Life’s a beach throughout the year, not just the summer holidays, for TV presenter and model Kate Waterhouse (of Australia’s racing royalty), her husband Luke Ricketson (of one-time Roosters rugby league fame) and their daughters, Sophia, 11, and Grace, nine. A beautiful beach on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, with its golden sand, calm waters and majestic fig trees, beckons across the road from their barefoot paradise, where coastal ease flows through each room. The only downside? Tootsies trailing sand across the sublime limestone floors.
Who lives here?
Model and TV presenter Kate Waterhouse, her husband Luke Ricketson, an ex-Roosters player and insurance company principal, their girls Sophia, 11, and Grace, nine, turtle Waddles and Cobberdog Ricky.
How are you spending your summer holidays this year? Kate: “We’re dividing our time between Sydney and the Southern Highlands. We love having a mix of beach days then heading to the family farm for a country escape. It gives us the best of both worlds.”
Favourite Christmas rituals? “The girls love decorating the tree together and making pavlova. We also always watch a Christmas movie on Christmas Eve – it’s a tradition we all look forward to.”
What is your Christmas decorating style? “Classic and timeless, with a hint of sparkle.”
Kate and Luke settled on the property in 2021. “The solid structure, incredible light and sense of openness drew us instantly,” she says. “And, being so close to the beach, I could instantly imagine it as somewhere for our family to make memories.” But only after some serious help. The kitchen was sequestered, with no connection to the view or living areas. While some parts of the home were open, others were cut off, with an awkward flow between spaces. And the ’80s surfaces had seen better days, so Kate called on interior designer Phoebe Nicol to elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary.
“We needed a home that could withstand the chaos of everyday life while still feeling considered,” says Kate. “We wanted spaces that flowed seamlessly, with the living areas connected to the outdoors.” And the look? “Coastal, yet classic – light, airy and timeless. I wanted it to feel inviting and relaxed, but also elevated, with textures and beautiful natural finishes.”
Phoebe inverted the floor plan, shifting the living areas and main bedroom suite from the ground floor to the first, “so they could take full advantage of the view. That single move completely transformed the experience of the home,” she says. “It was about bringing in light, enhancing flow and giving a sense of ease.” The bathrooms, laundry and a rumpus room are now on the ground floor.
“For the finishes, we drew inspiration from European interiors, with neutral palettes, textural layering and heritage details,” says Phoebe. “Materials were selected for their tactility, beauty and timeless appeal.” Sandy-hued ‘Ariana’ limestone flooring from Teranova is a hero element. “It’s a beautiful stone with subtle warmth that lends a sense of luxury without being flashy,” says Phoebe.
French wash wall finishes lend a soft tactility, while accenting architectural details such as the arches, architraves and skirtings. “They bring depth and subtle texture without overwhelming the space, creating a sun-washed quality that complements the coastal light,” says Phoebe.
The designer chose other materials for their ability “to patina and age gracefully”. Tonal and soothing, the palette of driftwood, sandy hues and stone echoes the location. “It was important that the home felt calm and cohesive. The restrained colour emphasises form, texture and light,” says Phoebe. Similarly, the furnishings celebrate natural materials – linen, leather and seagrass – which “patinate and soften over time”.
And while the pool remains a firm favourite for the couple’s young daughters in summer, for Kate, a bracing morning ocean swim across the road is “the best way to start the day”.
Dining area
In the dining space, Os de Mouton slip-covered oak dining chairs from The Vault skirt the custom table that Phoebe designed for the dining area. For Kate, the lead up to Christmas is all about spending time together. “There’s such a sense of joy, family and tradition,” she says. “Everything slows down and we focus on being together.” An Adairs ‘Pine Cashmere’ wreath salutes the season, but the celebratory pièce de résistance is Kate’s tablescape.
Beginning with a ‘Siena’ jute table runner and ‘Flower’ jute placemats as the base, height is added with short and tall ‘Ruffle’ Christmas trees in Gold, a sculptural ‘Paxos’ vase, and ‘Goldie’ taper candles in Lemon held aloft in ‘Festive Bow’ candle holders, all Adairs. ‘Catalina’ crockery, gold-rimmed ‘Florence’ coupés, ‘Christmas Tree’ wine glasses and a ‘Laguna’ footed bowl, also all from Adairs, complete the look.
