Sydney style

I've always been interested to see how other people live. I think we all have a little bit of a voyeur inside us, that's why tabloids and shelter magazines sell so well. But I think what's even more interesting is to see how peoples lives change, and how they express that within their surroundings, and seeing how their homes evolve as a stage for the drama of life.  The homes of Sydney-siders Peter Lin and John Wilson are certainly no exception.  Their apartment - published in Vogue Living back in 2010 - captivated me when I first saw it. The richness of the colour took my breath away.  It was so dramatic and unlike anything I'd seen before. So when I stumbled upon the images of their new home in the recent Inside Out magazine, I was a little surprised to say the least. They've kept a lot of their art and furnishings (which comforts me, for some reason), but its different because of its distinct lack of colour.  That is to say, its not completely white, but it almost looks it when compared to their previous home.  Not sure if I'm as captivated, but I still love the mix of stuff they have, and Iain Halliday has done a great job (again) of artfully arranging it all. 

Photographed by Petrina Tinslay for Vogue Living (Australia) March/April 2010

Photographed by Mark Roper for Inside Out (Australia) May 2012

Sydney Moderne

This spread from the Aussie Vogue Living back in 2006 makes it an oldy - but its definitely a goody in my books! All this talk of French Moderne reminded me of this gorgeous Sydney home decorated by Sally Greenaway - and I don't know why I haven't posted it already, its absolutely one of my favorites - hope you enjoy!

The entrance hall is a hint at what else is to come.... the lanterns, along with a lot of the furniture in the home, are by Christian Liaiagre.

I adore the mix of textures in this room, its so sumptuous!

What a beautiful place to curl up with a book!

I am loving these dark timber cabinets in the kitchen. The bar stools and lights are also by Liaigre.

I love this bedroom - it's blissfully serene. The suspension lights are by India Mahdavi, side table by Christian Liaigre, and the bedlinen by Muriel Grateau.

The Christian Liaigre chaise in the master bedroom was originally designed for Rupert Murdoch.

The same dark wood from the kitchen is used in the bathroom, along with cararra marble, to great effect.

All photos by Prue Ruscoe from Vogue Living July/August 2006.

Thomas Hamel

The apartment of Sydney-based interior designer Thomas Hamel and his partner, antiquarian Martyn Cook, was featured in this months Vogue Living (Australia). It definitely has a very masculine feel about it, and I'm loving their ensemble of mixed antiques and the neutral colour palette. This to me has an Australian feel (although not uniquely) about it - the furniture is from various parts of the world - and the colonial pieces definitely look right at home.

In the living room two gild Italian Neoclassical side chairs (c 1790) and a French bureau (c 1890) in front of an imported 19thC Chinese wallpaper panel.

A syrian teak and bone inlay coffee table on a woven leather rug from Nth Africa. Portuguese mahogany bureau (c 1750), flanked by a pair of Anglo-Ceylonese carved ebony armchairs (c 1880) on the back wall.

Four antique doors open up the living room to the sitting room. On the far wall is an English neo-gothic bookcase.

18thC chandelier hangs above the dining table, behind is an English George III neoclassical mahogany chest on chest.

English Goerge III giltwood mirror (c 1750) hangs above the fireplace. Wing chairs are French, and upholstered in linen.

Sth African mask sits on a wicker chest in the guest bedroom. The hanging lamp is Recency style.

The guest bedroom features a 19thC Anglo-Portuguese carved ebony bed which is flanked by custom-made georgian-style bookcases. The bed sits in a niche that was created to showcase a 1730's map of Paris printed on cork (what an ingenius idea!).

This article got me thinking this week about how many stunning homes we see featured in magazines around the world that are owned by gay male couples. I love that magazines feature interiors based on the style, regardless of whose they are, but I'm beginning to wonder why I have never seen an apartment owned by a gay female couple. Where do they all live? Do they not have equally the same style as their male counterparts?