The Potts Point apartment of Chrissie Jeffery of textile and interior decorating business No Chintz, and her husband Richard Banks is a culmination of years of collecting.
The pair have been here five years, and though they haven’t structurally altered the apartment at all, they’ve certainly put their own unique stamp on the place. Ultimately, this is a home decorated with bold, uncompromising confidence – and it shows!
For one thing, each room is painted a different colour, from brilliant emerald green in the living room, to a warm, deep grey in the study/sitting room, the prettiest coral pink in the master bedroom and dusty blue in the guest bedroom. Layered upon this bold palette, of course, is an incredible collection of textiles and upholstered furniture, documenting Chrissie’s many years of sourcing the most amazing fabrics and soft furnishings from across the globe.
‘I suppose we are those people who have been buying furniture and art for over 25 years,’ Chrissie says, thoughtfully, adding that the greatest challenge for such seasoned collectors is getting the balance of placement and juxtaposition right in each room. ‘We love colour and textiles, so combining all of this creates a eclectic mix. I love the challenge of making it all work… high ceilings and classic proportion of the rooms does make my task easier!’
The apartment building itself was built in 1912. It was constructed in the style of the American high-rise buildings of the time, and purchased a year later by the Albert family (of Albert Music fame – well worth leaping down that Google rabbit hole, in the early 1900’s Frank Albert was a founding member and director of the ABC!). The Albert family owned the entire building right through until the late 1980’s. ‘I think that’s why it’s never been greatly altered, it’s listed as an historic building,’ Chrissie says.
With its grand proportions and three to four bedrooms (four if you count the dining room) Chrissie and Richard’s apartment was originally used by the Alberts for their family and friends in the early years, and later rented out to some interesting Sydney personalities. ‘It’s a great apartment, large and airy, and with high ceilings,’ Chrissie says. ‘we love the space and it gives us great happiness to live here.’
