Libby Winberg is an interior designer and decorator based in Sydney’s Inner West, known for creating calm, considered spaces that work beautifully for family life. Specialising in compact homes, typical of Sydney’s Inner West, Libby brings a thoughtful approach to interiors that often lack flow or storage. Through clever, custom joinery and a focus on practicality, she helps families make the most of their space and live more cohesively.
Sharing the Totem Road philosophy of furniture for life, Libby believes in keeping what matters. Rather than replacing furniture that has been part of a family’s story, she leans into their timeless appeal. Often reimagining pieces with new artwork, fresh upholstery, or thoughtful placement to give designs a new lease of life.
We speak to Libby about her interior design style and some of her most recent residential projects.
How would you describe your design style?
Eclectic, timeless, practical; I don’t really follow trends. I love to work with colour and texture, and feel that interior design comes from the heart. The interiors should reflect the families that live in those homes; it’s not a cookie cutter approach for me. I am often working with existing furniture and artwork, it’s crucial that there is some connection with the old and the new.
"Ultimately, I like to create sanctuaries for my clients. Homes are meant to feel good for the soul, they should impact us in such a way that makes us feel good when we walk through the door, and draws us in."
This doesn’t have to be via enormous budgets and over the top finishes, it is through thoughtful design and the right combination of finishes, colour and texture so there is comfort and joy everywhere.
You've recently completed a couple of gorgeous interior design projects, what was the inspiration behind the Ashfield House and The Balmain House?
Both of these houses were very different in style, one being a traditional terrace and one a weatherboard cottage. The inspiration behind a project for me comes as much from the era of the house and the existing pieces, as the people that live within the walls of the home. It’s important for me to get to know my clients, to be able to produce spaces that reflect parts of them, their family life, their travels, their story.
The Ashfield House is a traditional terrace that had dark moody paint colours in the more formal part of the house. These deep blue and grey hues inspired a lot of the furniture in the room. I used a deep teal velvet tufted sofa which contrasted to the buttery leather of the Leif Occasional chairs armchairs in the front living room.
For the Balmain House, being a traditional weatherboard cottage with views of Cockatoo Island and the Parramatta River, the view and nature really inspired me for this project. All the colours and textures used for the finishes and furniture were very earthy and natural which has created a super calming and soothing home.
Both projects have beautiful heritage features, how do you blend the charm of heritage with contemporary design?
I love to mix newer, more contemporary furniture within the confines of a traditional home.I don’t feel you have to stick to a formula with design, and I think it makes it more interesting when you walk through a home to find surprises within the spaces. It might be a traditional Art Deco curved glass cabinet that is incredibly sentimental to a client, but they feel doesn’t ‘fit’, but when styled with a beautiful modern lamp and strategically placed artwork it feels right at home.
"A home with traditional elements like detailed plaster ceilings or archways, can have modern furniture pieces mixed with some older pieces. This makes the home feel eclectic and interesting."
We love to see Totem Road pieces styled in these homes, what was it that drew you to our brand and these designs in particular?
I have been using Totem Road pieces for some years now in my projects and I love them. I find the timber finish a reliable oak tone and texture, that works with both darker and lighter timber finishes, both in traditional and more modern settings.
"It’s high-quality furniture, and the combination of interesting design elements, like the curves and more traditional lines, make the range hard to fault. The fact that Totem Road is also B Corp adds a lot of value."
We can see you've used the Coral Dining table in a few of your projects, what is it that draws you to this design?
I love the shape of the Coral Dining table. It’s great for more compact spaces as the gentle curve of the tabletop means it fits slightly better than a traditional rectangular table. The legs are elegant and timeless, and positioned in such a way that you can fit quite a few people around the table which is great for families who love to entertain.
Interior Design: Libby Winberg
Photographer: Sam McAdam-Cooper
Stylist: Drew Lewis
