Why dessert master Katherine Sabbath ditched inner-city renting to live in western Sydney

You might recognise the crazy, colourful cake creations of Katherine Sabbath. The former high school teacher became an Internet sensation after her posting her incredible, gravity-defying confectionaries to social media.

A loyal fan base was built (she now has over half a million followers across Instagram, Facebook and TikTok), and book deals and television appearances followed.

Her third cook book Bake My Day was released in 2022, and in October, we’ll see Sabbath as a contestant on Dessert Masters, competing against some of the best in the business.

But the 38-year-old says buying her first home is the moment she has been waiting for – the icing on the cake after a decade of saving hard for a deposit.

“I am a first-generation Australian, and my Vietnamese mum and German dad always instilled in me to set down roots,” Sabbath says. “That security was to own a home.”

Four months ago, Sabbath, her partner, Troy, and their two-year-old daughter, Zemirah, swapped renting in inner Sydney for life in the outer western suburbs.

“I definitely did want that for myself,” she says. “It didn’t make sense to stay in the inner city; I’m a creative and self-employed and I stepped away from a secure teaching job to chase this dream.

“It’s a lot of work, and one I can do comfortably a bit further out from the city.”

Buying in a new estate meant there weren’t any design tweaks to make to the light-filled, two-storey, five-bedroom home – they could simply move in and enjoy it.

Unsurprisingly, Sabbath loves the open-plan kitchen most. Here, she crafts her vibrant, imaginative cakes: everything from ghoulish Halloween creations to towering, pretty-in-pink sugar hits.

Striking matt-black cabinetry adds to the rock-star vibe, and Sabbath found a clever solution to keep it looking pristine in a hard-working environment: she added brushed-gold handles designed by Folk Studio – which collaborated with Low & Co on the cabinetry – to add a touch of class and practicality.

“They’re a cool modern take and I like the subtle glam they bring to the kitchen,” she says. “It also means I can easily open the cabinets now with sticky cake hands and not touch the cabinet itself.”

Despite having a butler’s pantry, Sabbath baking equipment and ingredients are neatly organised in the main kitchen’s cupboards – there are even cupboards dedicated to sprinkles alone.

However, among the few key items that take pride of place on the bench is a chic matt-black KitchenAid stand mixer personalised with the words: “The Sabbath – no whisk no reward.”

“It’s always out on display and ready whenever I need to use it,” Sabbath says.

Alongside the kitchen is the dining and living zone, so she can keep an eye on her toddler and pup, Pluto, while she bakes.

Like Sabbath’s cake creations, the home is carefully layered with a perfect balance of prints and colours, and Australian designers feature throughout.

Eye-popping artwork by Reg Mombassa, Ellen Porteus and James Jirat Patradoon line the walls, and Sabbath sourced furniture from Ellison Studios, Design By Them, Trit House, Life Interiors and King Furniture.

“I tend to go for pieces I know I will cherish forever,” Sabbath says. “I don’t buy anything too trendy or a styling fad.”

Having a large dining table for entertaining is sweet relief, and “to finally have a seven-seater couch that my family can sit on when they visit makes me happy”, she adds. “It’s the small things.”

An office tucked underneath the stairs is Sabbath’s hideout.

“Working from home, I knew I needed a designated space, especially when I write cookbooks,” she says. “This area gives me structure and puts me in the right head space.

“I also love the lighting in this part of the house; it’s in abundance and puts me in a great frame of mind.”

Upstairs is an additional living space – home to their rescue jungle python, Bort – and four bedrooms (the main with ensuite) and a main bathroom.

There’s also a media room used for video-game soirees.

“I grew up with my dad and brother playing games and I did that before I got into the art scene, too,” Sabbath says. “Video games are a big part of our family and Troy loves video games, so this is our release.”

But it’s the natural light and the high ceilings that got this house purchase over the line for Sabbath.

“It does scare me about who’ll change the lights,” she laughs. “But having that grandeur when I look up from downstairs gives me a feeling of openness that is so grounding.

“It’s wonderful to have a place you can call your own, and no longer have to clear the dining table – which doubled as my office – whenever we wanted to eat a meal together.”

Dessert Masters premieres at 7.30pm on Monday, October 14 on 10 and 10 Play.