Tour the Art-Filled Home of Stylist and Creative Tash Sefton
Welcome to The Makers. Each month, we’re celebrating innovators, artisans, and crafters of all stripes, taking you on a private tour of their creative spaces to find out exactly how the magic happens. For this instalment, we headed over to the Mosman home of Tash Sefton, style consultant and co-founder of Sefton&Segedin, an original art atelier she runs alongside sister Hayley. Sefton's spacious family abode is, as expected, adorned with illustrations, paintings and handcrafted ceramics as far as the eye can see. (The only thing maybe more impressive is her expertly curated collection of designer bags and shoes.) The bright and airy space is all white walls, punchy colour (blue is a particular favourite), and lush greenery. Stepping inside, the home feels both elevated and personalised—unsurprising given Sefton's background as a style guru. Keep reading for our Q&A.
Perhaps best known for her personal style (and associated knack for transforming high fashion concepts into straightforward tips that are accessible for all women), Tash Sefton has the kind of practised eye that takes years to hone. A woman of many talents, the lifelong creative is inordinately passionate about style, but she’s equally devoted to animals and conservation and interested in cultivating her artistic expression. The latter has resulted in Sefton&Segedin, an original art label Sefton runs alongside sister Hayley, that takes inspiration for its one-of-a-kind works from a diverse range of sources. We sat down together to chat about her approach to interior styling, how “making” relates to who she is, and why an expensive bed is always worth the splurge.
BT: Hi Tash! This series is called The Makers. What is it you make?
TS: We (my sister Hayley Segedin and I) draw, paint, and make pieces that can be styled in your home, office or wherever you like. They're mostly based around monochromatic ink line drawings, which is the biggest part of our collection. We have also developed this technique onto clothing, swimwear, pottery and large scale canvases.
BT: How does the act of “making” relate to your personality and who you are?
TS: We never call ourselves artists so "makers" is a good way to describe what we do. We draw and create out of love and as a way to express our creativity. We're fortunate our clients like what we do! Hayley is a landscape architect and I am a fashion tastemaker and curator, so when we come together we just do what comes naturally, without over thinking it. It started as an escape from our day jobs and ended up becoming something more.
BT: How would you describe what you do for a living?
TS: I never know how to answer this. There is not a sentence or job title that sums me up. I just refer to myself as a curator and tastemaker now. And try to avoid the "influencer" reference!
BT: Now the home stuff. How long have you lived in your home?
TS: I say 2 years but think it's really about 4….where does time go!
BT: How did you initially know this was the space for you?
TS: I didn’t! I didn’t want to leave the beachfront we were living in, but my husband secretly looked and found this space without telling me. When he showed me, I fell in love with the high ceilings, single level floor plan and timber floors. (Plus, it's only 7 minutes away from the beachfront!)
BT: Did you do any renovations or make any big changes after moving in?
TS: No, but it needs it. I have my eye on my dream house down the road so we're saving up for that. (That one has already been renovated.)
BT: How would you describe your home in a sentence?
TS: A place my family can just be without having any "too precious" pieces my kids cant use. It's not a staged catalogue living environment. Instead, it's filled with memories, treasures, and lots of art. It has a warmth to it.
BT: How does your home reflect you as a person?
TS: People know me for my fashion style, and I feel how I dress comes across in my home too. I love high-end designer fashion brands for their beauty and quality but like to mix it up—high street with high-end. This allows me to avoid being trendy or coming off too branded. I like to be able to mix classics with vintage with trends with basics. This is how I style our home, too. It’s the same concept.
BT: What was the thought process behind the way you’ve styled the interior?
TS: Honestly there wasn't one. I am very anti prescribed decorating. I collect things, add, subtract and layer instead. But I do like white walls, white linen, no carpets and high ceilings.
BT: What are your favourite pieces in your home and why do you love them?
TS: My children’s drawings, which are hung next to our drawings and expensive artworks. Our book collection. My husband and I both love books but about very different topics—Mark's are all business, science and history, while mine are about fashion, interiors and art. We have books everywhere in the house. And our cupboard space! We have amazingly huge storage areas which are original to the home.
BT: You have an incredible art collection, where did your appreciation begin?
TS: Hayley and I grew up with lots of art in our family home, and when Mark and I got married our family bought us art instead of a typical wedding present. (We didn’t want a toaster haha!) Then Mark and I instituted an anniversary present rule where we buy art each year rather than separate presents.
BT: Do you have any special décor pieces you’re looking to add to your home?
TS: We need a new family lounge. Our 2 boys have trashed the one we have, using it as a trampoline, bed, dinner table etcetera. But I would also love to turn the spare room into another wardrobe for me. Haven’t gotten around to breaking that news to my husband...
BT: Which is your favourite room in the house?
TS: The kitchen and dining area, as we spend lots of time there eating as a family and extended family. And the back deck is pretty special in summer. It's covered by an enormous jacaranda tree which is just stunning when in full bloom.
Shop Tash's look with the White Bedding Set.
BT: Tell us about your bedroom. What do you do in there aside from, um, the obvious?
TS: Well I have the whole wardrobe to myself. (Sorry to my husband, his is in my son's room.) He refers to it as the shrine of Tash because it holds all of my beloved handbags, shoes and clothes. And the bed is heaven! I remember it cost us a fortune when we bought it but it's so lovely to sleep in.
BT: What does getting a good night’s sleep mean to you?
TS: Everything. If I don’t sleep, I cannot function. And if I get very grumpy that’s not good….for anyone ha.
BT: Tell us about Sefton&Segedin—how has it been juggling your own business alongside it?
TS: It's been amazing to get back to being creative as our jobs had really removed us from this. The juggle is interesting but we just make it work. It's pretty incredible to be able to have a business on social media selling to all over the world. We are humbled by it really.
BT: Where do you and your sister find inspiration for the pieces you create?
TS: A lot of it comes from fashion as we use lots of shape and form as inspiration.
BT: Have you always been creative?
TS: Yes, always. Hayley probably more so than me, as she is insanely talented and her attention to detail is extraordinary. I remember in high school getting into trouble for wanting to do, art, photography, textiles, sewing, art history etcetera. The nuns said, “Too much creativity and not enough English and maths!”
For more from Tash, follow her @tashsefton, @wheredidyourstylego and @seftonsegedin.
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