Having spent the past year and a half renovating, it is safe to say I have learned some lessons along the way. From which shade of creamy white really is best for your walls to selecting the perfect engineered wooden floorboard to match your furniture or house style, some of this information feels irrelevant until it very much isn't. Now that the renovation is complete, this knowledge resides in my head, ready to be recalled if someone ever asks for the best brass door handle (they rarely do).
But anyone who has renovated or moved into a new property knows that it is not solely about the fixtures and fittings, but also the small finishing touches that transform a house into a home and make a space feel special. For instance, after making the crucial sofa decision, you will need a coffee table, and the ideal TV setup requires the perfect TV console, and so on.
Without further ado, these are my favourite interior purchases I have bought (or am eyeing) for my home since renovating.
1. Wilson & Dorset Shaggy Bean Bag, $1,890
Yes, this may be the world's most expensive bean bag. But since we invested in one while visiting Bowral earlier this year, my family has had to take turns claiming who sits on it each evening — myself, my husband, and our two children included. Soft enough to fall asleep in and made from eight sheepskins seamlessly sewn together, this bean bag is extremely comfortable and durable. It feels extravagant at the time but quickly earns its keep, and soon you cannot imagine life without it. I am not done with Wilson & Dorset either. Next, I want to get my hands on one of their rugs for our hall and some of the cushions. If you have not seen it before, consider this your sign to browse their website.
2. Koala Tamarama Sofa, from $2,600
A newbie released just this week, but a goodie. This sofa was two and a half years in the making, with Koala designers James Whitta and Alexandra Owen, a husband-and-wife team who worked as head IKEA designers in Sweden, crafting the perfect Australian sofa. The Tamarama is relaxed in feel and style, but surprisingly structured and weighty in person. Ludicrously comfortable and deep, it offers everything you want in a sofa, and I love that it is available in an array of elevated colours inspired by the Australian landscape. I chose the Forest Walk Olive green option and have no regrets. I will be telling everyone about this sofa for months.
3. MCM House Axol Round Coffee Table, $2,881.50
A fabulous living room is nothing without a carefully curated coffee table. Just ask interior designers, who can talk for hours about artfully stacked coffee table books, Diptyque candles, vases, and trays. This travertine-top coffee table by MCM House is a wonderful investment that will last a lifetime. With the perfect shape, size, and finish, I love that it is made from natural stone and old elm timber, giving it an effortlessly elegant yet relaxed and informal look.
4. Winning Appliances Vintec Dual Zone Wine Fridge, $2,761
Wine fridges are all the rage these days as people look to cellar their best bottles and display their favourite selections in glass-fronted wine fridges. In fact, wine fridges are booming in popularity, driven by the rise of home entertaining and a shift toward viewing collections as luxury aesthetic pieces rather than hidden basement storage. This option by Vintec, sold at Winning Appliances, is ideal because it is dual zone, meaning it stores both red and white wine at the perfect temperature.
5. Zip Hydrotap Boiling, Chilled and Sparkling
This is possibly my most extravagant purchase of the year, but also perhaps the best. The Zip Hydrotap delivers boiling, chilled, and sparkling water at the simple press of a button. Not only that, but it looks incredibly elegant while doing so. We recently installed one in our new kitchen renovation and cannot stop marvelling at the fact that we no longer need a kettle, Soda Stream, or even bottles of water in the fridge. Consider me obsessed.
6. Land Homewares Roman Blinds
I stumbled upon this Northern Beaches-based custom furniture company on Instagram and fell in love immediately. With gorgeous hand-painted and luxurious fabrics, they sell everything from ottomans to curtains, sofas, blinds, and bench seat cushions. I recently used Land Homewares for some Roman blinds in our house, and they consistently receive compliments.
7. Double Palisade Mustard Washable Jute Rug, from $100
Last but not least, I have my eye on this gorgeous jute rug from washable Australian rug company Double. Made from 100 per cent natural fibres, it retains the texture, tonal variation, and grounding presence that define traditional jute rugs. But crucially, its construction has been carefully refined to allow for washing while preserving the integrity of the material. With a young family, I am always looking for pieces that are not just pretty but also highly practical. This rug strikes that balance perfectly.
