Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i Australian House & Garden

TABLESCAPE Kate wears Lee Matthews. Custom dining table, Naturally Timber. 19th Century French provincial dining chairs. Paper Christmas trees, candlesticks, taper candles, placemats and napkin rings, all Kate Nixon Store. Sideboard, Cromwell. Glassware, stylist’s own. Robert Gordon dinnerware, Myer. Kate Nixon with Quercus & Co napery, Elliott Clarke. Artworks and pendant light, owners’ existing. Foliage, Mandalay Flowers. KATE’S TOP STYLING TIPS SET THE SCENE Decorate balustrades, shelves and consoles with garlands, paper trees and battery-powered fairy lights. CREATE VIGNETTES Cluster favourite pieces on display with collected ceramics, lanterns and art. MAKE MAGIC Spark magic with a treasure hunt of wrapped gifts along stairs and hallways. KITCHEN Artworks, owners’ existing. Oval dropside table in Baltic Pine, Sally Beresford. ‘Ironica’ black-stained dining chairs by Tom Kelley for TON, Huset. Countertop decor, ceramic…

SEASONAL setting CURATE A TABLESCAPE WITH A SENSE OF RELAXED ELEGANCE Wreath of pine, spruce, ivy berry, woody pear and cascade wattle by Benjamin Avery of Colourblind Studio. Walls painted Bauwerk Colour Iris. Pendant light, $3650, The Vault Sydney. Wishbone chairs, $320 each, Provincial Home Living. ‘Sylvie Tassel’ cushion, $340, Merci Maison. Nine Muses Textiles ‘Point Deux Stripe’ wrapping in Cardamom, Tigger Hall Design. Blue ribbon, $25.95/3m, Bespoke Letterpress. On table, this page and opposite ‘Francesca’ tablecloth, $1085, Fred Home. Medium white bow, $182, Rose Van-Eyk. Decanter, $138, and teapot, $185, both Love After Love. Cocktail glasses, $100/ two, Nachtmann. Candle holders, $79/three, Luxe & Beau. Candles, from $9 each, Studio Billie. ‘Frida’ napkins, $140/four, and ‘Tabatha’ bow, $70, all Fred Home. Bowl, $579, Maison et Jardin. Silver ornaments, $399/24,…

OPPOSITE Clockwise from top Kirstie Clements at The Eve Hotel. Fazeek wine glass, $119/two, Aura Home. ‘Orilla’ pendant light, $389, Freedom. Loewe cat-eye sunglasses, $716, Net-A-Porter. ‘Bold Botanic’ drop earrings, $150, Romance Was Born. Interiors by Studio Prineas. The Row ‘Edith’ bag, $3525, FWRD. Jenny Kee runway designs. Happy Lovers artwork by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Shirt, $380, Romance Was Born. Kartell ‘Largo’ sofa, $9590, Space. ‘Ferum’ lamp, $169, and ‘Aero’ armchair, $1799, both Freedom. Artwork by Sonia Delaunay. THE EXPERTS ANDREW PARR Managing director: interior design, SJB CHRISTIE PACHER MAARTENSZ Head of homewares, Freedom Australia & NZ ANNA PLUNKETT & LUKE SALES Founders and designers, Romance Was Born Today’s trending colour palettes have definitely moved far from the vanilla and neutral tones that were dominant for so long. The Pantone ‘Color…

ENTRY Strong textural materials in a palette of black, grey and white make a dramatic statement. Exterior walls and flooring in Burano terrazzo, Worldstone. Deltalight ‘DOX’ light, Inlite. Greg Natale ‘Palladio’ marble floor tiles, TeraNova. LIVING ‘Pyre 2’ pendant light, Est Lighting. Gubi ‘Revers’ sofa, Cult. Featherston ‘Scape’ armchairs, Grazia&co. ‘Artistry Small’ coffee table, Zuster. Greg Natale ‘Banto’ rug, Designer Rugs. Artwork by Clementine Maconachie. EXTERIOR Fluted and pre-cast off-form concrete, Reckli. Aluminium window awning box and aluminium frame powdercoated in Dulux Duratec Elements Black (Night Sky). DINING Grey stucco walls have a softening effect and echo the tones of the custom concrete exterior. Walls in grey stucco polished plaster, Volantes Decorating Service. Artwork by Marisa Purcell. Black lacquered joinery with Nero Marquina marble feet and accessories, all Greg Natale.…

FACADE Clever design allowed for two additional levels to be added. “It’s fairly common with Queenslanders to go down rather than up to add space,” says Samantha. Exterior painted Porter’s Paints Plaster of Paris Half and trims Dulux Fair Bianca Half. DINING Many of the pieces in this home tell a story, such as the repurposed antique table. “It once belonged in an old church and is now our dining table,” says owner/designer Samantha Leigh. Pendant shade, The Society Inc. Fritz Hansen armchair, Cult. Vintage chairs, 506070. Rug, Armadillo. Poised above Brisbane’s inner-north with views of the city, interior designer Samantha Leigh’s home presents as a breath of fresh air. With three levels set among lush foliage, the luminous Queenslander is infused with a palpable sense of tranquillity. When Samantha…

