If you were introduced to somebody at a party and were told that they worked in fashion, you would quickly take note of how they were dressed. Or if you found out your friend was a keen chef, you would be very interested in trying their food for yourself. As an interior designer, people instantly want to see the inside of my home.
I’ve lived in my home in Sydney for over 30 years now, with my husband Robin. Once a single story red brick house, we added a second level to create the 5 bedroom family home that I raised my 3 beautiful daughters in and worked from for 22 years as an interior designer before opening our studio where we work from today. Our home has European influences, classical architecture and elements, French furniture, a few English pieces, a collection of decorative lighting and some eclectic pieces found on our travels. Today I’ll take you through my home and give you an insight into how it evolved to where it is today.
Welcome to my home…
From the outside our house is grand and welcoming; the tiles on the roof are European and the exterior is painted in a brown Murobond colour, helping the building blend effortlessly into the surroundings. But walking into our house is when you really get the ‘wow factor’, as you’re greeted not only by our wonderful dog Miso, but by a double volume ceiling, giving our guests a sense of grandeur but warmth at the same time. Even today, the entrance hall of my home is one of my favourite features.
How I designed my own home
We wanted our home to stand the test of time, as with all of my interior design work. The challenge was to create all of the spaces needed for a growing family, whilst allowing for decent-sized light-filled rooms (not easy with two enormous Morten Bay fig trees on the sidewalk outside). Any home, including mine, should flow easily from space to space, giving the design a cohesive feeling throughout, and that’s what I feel we successfully achieved.
Now that my family have all flown the nest (and have families of their own to take care of), I would very much love to redesign our home to create a space more suited for just Robin and I. Robin loves to cook, so my first step would be to redesign our kitchen with his choice of appliances, a larger kitchen island to allow for larger-scale entertaining around the island, as it currently seats 6 but it would be great if we could accommodate more. We refer to these meals as “dining at the chef’s table”. Our family and friends ask to be placed on a waiting list when they know we are entertaining. And for me, I would love a walk-in wardrobe.
The patio…
The most unique area in our home has to be the outdoor covered patio. The timber beams that you can see supporting the ceiling are from an old bridge. The sandstone fireplace, the hero in the space, was custom made by a female stonemason; the stone was hand-carved on site. The fabric used in this space is a telltale sign of my love for animal print, a nod to my African heritage. It’s an exceptional space and one that we love to spend time in all year round. When the bi-fold doors are opened between the family room and the patio the space becomes one large area and it’s just incredible.
My bedroom…
Our bedroom is one of my favourite spaces in the home. The hero piece in my bedroom is the bedhead, an antique French gilt, hand-carved wonderful piece, complemented by two antique bedside cabinets, one has three drawers the other a door with shelves inside. They look so good and complement the bedhead. It is a very calming space, with the use of warm tones, and has a wonderful flow and energy. Of course, it will be much better when I finally get my wardrobe.
What’s important to me when designing my own home
Attention to detail. I just love how when the smaller details all come together, creating a beautiful aesthetic. Interiors should evoke emotion, and paying attention to details like cornices, skirting, light fittings, authentic finishes (stone, timber, sisal, linen), we created a home that is well-appointed as well as aesthetically pleasing.
The bathroom…
The tromp L’oeil in one of our bathrooms is another favourite feature in our home. A really special piece of art that speaks to the other details such as the lighting fixtures or window shutters. Timeless, it is hard to believe how many years ago this bathroom was originally designed, and yet is still as beautiful and striking as any modern bathroom design seen on Pinterest or Instagram today.
For the love of sourcing… in my own home
We recently posted a blog, ‘For the love of sourcing for projects’, providing an insight into how we procure items for our clients. For my own home, it is no different. But having lived in our home for so many years now, walking around is like revisiting old treasured memories. A lot of key pieces in my home are from France, although we do have the most amazing furniture and lighting at our disposal here in Australia.
Two of our favourite paintings in our home are from Australian artists, Jan Rowley and Melissa Egan. There are so many wonderful galleries in Sydney and Melbourne that we like to use. Robin and I are also fans of sculpture too, and have a few pieces from South Africa, Belgium, Greece and France, bringing together Australian, South African and European culture in our home through art.
Thank you for taking the time to gain an insight into my own home today. If you are interested in working with Marylou Sobel Interior Design, you can complete our online contact form and one of our team will be in touch soon.
Your beautiful home! You have exquisite taste xxx
You have beautiful style and taste. I love how your art pieces are hung quite low, they invite and welcome rather than “overlook”. I recently moved from inner city Sydney to Port Stephens and have had fun fitting out our new home in a more relaxed style. I didn’t foresee this before moving, it has all suggested itself by the location. Above all I love my art and it has surprised me the extent to which it too has adapted to the changed surroundings, with brighter, bolder, larger pieces. Thank you for sharing your lovely home.