Adam Lester, Caro Toledo and Family
The Brisbane home of Adam Lester, Caro Toledo and family. Artwork (left) in dining room by Caro Toledo. Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
View from loungeroom to dining room. Rock artwork by Justine Wake, globe lamp by Maren Kohlwage. Arkie the dog lounges in the doorway! Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Living room details. Artwork clockwise from the top left – Photograph by Bella Seib, Print by Maria Meagher, Photograph by Maren Kohlwage, collage by Caro Toledo, print by A. Cieslarc, diorama and collage by Caro Toledo, artwork on top of the door by Justine Wake. Queen of Benin bronze head bought in Cameroon. Paper polygons Caro Toledo, Douglas Snelling chair (FOUND ON THE STREET in Sydney!! – not recently I hope!). Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Due to popular demand today we FINALLY have brisbane home to share…! I made a little trip to Queensland a month or two ago and was lucky to shoot three beautiful homes with immensely talented Brisbane-based photographer Jared Fowler, and today is the first we have to share!
This amazing character-filled timber home in Brisbane’s West End is home to artists Adam Lester (originally from Melbourne) and Caro Toledo (originally from France) and their children, 8 year old twins Chilli and Arlo – plus Arkie the dog and PP the cat! It’s a typical rambling and charmingly wonky Queenslander, sitting right on the banks of the Brisbane river amongst overgrown greenery. The main living areas of the home are raised off the ground in typical Queensland style, and the large ground level ‘basement’ serves as Adam’s art studio. Amazingly, despite proximity to the river, Adam and Caro’s home miraculously escaped damage during the 2010 / 2011 Brisbane floods. Incredibly lucky. The river is literally metres from the backdoor!
Though their home is rented, the colour palette here couldn’t be a more perfect backdrop for Adam and Caro’s eclectic collection of artwork, furnishings and trinkets. The family have been here just over two years, and in that time have certainly put their creative stamp on the place – artwork by both Caro and Adam fills the space, as do many pieces by clever creative friends.
There’s something uniquely special and kind of weirdly ‘familiar’ about this home, and after reviewing these shots just now, I think I’ve just realised why that is. It feels just like a film set. I think this has to do with the larger than life colour palette (peppermint green never looked so good!), aged to hazy perfection on all those amazing timber panelled walls. There’s just something so rich and layered about this home – it perfectly reflects the creative family who live here, yet also has a unique history and character all its own.
Adam has recently exhibited at the Melbourne Art Fair with his Adelaide gallery (Hill Smith Gallery) and is working towards solo shows in Sydney and Adelaide next year. Stay tuned for a series of screen prints and a new Adam Lester website, coming soon! He is represented by Jan Murphy Gallery in Brisbane, who very kindly put us in touch for this feature. Thankyou Jan!
Massive thanks to Adam and Caro for sharing their home with us today!
Loungeroom details. Dotty Dots (gold) by Chilli Toledo Lester, embroidered leather diver by Maren Kohlwage and motorbike painting in bedroom by Adam Lester. Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Artwork in Arlo’s bedroom – ‘The Pacesetting Superbikes’, 122cm x 122cm, mixed media on canvas, by Adam Lester. Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
The faded tropical sunset poster in the kitchen is one of Caro’s favourite treasures – ‘because it makes me happy to look at it every time’ she says. Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Sweet details, including collages by Caro Toledo. Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Artwork on green wall by Jonathon Oxlade, vintage Négresse Verte print (right hand wall). Trophy sculpture by Chilli Toledo Lester and wire ‘Love vessel’ by Maren Kohlwage. Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Artwork by Adam Lester. Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Adam’s studio under the house. Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Adam’s studio pinboard. Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Adam’s studio. Red painting titled ‘en su tinta’, 122 x 150 cm, mixed media on truck tarp by Adam Lester. Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Adam in his studio – painting behind is a work in progress. Photography – Jared Fowler, Styling / Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
