Think of Italy, and you probably think of pizza. Think of cheese, and you probably think of wine. Think of grazing tables, and you probably think of Lia Townsend. Or if you don’t, chances are you will soon.

As the Founder and Director of Stories to Gather – a boutique brand specialising in events, grazing tables and artisan hampers – she’s changing the way Sydney celebrates food, one tablescape at a time. The newest iteration of the brand is a physical space in Rozelle, aptly named ‘Casa di Stories to Gather’. It’s a place that celebrates connection and all things epicurean, and one that’s been designed in tandem with multidisciplinary creative studio The Make Haus.

 

We’re fortunate to be visiting Lia in the Casa today. She welcomes us in as if it’s her home, and generously sets the scene, talking us through not only her career journey but the intricacies of the space that surrounds us. Light streams through floor-to-ceiling windows, complimented by the glow of vintage Murano wall sconces. A burl wood dining table is topped with roses, and a 19th century still life painting sits in an ornate frame. The hero is a marble kitchen and workbench that anchors the room, topped with delicacies that have led Lia to where she is today.  

 

Bringing the space to life while running the Stories to Gather business has been no small task, but creating a welcoming environment is a skill that Lia is familiar with, and extends beyond any one physical form. “I’ve always had a love affair with food and its ability to bring people together. I grew up in an Italian household and often helped my grandmother prepare lunch. I’ve so many special memories of family and friends just coming together to experience food, tell stories and celebrate life,” she tells BresicWhitney.

 

For Lia, helping to prepare dishes such as suppli, and seeing the joy that loved ones gained from it was a way of interpreting the world around her during her childhood. One that she now can’t imagine life without. “After the birth of my son, I struggled with the idea of going back to work and it felt hard to justify spending time away from him unless it was to do something that was purposeful and fulfilling to me. I had an honest conversation with my husband where he asked me “If I could do anything in life, what would it be?”. I answered that question fairly quickly,” she laughs. “I think I had sort of been holding myself back before that because I was terrified of failure. I remember being given the advice of just ‘to start’, which was a great encouragement. But it was the support from my family that ultimately gave me the courage to do so.” 

 

As we’re chatting, Lia starts preparing a tablescape and I can see her delicate precision in motion. There is an art to it, and I’m intrigued to learn more. “I love to play on textures and flavours that contrast each other like sweet, candied apricots atop a soft, creamy French d’Affinois cheese. It’s important from not only an aesthetic point of view, but also a taste perspective, that there is a balance between how each item on the table interacts with another. That’s one of the most important things to me about being a food artist… creating a sensory experience that’s as inviting to the eye as it is the palette,” she reflects. 

As for where she finds inspiration? It’s something that comes from various and at times unexpected sources, be it a soft colour palette, a seasonal fruit, the geometric pattern of marble, or the unmistakable curve on a Thonet Bentwood chair, proving that the creative process is anything but linear. People are also a source of inspiration to her. “I’m fortunate to work closely with other creatives from floral artists to illustrators, which means the process is more of a conversation. This sort of inspires me more. I love this part of the process and the passion that we share.”

It’s an approach she naturally brings to life at home, too (an apartment in Rozelle she’s owned for a decade). While there are some variations in her curations at home, her principles remain steady. Colour, tone and texture delight and surprise, with the ambition of delivering a warm, generous space. “The interior has changed quite a bit since we’ve owned it. We’ve preferred to let the space evolve naturally rather than trying to do a complete makeover when we first moved in. I do however spend a lot of time playing around with accessories, layering textures and colours through art, soft furnishings, and decorative items,” she shares. Think ceramic vessels, linen cushions and notes of burnished silver and gold.

While Lia assures us she has a way to go on this journey, she is very much enjoying the view – in every sense of the word. “I love looking out on the city skyline from the rooftop above Casa. It’s a mix of old industrial grittiness, against the beauty of the harbour and the lights of the city in the distance.”