My Houzz: Worlds Collide in a Paddington Terrace
Get lost amongst old and new treasures that thoughtfully make up interior stylist Sibella Court's Sydney home
The most enchanting element of exploring Sibella Court’s wonderful home is the adventure and curiosities that are found in each room. The old Paddington terrace structure is still a very strong feature of the home’s decor and is complemented by the eclectic pieces that adorn every inch of the rooms.
Court is an internationally-renowned interior stylist and a lover of objects with soul. With her interior styling business, Society Inc., booming, Court spends her time designing spaces for some of the big names in the hospitality industry and uses her wealth of knowledge to put a stamp on her own space. Having previously housed the headquarters on the ground floor of her Paddington home, the expansion of her business has meant a new headquarters in St. Peters and a vacant space in her terrace for her to reclaim. A true globetrotter, Court frequently travels to New York and Byron Bay, but continues to return to her home in sunny Sydney. She has carefully crafted findings from an array of both Australian and international suppliers to surround herself with pieces that tell a story of her life. Her apt resourcefulness and ambitious creativity come together to showcase her distinctive style.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Sibella Court, her partner Ben Harper and their daughter Silver
Location: Paddington, Sydney, NSW
That’s interesting: The 1860s terrace house was a former shop and was built and kept within the same family until Court purchased it in 2008
Court is an internationally-renowned interior stylist and a lover of objects with soul. With her interior styling business, Society Inc., booming, Court spends her time designing spaces for some of the big names in the hospitality industry and uses her wealth of knowledge to put a stamp on her own space. Having previously housed the headquarters on the ground floor of her Paddington home, the expansion of her business has meant a new headquarters in St. Peters and a vacant space in her terrace for her to reclaim. A true globetrotter, Court frequently travels to New York and Byron Bay, but continues to return to her home in sunny Sydney. She has carefully crafted findings from an array of both Australian and international suppliers to surround herself with pieces that tell a story of her life. Her apt resourcefulness and ambitious creativity come together to showcase her distinctive style.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Sibella Court, her partner Ben Harper and their daughter Silver
Location: Paddington, Sydney, NSW
That’s interesting: The 1860s terrace house was a former shop and was built and kept within the same family until Court purchased it in 2008
After 10 years of living in New York City, Court returned to Sydney for work and needed a new place to call home. One of her close friends stumbled across the terrace and knew it was the perfect new digs for the savvy stylist. “I fell in love on first visit and was determined for it to be mine,” she says.
The home had been passed down to generations of the same family who had built it in the 1860s, but required updates Court and her father (a retired builder with 40 years experience) were more than capable of doing.
“I had been residing in a 185sqm loft in Chinatown, New York City. This was a 160sqm traditional two up two down. I was excited to furnish my space by it’s a much more intimate size!” she says.
Court and her father started by pulling out all the carpets and the ‘strange’ partition walls.
“It was easy to peel back the layers to reveal its beauty and use of honest materials,” Court explains of her experience. Her biggest challenges came when routing the walls for new electricals, scraping layers of paint off the stairs and rough-sanding the floors.
The home had been passed down to generations of the same family who had built it in the 1860s, but required updates Court and her father (a retired builder with 40 years experience) were more than capable of doing.
“I had been residing in a 185sqm loft in Chinatown, New York City. This was a 160sqm traditional two up two down. I was excited to furnish my space by it’s a much more intimate size!” she says.
Court and her father started by pulling out all the carpets and the ‘strange’ partition walls.
“It was easy to peel back the layers to reveal its beauty and use of honest materials,” Court explains of her experience. Her biggest challenges came when routing the walls for new electricals, scraping layers of paint off the stairs and rough-sanding the floors.
She has used her terrace as a representation of her own signature style in several published works, including her book Etcetera: Creating Beautiful Interiors with the Things You Love.
“It’s a house full of storytelling, with every item encasing my memories of where I was, who I was with and what fun I was having – it’s really a 3D lifeline of me and my tales,” she explains.
“It’s a house full of storytelling, with every item encasing my memories of where I was, who I was with and what fun I was having – it’s really a 3D lifeline of me and my tales,” she explains.
“I have been styling for over 20 years and surround myself with the things I love,” she explains. “My job has lead me on many a globetrotting adventure, where I pick up mementos and souvenirs both big and small: sea-tossed pebbles, goat rugs, bamboo blinds, hand-tooled kitchen utensils, textiles and anything that fits into my bags!”
The stories behind the collection of keepsakes in Court’s home are endless. One of her prized possessions comes in the form of a large display cabinet, which was used in an Egyptian pencil factory. She bought it at an auction and it now has pride of place in the front room.
“It now houses a large collection of bits and pieces I have collected from the age of three. I love this idea of 3D wallpaper and have other floor-to-ceiling shelves made upstairs as well to house these collections and my extensive library!” Court says.
“It now houses a large collection of bits and pieces I have collected from the age of three. I love this idea of 3D wallpaper and have other floor-to-ceiling shelves made upstairs as well to house these collections and my extensive library!” Court says.
With her lengthy career in interior styling, her little black book of contacts is bursting at the seams, which comes in handy when she embarks on a new project. This includes the quirky design of her intimate kitchen.
The bathroom and kitchen were ‘tacked on’ to the space in the 1930/40s. Court decided to renovate, but keep the original floorplans.
