Interior designer and stylist Kristin Rawson has been slowly updating her family’s Seaforth home in northern Sydney since 2012. 

At the time of purchasing, the home was perfectly functional, but with uninspiring and dated interiors. Fortunately, making things stylish is Kristin’s forte, having spent nearly a decade in New York working as the fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar and Teen Vogue magazines!

Upon returning to Australia some years ago, Kristin dove headfirst into the interiors world, trading fashion styling for styling interiors shoots, and working with clients to create their homes. She’s worked for some of the biggest titles in the world, but Kristin says the most difficult client of all is herself!

‘Without a doubt working on personal projects proves more difficult, solely for the reason there is just too much choice!,’ she says.

Kristin settled on a calming, neutral interior palette for her own home, taking inspiration from the southern coast of Italy. Whitewashed surfaces and stone features throughout, softened with textural linens, jute, seagrass, and wool.

Given this is a family home, significant attention has also been paid to functional features, such as storage. The built-in seating in the living room, for example, provides ample hidden storage for toys, while custom cushions have been made using stain resistant and durable fabric.

Developing the backyard has been the largest element of the project to date, involving all new exterior surfaces, converting a former spa into an outdoor dining area, and the addition of a custom concrete pool. This landscape design was created by Formed Gardens, with installation by Hollandscapes.

Kristin says the house remains an ongoing project, with a second-storey designed by Alexander &CO currently in the works. The house is also available for location hire!