Photography: John Downs / Styling: Tahn Scoon
Meet Corey Parker
Corey and Margaux fell in love with this home the moment they saw it. After a few structural changes Margaux tackled the decor, transforming it from an uninspiring palette to a fresh white and cream scheme laced with black. The kitchen only received a minimal makeover, with ‘Grantham’ pendant lights from Early Settler and Miele appliances. Corey is pictured with two of the couple’s three children, Wylei and Memphis, who sit on ‘Clifton’ bentwood bar stools from Cafeideas.
NEWS FLASH After nine years, footy legend Corey Parker and his breakfast radio host wife Margaux Parker listed their Brisbane home in April 2023 and sold to local buyers, who fell in love with the property. The Parker family have since settled into a new home in nearby Daisy Hill, which they are currently renovating – watch this space!
One of a pair of antique Louis XV chairs in the hallway and the side table came from Margaux’s grandfather. An oversized clock from Earthborn completes the vignette.
Corey and Margaux’s living area is as chic as it is comfortable. The pair sourced the hand-carved Louis XVI sideboard and the parquetry-top coffee table from European Design, and the charcoal sofa from Far Pavilions. Margaux spotted this ‘Souk’ rug at West Elm. The couple commissioned Colleen Jaftha of One Sonny Day to create the embossed portraits of the children.
A reclaimed door-topped table with metal ‘iron gate’ legs was found at European Design. Its rustic style chimes seamlessly with ‘Provincial’ cross-back oak dining chairs, picked up from Early Settler.
A dramatic feature wall in Taubmans ‘All Black’ forms a backdrop to a stylish leather bedhead from Snooze, and allows the white bedlinen to pop. “I keep my linen white because it makes it easier to change things up with cushions and throws,” says Margaux.
Margaux let Memphis choose her favourite colours, but added teal to break up the purple and pink – the ‘Willow’ bed from Fantastic Furniture is a case in point. The linen, cushions, decal and artwork came from Kmart, and the bone-inlay dresser was found at Ruby Star Traders. The ottomans from Milan Direct “were supposed to be tan for our room but they sent the wrong colour,” recalls Margaux. “I loved them for Mem’s room anyway!”
“We’ve come back to our roots,” says Corey. “We both grew up not far from here, so we’ve sort of come full circle.” His prized zone features a leather wingback chair that was found on Gumtree – for similar, try the ‘Visitor’ chair from Chesterfield Lounges – a copper side table and crown-shaped candleholder from European Design, plus, as you might expect, plenty of rugby league memorabilia.
All the home’s spaces open out to the pool area, where Wylei and Memphis love to cool off. “Having the pool so close to everything was a big selling point,” says Margaux, pictured with Jagger. For a sense of continuity, the same practical travertine flooring has been used here as inside the house, albeit in different finishes. Margaux found the ‘Cape Cod’ kids’ chairs at Aldi.
