Cart 
In colour psychology, yellow is associated with happiness and excitement.
Perhaps that’s why the pastel yellow exterior of this Paddington home stands out from its neat row of terrace houses like a little ray of sunshine, sparking joy for those walking by and most of all, the couple who live inside.
It was almost serendipitous that Sydney lawyer Nikki Keijzer and banker Tom Gibson ended up as owners of the charming 1900s residence, especially since yellow is Nikki’s favourite colour.
‘We first saw the home listed online in June 2023,’ Nikki says. ‘The house was advertised as “The Yellow House,” and I instantly had a connection with it.’
Unable to make an offer at the time, Nikki and Tom accepted the property would be sold to someone else. But as luck would have it, the home was re-listed a few months later.
‘I remember we inspected it on a Tuesday, and by that Thursday, we had signed the contract. I’d always dreamed of living in Paddington, so it’s a dream come true being here now,’ she adds.
Beyond the beautifully preserved facade — where detailed latticework lines the upstairs balcony — the house also hides a jasmine-filled courtyard, and upstairs, you can catch a glimpse of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Nikki has styled the interior with playful pieces to proudly cement the home’s status as ‘the brightest house on the street’.
She worked with her friend Chloe Tozer (creative director of Noosa-based CLO Studios) to design a custom sofa with a pleated skirt, upholstered in a warm mustard yellow fabric.
It ties in perfectly with the couple’s collection of sunset-toned paintings by Bondi artist Jesse Cleay, alongside some sentimental artworks by Tom’s mum, budding artist Mary Mealey.
‘[Mary] painted a few of the pieces in our home we adore, including one of our wedding venue in the kitchen nook,’ Nikki says.
It hangs alongside other favourite pieces on the gallery wall above the custom-made banquette seat — affectionately referred to as ‘Nikki’s Nooki’.
Another wedding present from her own mum hangs in the kitchen: a frame of pressed flowers she’d saved from their big day.
‘The antique French frame was to symbolise our honeymoon in France, and the yellow border was for our home that we’d just purchased. It’s something I’ll keep forever,’ Nikki says.
Most of the pieces inside the light-filled rooms hold stories of the couple’s travels. The styling lands somewhere between English and French interiors, layered with textures of rattan and timber furniture, and new and vintage finds.
It strikes just the right balance of elegance and eclecticism, enhancing the Victorian architecture.
‘I want our home to be a reflection of us: colourful and full of life,’ Nikki says. ‘We haven’t done any paintwork yet, but if we do anything, it will be indoors. I’d love to add some coloured walls.’
‘One thing is for sure, we will never change the yellow of our exterior; that is staying forever!’
This story originally appeared in Issue 02 of The Design Files Magazine. Get your copy here!
