At Home with Chyka

AT HOME WITH Chyka keebaugh

For Chyka Keebaugh, hosting is both a craft and a form of storytelling. The Australian media personality and co-founder of The Big Group has a rare instinct for creating moments that linger, where every table setting, every flourish, feels perfectly considered yet effortlessly inviting. She opens the door to the details and inspirations that define her inimitable approach to entertaining.

What role does craft and artisanal work play in your life?

In a world of fast everything, it is so nice to have specialty pieces that have been created and designed by artisans. Having a piece that you know not everybody else will have on their table or in their home is really special. Whether it’s a family heirloom you have kept for a long time or something you bought on a special holiday, finding unique pieces that you can incorporate into your home is really special.

They don’t need to be over the top or expensive, just something that means something to you. I often find pieces like this are great conversation starters, as people love to talk about a unique object. It’s always nice to also know who the artist is and why they created the piece. It gives meaning and a story to your special piece.

Which design advice has influenced you the most, and what would you pass on to others?

My love of design is very much in the world of Maximalism. I don’t believe in clean, straight lines, as to me a home needs to tell a story. I love walking into someone’s place and knowing straight away the kind of person that lives there. I am a big believer in mixing high and low pieces together. There are no rules, so just have fun. Have a coffee table with lots of eclectic pieces.

I am obsessed with books and I can’t have enough. I love beautiful fresh flowers that change with the seasons, and I always burn fragrant candles that reflect how I’m feeling on the day.

Home is a reflection of who you are, and having pieces that you love and use is really special. Don’t let them hide in a cupboard gathering dust. Have them out and move pieces around often so that they constantly look new.

Girasole Dessert Stand and Dome

$710.00

Carlos Green Glass Tumbler, Set of 2

$235.00

Punk Green Dinner Plate, Set of 4

$820.00

Green Leather Backgammon Set

$2,930.00

Zig Zag Green Napkin, Set of 4

$160.00

Woven Green Bouton Pedestal Bowl

$630.00

Rattan Wine Cooler

$730.00

Alhambra Green Dinner Plate, Set of 4

$940.00

"In a world of fast everything, it is so nice to have specialty pieces that have been created and designed by artisans."

Chyka Keebaugh

You built your reputation hosting incredible parties in people’s homes. What do you think makes a truly unforgettable gathering?

I think the most important thing when organising a party at home that you want to be special is making sure you create the right guest list. You need people who will be great guests, interact with people they don’t know, and know how to have fun.

I also believe that you should walk into your house the way a guest does to see what needs to be done for your party. Does the hall lamp need to be turned on? Do you need flowers? Is the furniture in the right place for a gathering of friends, or do things need to be moved? Do you need a beautiful, fragrant candle wafting throughout your home? Do you have a playlist that works as background music?

Always set up your home so that guests feel at ease. Don’t forget to pay attention to the bathroom and make sure there is extra toilet paper and hand towels. Turn the lights off and leave the lamp on, and again, a beautiful fragrance. Set the table the day before and try to do as much as you can before the guests arrive so you can enjoy the evening too, without having to constantly get up.

Has there been a surprising or memorable client request that really pushed your creativity?

Nothing actually surprises me any more, as we have pretty much seen and done it all. I love it when someone trusts us to create their magical moment.

One event, though, does stand out. The Big Group did a wedding in the Middle East, and we created a 1.5 km desert table that started in the colour tone of the palest pink and went through to a deeper pink. It was breathtaking to look at and took our team a long time to make. It was incredible.

If someone is just beginning to build their homeware collection, where would you suggest they start?

This is such a great question, and as my son and his fiancé are getting married soon, it is one we have been discussing. It is so lovely to collect beautiful pieces and have them given as a wedding gift because, honestly, we know that buying a house, having a family, etc., eats into any budget that would normally allow you to buy something special.

Buy beautiful, unique pieces that reflect you and that will also stand the test of time and have longevity. Tabletop is a great place to start, and things like beautiful silver cutlery, crystal glasses, and a special collection of serving plates are items you can keep forever and pass on. My mother gave me Murano champagne glasses for my 40th birthday, they had been received as a wedding gift, and I just love using them, knowing their history.

