Tiffany Farrington’s Bondi apartment has to be seen to be believed
She’s the queen of the eastern suburbs social set, the partner of Richard Buttrose and her apartment has got it all going on.
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Tiffany Farrington may call Bondi home, but she isn’t exactly hanging down at the beach 24/7. She loves the Bondi buzz, being footsteps from the bar and restaurant action but after much saving up, prefers to be home in her recently acquired — and rare — garden apartment.
Farrington created the Social Diary website 15 years ago.
The highly regarded PR ‘bible’ in Australia is now also in New Zealand, where she has recently returned from unveiling it to a new audience. Her surprising apartment block is nestled in a street of 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and noughties dwellings.
But isn’t that the crazy charm of Bondi? Its architecture is as mixed as its inhabitants. With her trusty dog Fang always by her side, Farrington is also publicist for her great pal, celebrity chef Curtis Stone.
They have recently returned from WA after shooting Curtis’s new US TV series, Field Trip with Curtis Stone. With a full working life, Farrington is happiest surrounded by a handful of ‘real’ friends, a drink in one hand and Fang in the other as she regales her tribe with stories from the big and often wild world of party people.
What do you love about the house and why? I still can’t believe I was renting this gorgeous courtyard apartment (which are apparently quite rare in Bondi) with a car spot.
After just four months the owners suddenly decided to sell. At first I was devastated as I thought was losing my home then I realised I could finally throw my hat in the property ring so I bought it.
It’s my dream home and I couldn’t be happier. I can’t believe I don’t have to move.
How would you describe your interior style? Eclectic, slightly retro, colourful and a bit wacky. You will never see anything beige in my home.
What is your favourite room in the house and why? The living room is my haven. I have a busy work, travel and social life so I am happy to flop into it and immerse myself in movies, music, visitors and my dog, Fang.
Who did your interiors and what was the brief? Mark Cavanagh, my mentor and dear friend is a genius with interiors. What I loved most about him styling it with me is he used all my own pieces — he didn’t try to change my style or force me to do anything I didn’t want.
Then he simply told me what I needed to buy (the outdoor couch set and the AMAZING gold hanging lamp) and he whisked it all together to create something that is truly me. He is the best in the biz.
What is the best gift you’ve received recently? A bunch of rare orchids from someone special.
What’s your most recent purchase for home? An amazing Temple & Webster gold art deco bar cart that I’ve named Barbara Cartland. It’s so lovely to be able to offer guests a cocktail rather than just a glass of wine. I’ve mastered a fair few cocktails by now.
Show us your wardrobe favourites: A beautiful black, sheer dress with King Tutankhamen shimmering on it given to me by my Mum. My dad gave it to her in 1975 and she wore it through both her pregnancies and throughout the 70s and 80s.
I remember it so vividly so to wear it takes me back to when I was young.
And I love my leopard maxi dress and black tux jacket by Little Joe’s Gail Elliot. Half my wardrobe is Little Joe, sometimes I feel like she’s designing just for me.
Favourite scent? Armani She on me, and Oriental Baies by Be Enlightened candles at home.
Is there music in your home? I listen on YouTube on my big screen. I really need to sort a sound system. But I love listening to old 70s and 80s music and seeing the film clips at the same time.
My friends call my music taste daggy, but I love the music of my youth.
What books are on your bedside table? Anything by Liane Moriarty but now I’ve read them all and she’s not writing new ones fast enough. Get cracking Liane!
When I’m nerding out anything by Malcolm Gladwell as he’s my hero.
If you could live anywhere else in the world where would it be? Montenegro. It’s such a special corner of the world that hordes of tourists haven’t discovered yet.
I stumbled upon it accidentally when I was in Croatia in 2010, and I’ve been back every year since.
Tell us about the best party you’ve had at home. The accidental party that happened when I first moved in. One by one friends came to check out my new pad during the day. It turned into margaritas and a late night
What is something you treasure most in your home? I have a LOT of Fang paraphernalia around: a sketch, a painting, photos, a pillow … I’m that freaky dog lady.
What is something you love that you’ve brought back from a holiday? My gold rollerskate from Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach, LA. I bought it because I love rollerskating.
Because I’ve skated at lots of parties people automatically assume it’s a trophy. I tend not to correct them.
