A DAY OF ELEGANCE AND ENTERTAINING AT ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST PUBLISHED HOMES

Following the success of The Art of Living Well in 2022, this year's Masterclass is set to be an experience to surpass all others. Hosted by Charlotte Coote at her coveted Mount Macedon home, with international guest speakers Mark D. Sikes and Serena Crawford as well as leading Australian landscape designer Paul Bangay.

The all-day masterclass, on Thursday 16th November 2023, will be spent immersed in the luscious mountain setting of the famous private home and garden, Marnanie. Focusing on interiors, gardens, travel and entertaining, the day will commence with Charlotte's open home where she will discuss her designs, and the stories and processes behind them.

Paul will follow with a walking garden tour, imparting his boundless knowledge of garden design. You will be treated to a glamorous long table lunch where you will enjoy delicious seasonal produce by Cookes Food, paired with Pommery Champagne. Mark will regale his impressive and notable design stories.

The afternoon will be 'In Conversation' with Mark, Serena, Paul and Charlotte discussing all things design, gardening and travel. There will be stories from their diverse careers, priceless tips and the opportunity to ask your questions to these industry leaders. Wrapping up the day will be a decadent high tea and gift bags full of surprises from our speakers and sponsors.

MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Charlotte Coote

Charlotte is a leader in Australian classic contemporary interior design, with an elegance that transcends fleeting trends. Having worked on projects throughout Europe and America, she brings a unique and international approach to her work which showcases her five principles of design - Timelessness, Authenticity, Lifestyle, Scale and Quality. Revered for her sense of style and boldness, Charlotte mixes colours, textures and patterns to achieve rich and layered interiors. She has recently published her first book Colour Is Home and is regularly featured in Australian and international design magazines. She has been a key note speaker at Decor and Design and has produced installations for the National Gallery of Victoria.

Mark D. Sikes

Mark D. Sikes is an esteemed interior designer and tastemaker working on projects throughout the United States and abroad, including the White House and Blair House. He is known for all-American sensibilities and a fresh take on classical aesthetics. Mark has a talent for creating beautiful and timeless interiors that embody an indoor/outdoor lifestyle.

His rooms have been much celebrated, and his work has been featured in numerous design magazines and show houses. Mark is a current member of the AD100 list and Elle Decor’s A-List for both 2021 and 2022. Mark has several ongoing product collaborations including décor with Anthropologie, fabric with Schumacher, furniture with Chaddock, and lighting with Hudson Valley Lighting. He is excited to announce upcoming collaborations with Samuel & Sons, Perennials, Chesney’s, and Modern Matter.

Mark’s first book, Beautiful, was a New York Times best seller and was followed up by More Beautiful, which debuted in 2020. Mark is currently working on his third book with Rizzoli featuring interiors throughout the country. His highly anticipated fourth book with Rizzoli will chronicle the process of building his new home, Orange Hill Farm, in Ojai, California, a personal project that will become the backdrop for his brand and firm.

Mark seeks to create beautiful interiors and, above all, a more beautiful world. Beauty is everywhere. It surrounds us each and every day; all we have to do is look.

Serena Crawford

For the last 45 years, Serena Crawford has been a builder, designer and decorator of houses. Many of Serena’a projects are located in Sydney, NSW and her first garden was designed by Paul Bangay in the early 90s. Unlike many others designers, Serena has mostly worked on one project at a time with herself as the client. Serena has been involved in boutique hotels, safari camp design and troubleshooting hotel design. She is now working on small projects across Europe and has recently started offering insider tours focused on design, artisanship and having fun in places she loves and knows the best. Serena's knowledge of high end travel in unmatched.

Paul Bangay

Paul Bangay is undoubtedly one of Australia's pre-eminent landscape designers and gardening authorities. The author of eleven books (1996-2020), his work has been featured in a dozen other titles, and in countless magazines over the course of his thirty-year career. In 2001, Bangay was recognised with the Centenary Medal (General List) and in 2018 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to landscape architecture.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS