Interior Inspo: Designer Robbie Nicol opens the doors to her incredible Woollahra home
This heritage-listed home is filled with the most glorious mix of art works, accessories and furniture and even this online tour will leave you feeling inspired.
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As soon as you walk into the Woollahra home of interior designer Robbie Nicol there’s a serious sense of calm yet a very cool sense of eclecticism.
There’s a wonderful feeling of space, serenity and an element of surprise as Percy the Persian cat, and occasional visitor, a dog named Harvey (Nicol), mince around the two-bedroom, two-level house.
One of a row of three late-18th century Victorian workers’ cottages, with a common roof and matching dormer windows, and the “small but perfectly formed” street-front garden, the facade was designed by Annie Wilkes of Parterre Garden.
“The cottage is only four metres wide,” Robbie tells me “and the main living area faces south, so the biggest challenge was creating a spacious, light-filled environment.
“Deece Giles integrated a large prism skylight above the family room which makes it feel like summer all year round.
“A floor-to-ceiling mirrored wall reflects both the light and outside greenery, creating the illusion of a much larger space.”
Read on to learn more about this glorious heritage home and the woman who lives there.
Who did your interiors?
Architect Deece Giles was commissioned for the major renovation, as he had worked on our previous home, also in Woollahra.
As for the interiors, I designed those myself, revamping them many times over the years — proving that there’s no better client than oneself.
The most recent transformation, however, was carried out by my daughter, Phoebe Nicol, who has her own interior architecture practice and is co-founder of The Vault Sydney, an antiques showroom specialising in 20th-century pieces.
What was most important when designing your home?
Living on one of the most vibrant streets in the eastern suburbs definitely has its advantages, with a wide choice of cafes, restaurants, antique shops and clothing boutiques. But I wanted a sanctuary of calm and serenity at home.
A modern backdrop was created for the antique Georgian furniture inherited from my family in New Zealand and my late husband’s family in London.
I believe a home should feel “lived in” and truly reflect its owner, while furniture should be comfortable rather than hard-edged — neither predictable nor pedestrian.
What inspires you when it comes to interior spaces?
I don’t see my style and design preferences as being derivative of other designers but there are definitely many that I admire. Nicolas and Charlotte Horsch (whom I discovered on Instagram), Axel Vervoordt and Rose Uniacke are standout favourites.
What’s your favourite room?
The family room. It opens through wide french doors to a stone-flagged terrace and a walled garden at the rear of the house. The room showcases my most-loved heirlooms, artworks and recent acquisitions.
What is the most unique feature of your home?
What seems to surprise most is the contrast between the sedate, traditional exterior of this small cottage and the unexpected sense of space, light and drama that greets them inside. Bold colours, contemporary artworks, eclectic furniture and furnishings are juxtaposed with select antique pieces and treasured family heirlooms.
Which feature makes you most proud?
The rear walled garden is a virtual extension of the living room, adding to the cottage’s feeling of spaciousness, and I’m very proud of how lush and green it is throughout the year. I must have developed green thumbs over the years, because I never thought of myself as a gardener, although flower arranging is one of my more meditative pastimes.
Where is the best place to best enjoy your home?
I enjoy relaxing, reading and listening to music on the sofa in the family room.
Where is some of your furniture from?
Apart from the pieces inherited from family, my favourite items have come from The Country Trader, The Vault Sydney and Lydie Du Bray.
Where do you like to shop for interior pieces?
I was born to shop, so as well as the places I’ve already mentioned, I love Macleay on Manning, Becker Minty, Space Furniture (for all things contemporary) and Cool Hunter in Melbourne.
Describe your use of art in your home?
Art is such an important component of the cottage and of my life. My favourite pieces are by Mika Utzon Popov (Australian Galleries), my daughter Phoebe Nicol, family portraits by Michael Young, Jan Albers (Fox Jensen Gallery), John Hart (Libby Edwards Galleries, Melbourne), and Clemens Krauss (Dominik Mersch Gallery).
Would you change anything?
I’d love an extra bedroom or an attic room, but sadly the floor ratio is at capacity and as the building is heritage-listed, there’s no chance.
If you could live anywhere else in the world where would it be?
I love London for the family connections it holds for me, its architectural elegance and proximity to Europe. However, the likelihood of my moving there is slim as I have my daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law, a granddog called Harvey Nicol and many close friends around me in Sydney and Melbourne, many of whom are also working in the design industry.
What is something you treasure in your home?
I have many treasured possessions, but one that comes to mind is the Deborah Halpen piece that I spotted through the window of Ali Yeldham’s Art house Gallery while I was on my morning walk.
Another treasure is The Angel, a French folly bought from The Country Trader, just before Geoff Clark closed the doors on his retail showroom for a well-deserved hiatus.
What has been taking up your time at the moment?
Increasingly I’m working with my daughter on the growing number of projects in her interior architecture business. The tables have turned and I’m happy to be a part-time gofer for Phoebe, helping out with The Vault and puppy-sitting Mr Harvey.
For more pictures of this gorgeous home keep scrolling down.
