122 lush acres near Robertson. Natural rainforest. A private lake of mirror-still water. Spring-fed dams and annual rainfall of around 60 inches that keeps the pastures vivid green year-round. Rich basalt soils among the most fertile in Australia.

From the air, the property reads as a masterwork of rural order — kilometres of pristine white post-and-rail fencing dividing the paddocks into a graphic, almost cinematic composition stretching to the horizon. The tree-canopied driveway, one of the most photographed approaches in the Southern Highlands, draws you in from the moment the gates open.

Long known as Velvet Stud, the estate served as the official training base for the Australian Show Jumping team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Racing royalty Gai Waterhouse spelled her thoroughbred yearlings here. And for a celebrated period, it was home to fashion designer Lisa Ho, whose parties became the stuff of Southern Highlands legend.

When the current owner acquired the property, she understood immediately what she held. Not just land. Not just a house. A piece of living Australian history — waiting for a vision equal to its legacy.

The property was in a very run-down state when the client purchased it. Twelve months later — from structural renovation through to the placement of the final globally sourced piece — it was complete.

I was involved in every element. Every room. Every paddock fence. Every stone wall. Every piece of joinery. That scope, and the trust behind it, is what allowed the result to feel like a single unified vision. It is the most ambitious project of my career — and the one I am most proud of.

High Point Market, North Carolina

We travelled to High Point Market — the world's largest furnishings trade event — and sourced from the finest brands available anywhere. Ralph Lauren Home formed the backbone: furniture, homewares and lighting selected for the entry, living room and rumpus. Ralph Lauren wallcoverings were specified across those same spaces. Fine Art Lamps by Alison Paladino provided the entry pendant and sconces — pieces of extraordinary craftsmanship that set the tone from the first moment of arrival. Eichholtz featured throughout the entire home. Kelly Wearstler's lighting and accessories were integrated across multiple rooms. Exquisite Rugs were selected for every space. Unique vintage pieces — including the lounge coffee table and master bedroom mirrored dressing table — were sourced through First Dibs.

Texas

The client's deep connection to the quarter horse world meant Texas was not optional — it was essential. We travelled specifically to source the pieces that would give Velvet Ranch its soul: taxidermied mounted heads, cowhide and sheepskin furniture, and one-off pieces available nowhere else. The bison mount that now presides over the rumpus room fireplace was found here. So were the hides that give the home its genuine ranch materiality. These are not decorative references to an aesthetic. They are the real thing.

The entry makes its declaration immediately. The original travertine floors anchor a hand-blown glass ring chandelier by Fine Art Lamps by Alison Paladino. Its organic form and warm light signalling that what lies ahead is unlike anything expected. Matching sconces flank the walls. Ralph Lauren wallcoverings add depth and texture. A tufted leather ottoman, a sheepskin-draped First Dibs settee, a campaign cabinet, and carefully placed Eichholtz objects complete a composition that is fully resolved before a single further room is seen. Beyond, an inner hall dressed in deep navy draws the eye through arched doorways toward gallery-lit portraiture. And the world that opens beyond.

The centrepiece of the home — and one of the most compelling residential interiors in the Southern Highlands. A coffered ceiling with gold-leaf reveals. Twin monumental chandelier rings in polished nickel by Kelly Wearstler. Ralph Lauren wallcoverings in rich textured depth. The original stone fireplace, now soaring to full ceiling height. Ralph Lauren Home upholstery in bouclé and linen. Tufted leather wingbacks. A bold large-scale portrait from the client's art collection commanding the end wall. A First Dibs vintage coffee table at the centre. Eichholtz objects placed with precision throughout. An Exquisite Rugs piece grounding it all.

Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the surrounding rainforest as a living painting. The room seats twenty with ease — or wraps two people in complete warmth beside the fire.

The most unapologetically bold room in the house. Deep navy Ralph Lauren wall coverings. A sandstone fireplace rebuilt to full ceiling height, presided over by a bison mount sourced personally in Texas. Ralph Lauren Home tufted cognac leather Chesterfields. Tartan cushions and throws. Cowhide and sheepskin from Texas adding genuine ranch materiality. Kelly Wearstler lighting. Eichholtz throughout. Bespoke built-in joinery for the bar and media wall – because meticulous order was non-negotiable, even here.

Equal parts hunting lodge, American West, and gentleman's club. It has a point of view and commits to it entirely.

The generous kitchen footprint and antique timber island were worth keeping. Everything else was rebuilt in the language of the home. Crisp white cabinetry. Marble slab splashbacks. A custom navy leather banquette around a carved antique dining table. Oversized drum pendants in white, navy and gold. Eichholtz and Kelly Wearstler objects placed with care. Custom joinery throughout. Every appliance housed, every surface clear. A room that moves from family breakfast to a dinner for thirty without hesitation.

The original master bedroom was modest. A modest bedroom was not an option. An existing porch adjacent to the room was enclosed and absorbed into the suite — creating an expansive three-part master: the bedroom itself, a dedicated makeup suite, and a walk-in robe of pure theatre.

The bedroom is a deliberate exhale after the drama of the public rooms. A king bed in hotel linen — white and gold. A custom upholstered headboard. Paired arched timber mirrors. Crystal table lamps. Sheepskin over deep carpet. The garden framed beyond full-length cream curtains.

The walk-in robe is a private boutique. Floor-to-ceiling mirrored joinery, custom designed and built, displays hundreds of pairs of shoes and bags from the world's most coveted global designers. Every piece visible. Every piece honoured. The act of getting dressed becomes an experience in itself. The First Dibs mirrored dressing table anchors the makeup suite with the individual vintage character no new piece can replicate.

Meticulous order. Uncompromised luxury. A life, beautifully organised.