There is something wonderfully difficult to pin down about Adam Powell’s eye. One of Australia’s most established stylists, Adam has spent years creating spaces that feel instinctive rather than arranged. Polished pieces sit alongside vintage curios and raw, found textures. In his hands, the beautifully unexpected finds a natural balance.
There is a curiosity to the way he sees things that seems to have been there from the beginning. He has been described affectionately as a grown-up Boy Scout. Somehow, it fits. He collects. He notices mushrooms. He gets excited about the metallic finish of a side table and, in the same breath, the bark, berries or palm husks he found outside.
There has always been a little of the bowerbird in Adam. And since leaving Sydney with his partner Nick to become custodians of Nightcap Ridge (within the UNESCO World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforest), that instinct has found an entirely new habitat.
Adam has been gathering interesting objects for as long as he can remember.
What began as a childhood instinct has followed him into the interiors world, where his eye is less about adhering to a particular style or aesthetic and more about finding a natural relationship between objects – setting vintage alongside contemporary, or pairing a polished surface with something raw and unexpected.
When choosing pieces for this story, he visualised how they would inhabit each frame – whether placed directly out in the lush wilderness or set against a whimsical, layered interior backdrop. He was drawn to textures and materiality that could either belong naturally within those environments or create a deliberate contrast against them.
THE PIECES I CHOSE were about the location and the environment they were going to live in. I was drawn to the materiality – the finishes, the textures and the metallic gold against the landscape. MY PREFERENCE IS definitely a blend of old and new. There is something to celebrate about vintage and the uniqueness of those pieces, but bringing the two together with a clever eye – that’s the sweet spot. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN DRAWN TO interesting objects. From a very young age I was collecting beautiful things, and that instinct has stayed with me as I’ve grown into the interiors world.
Since leaving Sydney, the source material around Adam has changed considerably. Where the city offered fashion, interiors and a constant stream of visual stimulus; life in the rainforest has brought him closer to colour, texture and form in their natural state.
Nature had always informed his work, but now it is beginning to direct it. Floral arrangements might start with bark, palm husks, berries or foliage gathered from the property.
Home has become part sanctuary, part creative playground. Adam's same curious eye, now with an entirely different world at its disposal.
EVERY HOME SHOULD HAVE good lighting – warm pools of light that change the mood of a space. HOME IS somewhere there is family, connection and partnership; somewhere you can completely relax and be yourself. MY FAVOURITE ROOM IS probably the sunroom at the moment – dusty pink, rattan and cane, with beautiful afternoon light. Although the outdoor shower comes very close second. LIVING IN THE RAINFOREST HAS changed the source of inspiration around me – the colour, texture and natural material here are starting to direct the creative process in a completely different way.
With years of experience in homewares and design, we believe in considered pieces, artisanal craftsmanship, and spaces that feel collected over time. Our hope is to inspire and guide you in creating a home that feels layered, meaningful and entirely your own.
