Military Road house

It was then purchased by the Steen family in the 1950s and renovated by Sydney architect Neville Gruzman in 1956-7. In the following year, an interior decoration scheme was put together largely with furnishings supplied by Marion Best Pty Ltd. Many elements of the Marion Best scheme survived a later change of ownership, including her signature glazed ceilings in the living and dining rooms, rattan blinds, upholstered cocktail bar and silk and grass wallpapers. The Best style was also evident in the use of fibreglass and resins for the upstairs bathroom and Japanese tissue panels and Thai silks for the bedroom and dressing room. The kitchen featured fittings and fixtures designed by Gordon Andrews, an Australian designer used frequently by Best.

The house was photographed shortly before it was sold when a number of furnishings from the house were acquired by the Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection. These include a ceramic door handle, wall sconce, wallpaper, silk roller blind, temple blinds and curtain tie backs with tassels.

Photographer: Ross Heathcote

Date Photographed: November 1996

Original image format: transparency film: 6x6cms; 35mm photographic negatives

Copyright: Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection. Photograph Ross Heathcote.

Further reading: Michaela Richards, The Best Style: Marion Hall Best and Australian Interior Design 1935-1975, East Roseville, Art & Australia Books, 1993.

Catriona Quinn, Sydney style: Marion Hall Best/interior designer, Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, Sydney, 1993