GIFT IDEA | Kara Rosenlund | Shelter

Photos and Styling by Kara Rosenlund

KARA ROSENLUND SHELTER -  a celebration of the quintessentially Australian landscapes and interiors that we call home.

Kara Rosenlund is not only an award winning photographer, stylist and now author, she also happens to be an incredibly genuine person who has worked so very hard  perfecting her craft. Undoubtably the highlight of Kara's year was launching her breathtaking book of photographs in 'Shelter' - an ode to the beauty of the Australian countryside. The real Australia. This has been a passion project of Kara's for some time. Kara has travelled all over the country to seek out authentic, appealing and intriguing Australian interiors and has documented them in Shelter, with her trademark honest and poignant style.

On her year-long journey, Kara wandered off the beaten track, across regional and remote Australia, to find the houses she wanted to document — houses whose beauty and charm told their own story. Each stunning image gives you a glimpse into their history; the abandoned cottage saved from decay by its determined new owners; the shipping container repurposed into an eco-friendly dwelling; the cliff-top hideaway overlooking the sea; or just a few of the many shacks dotted around the country, which have had new life breathed into them by their loving owners.

The landscape is ever-present: from the rock shelf and the plains; the salt bush or the high country; down to the sand dunes or along the bridle track, the subtle influence it has on each dwelling is as powerful as the indelible mark left by its owners.

Kara Rosenlund’s love of the ‘beautiful and tired, rambling and crumbling’, and her gift for storytelling, ensures this is a book full of character and emotion. There is a little piece of Kara's personality on every page, and it was a real treat to attend her book launch in Sydney earlier this year. Kara signed every single book for her loyal fans, and responds to almost every single comment on instagram - truly dedicated to her fans and online community. 

It was a joy to see one of my family's special places 'Little Garie' feature in Shelter too. These shacks at Little Garie beach have long been a retreat for my husband and his friends and family, a surfers hideaway, away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney, passed down from one generation to the next, and sitting oh so comfortably on the hill overlooking one of the best kept surfing secrets in town and one my favourite places in the world - Garie Beach. 

Kara Rosenlund is an Australian photographer, stylist, adventurer and travelling vintage wares retailer. She was the youngest person to win the much acclaimed Canon Australian Institute of Professional Photography 'AIPP Photographer of the Year' title, and built a successful freelance career taking photographs for magazines and advertising campaigns. Her work has also been included in many prestigious exhibitions and acquired in permanent collections both locally and abroad, most notably a solo exhibition at the Sydney Opera House. Relocating from Sydney to London in 2007, she pursued her love for interiors through prop styling, sourcing and buying throughout Europe. Returning to Australia in 2010 she created the much loved 'Travelling Wares' caravan pop up – housed in a 1956 caravan called Frankie, touring the nation selling utilitarian vintage pieces for the home. Kara was recently named by UK interiors 'bible' Elle Decoration as 'A Modern Day Martha Stewart'.

In addition to Shelter the book which is now on its second print run, the good news is that Kara has made her amazing photographs into a limited edition series of prints, that can be purchased online. If you purchase by Sunday you might just have the chance to give someone special one of these amazing prints for Christmas. 

Congratulations to my friend Kara Rosenlund on an incredible year and no doubt continued success to follow. I say this often. Good things happen to good people. In this case success couldn't have happened to a better more honest and true human. 

To purchase Shelter and the beautiful photographic prints, please visit Kara's online shop and be sure to place your order BY SUNDAY to avoid missing out.