Woollahra apartment brings city chic to the suburbs

“A passionate home” is how real estate agent Gary Sands perfectly nails it when describing this cosily eclectic apartment.

Owner Myriame Duetz’s choice of vibrant hues – particularly lacquer-box reds and sunshine yellows – is certainly seductive as is her wondrous bricolage.

 “My parents are Dutch, so I adore all things European,” Duetz says. “I’m also fascinated by the East. Years ago I went to Hong Kong’s China Club. I recall the impact of assorted easy chairs upholstered in red and yellow heavy moleskin fabric. There was also a table with a large grouping of yellow china; once I was back home, I rushed around searching for similar.”

Describing her decorating style as “somewhere between relaxed French provincial, with a touch of the Orient and a dash of city chic”, she says that colour in key pieces such as a painting or a rug is the unifying element.

Sparkling, jewel-toned glass vases and bowls are displayed as an eye-catching table feature. 

“I had one piece of coloured glass and noticed how spectacular it looked with the sun shining through. That started me off collecting,” she says.

“The pieces don’t have to be expensive; the wow factor comes from the colour mix.”

An unashamed bower bird, whenever she’s holidaying, Duetz randomly souvenirs a tiny stone from a hilltop in France or a river in Argentina, or perhaps a piece of shell from a beach in Thailand. These mementoes go into her wooden “collection” box at home.

The apartment, with its 13 windows, high ceilings and art deco features such as double glass panelled doors and softly glowing tallowwood flooring, forms the perfect backdrop for the multi-cultural furnishings.

“I love to turn the key in my front door and feel that I’ve stepped into my own little world with all of my carefully chosen treasures surrounding me,” she says.

Need to know

2/12 Rosemont Avenue, Woollahra
$1.6 million +
Two bedrooms, one bathroom, one garage
Built: 1920s, renovated 2003
Inspect: Today, 1-1.30pm and tomorrow by appointment
Agent: Di Jones Real Estate, 0419 410 510
Auction: Tuesday, July 14 at 6.30pm
More photos: Domain.com.au

Where to buy

Woven wonder

Duetz keeps her onions and garlic in a bowl similar to this hand-woven African storage tray made by Sengalese villagers. $59.95, from mozi.com.au.

Rainbow bright

Kelim cushions (from rural villages in Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran and Morocco) are woollen flat-weaves made from fragments of damaged rugs,originally created as saddlebags and nomadic tent cushions. These from Cadrys, $50 each, cadrys.com.au.

Shine on

Bring in some mellow yellow with an impressionistic painting (from the same series as Duetz’s Angophoras). The glare of the full sun by Dan Kyle, 120 x 120 cm, oil on board, $3,500, from Defiance gallery, defiancegallery.com.

Red hot

This Ektorp, three-seater sofa in Idemo red has a removable cover for easy cleaning. Toss on some scatter cushions to ignite a real red hot winter look. From IKEA, $599, ikea.com.au.