designer rachel castle
The other day at work I was flicking through a stack of interior mags - it's my job, honest!!! - and even though I do fantasise about living in a white house I am instantly drawn to any image with colour. I had a paroxysm of delight when I saw Matthew Williamson's London home in the latest issue of Elle Decoration. Anyway, I think a more realistic option for me would be to pursue something like what Rachel Castle has achieved with these gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous images of her products. White background. Tick. Bursts of colour. Tick.
After working in London and setting up a design and branding agency there - where she created catalogues for Conran Shops - Rachel has returned to Sydney and established CASTLE, which produces beautiful bedlinen and handcrafted artworks (with the help of her mother Jillian Patching). The dots (you can see them as artworks on her website) kind of remind of some of Damien Hirsts' artworks.
Which five words best describe you? Loyal, fastidious, persistent, reliable and sometimes chaotic - from what I'm told!
What was your first job and what path have you taken since? Marketing the homeware range at Country Road in the late eighties, working with Terence Conran and then our own branding agency in the UK during the nineties, back home in Australia the last few years working with artist David Band in Melbourne before starting CASTLE in Sydney in 2008.
What's your proudest achievement? My marriage - it's hard yakka staying married to the person you love!
Who inspires you? My beautiful, funny little children, and all the colour they bring to our lives.
What are you passionate about? All the ings... sewing, printing, painting, knitting, cooking, and especially, my all time favorite, singing.
What's the best lesson you've learnt? If you want the bed made nicely don't ask your husband to do it.
Which living person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Shane McGowan and Kirsty McColl together.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Going on holiday with my best friend when she finally finishes her PHD sometime this CENTURY!
What are you reading? Independence Day by Richard Ford
What was your first job and what path have you taken since? Marketing the homeware range at Country Road in the late eighties, working with Terence Conran and then our own branding agency in the UK during the nineties, back home in Australia the last few years working with artist David Band in Melbourne before starting CASTLE in Sydney in 2008.
What's your proudest achievement? My marriage - it's hard yakka staying married to the person you love!
Who inspires you? My beautiful, funny little children, and all the colour they bring to our lives.
What are you passionate about? All the ings... sewing, printing, painting, knitting, cooking, and especially, my all time favorite, singing.
What's the best lesson you've learnt? If you want the bed made nicely don't ask your husband to do it.
Which living person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Shane McGowan and Kirsty McColl together.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Going on holiday with my best friend when she finally finishes her PHD sometime this CENTURY!
What are you reading? Independence Day by Richard Ford
Images courtesy of CASTLE