SIBELLA COURT — Soul Safari

"I was 2 or 3 years old beachcombing along the shores of Siletto Beach on the East Coast of Australia. I remember turning a darker shade of brown, searching for tiny pink kelp shells for my collection. I'm now 23 years into an interior styling career that has taken me all over the world, but it all started on that beach."

Sibella Court is an interior stylist, best-selling author and creative director. Her eclectic eye and energetic pursuit of new horizons infuses all of her projects. She concepts, designs and styles interiors for commercial and residential clients, as well as the Merivale Group and The Society, Inc, her own brand and store.

Part pirate, part gypsy and an avid supporter of craft traditions and craftspeople, her wanderlust has taken her through 20 years of global inspiration from frequent trips, which she's shared in her best-selling books: Etcetera etc, A Stylist's Guide to NYC, Nomad, Life of a Bowerbird and Gypsy.

Featured

What was your pivot point? Where were you then? Where are you now?

I was 2 or 3 years old beachcombing along the shores of Siletto Beach on the East Coast of Australia. I remember turning a darker shade of brown, searching for tiny pink kelp shells for my collection. I'm now 23 years into an interior styling career that has taken me all over the world, but it all started on that beach. I'm now based in Sydney in an old 300m2 warehouse that houses my retail shop & interior design studio.

If you could do anything, what would you do next?

I'd be a botanical explorer in the 1850s. Really, I'm good where I am. This photo shows my desk, with inspiration for my next decorative hardware collection.

Where's your soul place? The place that speaks to you?

Wategos Beach, Byron Bay. This is my other home. It's where I go to rest, surf and wind down.

Are you following the path of a trailblazer?

Definitely a trailblazer. I love the word. I can just visualise galloping through the Honeycomb badlands on a wild horse. Or the Marvar Desert Camp in Thar Deser, Rajasthan, in this pic. I love this place.

What are you currently working on?

Lots! This is an interior design project. I create hospitality interiors that use honest & humble materials, tell stories and are handcrafted by my team of specialty trades.

What's the one piece of advice you'd give someone going through their own transformation?

Follow your passions & dreams, work hard, don't be annoying, stay fit, have fun. Travel. This is a photo taken on one of inspiration trips whilst writing my book, Gypsy.

Anything else you want to share?

This is one of my favourite interiors that I designed for Mr Wong, a Chinese restaurant in Sydney.

All images used with permission from Sibella Court.