A Grand Family House in Sydney: English Elegance meets Australian Cool

HOUSE TOUR | ROOMS & GARDENS | WORLD OF CABANA

This seven-bedroom family home in Vaucluse, an upmarket suburb of Sydney, draws its inspiration from two countries: Australia and England. By combining antique character and meticulous detailing with light-filled spaces, interior designer Sophie Davies has created a refined yet liveable home for a young family.

BY BUSOLA EVANS | ROOMS & GARDENS | 23 FEBRUARY 2026

The terrace may be the most transportive spot. The sofa and chairs are by Naturally Cane, the sage wicker stools from Cabana and the ‘Talide’ armchair from Bonacina. The table is inlaid with Balenium tiles and the antique lantern is from Lee Stanton.

Interior designer Sophie Davies may be Australian born and bred, but there is a certain English sensibility that runs through her work. It is there in her instinct for restraint, in her love for antiques and patina, and in her rooms which prioritise atmosphere over display.

Of course, as she studied interior architecture at London’s prestigious Inchbald School of Design, this may well be expected, yet it is clear that her interiors are equally shaped by her home country’s light and climate. This interesting duality can be found in one of Sophie’s latest projects – a seven-bedroom, three-storey home set on 2100 square metres of land with 800sqm of internal space in Vaucluse, an affluent eastern suburb of Sydney.

The brief from the clients – a young family with three school-aged children – was clear. “They wanted us to create a practical and liveable family home,” says Sophie. “They wanted it to feel homely – a little bit Palm Beach, Florida – but not at all pretentious.”

Originally intended as a renovation of a 1950s Hollywood style mansion, the project effectively evolved into a new-build, inspired by the Mediterranean-style work of acclaimed Australian architect Leslie Wilkinson, though much of the footprint stayed the same.

“It was only one main wall that actually remained but the house just kept growing,” recalls Sophie. Each bedroom has its own bathroom, alongside multiple living areas, a gym, cellar, cabana and tennis court. Cohesion was the primary challenge. “This was important because of the scale of the house. Also it is grand, but we did not want it to feel ostentatious,” says Sophie, who worked alongside Weir Phillips Architects.

Instead it is pared back but grounded. Natural materials dominate: linen upholstery, seagrass wall coverings, marble and hand-finished timber. Limestone floors run throughout while walls are finished in Marmorino plaster, which gives depth and bounces light around. “All the materials are quite raw. That's something I always do with my work. My style is not particularly shiny.” In Sydney’s humid climate, the restraint is also practical. “You don't want a lot of fabric because you want it to feel cooler and lighter,” she adds.

Yet the English influence is unmistakable in its details. British brands such as Soane and Jamb, for instance, have a strong presence. In the dining room, curtains are meticulously colour-matched to the walls. “It was very much trial and error,” Sophie notes. The effect is enveloping rather than theatrical. “I like the interiors I create to feel calm.”

In the main living room, custom sofas sit alongside Italian rattan chairs by Bonacina and cushions in Fortuny fabric. “I enjoy mixing different eras and antiques,” Sophie says. “ There’s definitely a bit of East meets West that flows throughout. ” A bespoke coffee table, sandblasted for a rough finish, adds to the tactility. 

A snug-cinema room is drenched in a deep green across the walls, joinery and furniture. “It connects nicely to the garden outside,” Sophie explains. “One of the most beautiful things about this house is that it is surrounded by a lush, subtropical garden. You don't feel like you're in the middle of the cosmopolitan city.” 

Green snug: custom sofa in ‘Alsace’ linen from Clarence House, with cushions in ‘Touraine Mousse’ from Pierre Frey. The armchair, attributed to Audoux Minet, is from Orange Furniture. The walls are painted in a custom 'deep moss' to match the sofa.

Opposite is the husband’s study, a space the client jokingly referred to as a ‘man cave’. Sophie’s interpretation is characteristically elegant. Seagrass lines the walls while antique pieces and a leather-topped desk lend gravitas. 

Upstairs, the children’s bedrooms are decorated with personality and longevity in mind so the look is refined rather than overtly child-like – cue soft, muted colours and relaxed window dressings. In a daughter’s bathroom, a Braquenie wallpaper is paired with a matching Roman blind and has shelving carved from Carrara marble. “We wanted something they would grow into rather than out of,” says Sophie. 

In the study, the custom sofa is upholstered in a mid-weight linen, ‘Fern’ by Rose Uniacke. The sideboard is by Guillerme et Chambron from The Vault. The coffee table is an antique Korean trunk from Blackman Cruz and the antique rug is by Behruz.

Following her training, Sophie moved to Sydney where she worked with leading names including Thomas Hamel and Tamsin Johnson before founding her own studio in 2020. After splitting her time between Australia and the UK, she has recently relocated to London, where she has opened a studio and is expanding her projects in the UK and Europe. Sophie is certain that being back in Britain will further evolve her approach.

“Now I want to design differently with more layers and warmer materials because I realise just how important a role the weather plays,” she says. “It’s a very exciting time."

If this Sydney house demonstrates Sophie’s ability to balance grandeur and ease, no doubt her next chapter will be one where the English sensibility she has always carried very much becomes a defining thread.

In the study, the walls are wrapped in seagrass wallpaper by Rossetti. The rattan ‘Asscher’ hanging light is from Soane. The desk is custom with ebonised oak and an aniline leather top. Alongside it is a Herman Miller Eames executive chair.

Words by Busola Evans

Images from Sean Fenessy

Styling by Joseph Gardner