Deborah Bibby is a woman with 20+ years of experience in leading teams across print, product and digital in the interior design and fashion space. The founding editor-in-chief of award-winning interior magazine and lifestyle brand Real Living, Deborah held this role for eleven years as well as editing numerous titles in both Sydney and London and most recently as founding editor-in-chief of JONES and Mr. Jones magazines. Most recently, Deborah has published The Originals, a book that showcases seven of her favourite beach houses and their beautifully crafted interiors (get in quick to grab one of our signed copies!*).
Today, we asked Deborah a few questions about The Originals and the beauty of a good beach house. Read on!
Deborah Bibby
Tell us about your book, The Originals!
DB: At the heart of The Originals is my love, respect and mindfulness for the quintessential beach shack. I’ve watched too many disappear over the years–they are of architectural and cultural value and I want to inspire people to save them by sharing the stories of some incredible beach homes that have been lovingly restored.
Do you have a favourite beach house in the collection? What do you particularly love about it?
DB: To be honest, there is something special about each and every one, from The Little Black Shack perched on a cliff over the roaring ocean to the fun, quirky interior of an old Queenslander called Gypsy Creek, but I suppose the one that truly captures my heart is the one that first inspired the book and features on the cover: Craigie Lee. Craigie Lee has perfect bones and this generous verandah with a rumblestone wall wrapping around her like a bear hug. It’s simply perfection.
In your opinion, what makes a beach house special?
DB: They are unpretentious, usually set in nature, sensible in scale, sustainable and full of character with their jumble of rooms and use of honest materials. They are imperfect homes with integrity and homes that evoke memories. As one of the homeowners featured in the book says, “I love the fireplace that’s too big for the room and the little rooms that throw you outside, unless the weather is inclement–then you bunker in, safe and sound.”
You’ve created your own beachside home in Clareville, NSW. Can you tell us a little bit about the renovation process and your main sources of inspiration?
DB: My own cottage was the main source of inspiration. I used the same materials that the house was built with back in 1926 and the carpenters pulled apart walls to see how they were built to ensure exactly the same effect as the original. I also included new pieces, of course, like my bath for example. Although it’s brand new, the design still hints at a style of the past.
Renovating is a wonderful adventure, but can also be overwhelming. My best advice would be: Live in your home for at least a year before starting anything. Feel the sun travel around the spaces, find the areas you are all drawn to as a family–where do you gather, what do you love about the home? It will surprise and delight you when you reflect a year later, and you’ll be pleased you didn’t pull certain things out and replace them. Taking the time to figure out your home will help you avoid costly mistakes. Renovate in stages, rather than doing the whole renovation in one go–no matter how many dollars they say it will save! Trust me, budgets will blow out and you can avoid that if it’s done in stages.
I am always amazed that people fall in love with beach cottages and then pull them down because they get thrown in the “too hard” basket. We are losing so many beautiful gems and trust me they’ll be worth more than any new build in the future.
What would be your first piece of advice for anyone looking to learn more about interior design and develop their own sense of style?
DB: There are great courses at TAFE if you want to study interior design to practise as a professional. However, if it is more about wanting to learn how to create a beautiful home for your family, then I would start by creating your own moodboards. Keep playing with it until it falls into place–you’ll know when it’s right, it will feel right. Notice what you are drawn to and eventually you will see a pattern in what you are gathering. Go with your gut. If it doesn’t give you butterflies, ditch it. Pinterest is a handy tool for creating a moodboard and for following good designers for inspiration. You can also create a moodboard literally at home with your collected samples and visual inspirations printed out and layered up on a board like the pros.
The goal is to develop your own style–a few tips: Break some of the rules; Edit out the extraneous; Be disciplined with colour; Mix high and low; Masculine and feminine; Vintage and new. Finally, and most importantly, keep an eye on not buying into ‘on trend’ items, and go for thoughtfully designed, sustainable classics instead of mass market, disposable furniture.
You’ve spent over 20 years editing various magazines such as Real Living and JONES Magazine, as well as at Dolly and as a fashion editor at Cleo. How do you think being a magazine editor has helped you to develop your own eye for interior design?
DB: I started out studying fashion and textiles at Sydney College of the Arts, so fashion and interiors have always been in my bones right from the beginning. When you are editing a magazine, you are constantly curating, looking for the best of the best, and this develops your eye. Plus, being surrounded these last twenty years by talented interior designers, architects, stylists, photographers, art directors and creatives.
Who do you most admire in the world of interior design and style?
DB: The world is full of amazing interior designers; my list would be vast but here are a few I love:
INTERIOR DESIGN
- Ilse Crawford – Designer, academic and creative director
- Kelly Wearstler, for her bold rock ‘n roll aesthetic
- Roman and Williams, for their authenticity
- Chandelier Creative – their work spaces are joyful
STYLE
- Michelle Alessandro – Creative Director Gucci
- Edward Enninful – Editor British Vogue
- Louise Olsen – Artist
- Architectural Digest – a brilliant source of inspiration
- Sharyn Cairns – interiors photographer
- Karen McCartney – Director Edit Studio
- Felix Forest – interiors photographer
- Nicole Bentley – fashion photographer
What do you hope people will discover in The Originals?
DB: How valuable THE ORIGINALS are! I truly hope the cottages featured in the book inspire people to reconsider knocking them down and instead look to renovating. If it says knockdown on the FOR SALE sign, rather rethink and celebrate your beach shack.
And finally, what’s up next for you?
DB: Currently, I am consulting and collaborating with different interior clients on content across multiple platforms in this crazy, forever ‘on’ world while also working on a few new book ideas, and I am soon to launch interior decorating workshops. You’ll have to book in–it’s a full day of exploring interiors, a guide to de-mystifying the decorating principles and how to put all those images you’ve been collecting for years into context. Everything I’ve learned along the way will be shared including resources.
Then on the weekends I’m on the hunt for another cottage to save!
Thanks Deborah!
The Originals is out now.
*Signed copies available only while stocks last.
The Originals
Limited Signed Copies Available!
Seven original Australian beach houses gently restored, each brilliantly inspirational. Intensely visual, effortless, sustainable and beautifully crafted interiors, all varied examples of simple living and past connections.
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