Photography: Kate Shanasy
Mother’s Day means something different in every home. It might be celebrating a beloved mum or mother figure, waking to breakfast in bed made by little hands, or remembering someone who is no longer here but always in our hearts.
Ahead of Mother’s Day 2026 in Australia on May 10, we visited six inspiring families in their homes. From heartfelt traditions to the small rituals that make a house feel like home, here’s how they’re celebrating Mother’s Day this year.
The Block’s Dan & Dani Reilly
Dan Reilly
Builder, TV personality on The Block and dad to Billie.
What did you learn from your own mum about making a house feel like a home? “Mum always goes over the top for any celebration, whether it be Christmas or a birthday. There would be way too much food, decorations, candles and good times. This is my memory of growing up.”
Is there a habit, tradition or value you hope to pass on to your children? “Respect comes to mind first, which is very important, but my parents always stood by me no matter what. They showed love and support during not-so-great times.”
How do you hope Mother’s Day will look and feel for the mums in your life? “Exciting and happy, as we will have our second-born with us. Mum and Grandma enjoying the day with everyone.”
What kind of Mother’s Day gift do you feel will resonate with your wife? “Just our family together will be enough.”
How would you describe the kind of mum she is? “An incredible mother whose strength, love and resilience honour Billie’s legacy, while inspiring everything ahead with our second baby.”
Dani Reilly
TV personality, co-owner of Strong Pilates & Recovery Frankston, mum to Billie and pregnant with her second child.
What did your mum teach you about making a house feel like a home? “It wasn’t really about aesthetics for my family growing up. My parents owner-built my childhood home on a large block of land in North Queensland, and while the house was simple, the garden was where their hearts truly lived. If I had to take a lesson from that, it’s that home is the entire environment you spend your time in.”
Is there a design value you hope to pass on to your own children? “I’ve always been into design, but I never really felt drawn to gardening until we moved to the Mornington Peninsula, and now it’s something that truly grounds me. When we lost Billie [at 10 days old], we created a special garden in her honour, ‘Billie’s Garden’, beneath a tree on our property that is a few hundred years old. It’s a beautiful space – one where we imagined making memories with her. Now, it’s a place where we go to remember her.”
Describe your ideal Mother’s Day – what does it look and feel like? “This is a truly complex question, but at its core my answer is simple, a slow day at home, with my babies in my arms (fur babies included). Mother’s Day will always be a day that should have been different for me, and that’s something I know I’ll carry for a lifetime.”
Interior designer sisters Amy Spargo & Kate Walker
Amy Spargo
Interior designer and director at Maine House Interiors, and mum-of-three.
What did your mum teach you about making a house feel like a home? “My mum has an incredible ability to bring pieces together in a way that feels thoughtful but never contrived. She taught me that a room can be built slowly from what you already have, filling it with things you love that hold meaning.”
Is there a design value you hope to pass on to your own children? “I hope to pass on the idea that a home should feel welcoming and alive, a place that sparks joy, curiosity and comfort. Spaces should feel good to be in, not just look beautiful.”
What’s the best Mother’s Day gift to give and the one you secretly want to receive? “I adore the handmade cards and crafts my girls bring home from school. A clay object or a paper bouquet means the world to me. I’ve kept most of them over the years and they’re far more precious than anything you could buy.”
In one sentence, describe the kind of mum you hope to be… “A present mother who is open, kind and nurturing. Someone who supports my children in becoming exactly who they want to be.”
Kate Walker
Interior designer and director at KWD, mum-of-two and stephmother-of-three.
What did your mum teach you about making a house feel like a home? “What I cherish most are the collections of meaningful objects in her home, like the serving platter my sister Georgie and I saved for as children. Mum still brings it out on every family occasion.”
Is there a design value you hope to pass on to your own children? “Mum instilled in me the value of rituals – the way they create an enduring sense of belonging that transcends any changes. I want my children to feel that same constancy.”
What is the best Mother’s Day gift to give and the one you secretly want to receive? “Material gifts have never been as important to me as a shared meal, a long conversation, or simply being together. If I were to wish for anything, it would be a family trip designed to unplug, reconnect and inspire.”
In one sentence, describe the kind of mum you hope to be… “I hope to empower my children to be independent, yet provide certainty that no matter what, they can always return to me for support, guidance, acceptance and unconditional love.”
Interior designer mother-daughter Phoebe & Robbie Nicol
“My ideal Mother’s Day is one spent with both my mum and my daughter.”
Phoebe Nicol
Phoebe Nicol
Owner and director at Phoebe Nicol Interior Design and mum to Sienna.
What did your mum teach you about making a house feel like a home? “She always layered spaces with memory: books, flowers and music playing in the kitchen. A home should welcome you the moment you walk through the door and tell the story of the people who live there.”
Is there a design value you hope to pass on to your own children? “I hope to pass on the idea that beauty and functionality can and should coexist. I want my children to grow up around thoughtful design that supports the everyday – long family dinners, slow Sunday mornings and cooking together. More than anything, I want them to understand that spaces should evolve with you and hold your history.”
Describe your ideal Mother’s Day – what does it look and feel like? “My ideal Mother’s Day is one spent with both my mum and my daughter. To see my daughter listening to her grandmother with quiet fascination.”
What’s the best Mother’s Day gift to give and the one you secretly want to receive? “The best Mother’s Day gift to give is the gift of self-care. Something that encourages a mother to pause and recharge. As a mum and a business owner, those moments can easily fall to the bottom of the list, so anything that involves a few uninterrupted hours feels incredibly thoughtful.”
In one sentence, describe the kind of mum you hope to be… “I hope to be exactly like my mum – a strong, creative, steady presence, nurturing a ‘ride-or-die’ bond with my daughter in a home where she feels inspired and completely herself.”
Robbie Nicol
Retired interior designer, mum to Phoebe and grandmother to Sienna.
What did your mum teach you about making a house feel like a home? “I grew up on a farm in Gisborne, New Zealand. My mother and grandmother were both incredibly creative women, and they had an intuitive understanding of how a house should feel. There was a sense of generosity in the way they lived – nothing was precious, everything was considered. I learnt that quality is what gives a home its soul.”
Is there a design value you’ve passed on to your own children? “I’ve always encouraged Phoebe to trust her instincts when creating a space. If it feels right to you, that’s what matters. I want her to celebrate her individuality and have the confidence to back herself.”
Describe your ideal Mother’s Day – what does it look and feel like? “No big agenda, no fuss – just a meal with my family. Sitting around the table together talking and laughing. For me, it’s the ease of it and the feeling of being together that makes it special.”
What’s the best Mother’s Day gift to give and the one you secretly want to receive? “I’m becoming more eccentric with age, so I’m always drawn to a beautiful accessory or something a little unexpected – an interesting object, a statement piece, something with character and a story behind it. The more distinctive, the better.”
In one sentence, describe the kind of mum (and grandmother) you hope to be… “I hope to be a mum and grandmother who inspires through creativity, warmth and the confidence to always be unapologetically yourself.”
Garden designer Ashley James & wife Bianca
Ashley James
Garden designer and dad-of-three.
What did you learn from your mum about making a house (and garden) feel like a home? “Sometimes there are weeds in the garden, a rose that needs deadheading, or a dish or two in the sink, but visiting someone’s home should feel warm, inviting and effortlessly lovely.”
Is there a habit you hope to pass on to your children? “That they’re connected with nature. From an early age, I’ve had my children in the garden alongside me, hands in the dirt, learning how to sow, tend and harvest their own food.”
How do you hope Mother’s Day will look and feel for the mums in your life? “To be surrounded by their loved ones. Spend time with your mum, be present and appreciate everything she has
done for you. And don’t let her cook or clean up or you’ll be in big trouble!”
What kind of Mother’s Day gift do you feel will resonate with your wife? “We have just purchased a new house and it’s a fixer-upper, so anything related to renovating is exciting. And I really need to hurry up and build her the new chicken coop she’s been wanting.”
Bianca James
Accounts manager and mum-of-three.
Is there a habit, tradition or value you hope to pass on to your children? “To make your house a home. That way, they will always come back. No matter how old they are, I want them to know
they are always welcome here.”
Describe your ideal Mother’s Day – what does it look and feel like? “Waking up in bed to our three young children giving me their handwritten cards and little gifts they’ve made at school, followed by a nice lunch with my family and a day off from running the house and looking after everyone else.”