While it does mean our festive season starts very early, with planning and photographing all the trees, trimmings and tabletop features to inspire you in the lead up to December 25, it brings genuine joy to know that what we create at H&G influences the way you decorate, entertain, gift and enjoy the holidays with family and friends. Like many of you, I have a ‘Christmas box’ tucked at the very top of a tall cupboard. It’s filled with decorations I’ve been gifted over the years. Some that friends have made and unusual pieces I’ve picked up overseas or closer to home. Recently, I’ve added decorations much loved by my late Oma. She adored Christmas and would leave her decorations on display for months. Not out of laziness. Rather, for…

Set by the harbour in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, this sandstone cottage has endured with a quiet grace since the 1850s. Sensitively reimagined by interior designer Kate Nixon and her team, the four-bedroom home demonstrates a reverence for the past while nurturing a joyful future for its new owners: a family with two young children. “Our concept for the furnishing and finishing was classic and comfortable, relaxed and inviting, polished and practical — equally at ease with effortless entertaining and everyday family life,” says Kate, who worked on the project with her design colleagues Jarrod Potaka, Roberta Gallo and Viera Tomasikova. Responding to the property’s heritage overlay and its immaculate condition, the team transformed the interiors in eight months, with layers of furniture, soft furnishings, lighting, wall and window treatments and…

ETHEREAL NOTES From the Ethereal pallete, walls here are painted Dulux Tiamo and Dulux Soft Fresco. Ceiling painted Dulux Lilium Two. Armchair, Cult Design. Cushions, Aura Home. Round Rug, Tallira. Artwork by Peter Summers. Coffee Tables, Trit House. Vessels, Craft Victoria. Lamp, Amy Voterakis. Sofa, Stylecraft. Colour trends come and go, but they also act as a social barometer. As we approach 2026, the hues we’re drawn to mirror the rhythms of modern life: a craving for calm, the pull of comfort and the hope of renewal. But what’s in a colour? So much more than pigment splashed on plaster. When it comes to paint, colour shapes how we express ourselves in our homes. After years of minimalism and restraint, it’s time to embrace more moving palettes. Whites are softening…

ENTRY Artwork by Min-Woo Bang. Lamp, Adelaide Bragg Interiors. Table, Orient House. Floor tiles, Marble & Ceramic Corp. FACADE Exterior in Dulux White Cloak Quarter. Lights, The Montauk Lighting Co. Steel doors, Award Architectural Aluminium. DINING Joinery painted Dulux White Cloak Quarter, Platinum Group. ‘Hulton’ sconce, The Montauk Lighting Co. Splashback in Carrara marble, Marble & Ceramic Corp. Steel doors, Award Architectural Aluminium. Custom table and chairs, Cameron Kimber. Flooring in solid American oak. KITCHEN Benchtop in Carrara marble, Lux Marble. Lacanche cooker, Manorhouse. Zip ‘HydroTap G5’, Winnings. Bar stools, The Vault Sydney. Coffee table, Orient House. Vases, stylist’s own. Rugs, Cadrys. Home to a family with two active boys, now eight and six, this manicured mansion in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs needed to let its hair down. The owner had…

ENTRY The owners’ art collection brings the home to life with colour and memories, with each piece telling a story. To the left, above, is a Chagall lithograph, a small work by Australian artist Arthur Hamblin, a vintage artwork from Dirty Janes Bowral and a colourful piece by a local artist, Gordon Carmichael. On the far left hangs Femme Accoudee Au Rapeau Bleu Et Rouge, a handmade mosaic artwork collage by Mauri Aybar and Andrea Castiglione. On the right is an artwork, artist unknown, that the couple picked up in Bali. Bench, Zenn Design. Plinth, En Gold. This page and opposite Texture of Being 1 Painting by Amon Nyx hangs above a black Ethnicraft sideboard. Vase, The DEA Store. Bowl, Orient House. Existing stone flooring. HALLWAY From top left, the…

A subtle colour scheme of Dulux White on White with accents of Dulux Terrace White and Dulux Western Myall respects the heritage of the home. Buxus balls (Buxus sempervirens ‘Sphere’) create structural shapes in various sizes to complement the traditional facade. A potted prickly pear (Opuntia ‘Burbank Spineless’) in the background hints at the relaxed style to come. A Japanese maple (Acer ‘Osakazuki’) provides green texture at canopy height, above bursts of renga lily (Arthropodium cirratum). Australian designers often face the challenge of unifying the old and the new. Considering the abundance of heritage architecture, many have become deft at sensitively melding historic facades with contemporary additions. And while Nat Wheeler knows how to approach this challenge on the inside of the home, it was a different story bridging the…