“I bought a cast iron kitchen sink at The Great Gatsby prop sale, and called my dad from there to come over and rip out the cheap kitchen – stove and all!” she says.
The bathroom and kitchen were ‘tacked on’ to the space in the 1930/40s. Court decided to renovate, but keep the original floorplans.
“I bought a cast iron kitchen sink at The Great Gatsby prop sale, and called my dad from there to come over and rip out the cheap kitchen – stove and all!” she says.
For the open-shelving, she called upon blacksmith Saul Tomkins of Coloforge who hand-rolled and perforated steel shelves with hand-forged brackets to line the walls to the ceiling. The whole kitchen was then lined with zinc for durability.
She carefully salvaged beautiful old timbers to create the benches and stand for the sink. Court used her resourceful style to adopt an old cast iron camp stove to cook with.
She carefully salvaged beautiful old timbers to create the benches and stand for the sink. Court used her resourceful style to adopt an old cast iron camp stove to cook with.
Renovating and styling comes naturally to Court, and her dad’s career in construction gives her an understanding and admiration for those in her industry who are masters of their own trade.
“I have been shooting a TV show for the ABC (airing August 2015) for the last two years on heritage restoration and have met some very dedicated trades people that I can call upon,” she explains.
“I have been shooting a TV show for the ABC (airing August 2015) for the last two years on heritage restoration and have met some very dedicated trades people that I can call upon,” she explains.
Court is attracted to honest and humble materials and has worked hard to showcase the home’s historical design elements. She has maintained the raw hardwood floors in her home, the simple walls with picture rails (which she notes as a necessity for displays) and wide skirting boards.
“I have kept my canvas very much to how the house was built in the 1860s when it was a former shop. I have lovingly restored and nurtured its originality and years of history,” Court says.
“I have kept my canvas very much to how the house was built in the 1860s when it was a former shop. I have lovingly restored and nurtured its originality and years of history,” Court says.
Court decided to splurge on her home decor and didn’t follow a strict budget. She never skimps on materials and finishes, but does note that she is very good at high and low price points.
Her favourite finish is paint – she loves the way it can dramatically change the mood of a room.
“I am very much a one-coat-wonder and am known to change a white room to ‘Tattoo’ (a dark, stormy blue from The Society Inc. paint range) in an afternoon,” she says.
“I am very much a one-coat-wonder and am known to change a white room to ‘Tattoo’ (a dark, stormy blue from The Society Inc. paint range) in an afternoon,” she says.
Court has created a space that works for her and her family, which is also packed with personality and memories.
“My main objective when decorating is having a space that reflects the lifestyle of my family and our personalities. A space sympathetic to its structure,” she explains.
“My main objective when decorating is having a space that reflects the lifestyle of my family and our personalities. A space sympathetic to its structure,” she explains.
Her bathroom is a proud renovation accomplishment. She used reasonably priced subway tiles and dressed them up with black grout and a black dado bullnose.
“I did not concern myself with mixing finish patinas and used a new external shower set that fit perfectly from Hardware & General,” she says.
She found an old cleaner’s sink and tap set in Clingnancourt markets in Paris, then had her blacksmith make the hand-forged steel legs of the sink. Her lights are vintage finds that she had rewired and, finally, to complete the bathroom renovation, she pulled out a dinky old tub and replaced it with teak wet room flooring.
“I did not concern myself with mixing finish patinas and used a new external shower set that fit perfectly from Hardware & General,” she says.
She found an old cleaner’s sink and tap set in Clingnancourt markets in Paris, then had her blacksmith make the hand-forged steel legs of the sink. Her lights are vintage finds that she had rewired and, finally, to complete the bathroom renovation, she pulled out a dinky old tub and replaced it with teak wet room flooring.
Court also loves to integrate nature into her home. “I’m a lover of anything green, perhaps from living in the urban jungle of NYC. I have three verges outside my house and the shed that houses my bins has a succulent roof … every window also has a window box. I planted Virginia creeper and passionfruit vines that are slowly taking over,” she says.
The eye is drawn to each and every object Court decorates her rooms with. Mixing old with new items adds layers of warmth and interest.
The single bedroom upstairs makes the most of the natural light. The vintage lampshade and vibrant blue bedspread are standout items in the room.
Court chose the upstairs front room as her bedroom. “It has very generous proportions, and after staying in so many hotels for years, I worked towards customising my space into the ultimate hotel room,” she says.
The street view of Court’s home shows the old The Society Inc. shopfront.
The 1860s corner terrace no longer houses her retail business, but Court continues to promote it as a community space. “As an old shop, it continues to have a strong community feel, a hub for gathering and conversation – the neighbours spill on the street and I grow herbs and vegies in my verges so that people can help themselves to the produce,” she explains.
The 1860s corner terrace no longer houses her retail business, but Court continues to promote it as a community space. “As an old shop, it continues to have a strong community feel, a hub for gathering and conversation – the neighbours spill on the street and I grow herbs and vegies in my verges so that people can help themselves to the produce,” she explains.
Court in the front room of her Paddington terrace.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
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I love the way Sibella's place oozes with personality and charm. Loved watching her on the recent Restoration Australia series. So nice to see someone that is not following the boring, sterile, clinical style that is so prevalent in Australia.
Great taste. Absolutely timeless style. A fantastic alternative to todays horrible trend led interiors.