Babette Hayes OAM

As an early member of the Australian interior design profession and an active member of SIDA, NSW, Hayes has written and/or edited a number of important books/ journals such as "Australian Style" (1968).

Born of French parents, Babette Hayes completed her education in England specialising in interior and mural design. She started styling interiors for Ideal Home Magazine, Good House Keeping, English House & Garden as well as writing cookery columns for Queen Magazine and the Telegraph in London before coming to Australia in the mid ’60s.

Hayes became one of Australia’s first Design Stylists at a time when the magazine scene was changing. She soon became a household name in the world of design as Design Stylist for Australian Home Journal, then Design Consultant for Belle for a decade, at the same time Interior Design Editor for Womens Weekly. She also ran a busy interior design studio and produced 14 books on design and interior decoration and cooking, another passion. She was Cookery Editor for Australian House & Garden for several years.

After a sojourn back in London in the late 80’s, Hayes retuned to Sydney, continuing with her private design work, styling and writing freelance for Vogue Living, Belle, House & Garden, Domain Home in the Sydney Morning Herald, also lecturing and holding courses in New Zealand, USA, UK, The Netherlands and Australia.

Hayes was an early and active member of SIDA, NSW and later the Design Institute of Australia. She was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in June 2014 in recognition of her service to interior design and writing.

She inspires others to find meaning through creative expression and sees the home as an opportunity to create beautiful living, inspiring and healing spaces, where living, cooking and enjoying meals and celebrations with friends and family is an opportunity to explore its many facets.