Camelia Casserole Dish

From $620.00

Camaïeu Chocolate Dinner Plate, Set of 2

$940.00

Spring Mustard Cocktail Napkins, Set of 4

$130.00

May Coupe, Set of 2

$445.00

Tulip Rosewood Napkin, Set of 4

$290.00

Petunia Oil & Vinegar Basket Set

$485.00

Pearl Candle Holder, Large

$180.00

Brindille Dinner Plate, Ochre Brûlée

$521.00

What is your go-to gift for a host?

I always give a hostess gift, and for me, it’s usually something that reflects whose house we’re going to. If I’m in the country, I love picking a big bunch of bay leaves from our garden and wrapping it in a gorgeous green ribbon. Buying a candle is another favourite, and I often buy treats throughout the year for the different people I know I will be catching up with. I have a great gift cupboard, so there is always something there that I can use.

What is the most memorable artisanal or design piece you’ve ever received?

I have a couple of things that are really special to me, and one of them is the beautiful painting that Bruce had done for my 50th birthday. It is by the amazing artist Kate Bergin and is a reflection of everything special in my life. She came when I wasn’t home one day and spotted the things that made me happy. This painting hangs in my dressing room and honestly just makes me smile.

The other beautiful pieces are metal flowers handmade by the incredible Amy Pradel. She has such an incredibly beautiful eye, and flowers are my absolute weakness. I have a beautiful table in our hallway with my collection of flowers on it, and it’s the first thing you see when you come in. It always makes me smile.

"I always give a hostess gift, and for me, it’s usually something that reflects whose house we’re going to."

Chyka Keebaugh

Handpainted Persian Flower No. 2 Pitcher

$950.00

Charlotte Wine Holder

$1,130.00

Izmir Dinner Plates, Set of 4

$720.00

Valver Green Napkins, Set of 4

$419.00

Camaïeu Medium Oval Dish, Vert

$1,130.00

Bamboo Light Press Wood 8-Piece Cutlery Set

$410.00

Persian Flowers no. 2 Tumbler, Set of 2

$900.00

Tulipano Tray

$1,360.00

When you’re hosting, what small rituals or details never fail to delight your guests?

I always make sure there are beautiful, fresh flowers and the lamps are turned on. I don’t particularly like overhead lighting, and I like to create a moody environment. If it’s a hot summer’s night, I will have all the doors open to create that inside-outside feel, or if it’s a cold winter night, I will have the gas fire on with moody lighting and great music. To me, all senses need to be happy before a guest can arrive.

If friends dropped by unexpectedly, what’s your go-to cocktail and canapé?

I am such a gin and tonic girl and have a huge collection of delicious and unique gins. I also have beautiful garnishes growing out on my balcony, so I can always make it look beautiful. The fridge always has a container of tarama dip, green Sicilian olives, and salted chips. To me, you cannot beat this combo.

What is your signature summer dish?

I don’t think you can beat a zucchini, pea, and ricotta pasta with a big green salad with goat’s cheese, quirk cucumber, and avocado. I am not the chef in our house, but I do buy the produce… thanks, Bruce!

Peonia Tray

From $795.00

Escamas Verde Cocktail Napkins, Set of 4

$130.00

Pearl Dinner Plate, Set of 2

From $310.00

Faux Tortoise Tart Server

$75.00

Camaïeu, Azur Dinner Plate, Set of 2

$940.00

Rattan Ice Bucket

$795.00

Reims Leather & Rattan Bed Tray White

$1,590.00

L'Horizon II Charger Plate, Azur, Set of 2

$520.00

What’s the heirloom you’re most proud to one day pass on?

My mother recently gave me a beautiful mirrored cake stand that was used at my grandparents’, parents’, and our wedding. My son is getting married next year, and I cannot wait to continue the tradition.

Which piece in your home brings you the most joy, and why?

So many pieces give me joy, but I have a painting of my mum painted when she was 18. For a long time, it was in my dressing room and not really in the right environment. Now it’s in my pink lounge room, and I see it every day. It’s so beautiful, and it’s always commented on.

Why do you feel supporting artisans and craftsmanship is so important today?

In today’s society, when so much is fast fashion and seen everywhere, it’s so special to have a piece handcrafted by an artist who you know has made it with their hands and is bespoke to you. It’s one of the reasons I love a bric-a-brac market, because there are unique and special pieces to be found that are different.

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