Since we last caught up you’ve moved to Sydney. Where have you settled and what drew you to this part of the city? We’re in the eastern suburbs, close to the water and surrounded by a lot of green. It’s a quiet pocket, with a mix of Federation-era homes and elegant apartment blocks from the 1930s. There’s an ease to this part of Sydney — a balance between community and calm — which felt important coming from Aotearoa. The slower rhythm and sense of neighbourhood really drew us in.
Tell us a little about your home. How have you shaped the space to feel like your own? We live in an art deco apartment, a small brick building with just seven others. It has distinctive characteristics of the period that we fell in love with: high ceilings, ornate mouldings, timber floorboards, penny tiles and a deep enamel bath tub. When we bought it, the space felt a little tired after years as a rental, but we’ve slowly restored it with care. We wanted it to feel understated and tranquil, uncluttered but warm, where everything has a sense of purpose and place.
Where do you work from and what kind of environment supports your creativity and focus? I work between our studio and home. I find I’m most focused in calm, visually minimal spaces. Natural light, order and a quiet atmosphere are essential. I also value time spent in conversation with [co-founder of Baina] Anna, our team or creative collaborators, as that’s where new ideas often surface.
How do you structure your days to balance the demands of running a business with time for yourself? It always begins slowly — coffee, a walk with my dog and time with my husband before the day accelerates. I’ve learned to build rhythm rather than strict routine, allowing room for both structure and pause. The balance shifts from day to day, but I try to hold on to small rituals that create a sense of grounding amid the movement.
What has been the most significant change in your life since relocating — personally or professionally? The move has offered new perspective. It’s allowed me to engage more directly with our Australian network and community. There’s a freshness to seeing things from a slightly different vantage point.
How has Baina evolved in this time, and what are you most excited about in its current chapter? When Anna [Fahey] and I first imagined Baina, we spoke often about what bathing represented: a ritual, a quiet pause, a moment to reconnect with self. Over the last six years, Baina has grown into a more holistic expression of bathing — from our foundation in towelling, to our more recent extension into apothecary. Our evolution has been organic, led by intrigue in how design can enhance daily ritual. I’m most excited by the continued exploration of the practice of bathing: uncovering how we can continue to serve our customers in this space.
In terms of the apothecary range of products, tell us about the intention behind this new addition to the offering? The intention was to deepen the bathing experience. We wanted to translate the tactile and visual world of Baina into a sensory one, through texture and aroma. Each formulation was developed to ground and calm.
What’s inspiring you creatively right now, within or beyond design? I’m drawn to the intersection of design and wellbeing — how objects, scent and materiality influence how we feel. Beyond design, I find inspiration in nature, architecture and the rhythm of domestic life — the quiet repetition of everyday acts done with care.
You’ve lived and worked in Aotearoa and Australia. How do you see the creative communities in each place influencing your approach? Aotearoa instilled in me a sense of grounded creativity — design that’s humble, resourceful and deeply connected to place. Australia has a confidence and openness that feels expansive. Baina exists somewhere between those two energies — thoughtful yet forward-looking.
How does the sensory experience of your apartment — light, scent, sound — influence your state of mind? Light has such an impact on my mood; the morning sun streaming into our kitchen is a daily joy. I gravitate toward natural scent — wood, resin, the freshness of open air. Sound, or often silence, is essential. These elements work quietly in the background, helping me feel present and balanced.
You’ve built a brand around the ritual of bathing and self-care. What do those rituals look like for you personally? For me, bathing is a way to reset — a pause that separates one part of the day from another. It’s a gentle transition, and a signal to my body to exhale, find stillness and reset. I use that time to disconnect from the day and reconnect with myself. It’s less about luxury and more about presence. Small rituals return me to myself.
When you need to unwind or recharge, where do you go? I love Wylie’s Baths near Coogee Beach, the meditative nature of swimming in saltwater and the simplicity of that experience. I also find calm in time spent outdoors, especially near the ocean. It’s the most natural way to find clarity.
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Interview Alice Lines
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