Bright, colourful, carefree. The style we’ve come to love from Melbourne-born homewares brand Kip&Co flows throughout the home on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula that co-founder Alex McCabe shares with her husband Bobby Babb, and their children Quincy and Pearl.
Kip&Co co-founder Alex McCabe opens the doors to her beautiful Mornington Peninsula home
Alex McCabe recently invited delicious. into her family home on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, and shared a taste of her effortless entertaining style.
At home on the Peninsula
The home McCabe built with Babb stands on a vineyard her parents once owned. McCabe became determined to buy the land after her mum could no longer tend it, and created her dream weekender. Three years on, the couple have sold their city home and made the summer stay a permanent treechange.
Life by design
“The thing with Kip is that it’s genuinely an extension of Kate, Hayley and my own personal aesthetic; you can see the product development really reflects where we’re at in our stage in life,” McCabe says of the business she founded over a decade ago with her friends, sisters Kate Heppell and Hayley Pannekoecke. Now that the trio have young families and are relishing time at home, it’s inspired a joyful kitchenware range. “Entertaining is something we all genuinely love doing,” says McCabe.
A door that's always open
“When we’re at home, you’ll find us with friends hanging out on the lawn and eating something delicious that I’ll be cooking up, cocktail in hand,” McCabe says.
A style of her own
“On my table, I love to mix and match new statement tableware with vintage pieces I’ve found in local markets or picked up on my travels,” McCabe says. “The glass fish (Massimo Lunardon’s Pesce Betta carafe) is a favourite from a local shop, Aestas.”
The finishing touch
“Florals are essential!” McCabe says. “They bring life and love to any table setting and add the all important height and depth to your space. Where possible I’ll source from my garden or raid my mum’s.”
The heart of the home
“My favourite room of the house is the kitchen, it’s probably the most ‘statement’ part of the house,” McCabe says. “And Bobby is just a mad chef; he spends so much time in the kitchen, so I think it’s nice to have a beautiful space to do that.”
The chef of the family
While styling duties naturally fall to McCabe, it’s avid cook Babb who embraces entertaining with gusto. “He really is an amazing host,” McCabe laughs. “He goes all out… And I love it. So I’m happy to celebrate him doing that, and I get all the benefits.” For delicious. Babb and McCabe shared the following recipes; the couple’s favourites when company comes calling.
Garlic prawn pizzas
Complete your summer spread with these quick and tasty garlic prawn pizzas.
Classic Bellini cocktail
Mellow out this festive season with this classic sparkling sip.
Heirloom tomato tarte tatin
Tomato and basil is a flavour match made in heaven. Have it down on earth with this tarte tatin.
Mixed greens salad with tarragon dressing
Add a pop of fresh to any feast with this green mixed salad. It's all dressed to impresses with a delicious tarragon finish.
Lemon and fennel barramundi with caper-roasted potatoes
There's no floundering around with this lemon and fennel-roasted fish dish!
Citrus salad with candied pistachios and burrata
This creamy and tart salad is simply the zest. Perfect for any summer spread.
Cheat's pine lime and caramel ice cream parfaits
This tangy retro dessert just got a whole lot easier to make.