Photography: Brigid Arnott / Styling: Olga Lewis / Styling assistant: Amy Morrison
When I get on a call with Alyce Tran, one of the founding forces behind In The Roundhouse, it’s clear her work ethic is second to none. Fresh off an overseas trip, she’s back home in Australia typing away while we chat. The business she helped build rarely slows down – least of all at Christmas.
Who lives here?
Alyce Tran, co-founder of In The Roundhouse and brand strategist at LTK Australia.
What do you love most about it? “I like how there are clearly defined zones, so if I’m working from home or in my bedroom I feel away from the rest of the house.”
What are your go-to festive table colours? “I tend to stick with pinks and greens but I’m loving rich bold colours at the moment. I’m styling with our latest collections.”
How do you help guests feel instantly comfortable? “Hand them a drink and give them something to do so they’re not awkwardly hovering while I run around.”
Some might say hustle is Alyce’s holiday tradition. “I’ve grown up in a household where the Christmas period has always been really busy for my family,” she shares. “My parents had a strawberry farm, and summer is strawberry season so it’s a really busy time. I think one year my mum moved Christmas for our entire extended family. She was like, ‘We’re going to work on Christmas Day ’cause we have to, and we will just move the day.’”
That pragmatic streak extended to Alyce and her home search. “I was in a small LA terrace before this and I just wanted to have more space, more light,” she explains. It was mid-2021, and the pandemic had encouraged her to slow down, much like it did for all of us. “Spending time at home became more of an emphasis because prior to this I was just working like a crazy person.”
Initially, Alyce considered properties needing renovations. “I was very seriously thinking about going down that route.” But hearing friends’ warnings about the challenges of building, she decided against it. Then she found an idyllic turnkey residence.
Located in a vibrant inner-Sydney suburb, it was exactly where and what Alyce realised she wanted. “I thought, ‘Okay, well everything is kind of done.’” It offered an elegant foundation and she’s since added her own touch through furnishings. “It wasn’t like everything was bought for this house,” she explains. “There were just some things from Jardan, others I’ve had for a long time.”
Her space displays an intuitive way with colour, though Alyce downplays any styling talent. “When I look at the interiors of houses that have been done by someone, I don’t think by any stretch of the imagination my house is styled,” she says. “It has things in it, versus someone who’s had their house styled by Smac Studio or Tamsin Johnson or Phoebe Nicol – someone with training in this space.”
As 2025 draws to a close, her workdays are ramping up with new In The Roundhouse releases that aren’t overtly festive but embrace the silly season’s hues. “Every colour scheme will be covered,” she shares. “We have traditional colourways, like green and white, red and white. Then we have things that are more Northern Hemisphere festive vibes, like those darker, richer colours.”
The tastemaker may have many plates spinning, but at home she’s low-key. Her favourite spot to relax? “I very rarely go downstairs,” she says. “I just watch TV in my bed.” And when the retail rush is over, she’ll be ready for a break. “It’s a sense of relief,” she says.
Dining area
In the playfully polished dining space, a custom-made Lucy Wheen table is paired with McMullin ‘Henrietta’ chairs while a pink petal-shaped Murano glass chandelier adds a romantic glow. When it comes to decorating, Alyce mixes fun festive touches with fresh florals from the markets. “If you don’t know what you’re doing with flower arrangements, like me, just keep to block colours in one type,” she suggests. Steering away from traditional Christmas tones, Alyce prefers to play off what’s new and inspiring at In The Roundhouse, such as their latest Romeo + Jules collaboration.
Living room
When guests visit, Alyce’s living room is where they naturally gather. It’s a playful mix of collected pieces and curated colour. A bright yellow Ligne Roset ‘Togo’ loveseat anchors the space, while soft pink accents – like in the Rick Carlino artwork above the fireplace – add a gentle, feminine touch.
“I like buying pieces of furniture that can work in multiple contexts. If I move down the line, can it go in another corner?”
Alyce
The coffee table is styled with colourful books and fresh blooms, alongside In The Roundhouse’s ‘The End’ side plates and green and striped spoons, blending function with effortless style.
Bedroom
In one of the bedrooms, soft lilac tones create a serene retreat. The ‘Hatepe’ photographic artwork by Derek Henderson features a captivating sea of hydrangea heads, its hue echoed in the bed cover from The Bespoke Linen Co. A Hay bedside lamp and an Aphrodite statue from Mercer & Lewis sit alongside other collected pieces, adding sculptural elegance and texture.
We love… fashion as decor
It’s fun when fashion finds its way into interiors, and for style devotee Alyce, it feels only fitting. Her bed is dressed with ‘Remnants of Chanel’ cushions from The Bespoke Linen Co., handcrafted by textile artist Melise Smith using the iconic brand’s signature tweeds. Each limited-edition piece gives new life to Chanel’s past collections.
Wardrobe
In Alyce’s wardrobe, Chanel, Fendi and Loewe bags sit like stylish friends beside Bottega Veneta sunglasses and heels that would make any fashion lover weak at the knees.
Bathroom
Simplicity meets luxury in the bathroom with a mirrored cabinet, marble vanity and white finger tiles. A Loewe product and fresh florals elevate the space.
Office
Alyce’s light-filled office is a calming space where work and style go hand in hand. “I spend about a day a week on In The Roundhouse. Some is spent at home, on small shoots or at our warehouses,” she says.
Terrace
Outside, the dining table is laid for summer with In The Roundhouse’s wicker dining set, matching glassware and beige-and-white cutlery.
