Houzz Tours
My Home Life: Phoebe and Chris Monahan on What Sparks Joy
The couple behind homewares brand Sage and Clare invite us into their perfectly happy living room
Phoebe and Chris Monahan bought their three-bedroom home from Chris’ grandparents, after they saw the potential in the high ceilings, light-filled spaces and felt the appeal of keeping the property within the family. The duo behind the homewares brand Sage and Clare have a passion for texture, colour and pattern which is evident in the decor of their living room, where the couple spend the majority of their time at home. Most importantly, they surround themselves with pieces that bring them joy rather than sticking to a rigid style; this makes their space very special to them.
COMMENT TO WIN
For your chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Sage and Clare, tell us what it is you love about Phoebe and Chris’ living room in the Comments.
Competition ends at 5pm AEST on Thursday, 13 October.
COMMENT TO WIN
For your chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Sage and Clare, tell us what it is you love about Phoebe and Chris’ living room in the Comments.
Competition ends at 5pm AEST on Thursday, 13 October.
How do you define your style?
We love anything with pattern, colour and texture. We choose to surround ourselves with pieces that make us feel happy rather than subscribing to any one particular style. The home is also reminiscent of the ’70s so we’ve tried to incorporate subtle vintage references throughout with soft furnishings, and will continue to incorporate more of these elements slowly and as our back pocket can afford. Our next mission is to put in a Coonara wood fire. Oh and we love greenery – you can never have too many indoor plants!
Prints: Norsu; floor cushion: Sage and Clare
We love anything with pattern, colour and texture. We choose to surround ourselves with pieces that make us feel happy rather than subscribing to any one particular style. The home is also reminiscent of the ’70s so we’ve tried to incorporate subtle vintage references throughout with soft furnishings, and will continue to incorporate more of these elements slowly and as our back pocket can afford. Our next mission is to put in a Coonara wood fire. Oh and we love greenery – you can never have too many indoor plants!
Prints: Norsu; floor cushion: Sage and Clare
Draw us a picture of your space and tell us what you love about living in your home?
Our home is far from perfect – and downright dated in some parts – but we still absolutely love it. It’s loaded with light, pops of colour, a retro vibe and happy memories – neither of us could imagine being anywhere else. The split level keeps the house feeling connected and it’s the first time we’ve owned a home that we can really make our mark on.
Life is also lovely in Warrandyte – we have plenty of family all within walking distance, and great friends close by too. There is an amazing community spirit and camaraderie here – we immediately felt a great sense of belonging as soon as we moved in. I still pinch myself every time we spot a kangaroo on our morning walk or wake up to the sound of kookaburras. It’s pretty special to have all this and still be close enough to the city for work or when we feel like some more action.
Our home is far from perfect – and downright dated in some parts – but we still absolutely love it. It’s loaded with light, pops of colour, a retro vibe and happy memories – neither of us could imagine being anywhere else. The split level keeps the house feeling connected and it’s the first time we’ve owned a home that we can really make our mark on.
Life is also lovely in Warrandyte – we have plenty of family all within walking distance, and great friends close by too. There is an amazing community spirit and camaraderie here – we immediately felt a great sense of belonging as soon as we moved in. I still pinch myself every time we spot a kangaroo on our morning walk or wake up to the sound of kookaburras. It’s pretty special to have all this and still be close enough to the city for work or when we feel like some more action.
Why is the living room your favourite room in your home?
It has a timber-clad, high-pitched ceiling, which makes the room feel expansive and gives it a weekend retreat/log cabin vibe. The floor-to-ceiling windows fill it with natural light and create stunning views of all the gumtrees that surround our home. It’s incredibly peaceful, grounding and nurturing to be surrounded by such natural beauty.
Photographic prints: Pampa; cushions: Sage and Clare
It has a timber-clad, high-pitched ceiling, which makes the room feel expansive and gives it a weekend retreat/log cabin vibe. The floor-to-ceiling windows fill it with natural light and create stunning views of all the gumtrees that surround our home. It’s incredibly peaceful, grounding and nurturing to be surrounded by such natural beauty.
