Convict founder and designer, Karen knows where to head for retail therapy and divine design inspiration. Here is her essential to-do list when you happen to be in the right neighbourhood.
For the perfect gifts…
Mundaring Arts Centre Gift Shop
7190 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring, WA
“A fabulous spot in the Perth Hills to pick up local arts and crafts from almost 350 artists from all over WA. I go for the superb textiles, ceramics and collection of art books.”
For cool homewares…
Bird Lifestyle
8 Glyde St, Mosman Park, WA
“Owner Rebecca Johnson has an incredible eye and knack for selecting the coolest pieces for home, that you won’t see anywhere else. Toffee-coloured leather square pouffes from Morocco, hand crafted pottery from Byron Bay, authentic Turkish towels and Australian home ware brands like Rachel Castle and Elise Cakebread. I dare you to leave empty-handed.”
For vintage-style…
Lazybones
“I love the relaxed approach and vintage feel of this brand. My favourite piece is their Marilyn dress in Limetree. I have several versions of it. It’s my summer-go-to frock.”
My Sydney fashion fix…
Strelitzia
327 Darling Street, Balmain, NSW
“A real institution. It’s always brimming with a well-edited selection of cutting edge designers from all over the globe.”
My escape….
COMO The Treasury
1 Cathedral Avenue, Perth, WA
“Home-away-from-home and beautifully located in the CBD. It’s just been voted the second best hotel in the world by Conde Nast. Need I say more?”
My favourite food….
Long Chim
Barrack St & St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA
”My favourite restaurant serving up the most exquisite Thai food. I order the Steamed curry of barramundi with Thai basil. It’s off-the-scale.”
For hot fashion…
Emporio Store
271 Rokeby Rd, Subiaco, WA
“A long-time favourite and go-to of mine. I love the clash of colours from Romance was Born, and Danish label Raaine for its subtlety and simplicity of design.”
For shoes….
124 Shoes
“Think hand-crafted, beautiful leather, extreme fit and uber-comfortable. The perfect aesthetic and shoe for my personal style.”
For fossiking…
The Big Design Market
Royal Hall of Industries, Sydney 25–27 November 2016
Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne 2–4 December 2016
“The place to go to source the very best in homeware, fashion, furniture and lifestyle products, all by independent designers. It’s nirvana.”