At home with actress Kate Walsh
By adding organic furnishings, raw materials and a coastal palette, actress Kate Walsh brings new life to her WA beach house.
PHOTOGRAPHY Jody D’Arcy • STORY Elizabeth Clarke
Sometimes, the inherent pull of a place can be so strong it can't be ignored. For American actress Kate Walsh, it was this modern beachside sanctuary with views to the Indian Ocean.
Kate, best known for her roles in Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, 13 Reasons Why and Emily in Paris, moved to Western Australia during the pandemic and into her Perth beachside pad with fiancé Andrew Nixon. The one-storey home features an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, meditation room and stunning outdoor living.
Fresh and modern with a laid-back aesthetic, the home required some cosmetic work, and Kate knew Elissa Coleman, creative director from Empire Home, was the person for the job. "I walked into Empire, and it was such a vibe," recalls Kate. "I felt excited like I wanted to live there and have everything in that shop! Elissa not only has impeccable taste, but she also has style, and that's rare. She's also very collaborative, which is critical to me. She and her team are hella fun!"
The pair share an affinity for the ocean and took the home's natural environment as their cue. "The property was in good condition and had recently been renovated, but it was an empty shell that needed work to make it feel like home,” says Elissa. “We designed a floorplan that flows effortlessly throughout and selected furnishings that worked with Kate’s pieces. It was important to create contrast and balance – so something vintage to something modern, something soft to something sparkly."
The home's spaces have a windswept, lived-in feel, with wooden floorboards and raw materials matching the hues of the surroundings. Elissa and Kate selected relaxed furnishings and rustic décor to complement its beach palette.
For the main entrance, they chose an antique bench crafted from a single piece of 200-year-old teak. “It comes from my personal collection and has a gorgeous warm patina that anchors the contemporary space and provides warmth and contrast," Elissa says.
The living space boasts the glittering ocean as its backdrop. A jute rug provides a framework for a coffee table comprising a glass top and organically shaped teak root base, and a plush curved sofa and armchairs that add comfort and softness.
For the bedroom, Elissa introduced Kate to photographer and Havenist founder Jody D'Arcy’s Cloudscape wallpaper collection. "My wallpapers are bespoke, and Elissa and Kate wanted the clouds slightly higher to float above Kate's bed, which was a genius move,” says Jody.
They also drift across the walls of her meditation room, where disco mirrorballs dazzle from the ceiling. A sofa, swathed in linen and scattered with cushions in pastel shades, is paired with a side table featuring a slab of petrified wood.
Kate's cactus garden reflects her Arizona roots. Elissa foraged a unique driftwood sculptural piece for the outside balcony wall that ties in with the surrounding teak furniture.
"I always design with nature front of mind, so outside we used raw materials and furnishings that can also tolerate the harsh coastal elements," she says. "This particular sculpture speaks to the WA landscape and draws its ruggedness and beauty deep into the space."
Raw materials, cacti and touches of timber provide an earthiness to the actress’s home, where comfort and beauty go hand in hand. Swivel chairs and a cream Sherpa sofa add calm and comfort.
The meditation room is decorated with layers of pastel linens and cushions against a soft cloudscape. Disco mirrorballs add a perfect dose of sparkle.
Succulents and palms, rustic furnishings and textural fabrics combine for a cosy and intimate outdoor living area.
"I walked into Empire, and it was such a vibe. I felt excited like I wanted to live there and have everything in that shop! Elissa not only has impeccable taste, but she also has style, and that's rare. She's very collaborative, which is critical to me. She and her team are hella fun!"
-Kate Walsh
Kate’s bedroom features a cloudscape by photographer Jody D’Arcy. Her bed is equally dreamlike in layers of soft, beachy-inspired linens.
Chic, stylish and environmentally discreet, the star’s home takes in breathtaking views of the WA coastline.
Kate Walsh with Empire Home’s Elissa Coleman. The outdoor balcony features teak furnishings, pots of succulents and a driftwood wall sculpture.
"I always design with nature front of mind, so outside we used raw materials and furnishings that can also tolerate the harsh coastal elements."
-Elissa Coleman, Empire Home
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