Home Tour: Nadia Fairfax-Wayne's Paddington terrace

When Nadia Fairfax-Wayne and her then fiance Michael Wayne first viewed the grand Paddington terrace that was to become their home, they quickly realised that the current owner might have more than a passing interest in art.

In fact, it soon transpired that the owner was renowned Australian abstract painter Michael Johnson who was using his home’s gracious proportions as a gallery for some of his vibrant works.

“My husband immediately recognised that they were Michael Johnson pieces, and there were so many of them that we kind of put two and two together [and thought it might be his house],” Fairfax-Wayne explains.

“We just fell in love with it; the wonderful juxtaposition of this beautiful heritage terrace with these crazy, bold, vibrant artworks. It definitely lured us in.”

So, the couple purchased the 1880 three-storey house in 2020, bowled over by the ornate period features, 2.7-metre high ceilings and abundant light flooding in from the rear. The house’s location – in a quiet street moments from shops and restaurants – was also key.

“The house is in a great little street that doesn’t have a lot of through traffic in an area I call SoPa (South Paddington). We can walk to everything, and it has a lovely village feel, which definitely appealed to me after I spent six years living in New York,” says Fairfax-Wayne, who married financier Wayne in a harbourside ceremony in March 2021.

Having fallen in love with the terrace when it was filled with Johnson’s artworks, she admits it was a bit of a shock when they first saw the house as a blank canvas.

“There was no art or anything, and we almost died and wondered if we’d made a mistake. But we vowed then and there to add colour, vibrancy and youth to the place and really make it our own,” she explains.

Fairfax-Wayne turned to her “dear friend”, interior designer Tamsin Johnson, to help bring her new home to life. But it was important that the process was a collaborative one (“It wasn’t like, here’s your project, now go for gold,” says Fairfax-Wayne) and that the finished house reflected the couple’s personalities.

“I think your interior style should reflect your personal style. I see so many neutral homes and think, ‘You don’t dress like that; why is your home not like you?’ But I feel we’re heading more in the direction where people are following their heart [when it comes to their homes] as opposed to slavishly following trends,” she reflects.

For Fairfax-Wayne, that meant injecting her home with colour and texture. This is evident from the moment you step inside and are greeted by striking chequerboard flooring, and vivid artworks by musician turned abstract artist Daimon Downey.

The formal sitting and dining room has been transformed with aquamarine walls, a powder pink ceiling – and matching bookshelves – and dining chairs covered in a kaleidoscope of jewel colours. Upstairs one of the bedrooms has been turned into an office – primarily used by Fairfax-Wayne when working on her various projects as a creative director, brand ambassador, model and fashion influencer.

The office has a slightly different feel to the rest of the house thanks to its striking Las Palmas wallpaper from Clarence House. “Michael loves wallpaper, so we decided to use it in there to create an old Havana sort of vibe with the vintage brown and gold fan,” she explains.

A love of entertaining and hanging out with friends is a big part of the couple’s life and this is no more apparent than in the newly-renovated kitchen and dining space at the rear of the property. The space has been transformed with a striking onyx-topped island bench that seats 14.

“Michael is an amazing cook, so he was really involved in the planning of the kitchen space,” she explains. “He wanted a large island bench that could equally be used for preparation or as a space for friends to gather and eat around,” she says.

Fairfax-Wayne cheerfully admits that her role when they entertain is more on the hosting side (“I can’t boil an egg,” she laughs), a role that has been made easier with the recent launch of her own napery range with Australian French linen brand Carlotta + Gee.

The Nadia Fairfax-Wayne x Carlotta + Gee napery collection features vividly-coloured tableware, napkins and placements designed to create Instagram-worthy tablescapes. “It’s really easy to create something aesthetically pleasing and cool that feels a little different to the last,” she says. “It’s all about creating memories for your guests.”

Fairfax-Wayne says her love of colour can be traced back to her days as an elite gymnast (she spent eight years at the prestigious Australian Institute of Sport). “I grew up wearing brightly-coloured leotards, so maybe I’m drawn to colour because of that,” she says.

Her sporting background – Fairfax-Wayne’s dad is Australian former rugby league and rugby union player Russell Fairfax – means that her house’s location near to the SCG and the new Allianz Stadium was another drawcard. “I love hearing the roar of the crowd when a wicket is taken or someone scores a try,” she says.

Post COVID lockdowns, Fairfax-Wayne says she’s more of a homebody who likes nothing better than hanging out in her colourful, art-filled home (and yes, there is a piece by Michael Johnson) with Wayne and their friends. And with a house that’s as beautiful as this, who can blame her?

SOLD - Price Withheld

35 Bent Street, Paddington NSW 2021

4

2

1

View property