Natural Talent

Kylie Gillies, Co-host of the Morning Show, Has Created a Beach-chic Haven Where She and Her Family Can Kick Off Their Shoes and Relax

- Shelley Tustin

A WARM WELCOME

Between work commitments and the rush and rumpus of family life, Channel Seven presenter Kylie and her husband, Tony, wanted their architecturally designed home in Sydney to be a cocoon of calm. A timber boardwalk leads to an extra-large front door, waxed for a lovely raw patina, which swings open wide in welcome. “It’s like the lipstick on the house,” says Kylie (pictured with her dogs, Pepe and Tilly). “It’s the first thing people notice.” The stylish homeowner has filled her home with vignettes of subtly beautiful pieces and treasures (opposite), often found on the couple’s travels, as well as pretty, locally sourced pieces, such as ceramic fortune cookies from The Society Inc.

the lowdown KYLIE GILLIES

Who lives her?

TV presenter Kylie Gillies; her husband, Tony, editor-in-chief of Australian Associated Press; their sons, Gus, 15, and Archie, 13; and hounds Pepe and Tilly.

Who wears the design pants?

Kylie: “Oh, both of us! Tony really likes to have a say and I’m glad that he’s interested, because he lives here too. We quite enjoy doing it together.”

Do you agree on everything?

“Pretty much – and if we don’t, I still get my way! He can picture things better than I can, but when I get crazy ideas – like, ‘Let’s move the couch upstairs!’ – he indulges me.”

How was the building process?

“It sounds exciting, but in reality it’s a lot of hard work. But it’s nice to know that every scuff mark on the wall is one that you or your teenage boys have put there.”