E

ntertaining comes naturally to Chyka and Bruce

Keebaugh. For them, as co-directors of successful

catering, events and styling businesses, work is a

never-ending whirl of parties. Even when they’re off

the clock, this well-connected couple likes nothing

better than hosting friends and family at their grand home

in Melbourne’s inner south-eastern suburbs.

“We love entertaining and we definitely don’t do it to a

formula,” says Chyka, who also starred in three TV series

of Foxtel’s The Real Housewives of Melbourne. “Sometimes

we have drinks on the driveway and then bring guests down

the side of the house to a marquee filled with candles. Other

times, we might bring in a food truck and create fun zones

in the garden, or have an elegant dinner in the dining room.

Guests never know whether they’re going to get a laidback

barbecue, an Indian banquet or a Mexican fiesta.”

Their home wasn’t always the entertainer’s dream it is

today, however. “We’ve lived here for 17 years and we

began working on it practically from the minute we were

handed the keys,” says Chyka. “We loved it at first sight but

knew it had massive potential, too.” Initially, the English

manor-style house was very dark and gloomy, she explains,

with dark-stained wood panelling and heavy curtains at

all the windows. There were also issues with the layout. >