Having spent the past year and a half renovating, it is safe to say I have learned some lessons along the way.
From which shade of ‘creamy white’ really is the best for your walls to picking out the perfect engineered wooden floorboard to match with a furniture or house style, some of this stuff feels pointless until it very much isn’t.
And now I’ve finished renovating, the information lives on rent-free in my head, ready to be plucked if someone ever asks for the best brass door handle (they don’t).
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But anyone who has ever renovated or moved into a new property knows that it’s not all about the fixtures and fittings, but the small finishing touches which make a house a home and make somewhere feel special.
For instance, once you’ve made the all-important sofa decision, you’re going to need a coffee table, while the perfect TV setup requires the ideal TV console, et cetera et cetera.
Without further ado, these are my favourite interiors buys I’ve purchased (or got my eye on) for my home since renovating.
1. Wilson & Dorset Shaggy Bean Bag, $1,890
Yes — this may be the world’s most expensive bean bag.
But since we invested in one when visiting Bowral earlier in the year, my family have literally had to take it in turns to “bagsy” who sits on it each evening — myself, my husband and our two children included.
Soft enough to fall asleep in and made from eight sheepskins seamlessly sewn together, this bean bag is extremely comfortable and durable.
The sort of purchase that feels extravagant at the time but very soon earns its keep and you can’t imagine life without it.
I’m not done with Wilson & Dorset either. Next, I want to get my hands on one of the rugs for our hall and some of the cushions.
If you haven’t seen it before, consider this your sign to have a good website browse.
2. Koala Tamarama Sofa, from $2,600
A newbie only released this week, but a goodie.
This sofa was two and a half years in the making, when Koala designers, husband-and-wife team James Whitta and Alexandra Owen, used their skills working as head IKEA designers in Sweden to craft the perfect Aussie sofa.
The Tamarama is relaxed in feel and style, but surprisingly structured and weighty when you see it in the flesh.
Ludicrously comfortable and deep, it’s everything you want in a sofa — and I love that it’s available in an array of elevated colours inspired by the Aussie landscape.
I opted for the Forest Walk Olive green option, and have no regrets. I’ll be telling everyone about this sofa for months.
3. MCM House Axol Round Coffee Table, $2,881.50
A fabulous living room is nothing without a carefully-curated coffee table.
Just ask interior designers, who will go on for hours about artfully-stacked coffee table books, Diptyque candles, vases and trays.
This travertine-top coffee table by MCM House is a fabulous investment, and one that will last a lifetime.
The perfect shape, size and finish, I love that it’s made from natural stone and old elm timber, making it look effortlessly elegant but also relaxed and informal.
4. Winning Appliances Vintec Dual Zone Wine Fridge, $2,761
Wine fridges are all the rage these days, as people look to cellar their best bottles and display their favourite options in glass-fronted wine fridges.
In fact, wine fridges are booming in popularity, driven by the rise of home entertaining and a shift toward viewing collections as luxury aesthetic pieces rather than hidden basement storage.
This option by Vintec sold at Winning Appliances is perfect because it’s dual zone, meaning it stores both red and white wine to the perfect temperature.
5. Zip Hydrotap Boiling, Chilled and Sparkling, Zip
This is possibly my most extravagant purchase of the year. But it’s also perhaps the best.
The Zip Hydrotap delivers boiling, chilled and sparkling water at the simple press of a button.
Not only this, but it looks oh so elegant while doing so.
We recently put one in to our new kitchen reno, and can’t stop marvelling at the fact that we no longer need a kettle, Soda Stream or even bottles of water in the fridge.
Consider me obsessed.
6. Land Homewares Roman Blinds
I stumbled upon this Northern Beaches-based custom furniture company on Instagram and fell straight in love.
With gorgeous hand-painted and luxurious fabrics, they sell everything from ottomans to curtains, sofas, blinds and bench seat cushions.
I recently used Land Homewares for some Roman blinds in our house and they are consistently being complimented.
7. Double Palisade Mustard Washable Jute Rug, from $100, Double
Last but not least, I’ve got my eye on this gorgeous jute rug from washable Aussie rug company, Double.
Made from 100 per cent natural fibres, it retains the texture, tonal variation and grounding presence that define traditional jute rugs.
But crucially, its construction has been carefully refined to allow for washing while preserving the integrity of the material.
With a young family, I’m always looking for pieces that aren’t just pretty but also highly practical.
