Curated by those in the know, watch Rey’s guide to new-season entertaining.
The temperature is dropping and for creative entrepreneur and style muse Rey Vakili, it’s time to relax in her winter-ready home. As Rey hosts David Jones for a cosy day in, she shares the clever kitchen accessories, entertaining essentials and luxury bedroom decor she’s filling her home with this winter.
This is Style Guide.
In the Kitchen: Comfort Food and Winter Warmer Ideas
“My weeks can get pretty busy, so the weekend is when I find time to unwind and have friends and family over,” says Rey. When it comes to relaxed entertaining, Rey’s trick is to do all the prep before the guests arrive. She starts with one of her most-used appliances, a KitchenAid stand mixer. With a collection of handy attachments – such as the pastry beater Rey uses to prepare a savoury tart pastry – the versatile appliance takes the trouble out of baking.
While the pastry rests, Rey prepares the tart filling and a winter salad with seasonal Parisi produce from her local David Jones Food Hall. And to keep her mise en place tidy and compact, Rey opts for Joseph Joseph’s streamlined chopping boards and stackable bowls. They’re cleverly designed to save space in small, inner-city kitchens like Rey’s.
As she moves on to caramelise the onions for the tart, Rey reaches for an Essteele non-stick pan. Its diamond-reinforced titanium coating is four times more durable than the average non-stick coating, so the pan can get searing hot to bring out the sweetness of the onions. “They’re also dishwasher-safe for easy clean-up,” says Rey.
To finish the tart, Rey uses the latest kitchen non-negotiable: a trusty Philips air fryer. “Everyone knows you can do hot chips and roast vegetables in the air fryer, but this model is actually so versatile,” she says. The air fryer has 16 cooking functions, cooks 40 per cent faster than a traditional oven and “it even has an app so you don’t have to stay in the kitchen,” adds Rey.
On the Table: Elegant Table Settings
To bring everything together, Rey sets her table with Ecology tableware. “My home is filled with orange and yellow tones, so I’ve gone for classic white to complement the rich, wintery look,” she says. Next, Rey lets the ultimate winter comfort food – a classic roast chicken – take centre stage, serving it in a meringue-hued Le Creuset dish. “The French brand looks beautiful in every kitchen – and can go straight from the oven to the table for an elegant, rustic look,” she says.
And the perfect accompaniment for every winter warmer? “When it comes to wine, I always serve Penfolds,” says Rey. “It pairs perfectly with comforting, winter dishes and is such a pleasure to share with loved ones.” For special occasions, Rey also loves one of Australia’s most celebrated wines, Grange.
After the End of the Day: Winter Bedroom Ideas
“After a day spent hosting, a night in is the perfect way to recharge,” says Rey. As we spend more time indoors for winter, “I like to make sure I’m circulating clean, fresh air,” she adds. This makes Dyson’s air purifier a welcome addition to capture ultrafine dust and allergens in Rey’s home, as well as heat and cool it.
When it’s time to turn in, “a good night’s sleep starts with beautiful linen,” says Rey. To create her ultimate bedroom set-up, she looks to Sheridan. “They have a range of quilts and quilt covers made from natural fibres, like cotton and wool.” So you’re guaranteed a cosy night whichever Sheridan set you choose.
To put the finishing touches on her wind-down routine, Rey also favours sculptural candles from Sydney brand Black Blaze. “There’s nothing like candles to make your space cosy and chic – they instantly bring a warming, relaxing atmosphere to every space,” shares Rey.
Shop Rey’s winter home essentials instore and online now.