A NEW leaf

A richly layered interior marks this Brisbane home's past while creating a framework for new

- STORY JULIA FAIRLEY | STYLING HAYLEY JENKIN PHOTOGRAPHY HANNAH PUECHMARIN

Nothing heralds the spirit of spring in decor and design quite like lush, botanical prints reaching skywards up the walls, and tablescapes adorned with armfuls of fresh blooms. This is the scene you encounter upon stepping inside this Toowoomba home in Queensland, where spring has sprung all year round.

Built in the postwar period, the abode boasted stately 3.2-metre ceilings and classic wall mouldings in the original front rooms, with a newer extension at the back. What it lacked, however, when homeowner Deb relocated here from Brisbane after her husband passed away, was character and comfort.

“Deb wanted a new start,” recalls Lloyd Hodgkinson, founder of Oliver Mark Interiors, who instantly “hit it off” with her over their shared love of colour and pattern. What followed was a 10-month decorating project, finishing in mid-2024, which saw Lloyd introduce enduring elegance to every room and infuse Deb’s new home with jewels of joy.

Take a seat “Deb wanted it to be beautiful and comfortable, and she is a big entertainer - it’s not uncommon for her to have 20 people come for dinner at an incredible soirée - so that was an important factor,” says Lloyd of furnishing the formal dining room (this page). Tall spires of candles from Hall of Flame preside over Deb’s extendable antique dining table, which is dressed to impress with vintage Wedgwood plates. Lloyd matched colours in the napery from Schweitzer Linen in New York with a bounty of fresh flowers (opposite).

Combining colours