What’s the best Mother’s Day gift to give and the one you secretly want to receive? “A full-house renovation, or at the very least for Ash to focus on the house and not the garden. There are so many jobs and priorities inside, but I constantly catch him outside with a tape measure, planning his next garden adventure.”
In one sentence, describe the kind of mum you hope to be… “A kind and caring, calm anchor, though sometimes being outnumbered with three kids can be a real struggle!”
The Block’s Steph & Gian Ottavio
Steph Ottavio
Architect at SJO Architects, co-owner of Japandi Estate and mum to Ilaria.
What did your mum teach you about making a house feel like a home? “It isn’t really the house itself, it’s the feeling when you walk through the door. [When I was growing up] our home was always open. Family and friends would come by for dinner. It wasn’t anything extravagant, just a home that always felt warm, welcoming and full of life.”
Is there a habit you hope to pass on to your own children? “One thing I hope to pass on is the habit of slowing down. Life moves quickly, but the most meaningful moments are often the quiet ones – sitting together at the end of the day, sharing a meal, or simply being in the same space.”
Describe your ideal Mother’s Day – what does it look and feel like? “I imagine something like a visit to the markets together, choosing flowers and fresh produce, then coming home to set the table and cook a meal using everything we collected.”
What’s the best Mother’s Day gift to give and the one you secretly want to receive? “I think the best Mother’s Day gift is something that’s been created, not just bought. Whether it’s a painting, a little sculpture, a handwritten card, or even a meal cooked together, there’s something really special about the time and thought that goes into making something with your hands. Secretly, I would also love a spa treatment!”
In one sentence, describe the kind of mum you hope to be… “I hope the mum I am to our daughter, Ilaria, is one of inspiration – someone who gives her the confidence to explore the world, create freely, and always believe in herself.”
Gian Ottavio
Finance broker, co-owner of Japandi Estate and dad to Ilaria.
What did your mum teach you about making a house feel like a home? “What I learnt from my mum is that a home isn’t defined by the furniture or the decor items, but rather by the memories that are made inside it.”
How do you hope Mother’s Day will look and feel for the mums in your life? “Both my mum and Steph’s mum are happiest when the family is together, laughing and sharing stories. So the ideal Mother’s Day is centred around that feeling. A long meal, something relaxed and maybe an activity that brings everyone together.”
What kind of Mother’s Day gift do you feel will resonate with your wife? “Steph finds joy in creating, so creating something together. Whether that’s cooking a meal, making a piece of art, or building something simple side-by-side.”
In one sentence, how would you describe the kind of mum she is? “If I had to choose a single word, I’d say ‘attuned’, because she has this incredible instinct for knowing exactly what Ilaria needs, often before the rest of us even realise it, being able to act and give her exactly that. It’s so beautiful to watch!”
Showpo CEO Jane Lu
Jane Lu
CEO and founder of Showpo and mum-of-two.
What did your mum teach you about making a house feel like a home? “When we moved to Australia when I was eight, we lived in a one-bedroom apartment. Life was humble, but our little home was bursting with love. Mum always filled the place with the smell of dumplings cooking, music blaring, and I’d always catch her finding a reason to dance and laugh. That’s the energy I try to bring into my own home with my kids.”
Is there a tradition you hope to pass on to your own children? “One thing I hope to pass on to my kids is the freedom to follow their passions and interests without feeling boxed into the ‘ideal’ path like I did, with accounting. I want them to know that being passionate and playful is not just allowed, it’s encouraged.”
Describe your ideal Mother’s Day – what does it look and feel like? “My dream Mother’s Day is a glorious sleep-in, then a leisurely lunch at a place where the kids can run wild while my hubby and I sip a nice bottle of bubbles and enjoy some delicious seafood.”
What’s the best Mother’s Day gift to give and the one you secretly want to receive? “Any mum will tell you they love their kids to bits, but the thing we secretly really want is alone time. Two hours of uninterrupted pampering – a massage followed by a facial. Now that is a dream.”
In one sentence, describe the kind of mum you hope to be… “I want to be a mum who inspires my kids to follow their passions, shows them anything is possible, and is there for the messy moments.”
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