offer professional art storage.
We service a broad range of collectors, from those starting out right through to sophisticated private and institutional collections. Buying and selling can be daunting, so we make it as accessible, approachable and transparent as possible. Cultivating an art collection is a wonderfully exciting endeavour, and we are passionate about guiding our clients in an inspired but highly professional and responsible manner.
You are presenting Del Kathryn Barton’s the heart land (2013–14) as a single-lot, live sale on Thursday 27 November 2025. Why a standalone format for this work, and what experience are you aiming to create for bidders on the night?
the heart land is a five-panel masterpiece by this country’s preeminent contemporary painter. It spans nine metres and could sell for as much as $2 million. Given its scale, singularity and value, it was an easy decision to give it standalone status. Our last single-lot, live sale was Brett Whiteley’s Henri’s Armchair in November 2020; it achieved $6.25 million, still the international auction record for any Australian work of art. The standalone format certainly works for the right commodity.
This model suits consignors seeking a world-class platform. For bidders, we remain committed to live auctions, which radiate excitement, entertainment and engagement. Despite the shift online in recent years, ours is a conservative business: face-to-face client engagement, rigorous catalogues, and live rooms that foster bonhomie and competition are key pillars.
How did this consignment come about? Could you provide some background on the work’s provenance and recent display history?
The painting was created over two years as a special commission for the Adelaide Biennial in 2014, then shown at Melbourne Art Fair later that year, where it promptly sold. It featured prominently in Know My Name (2020), a publicationsand-exhibitions initiative championing Australia’s living female artists, of which Del Kathryn Barton is a true pioneer.
Until recently, it hung in the home/museum of a Sydney collector, specially installed in a subterranean garage with both artificial and natural light — think MONA meets the
bat cave. Despite its size, it is versatile: it can be displayed in an L-shape on adjacent walls, or the five panels can be separated across different locations.
Looking beyond this auction, what can collectors expect from Menzies?
Alongside the Del Kathryn Barton sale, we are conducting a mixed-vendor auction of Important Australian & International Art and the Frank & Janet South Collection on 19 November in Melbourne, featuring masterpieces by Sidney Nolan, John Brack, William Robinson, Arthur Boyd, Charles Blackman and Fred Williams, alongside works across genres and price points. ■
THE LOCAL EDIT
Soul Night Market Brighton - 21st November 2025
2 Esplanade, Brighton, VIC 3187
RSPCA Victoria's Drag Bingo - 21st November 2025
520 High Street, Northcote, VIC 3070
McClelland Maker's Market - 22nd November 2025
390 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin, VIC 3910
Young | youth in Australian photography: 1980s to now - 22nd November - 22nd February
390 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin, VIC 3910
East Malvern Food and Wine Festival - 23rd November 2025
148 Burke Road, Malvern East, VIC 3145
Mount Eliza Farmers' Market - 23rd November 2025
Cnr Mt Eliza Way and Canadian Bay Road, Mount Eliza, VIC 3930
Tour de Cure - 23rd November 202526th November 2025
Victoria
The Big Design Market Melbourne 2025 - 28th November 2025 - 30 th November 2025
9 Nicholson Street, Carlton, VIC 3053
Let's Party! Fashion for Kids: Designed by Danielle Brustman - 28th November 2025 - 3rd May 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
Women Photographers 1900-1975: A Legacy of Light - 28th November 2025 - 3rd May 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
Point Nepean Portsea Market - 29th November 2025
Point Nepean Quarantine Station, Coleman Road, Portsea, VIC 3944
Boroondara Farmers Market - 29th November 2025
484 Auburn Road, Hawthorn, VIC 3122
Soul Night Market Mordialloc -5th December 2025
206-220 Bay Trail, Mordialloc, VIC 3195
Hill and Ridge Community Market - 6th
December 2025
184 Arthurs Seat Road, Red Hill, VIC 3937
Kingston Farmer's Market - 6th December 2025
3 Jean Street, Cheltenham, VIC 3192
NGV Gala - 6th December 2025
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
The Lygon Street Market - 7th December 2025
Piazza Italia, Cnr Argyle Street and Lygon Street, Carlton, VIC 3053
Westwood | Kawakubo - 7th December 2025 - 16th April 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
Heide Market - 13th December 2025
7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen, VIC 3105
Twilight Mornington Racecourse Market - 14th December 2025
320 Racecourse Road, Mornington, VIC 3931
Treasures and Tastes at Trinity Market20th December 2025
177 Union Road, Surrey Hills, VIC 3127
Martin Grant Exhibition - Until January 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
Making Good: Redesigning the Everyday - Until 1st Feburary 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
MJ The Musical - Until 1st Feburary 2026
219 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
You Are Here: Melbourne Memory-scapes - Until 6th Feburary 2025
110 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
MECCA X NGV Women in Design Commission 2025 - Until 1st April 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
Run the Tan - 26th April 2026
Tan Track, Melbourne, VIC 3004
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