Inside new MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow's colourful, treasure-filled home

There’s a wondrously transportative quality to the Adelaide home – full to the brim with treasures – of MasterChef Australia’s new judge, Poh Ling Yeow.

For the multitalented cook and artist, beauty can be found in everyday items that some might overlook as obsolete or mundane. And, so it is that each room in Yeow’s multilevel 1959 house reveals a magical sense of creativity and splendour.

“There’s that Marie Kondo philosophy of ‘If it doesn’t spark joy, let go of it’, but the thing is that everything sparks joy for me,” she says, smiling. “I do love things that look old and sad, and I particularly find things that have a history beautiful because I love the mystery they hold.”

It’s no surprise that, when decorating the house that she bought with her former partner Jonathan Bennett 13 years ago, Yeow knew precisely where to begin – in the past. With a longtime passion for scouring antique shops and bazaars – “I’ve always got a thrill walking into a dusty, musty second-hand shop” – the self-confessed maximalist was soon displaying her vintage gems in almost every corner of the home.

“I just have so much junk,” she admits with a laugh, “and quickly filled the house with it! I like to say I’m a bowerbird, but I’m a borderline hoarder, I reckon. I’ve always loved collecting, and I do think that comes from being an artist.

“One of my all-time favourite pieces is a funny little tin with a boy’s name inside. I just find it so adorable. I wonder if it once held his marble collection, but I use it to keep my teas.” 

To Yeow, who shares the home with her adored 10-year-old Scottish terrier Tim, giving new life to pre-loved pieces is also the sustainable choice, encapsulating more than simply a style mantra.

“I love repurposing things, and it’s very much how I live my life – even with food,” she reflects. “I’d rather cook a slightly weird dinner than waste ingredients.”

From the colour-drenched Moroccan-themed TV room to the kitchen, “where the magic happens”, with its still-in-progress forest mural encompassing an entire wall of joinery – bar the fridge in the centre – this is a home that proves tranquillity comes in many forms.

“For a lot of people, having a neutral-coloured space makes them feel calm, but it makes me feel bonkers!” Yeow says. “Taste is so subjective, and I just love colour – colour brings me so much joy.”

As for the half-completed forest mural, it awaits its creator’s undivided attention.

“Now that MasterChef has finished filming, I can get back into it,” says Yeow. “You need to be really immersed in the mural, as the leaves are quite detailed and require so much blending.”

Another favourite room is the living domain, which houses a gallery wall of diverse works by other renowned Australian artists, all of which hold special meaning for Yeow. 

“My house has become a bit of a canvas,” she says. “I guess it’s a bit of an unconventional space. But I need to be surrounded by beauty. That’s a huge part of my life philosophy.”

Certainly, this house has a palpable sense of artistic charm. Yet, even to Yeow, its strongest gravitational force lies not within the walls but instead in the lush garden in which it is nestled.

Mother Nature comes to life throughout the seasons in the multilayered setting brimming with secret pockets, leafy canopies and a flourishing stone-fruit orchard. Above all, it’s a garden that brings Yeow happiness and serenity.

“I’ve spent a lot of time getting the garden established,” she says, “and it would break my heart to ever leave it. One of the things I’ve spent the most money on is trees. I love to be connected to the cycles in the garden. I find that so magical and inspiring for my art.”

Little wonder Yeow cannot imagine farewelling the place she calls her own. A one-of-a-kind home which, just as it should, expresses very much herself. 

How it feels to be a MasterChef Australia judge

Having hit the spotlight 15 years ago as runner-up in the first-ever series of MasterChef Australia, life has come full circle for Poh Ling Yeow. 

The much-loved Malaysian-born foodie and celebrated artist is still pinching herself as a new judge on Season 16 of the iconic reality TV show.

“It feels very, very special,” she says. “I never dared imagine it would happen. It’s such an epic and legendary position to take on. I don’t think there are many days in my life where I don’t feel a huge amount of gratitude for what the show gave me – the experience. To be able to do that for someone as a judge is something I don’t take lightly at all.”

And Yeow promises we won’t want to miss a moment of this year’s kitchen action.

“Home cooking is very much centre-stage again,” she says. “I love that it’s gone back to what Julie [Goodwin] and I were doing in Season One. And the contestants are amazing – they’re just the most gorgeous bunch of people.”

MasterChef Australia Season 16 premieres on Monday, 22 April at 7:30pm on Network 10 and 10 Play.