At Home with Lucy Christopher

Writer and creator Lucy Christopher explores the intersection of food, design and culture through her work. Drawn to thoughtful spaces and the stories they hold, her home reflects the same quiet sense of curiosity, filled with collected objects, natural materials and everyday rituals. We visited Lucy to discover the pieces she lives with, the routines that ground her, and what home means to her.

01 Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.

I’m a writer, creator and most recently, a Mum to my little girl, Winnie. Of late I have definitely been working really hard at finding a new way to balance it all, but at the core of my practice, everything always comes back to her. Being a writer also means being a really good listener. To feel and understand the lives of others really is the part that excites me most. To be able to infuse that curiosity creatively with art, fashion, food and style has allowed me to go deeper and ask the questions to gently unravel parts of people that will inherently connect us even further.

02 How would you describe your home?

I share my home with my partner, Nigel, and our little girl, and it really is a calm, open space that allows for all of us to play, connect, create and grow together. Nigel is a photographer, so we aren't short on incredible pieces hanging on the walls, and we both love to collect art that is both intimate, interesting and deeply layered. Our home is bright, honest and definitely the place we can totally unravel, have a wine and close the door until the world needs us again.

03 What does home mean to you?

Home is such a big concept, it makes me think about my childhood and the core memories around the dinner table, as well as my own daughter, and the space we are making for her now. Through it all, home is a soft place to lay your head, and having people around you who allow you to be completely, wildly, wonderfully yourself. I think now that we have created a new life together, we see our home as not only a place to curate and relax, but also, for our daughter to remember as her little nest. 

04 Where do you find inspiration?

For me it's a feeling. But it has a very visceral reaction. Like goosebumps. Or your eyes watering half way through a song. I am definitely someone who looks for it everywhere, I try to find beautiful things even on the days that feel really hard. Being inspired can come in all sorts of ways and it changes all the time. Magazines, films, conversations, a text from a friend or a really cool looking person on the street. If I am moved by something, I am inspired, and that's usually how my work begins. The most unexpected moments of inspiration are for me, the most powerful.

05 What are your favourite rituals at home?

Wine. Music. Shared meals. Cuddles on the couch. It can be hard to create consistent rituals with a toddler, but one that happens no matter what, is all of us dancing in her room before bath time. She is in charge of the tunes, and we completely let go and turn into kids. Watching her is bliss. When I can, I will find a nook, pen and paper and scribble some thoughts, however, that is also just as effective on my notes app while pretending to be in the shower.

06 What's one piece in your home you couldn't live without?

This is absolutely not meant to be a cliche response, but our couch is like the fourth member of our family. Between books, snacks, family and friends visiting and after bed time glasses of wine, you can find us on the couch. Our place is open plan and full of natural light, so having a beautiful, welcoming lounger to wrap everyone up, is truly imperative to the way we live and love.

07 How has your approach to interiors changed over time?

I have always been very minimal in style. From the way I dress to the pieces that surround me, I am not drawn to bright patterns or busy colours.  Perhaps now it has become more sentimental though, the desire to create spaces and elements that really can be felt is something I have been leaning into. I love that Winnie points to a painting and has a thought about it, or she pulls a book off the shelf that Nigel has collected over time and he can talk to her about it. Designing a world she can engage in from pieces that reflect our lives before her, rather than it just being about me and my style, is probably the biggest shift within me

08 What are you reading, watching or listening to right now?

I love reading interviews from artists, musicians and creatives, and engaging in stories that don't really involve too much commitment or time. I always look forward to receiving Nick Cave's Red Hand Files, which is a weekly newsletter of his responses to questions from all over the world. His way with words has the ability to move me from the very first sentence. We always have music on and it's a very wide mix, depending on the mood. We usually find a low fi funky dj set on you tube and play it on the projector like our own little music set at home, alongside the Wiggles! I am currently very into The Assembly on ABC, which is just the most beautiful, empowering show where autistic journalism students ask famous Australians the most incredible, powerful questions. I cry every time.

09 What does considered living mean to you?

For me it’s all about tuning into empathy and always considering my impact, not just existing as if I’m invincible and won’t leave a mark. Because no matter what, we will all leave a footprint, the choice is ours. To be able to understand the power our words, thoughts, beliefs and movements have on others is a huge lesson to practice, especially today as the world sometimes feels like it's either spinning drunk or completely detached from humanity. But if I can try my best to live a life that is considerate of everyone else before me, then I can also help that seed grow for my little girl too. It all starts at home, and that's something I truly believe in, it’s the place that holds the most power to make a warm, gentle impact that can then be taken out into the world to share.