Coffee Table Conversations 01 - Jemima Aldridge - Foray Design
We recently road tripped our way out to Dubbo to interview and photograph the lovely Jemima Aldridge and her breathtaking store Foray Design. An interpretive space focused on fine design and curated, aesthetic beauty through thoughtfully sourced pieces, step inside this beautiful space and enjoy our interview.
Q. You’ve recently just been overseas and we’re a little envious! Where is your favourite travel destination and why?
A - It was a very special time away, immersing myself for a few weeks in Europe. My favourite destination would be the UK with such a layered history, beautiful countryside, road trips, walks, and stunning homes and interiors to be inspired by.
Q. We’re curious, what is your favourite type of Italian food?
A- A beautiful slow cooked lamb ragu pasta. I’m also partial to a little glass of Limoncello.
Q. What are your top 5 travel essentials you cannot leave the country without?
A signature perfume. I travelled to Europe with LeLabo Noir 29
Saddler & Co leather travel collection and Mini Saddle bag
A pair of noise cancelling headphones
A beautiful dress. I love my black silk crafted in Australia by Meg by Design as it is lightweight, can be worn without ironing, and achieves an effortless elegance.
A pocket notebook for sketching ideas and jotting down travel notes/memories
Q. Life travels very quickly, what are some Small Pleasures in life that you appreciate and hold dear?
A- Slow moments with my family, being there for my sons at significant milestones, the ritual of my morning filter coffee in a handmade ceramic cup, watching the sunset over our local country fields, walking with our dogs in the local reserve, annual camping trips with family friends off the grid, unexpected sleep ins, and reading a good book by the fire.
Q. We’re truly in awe of the beautiful space you have created at Foray, where did the inspiration come from for this design and retail venture?
FORAY is an interpretation of how an authentic space can feel when influenced by nature, artistic materials, and craftsmanship. The space was born from a desire to offer exceptional items with a focus on fine design and aesthetic beauty. European romanticism combined with Australian heritage.
It can be extremely difficult to source antique wares, artisanal brands, or designer items in regional NSW. Consumers are limited to chain stores offering mass produced furniture, or else to buying online rather than driving to Sydney, hours away.
I opened FORAY in response to a desire to provide an artisan interior store destination and foster a community around beautiful objects that can't be found on the high street. I love that people can come and view items in person, and enjoy collaborative interactions with like minded brands.
Q. How do you make your house a home?
A- We are starting the slow but sure process of renovating a lovely old farmhouse into a home. I will be focusing on natural finishes, authentic materials, and beautiful elements such as hardware, ambient lighting, original art, layers of linen and a selection of antique pieces which bring warmth and character to the space.
In the meantime, it is often the simple things that make a house feel homely — such as a vase of fresh flowers, lighting candles at dinner, stacks of good books, collecting handmade pieces and using them each day, curating a mix of vintage and new.
Q. What are you currently reading?
I tend to have a stack of inspirational nonfiction books that I dip into throughout the week. Currently in my stack: The Art of Creative Thinking, which I highly recommend for bitesize thought provoking ideas, The Creative Act by Rick Rubin, How to Win Friends & Influence People… In the realm of fiction, I am returning to the works of Mary Stewart and regularly have one of her books on the go, which transports me back to Europe.
Q. What are your top tips for styling coffee table books?
A- I love stacking beautiful design books as a feature on my coffee table, and often rotate books that reflect the season or projects I’m researching.
Consider the following when styling a coffee table: placing odd numbers of beautiful books in casual stacks. Place a luxury scented candle on a ceramic plate. I also like to add antique candlesticks or a cast brass piece as an object of interest. Leave space for a vessel of fresh blooms, or a potted indoor plant. Consider adding a sculptural object to the table or placed on top of a book.
Thank you for reading and visiting us here at Small Pleasures!
You can find Jemima at FORAY DESIGN