We love… joyous tablescaping
Sophia and Grace enjoy creating the celebratory tablescape in preparation for the family’s long Christmas lunch. “It’s become a bit of a tradition that they add something special to it, whether it’s place cards or homemade decorations,” shares Kate. “This year, when it comes to Christmas decorations, I’ve been loving Adairs. I got decked out with the tree, Christmas decorations and tablescapes. They’ve literally got everything, so they’ve got me in the festive spirit!” In keeping with her home’s warm, earth-drawn palette, Kate selected decor with the natural hues of woven rattan, offset with crisp white and pops of glistening gold. For inspiration, head to Adairs.
Kitchen
“I love our kitchen,” says Kate. “It’s the heart of the home and where we spend so much time together.” Shaker-style joinery in Resene Buttery White offers plentiful storage, while the butler’s pantry keeps the room clutter-free. Swathes of luxurious Carrara marble on the benchtops and splashback elevate the practical space, which is equipped with an Ilve ‘Nostalgie’ cooker, a Whispair ‘Monte Carlo’ concealed rangehood and a wide Shaws ‘Edgworth’ fireclay sink, all from Winnings. A traditional bridge-style Perrin & Rowe ‘Ionian’ mixer tap and pot filler, both from The English Tapware Company, doff their hats to Kate’s timeless style. Nearby, an antique sideboard, artwork and rush stool, all from The Vault, offer the final, classic flourish.
“I was drawn to a palette that felt serene and connected to the beach, while still being sophisticated.”
Kate Waterhouse
Living
Phoebe designed the inviting ribbon of sofa in the living area and teamed it with a vintage slatted lounge chair by Hans Brattrud from Studio Gardner and a ‘Clam’ stool by Arnold Madsen. ‘Axol’ coffee tables from MCM House are heaped with books, a Moroccan vase and papier-mâché bowl, both Watertiger, and an alabaster head of Hygeia from Mercer & Lewis. A 1940s-style hammered iron floor lamp from The Vault and bespoke sconces, designed by Phoebe, illuminate the tactile finish of the custom-coloured French wash on the walls by Porter’s Paints. The artwork is ‘Postcard 6 (3 Holes)’ by Dean Cross and Alvaro Barrington in 2023 from Station Gallery.
Main bedroom
The lamp and bedhead in the bedroom are are custom-designed by Phoebe. A Society Limonta bedcover and Wedgwood vase from Ondene offset a stool, bedside tables and art from The Vault, with a rug from International Floorcoverings.
Walk-in robe
Phoebe designed the pendant in Kate’s dressing space.
Bunk room
“It brings me so much joy knowing it will be filled with laughter and memories,” says Kate of the bunk room, with chair from The Vault.
Main bathroom
An ‘Alberto’ sconce from Bloomingdales Lighting joins a Carrara marble vanity top in the bathroom. The Kaldewei ‘Saniform Plus’ bath is from Harvey Norman.
Laundry
This utility space has a Thomas O’Brien ‘Piaf’ sconce from Bloomingdales Lighting, Astra Walker ‘Olde English’ tapware and a Shaws sink from Winnings.
Alfresco
A ‘Rowe’ sun lounger and ‘Malfy’ outdoor umbrellas, all from MCM House, welcome family and friends in the lush poolside backyard, where Sophia and Grace love cooling off with a splash. Beyond the home’s exterior walls in Porter’s Paints Old Church White, tall palm trees evoke the feel of a tropical holiday and hint at the coastal frivolity that awaits the family at Christmastide.
Source book
Interior design: Phoebe Nicol, phoebenicol.com.
Landscape design: Edwina Stewart, edwinastuart.com.
Additional copy: Julia Fairley. Styling assistant: Amy Morrison. Photography assistant: Anna Hamilton. Hair and makeup: Noni Smith.
