H G advice
162 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
The brief The transformation of this
Sydney outdoor area was instigated by
a rather unfortunate event. Lights hung
in a tree ignited a small fire in the
backyard that destroyed some of the
owners’ outdoor furniture. “I’d previously
worked on a renovation project for the
family and I was happy to help them
create a new outdoor room,” says interior
designer Marylou Sobel. “They asked me
to create an outdoor space that would be
a natural complement to their interiors.”
The makeover With a generous amount
of space at her disposal, Sobel was
able to include both a sitting area and
a 10-seater dining table. “The family
likes to do a lot of entertaining,” she
says. The structure needed little change,
the only significant update being the
addition of striking Moroccan-style
tiles around the barbecue. “Natural
materials star in all the furniture I chose.
I introduced jewel colours in the armchairs
and cushions to pick up on the foliage in
the garden.” The durable olefin rug and
chunky-weave wicker dining chairs add
a layer of texture. A Balinese day bed
and console push the furnished feel
further into the garden.
Why it works “The result is an outdoor
room that feels luxurious and layered,”
says Sobel. “Most importantly, it’s a
comfortable space, which is exactly
what the owners were after.” #The
LOWDOWN✚ Moroccan-style concrete
tiles, from $130/m2, Jatana;
(02) 6688 4235 or http://www.
jatanainteriors.com.au.
✚ Signature 3000SS five-burner
barbecue, $2899, and outdoor
rangehood, $2999, BeefEater;
1300 307 939 or http://www.
beefeaterbbq.com.au.
✚ Manutti San Diego wicker
dining chairs, $861/each,
Cosh Living; (03) 9281 1999
or http://www.coshliving.com.au.
✚ Custom-made weathered-oak
dining table, from $10,000,
and custom-made ottoman
upholstered in Westbury Textiles
Perugia fabric in Shadow, from
$2800, Marylou Sobel Interior
Design; (02) 9310 5899 or
http://www.marylousobel.com.au.
✚ Minotti Alison Iroko outdoor
sofas, from $16,500/each,
Warhol Iroko outdoor
armchairs, from $7100/each,
all Dedece; (02) 9360 2722 or
http://www.dedece.com.au.
✚ Balinese day bed from Unique
Teak, upholstered in JAB
Anstoetz Mambo Patio
outdoor fabric, $441/m, Seneca
Textiles; (03) 9509 4999 or
http://www.senecatextiles.com.
✚ Terrace Soumak indoor/
outdoor rug in Ivory Cream,
from $2040, Cadrys;
(02) 9328 6144 or
http://www.cadrys.com.au.Marylou Sobel Interior
Design; (02) 9130 5899 or
http://www.marylousobel.com.au.Room update
Jewel tones and natural materials bring depth
and character to this generous outdoor space.Before
Photograph by Maree Homer.