Australian House & Garden October 2025

And my appointment as editor comes at an exciting time, with this issue dedicated to our annual Top 50 Rooms awards – a celebration of Australia’s best design talent. For longtime readers of home magazines, you might have seen my name and perhaps my face pop up over the past decade or so, when I edited Belle or was among the formidable editorial teams at Home Beautiful and Better Homes and Gardens. There’s a lovely sense of familiarity stepping into this role after Tanya Buchanan, who I’ve worked alongside in the past. Tanya has guided House & Garden with such style since 2019 and is now editor-in-chief of Belle and Country Style. We remain very much in the same ‘neighbourhood’ at Are Media’s famed 54 Park Street Sydney headquarters, continuing…

With thanks to Tanya Buchanan EDITORIAL Editor Gavin Kirk Creative director Antonietta Panuccio Features editor Bethan Lacoba Senior copy editor Debbie Duncan ART & STYLE Art director Marissa Foye Stylist Sophie Wilson CONTRIBUTORS Lisa Cohen, Amanda Cordony, Michelle Cox, Claire Delmar, Tom Ferguson, Felix Forest, Joseph Gardner, Elise Hassey, Andrea Healy, Stephanie Hope, Alana Landsberry, Olga Lewis, Chloe McCarthy, Madeline McFarlane, Mariana Marcki-Matos, Jack Milenkovic, Angelee Murray, Nonci Nyoni, Eliza O’Hare, Maria Papantoneou, Tim Pascoe, Chris Pearson, Melissa Penfold, Carli Philips, Anson Smart, Kristina Šoljo, Karen Spresser, Alicia Taylor, Pablo Veiga, Victor Vieaux, Isabella Walker-Smith, Nick Watt, Dave Wheeler, Simon Whitbread, Jen Wilding, Lesley Workman. ADVERTISING Head of commercial-Homes & Lifestyle Rhyl Heavener All advertising enquiries advertising@aremedia.com.au SYNDICATION syndication@aremedia.com.au, contentshop.com.au ARE MEDIA CORPORATE Chief executive officer Jane Huxley Finance director…

Siobhán drove away from this house on first inspection – she found it cold and hard. But something drew her back and with time, work and warmth, she helped craft the home she, her husband and their two daughters have come to love. There’s so much space for everyone, including Labrador Macey, to spread out and enjoy on this expansive Sydney coastal property. Artwork by Mel Brigg. ENTRY A classic exterior scheme sets the tone for the family to relax and unwind as they arrive. Artwork by Mel Brigg. Every room has a story in this family home, where cooking, comfort and afternoon naps inspired the design. When Siobhán Kennelly and husband Jamie started out looking for a bigger backyard for their two daughters, they knew they wanted to stay…

Composing an elegant dining room which feels inviting can take more than simply placing a table and a few chairs. The perfect pendant light for ambience, stylish servingware and interesting vases can create layers for overall appeal. From chic tabletop treasures made for lingering dinner parties to a timeless room set-up inspired by a designer showroom display, H&G’s stylist serves up a feast of fresh design this spring. TOP FIVE dining chairs 1 ‘Onasis’ dining chair in Linen, $329, Domayne. 2 ‘Corbelia’ fabric dining armchair, $479, Freedom. 3 ‘Nobu’ dining chair in Natural, $399, Harvey Norman. 4 ‘Remi’ dining chair, $694, MCM House. 5 Pinch ‘Avery’ dining chair, $2290, Winnings. PORTRAIT ‘Lituus’ vase, Georg Jensen. ‘Tombo’ dining chairs, Fanuli. Harlequin ‘Melograno’ wallpaper in Forest/First Light used as background, Wallpaperdirect.…

Curtains and privacy screen, all Luxaflex. Australian House & Garden napkins and dinner set, all Myer. Vessel by Katarina Wells, Curatorial+Co. Floor lamp, Few and Far. Table and chairs, all Lounge Lovers. Rug, Freedom. From curtains and blinds to shutters and shades, there are so many window and doorway treatment styles to consider when decorating your home. “Layering different treatments can completely transform a room by adding depth, dimension and versatility,” says Stephanie Lee, brand manager at Luxaflex Window Fashions. But while it’s exciting to think about aesthetics, it’s equally important to consider the purpose of a room. When do you spend the most time in this space? What direction do the windows and doors face? For instance, west-facing rooms could be flooded with hot afternoon sun, calling for UV-filtering…

Great gardens are built on solid foundations, so it’s important not to skimp on the preparations. Whether it’s pavers or pebbles, spectacular succulents or specimen trees, Australia has it all. Discover where the experts head for their plant selections with our definitive list of suppliers. You’ll discover institutions and information that has been carefully stashed away by the trade and the country’s tastemakers. The nurseries and garden centres we’ve listed are brilliant examples of their kind. And remember, connecting your house to a private garden, balcony or outdoor space will bring you that most prized of human experiences – enjoyment. ALPINE NURSERIES, NSW An excellent range of large trees, both evergreen and deciduous – from conifers to palm trees. The landscape designer’s choice for large trees that make a garden…