A love of all things handmade, a home full of collected treasures and a serious appreciation for colour and pattern. This week, our Home Life Series takes us inside the Barwon Heads home of Chantal Hoare, founder of colourful kaftan label Textili.Together with her husband Tom, Chantal has transformed a humble 1980s brick cottage into a character-filled family home, where handwoven textiles, block-printed fabrics and one-of-a-kind finds from around the world take centre stage.We chat with Chantal about her passion for craftsmanship, the travels that inspire her creative world, and the joy of filling a home with pieces that tell a story.
Hey Chantal, thank you so much for welcoming us into your beautiful home in Barwon Heads. For those who may not know you, can you tell us a little about who lives in this beautiful home with you?
My husband Tom, son Luca (13), daughter Olive (10) & our first baby, our dog Frankie who is 15 years old.
You and Tom made the move from inner-city Melbourne to Barwon Heads way back in 2010. Take us back to then, what was it about this little coastal town that made you want to leave Melbourne and build a family home here?
Tom planted the seed & we started considering our options which were as far as Spain & then Queensland but with children in our near future we landed on the Victorian coast not far from Melbourne. I grew up in NZ in a small coastal town so it felt right to settle here & plan to have kids in this kind of environment.
The house was originally a tiny 1980s brick cottage with a saggy tiled roof, fast forward to the renovation - how did you and Tom approach turning that humble two-bedroom cottage into a home that could grow with your family, while still keeping a little piece of its original story?
We started with an extension in 2015 to make space for our growing family but when it came to renovating the original cottage we had a great architect that understood the brief from the beginning so the process was seamless. The layout has similarities to the original house so the outlook from a few of the rooms is the same which feels nice & familiar.
With Tom bringing his building expertise through Momentom Built and you bringing your creative eye to the interiors, what was it like renovating your own home together? What was the design brief, your must have and were there any big design debates along the way?
It was our first time working together & it went surprisingly well! I had an old school powerpoint doc that I kept throwing images into & would revise & replan along the way. Seeing as Tom was the builder I had the flexibility to choose things as we went rather than having to hand over the majority of decisions at the beginning of the project. I work better under pressure so this situation worked well for me.
You’ve described yourselves as homebodies who could happily hide away here for days, and with the beach, pool and garden all playing such a big role in family life, it feels like the house was designed around how you actually live. What are the little rituals, spaces or moments at home that make you feel most settled and most like yourselves?
Cooking has become a real pleasure now that I finally have a proper kitchen — the first one I've had in my adult life. It looks out over the pool, which is lovely in summer with the kids swimming and all the doors thrown open. Those are the moments I love most. In winter, the fireplace (from the original house) is lit every evening, and it heats most of the home beautifully — we rarely need to turn the heaters on, preferring the residual warmth instead.
You’re also the founder of Textili Kaftans, creating beautifully embroidered kaftans inspired by a love of colour, print and travel. Tell us a little about the story behind Textili — what sparked the idea, and what keeps you excited about the brand today?
I've worked with a number of fashion brands, both large and small, so I know the production process inside and out — what I really wanted was to learn the other side of running a business. I just needed the right product. On a trip to Mexico, I was struck by the local women wearing huipils (traditional, colourful woven dresses), and that inspiration became the starting point for creating my own version.
As a designer, colour, texture and pattern are such a big part of your creative world — and we can see little pieces of that throughout the home, from the lamps to the colours and textures. Where do you find inspiration, and how much does your work with Textili influence the way you approach your own interiors?
I have a real love for anything handmade — whether it's clothes or homewares. Woven, stitched, knitted, moulded, hand-dyed, embroidered, sculpted — you name it, I love it. So when it came to decorating the house, I trawled the internet for special, unique pieces from around the world. Going to the "curtain shop" and flipping through his folder of fabrics felt uninspiring, so instead I found some beautiful ikat and block-printed fabrics from India on Etsy and had curtains from those. I think because my job has always involved sourcing/developing products with offshore manufacturers I wasn't afraid to try different options — some worked, and some didn't!!
Anything else you would like to mention…?
I feel that Textili Kaftans is very aligned with Kip & Co when it comes to colour & fun & products that tell a story. I'm dying to visit the new shop to find a few special pieces to add to our home.
Fast 5:
1. Favourite coffee spot in Barwon Heads? Cofetti for all your coffee & baked goods needs!
2. Favourite city or destination for inspiration? Morocco - I've only been once & need to again.
3. Favourite room in your house? Kitchen/Dining - the high ceilings, soft colours & those lights over the dining table.
4. Who is your style muse? For interiors I love Anna Spiro (I used her wallpaper in a bathroom & also her fabric on a daybed). For fashion I couldn’t pick one, but I really try to buy from Australian brands & support small businesses (now I understand what it means to run your own business).
5. Dream holiday destination? Greece! We are going next year & I'm excited to look for some new products - they have very cute handmade footwear there!
