This Manly home embodies holistic, beautiful design

Images by: Kenyon Batterson

Our friend Liz Linforth (of leading interior design firm Studio Mae fame) takes a wholehearted approach to holistic design. Far from just a buzzword, Liz and her partner Mima design with aesthetics, planet and everyday wellbeing in mind. All in the name of creating the calmest, healthiest space to live in.

Duvet Cover in Rosewood, Flat Sheet in Natural Stripes, Fitted Sheet in Natural Stripes, Standard Pillowcase set in Rosewood

Founded in 2018 and operating out of both London and Australia, they combine scientific research, psychology, design principles and an eye-for-gorgeous-detail to curate unique, tranquil and better-for-you homes.

So, when it came to her own Manly home, Liz really knew how to make the most of the space. The result is the epitome of her design ethos. It’s pared back, beautiful and oozes a sense of calm.

Linen Placemat Set in Sand, Linen Napkin Set in Tobacco

Here, her clever use of colour and light are on full display, where bright white walls are paired with natural colours and materials. Including C+G linens, which slot in beautifully with her pared back styling, wooden floorboards and the warm and neutral palette. The result feels minimal but cosy, literally and figuratively allowing you breathing room.

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Duvet Cover in Rosewood, Flat Sheet in Natural Stripes, Fitted Sheet in Natural Stripes, Standard Pillowcase set in Rosewood, Shirt in Pencil Stripes, Shorts in Pencil Stripes

We recently paid her Manly home a visit and entering her space was like letting out a big exhale. We sat down with Liz and chatted to her about her thoughtful, practical design and treading lightly on our precious planet. Plus, she gave us some brilliant tips for curating your best night’s sleep yet. Read on below!

Linen Placemat Set in Sand, Linen Napkin Set in Tobacco

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C+G: At Carlotta + Gee, we are big fans of you and Studio Mae Interiors and your ethos — can you tell us a bit about you and your company?

LL: At Studio Mae we do things differently to other interior designers. We bring together wellness and interior design to elevate a space from an aesthetically beautiful one to an interior that affects people on a much deeper, psychological level. We do this by leading our clients to mindful interiors that enhance wellbeing through connection to natural elements, materials and textiles. By using proven design treatments and research, we produce calm, nurturing spaces that are sustainable, healthy, timeless and beautiful.

C+G: Your business partner Mima lives in London, can you tell us about how you both started?

LL: Mima and I met in 2016, working together at a London architectural firm where (being two Aussies) we bonded over Tim-Tams and a shared passion for the same pared-back aesthetic that we felt brought calm and connection to nature for projects we worked on.

Mima quickly became my ‘work wife’ as we chatted for hours about our mutual interests in wellness, colour psychology, sustainability and the power of the mind. It was kind of a lightbulb moment when we decided to bring wellness and conscious design together. It was something we’d always naturally gravitated towards but, with Studio Mae, we wanted to make that connection even more deliberate.

C+G: Your business partner Mima lives in London, can you tell us about how you both started?

LL: Mima and I met in 2016, working together at a London architectural firm where (being two Aussies) we bonded over Tim-Tams and a shared passion for the same pared-back aesthetic that we felt brought calm and connection to nature for projects we worked on.

Mima quickly became my ‘work wife’ as we chatted for hours about our mutual interests in wellness, colour psychology, sustainability and the power of the mind. It was kind of a lightbulb moment when we decided to bring wellness and conscious design together. It was something we’d always naturally gravitated towards but, with Studio Mae, we wanted to make that connection even more deliberate.

Duvet Cover in Rosewood, Flat Sheet in Natural Stripes, Fitted Sheet in Natural Stripes, Standard Pillowcase set in Rosewood, Shirt in Pencil Stripes, Shorts in Pencil Stripes

C+G: What are the different factors to your business that stand you out from the others?

LL: We do things differently here at Studio Mae, we are always about making spaces feel better on every level – visually, mentally and physically. For us design isn’t just a look, it’s design with feeling. It’s conscious. By conscious we mean design that is thoughtful, practical and enables us to tread very lightly on our planet. We use products that have a positive impact on wellbeing, which means non-toxic, eco-friendly and pieces that are designed to last through the generations. And through our extensive address book we do so without compromising on style, comfort and amenity.

C+G: What are one or two little tips that people can try at home to ensure they have a ‘healthy home’ and can you explain this concept?

LL: A healthy home simply is mindful interior decorating for a better quality of life. Essentially choosing pieces and finishes that support our health. For immediate boost to health, we always encourage clients to start with the bedroom. Not only do we spend most of our time in this room, but sleep quality is one of the biggest influences on our health. It affects our hormones, brain function & memory, our energy and emotions... so definitely something we want to get right.

1. Mattress Selection: Unfortunately most mattresses are very harmful to our health as flame retardant chemicals are often used. These fire resistant chemicals contain boric acid, antimony and halogenated flame retardants, which have been linked to issues with brain development and nerve function in children. We always recommend choosing naturally made mattresses that use non-toxic materials like wool that are naturally fire resistant.

2. Window Coverings: it's really important to dress your windows with drapes and blinds to make it easy to adapt your room to a change in light. A black-out blind or curtains should be used if your bedroom faces the sun in the evening. They also help to keep the glow from streetlights and traffic hidden from view as these can interrupt sleep. Similarly, your aim should be to wake up with the sun (this depends on where you live and the time of year). Light sheers allow the soft light from sunrise to enter and wake you naturally, which will help to reset your circadian clock.

C+G: What do you love about sleeping in linen?

LL: Linen is always our bedding of choice as it meets our high standards. From a wellbeing perspective, linen is a natural flax based fibre meaning that it is good for us and the planet. During use, it will not be leaching any harmful toxins into our blood via our skin and at the end of its life cycle it can easily decompose. Aesthetically, we love the quality of linen as it emulates relaxed luxury, a feeling we bring to all our projects. Not all linen is made equal though, we love specifying Carlotta + Gee as we only choose supplies that have a strong ethical conscience when it comes to manufacturing because we really do care about the materials we use and their impact on the environment as well as the people involved.

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