Interior designer Victoria Waters’ enchanting Sydney home

Despite its less-than-large proportions, interior designer Victoria Waters and her husband Richard’s living room in their eastern Sydney home stylistically punches above its weight with stunning fixtures, elegant finishes and carefully curated vignettes. Victoria’s secret? Add a “wow” factor in every room. Here, it’s a sunburst mirror from Meizai. 

A stunningly large art piece makes a statement in the combined kitchen and dining room, that has a distinctively chic Hamptons vibe. “You don’t have to have small pieces in a small home,” says Victoria. “You can have an oversized piece that adds that drama.” She also recommends limiting the number of pieces to key ones. 

Victoria’s spoodle Macy keeps a watchful eye in the family’s lovely hallway. An oversized Ikea mirror reflects a pretty chandelier Victoria picked up in a store in Bangalow, NSW. The walls here are painted in Dulux Whisper White. 

“I love beautiful hotels and that’s the feeling I wanted to create when you walk into our bedroom,” says Victoria. Five-star appeal was achieved with super-sized features including an oversized bedhead – for similar, try Temple & Webster – that drinks in the room’s high ceilings. What’s the piece that Victoria never skimps on? Lamps, which in her designs are usually large and always beautiful. Elegant Mo & Co chrome lamps from Lightstyle round out the proportions in this room.

“It’s all in the details,” says Victoria, describing her over-arching approach to her classic yet contemporary designs. Here, a gloriously large freestanding Kado ‘Lure 1760 Oval’ bath is a perfect fit for her twins, Mac and Isla, while an existing vanity was updated with dual top mount Kartell By Lauren ‘420 Round’ washbasins and a marble top.

Pretty touches, a lush woollen carpet and artworks with meaning make the children’s room a charming mix of elegance and loveliness. “I think you have to allow children their own personalities in their rooms,” advises Victoria. An artwork by her very clever niece and goddaughter Ruby Weir takes special place on the wall, while a beautiful Sandberg ‘Elton’ wallpaper makes an appearance here, as it does in the main bedroom and living room.

On the back deck, two Adirondack chairs from Ocean Country Furniture, topped with grey and white striped cushions from Freedom create a lovely sunny sitting spot, while a beautiful cast-iron rim mirror – try Interiors Online for similar – visually expands the area. “My style is very classic, but I do like to add a bit of interest with some quirky things,” says Victoria, whose work can also be seen here.