Live Breathe Decor

It’s been awhile since I’ve shown a Saturday House of Inspiration, but I’ve seen a few lately that are worth sharing. One of my favourite new blogs - new in that I have only recently discovered it but I think it’s a fairly new blog also - is Bumble at Home, a blog about a Shi Tzu’s life at his stunning Southern Highlands property. But he also visits many stylish homes in Sydney, and one of these belongs to Robyn Holt.

You might remember Robyn from the tv show The Renovators last year, but she is also an ex-Editor of Vogue Living among numerous other achievements in the worlds of publishing, fashion and interiors. So as you can imagine her home is very stylish, and filled with fantastic photography and artefacts from her time working overseas.

I was interested in seeing Robyn’s home because I have clippings in my ‘inspiration files’ of her home - it must have been her previous one - that was featured a few years ago in Vogue Living. It had been decorated by Marco Meneguzzi, and was absolutely stunning, though a lot more pared-back than this current home. I’ll have to dig out those clippings and show you. I do recognise the pair of timber-framed armchairs in her living room from that spread.

I love the little desk nook above between the french doors and the bookcase. It just goes to show you that you don’t need a separate room to have a potential work space. Again ( I commented on similar doors in a post a few days ago), I love the arched top to the french doors- imagine how different it would be without it!

The colour scheme is pretty monochromatic and is mainly a sophisticated combination of greys, whites and neutrals, with a hint of aubergine and pink in the ikat pillows.

Look at all the great black and white photography! What a fantastic collection.

Another great shot of this interesting ‘bookshelf corner’. Notice how it’s the natural elements that bring the room to life- here it’s the white orchid and the red coral branch. And is any really stylish home ever without a fiddle-leaf fig tree? They can be a little hard to source here in Australia, and I am told quite a temperamental plant, but they are very elegant and light-looking as an indoor bit of live greenery.

This is one of the my favourite displays in Robyn’s home; I love the opaque glass lantern, the symmetrical pairs of antique chairs, wall sconces and tall green ginger jars. And I love that huge grey abstract painting paired with all the more classic elements.

The dining area is small but stylish, and looks larger because of the mirrored inserts beside the fireplace. Love those autumn leaves!

Robyn’s husband Jim in their library, with it’s floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and lovely leather wing chair.

The courtyard’s water feature and wall of Chinese star jasmine (I’m guessing here?).

The hallway seems to be a few steps up from the entry area, where a lacquered black Chinese console table sits under a stunning big black and white fashion photo. You can see throughout the home little hints of Robyn’s time spend working around the world.

I hope you found this home as inspiring as I did! Have a great weekend.

Naomi xx