A passionate art collector shows off her exuberant style.
![βMy doctoral work was on [Spanish surrealist artist] Salvador DalΓ, who embraced OTT displays of regal splendour β or baroque nuttiness,β says Shafir. The sculpture of the pink lion is by Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante, and the rug was purchased in Uzbekistan.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20584%20390'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
βMy doctoral work was on [Spanish surrealist artist] Salvador DalΓ, who embraced OTT displays of regal splendour β or baroque nuttiness,β says Shafir. The sculpture of the pink lion is by Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante, and the rug was purchased in Uzbekistan.Credit: Armelle Habib
The home
A three-bedroom 1930s Spanish Mission-style house in Melbourneβs south-east.
Who lives here
Art collector, interior designer and scholar Yvonne Shafir and her cat, Violet.
What I did
βWhile creating a playful living environment, I teased out references to Mexico, Hollywood and Spain,β says Shafir. βIβve decorated every surface, vertical and horizontal, hung rosecoloured chandeliers, renovated my ensuite and installed a sauna in the backyard.β
My favourite room
βThe βGood Roomβ because itβs absurdly ornamental and has the greatest concentration of pink content: bold in the velvet sofa, pastel in the velvet chairs, sparkly in the crystal wallpaper and glowy in the neon artwork.β
The βhood
βI stock up on the chopped liver at Balaclava Deli, which is almost as good as
my late motherβs, and go next door to the social-enterprise cafe, All Things Equal, for a latke Benedict.β
Future plans
βMore art! While thereβs almost no room left in the inn, the outside beckons.β
Best advice
βPaint one item Yves Klein Blue. Donβt shove everything against the wall. Think of pink as a neutral. Always maintain humour. Revel in the juxtaposition of incongruous tchotchkes [trinkets].β
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