Isabella: For me, regifting is a no-brainer. I’m a peak millennial, born in 1991, so I’m always going to take the sustainable route. And in this economy, if you ask me, you’re a fool not to. However, it all lies in the art of discretion, thoughtfulness and care. Here are my ground rules: regifting is only acceptable if the item is in unused condition. Never regift within the same circle. Be mindful of the original gift giver – will they cross paths with the giftee? And – to add a dash of social media angst to your decision-making – will the giftee post something online that the original gift giver might see? Tread carefully. It’s mental warfare, but something you’ll want to get right to avoid bruised feelings. The rules…

MINI JACKET POTATOES TWO WAYS Prep time: 30 minutes. Cooking time: 50 minutes. Serves: 8–10. 600g baby potatoes, scrubbed 4 tablespoons (80ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon fine sea salt ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper Crème fraîche, chives & cornichons ½ cup (120g) crème fraîche 1 teaspoon horseradish 5 (20g) baby cornichons, finely chopped Sea salt and cracked black pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives Extra virgin olive oil, to serve Whipped feta, corn & pine nuts 1 small corn cob Extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle Cracked black pepper 80g feta, crumbled 2 tablespoons crème fraîche Juice of ½ lemon ¼ cup (40g) pine nuts, toasted 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) and grease mini muffin tray with 2 tablespoons of the oil. 2 Place…

Floral designer Benjamin Avery in his studio. As a kid, I was constantly outdoors with my brothers. Our childhood was split between the Blue Mountains and the Mid North Coast of NSW. The four of us were always hiking, snorkelling, sailing and caving. Spending so much time in the natural world drove my imagination and playful spirit, and ultimately shaped who I am today. Covid pushed me to start working for myself. I founded Colourblind Florist in 2021, which evolved into Colourblind Studio in 2024. The name change felt truer to my work, which is sculptural and surreal, playful and grounded in materiality. Am I actually colour blind? Yes, I have deuteranopia. But I tend to not think about colour too much when designing. I focus on shape, texture and…

FACADE Painted Dulux White Exchange Half. Lutum terracotta roof shingles in Matt Eclipse. French limestone pavers, Barefoot Living. Steel windows powdercoated in Dulux Electro Black Ace Flat, Sydney Steel Windows & Doors. ENTRY The front door, painted Dulux Monument, opens to a striking foyer filled with classic detailing. Walls painted Dulux Vanilla Quake Quarter. Artwork by Vicki Lee. Console, Coco Republic. Grande engineered oak herringbone floors in Penza, Tongue & Groove. LIVING Joinery painted Dulux Lyttelton, Barbod. Ceilings and trims painted Dulux Natural White. Chairs, sofa, coffee table and side table, all Coco Republic. Alexa Hampton ‘Dean’ medium picture lights in Polished Nickel and Thomas O’Brien ‘Piaf’ chandelier, all The Montauk Lighting Co. Artworks on shelves by Susie Hughes (left) and Anna Curnuck (right), Sibu Gallery. Custom rug, Designer Rugs.…

EXTERIOR “I know most people would have flattened the block and built a cookie-cutter house in its place, but I love and will forever be proud of the team and the effort that went into a respectful restoration of the home’s heritage,” says owner Ben. Exterior painted Dulux Terrace White. Front door painted Dulux Klavier. Fences powdercoated Dulux Duralloy Monument. LIVING Walls limewashed Bauwerk Colour Concrete. Artwork by Nunzio Miano. e15 stool, Living Edge. Atelier Areti floor lamp, and Cassina ‘Mon-cloud’ sofa, both Mobilia. Rug, Designer Rugs. KITCHEN Rangehood wall limewashed Bauwerk Colour Concrete. Benchtop in Titanium granite, CDK Stone. Tapware, Brodware. Pendant lights, Lost Profile Studio. Tom Dixon tea set, Living Edge. Bar stools, Grazia & Co. Homeowner Ben at his favourite spot in the house. DEN “I wanted…

GARDEN GRANDEUR Located in a desired East Launceston street, Beulah House positions its guests within manicured grounds. On a recent trip to Tasmania, one question kept arising: why did it take an invitation to a wedding to bring me here for the first time? The place is spectacular. Even everyday sights, indeed for locals, offered surprise and delight. Among the gems found while researching where to stay (what to eat, drink, do) was Beulah House in Launceston. Built from 1847–1851, the house has long been part of the city’s fabric. Its Georgian character remains evident in tall sash windows, wide floorboards and generous proportions, yet a sensitive restoration in recent years has welcomed a quiet modernity. Soft tones, antique furnishings and fine linens envelop charming opportunities – a soak in…