The Beach Bag Series is sponsored by Ultraceuticals SunActive SPF 50+ range
Ever wondered what an interior designer takes to the beach? The Block Glasshouse judge and home interiors expert, Darren Palmer lets us in on his beach bag essentials and talks all things summer, holidays and childhood memories.
RESCU: What are your summer beach bag essentials?
Darren Palmer: Ultraceuticals SunActive SPF50+ face and body, big bottle of water, buckets and spade for sandcastles, three beach towels and a beach umbrella. My family and I like to travel pretty light.
RESCU: What’s your favourite family holiday destination?
Darren Palmer: Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay is paradise on Earth. We’ve been renting houses down there for a few years and it’s an amazing tranquil place. It’s a great place for a family beach getaway.
RESCU: What’s your most memorable childhood summer memory?
Darren Palmer: I always remember being sunburnt as a kid. I spent all day mucking around in the Queensland sun playing on the beach. I grew up 20 minutes away from a lovely beach and my family and I would spend most weekends there. We’d then have to have aloe vera spray from the fridge door sprayed on you in the afternoon and sleep face down that night. It’s so good we are better educated about the importance of SPF now.
RESCU: How old were you when you first realised it was time to slip, slop, slap?
>Darren Palmer: We all recall those ads with the cartoon birds. Seems to be about the same time WHAM! was in the charts so I’d say I was about six years old. We ignored that advice generally! My parents would always try and would encourage hats and reapplication but we were kids and it’s kind of hard to make kids understand how bad your skin will be when you get older.
RESCU: Is there a smell or moment that marks the beginning of summer for you?
Darren Palmer: There are probably three smells – cut grass, water droplets on earth and sunscreen. All of those add up to summer for me.
RESCU: What’s your favourite Australian Beach?
Darren Palmer: The beach in Booderee National Park next to Hyams Beach or Chinamans Beach. They’re spectacular, natural and raw spots that have a special kind of magic that has remained unchanged and untouched for years -and will be for years to come as they’re both located in national parks.
RESCU: Your favourite summer drink or cocktail?
Darren Palmer: Water. I have learned over many years to actually like water, as it’s pretty much all I drink. Cocktail wise a nice vodka, ginger beer and mint is always refreshing. I had some pretty spectacular gin and tonics a few years back in Cape Town with cucumber. It’s amazing what that little tweak does to the flavour of an old standard.
RESCU: If you were stranded on a desert island what would be the three things you’d have to have to survive?
Darren Palmer: Food, water and my family. I’d be fine without another thing if we were all together.
The Beach Bag series is sponsored by Ultraceuticals SunActive SPF50+ range