Photographic prints: Pampa; cushions: Sage and Clare
What do you love to do in your spare time?
We live around two minutes’ walk from the Yarra River and national parks. Our favourite thing to do is meet family and friends for brunch in Warrandtye village before walking along the river with our spoodle, Billy, and strolling through the local market. And if it’s hot, we have a quick dip in the river too!
Chainstitch flower cushion: Sage and Clare
We live around two minutes’ walk from the Yarra River and national parks. Our favourite thing to do is meet family and friends for brunch in Warrandtye village before walking along the river with our spoodle, Billy, and strolling through the local market. And if it’s hot, we have a quick dip in the river too!
Chainstitch flower cushion: Sage and Clare
What do you love to make?
Well, we’re lucky enough to be able to change up our bed or sofa with the latest from our homewares business. One of my favourite things to do is come home with a car-load full of new cushions, blankets, beanbags and bedlinen and give our home a mini makeover. Making the bed up with layers of colour and print is the best.
Heart print: Madeleine Stamer; twig cubes: Twiggargerie; tile: Jai Vasicek; cushion and beanbag: Sage and Clare
Well, we’re lucky enough to be able to change up our bed or sofa with the latest from our homewares business. One of my favourite things to do is come home with a car-load full of new cushions, blankets, beanbags and bedlinen and give our home a mini makeover. Making the bed up with layers of colour and print is the best.
Heart print: Madeleine Stamer; twig cubes: Twiggargerie; tile: Jai Vasicek; cushion and beanbag: Sage and Clare
What inspires your design aesthetic?
Colour is always my very first starting point and I love the way colour trends come and go –keeps it interesting and fresh. Travels around the world also inform a lot of my design aesthetic and there is just so much inspiration to be found in the souks and bazaars we’ve visited.
Colour is always my very first starting point and I love the way colour trends come and go –keeps it interesting and fresh. Travels around the world also inform a lot of my design aesthetic and there is just so much inspiration to be found in the souks and bazaars we’ve visited.
What’s your proudest design moment?
I’m not sure I can pinpoint one … I literally feel like every time we launch a new collection, after seven to eight months of tireless work, it’s a huge achievement. Most of our homewares are made by hand in India so it can take a long time and plenty of product development before we finally see it all come together. Every time we pull it off, it feels like a miracle.
Mandala print: Lumiere Art & Co; vintage poster: Vintage Posters Only; chair, tables and rug: Ikea
I’m not sure I can pinpoint one … I literally feel like every time we launch a new collection, after seven to eight months of tireless work, it’s a huge achievement. Most of our homewares are made by hand in India so it can take a long time and plenty of product development before we finally see it all come together. Every time we pull it off, it feels like a miracle.
Mandala print: Lumiere Art & Co; vintage poster: Vintage Posters Only; chair, tables and rug: Ikea
Twig ladder: Twiggargerie
COMMENT TO WIN
For your chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Sage and Clare, tell us what it is you love about Phoebe and Chris’ living room in the Comments.
Competition ends at 5pm AEST on Thursday, 13 October.
Click here for full terms and conditions.
COMMENT TO WIN
For your chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Sage and Clare, tell us what it is you love about Phoebe and Chris’ living room in the Comments.
Competition ends at 5pm AEST on Thursday, 13 October.
Click here for full terms and conditions.
Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Phoebe and Chris Monahan, along with Billy the Spoodle
Location: Warrandyte, Victoria
Size: 40 square metres
How did you and your home meet?
It’s actually been in the family for over 20 years. Chris’ grandparents lived here for many years and then the opportunity came up for us to buy it in October last year. Family has always been so important to us so it seemed natural for us to make it our home. With our first baby on the way – due in early December – we were keen to put down some roots and we’ve always adored Warrandyte for its community, village-like atmosphere and natural landscape.
Photographic prints: Pampa; velvet cushion: Sage and Clare