Lia Townsend From Stories To Gather
Lia Townsend is the creative force behind Stories to Gather. Guided by sensory cues, her work draws on an Australian–Italian upbringing where food was never just food, but a form of connection.
Photos IRIS & ME, CAROLINE MCCREDIE, DANIEL HANSLOW & MADELINE ANNE
‘It always begins with listening. Every client or brand has an essence, a feeling they want to evoke even if they can’t quite name it,’ shares Lia Townsend. Photo: Iris & Me
Lia Townsend, the founder, stylist and creative force behind Stories to Gather. Photo: Iris & Me
From intimate celebrations to large-scale brand activations, Stories to Gather create sensory experiences that inspire wonder, connection, and conversation. Photo: Caroline McCredi
An invitation to play at a recent event for Prada Beauty. Photo: Iris & Me
Scenes from the Summer Cake Club by Stories to Gather. Photo: Iris & Me
“Stories to Gather grew from that idea: that a table could hold memory, story, and feeling all at once.”
Growing up in an Australian–Italian household, Lia Townsend learned early that food is never just food, but the centre of every gathering. A backdrop for stories, laughter and connection. Photo: Iris & Me
From concept to completion, every detail of an event is considered, shaping spaces that invite conversation. Photo: Caroline McCredie
Hello Lia—can you introduce yourself?
I’m Lia Townsend — a creative director, stylist, and founder of Stories to Gather, based in Sydney. My work sits somewhere between art direction, food, and emotion, creating gatherings and installations that invite people to slow down, connect, and feel something real. I’ve always been drawn to the beauty in details and how they shape the atmosphere of a moment.
Stories to Gather is as much about emotion as it is about food. When did you realise you wanted to turn shared moments into a creative practice?
It was never a conscious decision at first, more a natural pull. I’ve always noticed the emotional undercurrent in gatherings. How colour, tone and small gestures create connection. Over time I realised that this sensitivity could become a creative practice. Stories to Gather grew from that idea: that a table could hold memory, story, and feeling all at once.
What early memories from your Australian–Italian upbringing most shaped the way you experience gathering and hosting today?
So many of my early memories are tied to the table, long Sunday lunches at my grandparents’ house where the smell of tomato sauce would fill the air hours before we ate. The table was always overflowing, conversations overlapped, and there was this effortless warmth that made everyone feel they belonged. Those moments taught me that hospitality isn’t about perfection; it’s about generosity and rhythm, the care that goes into both preparing and sharing food.
Your installations have been described as ‘immersive and sensory-rich’. What elements do you consider essential when creating an experience that people truly feel, not just see or taste?
Colour is often my starting point. It's visual, of course, but to me it also holds emotion, texture and memory. The right hue can shift how you feel in a space before you’re even aware of it. From there, I think about how to quietly engage all the senses, the way light moves across a table, the scent that lingers, the weight of linen between your fingers. These subtleties build a rhythm that invites people to slow down. When that happens, the experience becomes something they feel rather than simply observe, a kind of atmosphere that stays with them long after the table is cleared.
There’s a strong sense of storytelling in your work. How do you translate a client’s story or brand identity into something tangible?
It always begins with listening. Every client or brand has an essence, a feeling they want to evoke even if they can’t quite name it. I try to uncover that emotion, then express it through colour, scale, or texture rather than something literal. It might be the tempo of service, or the way a table unfolds visually. The goal is for their story to be sensed rather than simply shown.
What role does nostalgia play in the way you create and where do you mainly gather inspiration?
Nostalgia runs quietly through most of my work. It’s not about recreating the past exactly, but about evoking something familiar and comforting, the sound of cutlery during a long lunch, the warmth of afternoon sun through sheer curtains. I draw inspiration from everyday sensory moments, travel, old films, and food cultures that carry a deep sense of ritual, particularly Italian and Japanese. They both celebrate intimacy in such poetic ways.
‘I draw inspiration from everyday sensory moments, travel, old films, and food cultures that carry a deep sense of ritual, particularly Italian and Japanese. They both celebrate intimacy in such poetic ways.’ Photo: Caroline McCredie
A recent Stories to Gather event shaped by the theme Wuthering Heights. Photo: Daniel Hanslow
“Those moments taught me that hospitality isn’t about perfection; it’s about generosity and rhythm, the care that goes into both preparing and sharing food.”
Photo: Madeline Anne
Stories To Gather bespoke food installations are more than grazing tables, they’re edible works of art. Photo: Caroline McCredie
‘[Growth] can mean slowing down and doing things with more depth and intention. I’ve learnt to focus on projects and relationships that align with my values rather than just momentum.’ Photo: Caroline McCredie
‘I love that sense of ephemerality, knowing the same gathering could never exist again in quite the same way.’ Photo: Caroline McCredie
How does working with what’s available seasonally in the moment influence your creative process?
Completely. Seasonality anchors everything, from ingredients to flowers to palette. It brings honesty and imperfection to each table. Using what’s at its best in that exact moment keeps me responsive and observant. I love that sense of ephemerality, knowing the same gathering could never exist again in quite the same way.
You recently celebrated 6 years of Stories to Gather, what’s been the biggest lesson so far?
That growth doesn’t have to mean doing more. It can mean slowing down and doing things with more depth and intention. I’ve learnt to focus on projects and relationships that align with my values rather than just momentum. There’s a quiet kind of success in that, one that feels sustainable and deeply satisfying.
What’s one piece of valuable advice you would give to someone wanting to start a styling/event business of their own?
Stay curious and true to your perspective. Trends come and go, but having a clear point of view, one rooted in honesty and sensitivity, will always set your work apart. Observe the world around you, develop your eye, and let the technical skill catch up through practice. There’s no rush, refinement takes time and is ongoing.
If you could host a dream gathering anywhere, with anyone, what would it look like?
There’s an old castle in my dad’s village in Italy that sits high on the hill, looking out over the sea. Its stone walls are worn and textured, with wild herbs and grasses finding their way through the cracks, and on some days you can hear nothing but wind and distant waves. I imagine a long table set just outside, at that in‑between hour when the sky is soft and the air is still warm. Hand-thrown ceramics, linen napkins moving gently in the breeze, bowls of citrus and local olive oil, and simple dishes passed slowly around the table. It would be one of those evenings that doesn’t feel rushed or overly orchestrated, just beautifully considered and a little undone, where the light fades gradually, conversations deepen, and everyone stays longer than they meant to because it feels too special to leave.
Where would we find you on a typical Saturday…
On a typical Saturday, there’s a good chance you’ll still find me working, especially for private clients. It might be a baby shower, an intimate birthday lunch or a wedding. It genuinely feels like such an honour to be invited into people’s homes and lives for these milestones to help shape the way they’re remembered.
On my quieter Saturdays, I move at a slower pace: I’ll wander out for a pastry or a meal, potter around at home, do some baking or a little crafting with my son, and then end the day with a family dinner, which is always my favourite meal of the week.
What’s coming up for you this year that you’re most excited about?
2026 feels like a year of quiet expansion for me; a chapter of refinement, more intentional collaborations, and deepening some very special creative partnerships. I’m especially excited that we’re heading to Italy for the summer, and I’ll be taking my son with me. We’ll spend time in my parents’ villages for the first time as a family, and I can’t wait to show him that world through his own eyes. Between that, some work projects in Milan and Tokyo, and the rhythm of travel through Italy, it feels like the kind of year that will shape both my work and my life in ways I’m really looking forward to.
Stay up to date with Stories to Gather here or follow @stories_to_gather on Instagram.
