A slice of Euro-summer - Inside photographer Kate Shanasy's Blairgowrie home

This week on the Home Life Series, we’re bringing you a slice of Euro-summer as we introduce you to the Blairgowrie home of Kate Shanasy, an incredibly talented photographer who travels the globe documenting picture-perfect beaches, endless summers and everything in between. 

Kate lives out her dream job fantasy, spending her days traveling the world freelancing in writing, photography, videography, and editing. Her latest photography series, LEMON DELIGHT ‘delizia al limone’, captures the idyllic beaches of Southern Italy with a keen eye for life’s simple pleasures. Her home and life on the Mornington Peninsula seemingly reflects this same ethos of balance and beauty. 

Kate’s creativity doesn’t stop there, as with the help of her friend Dan, of Daniel Fulton Landscapes, her front garden was transformed into a breathtaking oasis, buzzing with a busy beehive, in just one week! Keep reading for a taste of Euro-inspired living and Kate’s expert tips on bringing that little slice of summer into your own home.

Hi Kate! We are huge fans of your incredible work and have been counting down the days to finally meet you! For those who haven’t yet heard of you, can you please introduce yourself?

The feeling is mutual! I’m Kate: a rockpool admirer & sweet treat pleasure seeker, who at the moment, appears to be making a living out of it!

You’ve been a busy bee over the past year, travelling and shooting photography for work all around the world. What has your creative journey been like to date and was this something you’ve always wanted to pursue?

A chaotic creative journey is a rite of passage for all creatives! Reflecting on the last decade, it’s been wonderfully all over the shop; studying architecture & urban design, then film & tv production, which helped me get a sweet gig at Mushroom Records, all the while; contributing stories to a (then) small and underground publication called Broadsheet. My first article was published in June 2014 and since then, I’ve been hooked to know everyone’s business and share the delights of my explorations wherever I go in whatever medium and to whoever wants to hear, pretty much. I love it! 

I think if that was the case I would have studied photography! Or journalism even! I prefer to work and live with a very open mind, allowing the natural flow and serendipity of things falling into place. I live for surprises and expecting the unexpected. In saying that, I used to laugh with friends and family that one day I’d get paid to travel and specifically, to visit the Taj Mahal. It was a joke though. Who actually gets paid to travel? That’s silly, but then you get a phone call and you’re on a plane to do exactly that; capture the Taj Mahal with Broadsheet and Intrepid Travel. So the dream is happening and what’s important now is to stay the course and enjoy every second of it, which of course, I am!

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Your latest photography series, ‘LEMON DELIGHT’, beautifully captures the idyllic beaches of Southern Italy. What is it about colourful umbrellas, crystal clear water and locals lazing in the sun that inspired this body of work?

Hahah well it’s all about life’s simple pleasures! A bit of sun, beach, cake, activity, friends, family, solitude and not checking the time cause who cares? That’s the heartbeat of the Mediterranean coastlines in the summer: it’s open ended and the day fills out with excitement, rest & spontaneity. What inspires me about the Mediterranean lifestyle beyond the colourful umbrellas and crystal clear waters is the culture in general to balance pleasure with self-control. It’s an art form not to over do it, or under do it. There’s a time and place for it all, and I think that’s a level of sophistication I can really appreciate. I hope the LEMON DELIGHT ‘delizia al limone’ series of beach scenes evokes the zesty-fresh and creamy-indulgence of this sentiment.

For those who don’t get to experience Euro-summer in person this year, what are your tips for bringing a bit of that breezy, summer feeling into your home every day?

I think to enjoy a bit of a Euro-summer feeling (without the most crucial part; the sun) is about bringing your simple pleasures into your daily lifestyle. This idea of abstinence and then splurging and overdoing it is not the Euro-summer way so just enjoy it all when you want it and practice self-control. One of my greatest treats while over here is to take myself out for cake. I choose a cafe that’s far away with beautiful scenery to explore and then I sit, observe, maybe do a bit of work and I eat my cake with the biggest grin on my face every time. If that’s not your jam, buy one of my Italian coastline prints from my latest series, LEMON DELIGHT! Or do both! Get your cake and eat it too.

Now onto your amazing Mornington Peninsula home. Your front garden is absolutely breathtaking, and we heard you personally transformed it in just one week! What inspired this makeover, and why was it such a top priority for you when you first moved in?

Yes, my garden baby! Let’s talk about it. I had the help from my extraordinarily brilliant friend Dan of Daniel Fulton Landscapes. The transformation took one week, however the design and inspo took many months during covid lockdown when I had the time to muse. What inspired the makeover was simply seeing its potential; a jungle of obnoxious weeds where a native oasis could exist to share with friends, family & wildlife. I came across a photo of Fiona Brockhoff’s Karkalla garden and her seachange story resonated with me. Often, you can hear the ocean from my garden and in spring, the smell of honey-scented tea trees is divine. I wanted to provide more reasons to be outside, savouring these simple natural pleasures longer. That’s why there’s an outdoor bath, shower and fire-pit area. I love a creative project to really sink into and the timing of this one felt especially gorgeous to start this new chapter of my life down the coast with a garden that grows so we can evolve together. Cute.

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A sweet addition to your garden is the busy beehive! What tips can you offer for someone looking to start beekeeping and overcome any fears or misconceptions?

I think to enjoy a bit of a Euro-summer feeling (without the most crucial part; the sun) is about bringing your simple pleasures into your daily lifestyle. This idea of abstinence and then splurging and overdoing isn’t easily sustainable and not the Euro-summer way. It’s better to just enjoy a little in the moment and practice self-control. There’ll be tomorrow for more - we love an abundance mindset! I’ve developed a sweet habit while traveling, which is to take myself out for a slice of cake! I choose a cafe that’s far away with beautiful scenery along the way and then I sit, observe, maybe do a bit of work and I eat my cake with the biggest grin on my face every time. If you’re in Melbourne and salivating for an authentic taste of the Amalfi Coast, I’d head to Pulcinella Cafe in Brunswick for a ‘delizia al limone’ (what my print series is named after). Alessandro and his team supplied my LEMON DELIGHT exhibition with over 100 of these cakes! Heads up: call in advance to have one set aside for you as they’re made to order or sell out fast on weekends. Another fabulous way to bring a slice of the Euro-summer vibes home is to buy one of my Italian coastline prints in the delizia al limone series! Or do both - have your cake and eat it too, as they say!