Tamarind House, Avalon

A home filled with stories, not trends

INSIDE ONE OF OUR FAVOURITE CUSTOMERS' HOMES

"I actually grew up in this house."

It’s one of the first things Fiona tells us as she welcomes us into her Avalon home.

A long-time Alfresco Emporium customer, Fiona has collected pieces from us over many years, so we were thrilled to be invited inside.

Today, she lives here with her husband and six children, but it was also her childhood home. Years later, she returned to renovate it for her own family while preserving its character. The result is a deeply personal home, collected over time and filled with stories.

Sunlight spills through soaring windows onto hand-painted black and white checkerboard floors, painted by Fiona herself, that flow through the living room and hallway. A rescued antique chandelier catches the light above, while old books collected over many years and vintage treasures sit comfortably alongside favourite Alfresco Emporium pieces, from the leather bar and prints bought years ago to our signature bamboo coffee tables, cleverly paired to create one generous square centrepiece.

If there’s one room that truly captures the feeling of the house, it’s the sunroom. Overlooking the pool, it’s Fiona’s favourite place to spend time with her family.

There’s a natural synergy between Fiona’s home and our latest Winter Island collection. Rich timbers, rattan and bamboo, tropical prints and natural textures sit comfortably amongst her collected antiques and pieces loved over time. The result feels warm, relaxed and timeless, with that unmistakable island influence.

What makes the home feel so special isn't perfection. It's personality. "I wanted it to be lived in," Fiona says. "I'm not precious about it." That philosophy can be felt everywhere.

She's never been interested in following trends or buying what everyone else has. Instead, she surrounds herself with pieces she genuinely loves, knowing they'll become part of her home for years to come.

"I just buy things I love." It's an approach that has connected Fiona with Alfresco Emporium for decades. She smiles as she remembers visiting our former Pittwater Place store. "I'd come in and spend my whole pay cheque."

That same sense of ease carries through to the balcony, another favourite place to spend time. It’s where Fiona and her husband often sit together over a game of backgammon.

Throughout the house, vintage furniture sits comfortably beside favourite Alfresco Emporium pieces. Collected artwork share walls with family photographs, antique lighting hangs proudly overhead, and Fiona’s much-loved collection of old books stretches along the ledges beneath the cathedral ceiling, quietly telling the story of a lifelong collector.

Instead, every piece, whether found at a market, inherited from family or discovered at Alfresco Emporium, contributes to a home that has evolved beautifully over time.

For us, that's always been what Alfresco Emporium is about.

Thank you, Fiona, for welcoming us into your beautiful home and sharing your story with us.

We can't wait to visit again.

Winter Island

Fiona’s layered, collected style sits beautifully alongside our Winter Island collection, with rich timbers, rattan, bamboo and natural textures made to mix effortlessly with pieces you already own and love.

Explore Winter Island or shop the collection with our Style Guide