Twist on TRADITIONAL
Australian House & Garden Magazine|May 2020
Classic meets contemporary is a way of life for Sarah Mackenzie-Wood, writes motoring expert and WhichCar presenter, Elise Elliott.
Elise Elliott
Twist on TRADITIONAL
Sarah Mackenzie-Wood knows how to make an entrance. To be fair, making an entrance is easy when your home features a stunning spiral staircase, a signature of the home’s designer, acclaimed architect John Suttor.

Wearing a diaphanous blush-coloured skirt, Sarah breezes through her gorgeous traditional-with-a-twist home in Sydney’s east like a fairy. She decorated the home, which she shares with her husband and two children, herself, using a palette of muted greys and soft pinks. Having studied design at the National Design Academy in England, it’s little wonder she has such a deft touch with interiors...

Sarah’s eye for style is also evident in her choice of cars: a sporty 2015 Porsche Cayenne SUV and a 2016 Mercedes AMG E400, a high-performance – and rare – station wagon.

Have you always appreciated handsome design?

Yes, and I can thank both my parents for it. When I was about 10, I would spend hours reading Mum’s Architectural Digest and other homes magazines. Meanwhile, Dad was obsessed with Jaguars – he drove a gorgeous E-Type. He would drag me and my two sisters to motor shows and discuss in great detail all the cars that were there. He also insisted we knew how to drive a manual car.

Tell us about the history of this house.

This story is from the May 2020 edition of Australian House & Garden Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2020 edition of Australian House & Garden Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN MAGAZINEView All
Megan Morton's - RURAL IDYLL
Australian House & Garden Magazine

Megan Morton's - RURAL IDYLL

The stylist and author reveals the secrets to her decorating journey with Mimosa Moon, her home in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2024
RURAL RETREAT
Australian House & Garden Magazine

RURAL RETREAT

A Colonial-look 1970s property on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria is gently renovated with an English-country aesthetic in mind.

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
Michael Reid OAM
Australian House & Garden Magazine

Michael Reid OAM

The renowned art dealer and entrepreneur, who runs a congregation of creative businesses across the globe, shares the moments and muses that have shaped his extensive career.

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2024
MASTER peace
Australian House & Garden Magazine

MASTER peace

Gallery owner Michael Reid has created his own living paradise, a rambling garden he keenly shares with fellow art lovers who visit the Murrurundi, NSW, gallery location.

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2024
GARDENS of the world
Australian House & Garden Magazine

GARDENS of the world

Up close and personal with the most memorable gardens in Morocco and Spain.

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
INTO the wild
Australian House & Garden Magazine

INTO the wild

Three words inspired the rework of this Kangaroo Valley, NSW, home among the gum trees: embracing, vibrant and Animalia.

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
COUNTRY kitchen.
Australian House & Garden Magazine

COUNTRY kitchen.

Flavourful and warming dishes from The Cordony Kitchen with seasonal vegetables as the stars of the show.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2024
HOLIDAY at home
Australian House & Garden Magazine

HOLIDAY at home

Missing the Indonesian villa they enjoyed on a recent holiday the owners decided to recreate their own retreat at home.

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
STATEMENT piece
Australian House & Garden Magazine

STATEMENT piece

For a holiday home that embodies the coastal beauty of Bermagui, NSW, minimalist bricks were the natural choice, inside and out.

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
EFFORTLESS charm
Australian House & Garden Magazine

EFFORTLESS charm

With a discrete street frontage, this home fulfils the brief to keep its visual impact on the lush surrounds to a minimum.

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024