ROBYN COSGROVE

The Australian rug designer and purveyor extraordinaire shares the highlights of her creative journey.

The design seed was planted in me when I was quite young.

I grew up in country Queensland and was returning to boarding school after the holidays when my mother took me to the interior design studio where they were making soft furnishings for her bedroom. I felt an instant love for all the colours and fabrics scattered around the studio. I couldn’t wait to get back to school and spend time in the library; I loved poring over the pages of the few books available on interior design in the US. They fascinated and excited me as what I was seeing was totally alien, very different to anything available or seen in Australia at the time. I felt a bright new world was opening up to me.

My workday is always busy, flitting between the showroom and the office.

An average workday begins around 6 am with a brisk and hilly walk around Paddington [in inner Sydney]. Afterwards, I enjoy a relaxed breakfast – I like to catch up on political news over a few cups of Earl Grey tea. Due to Covid-19, I am opening my showroom later, at 11 am, so I’m able to linger over my breakfast. It’s a wonderful indulgence.

I need to work late quite often.

While I’m working, I sometimes tune into opera or listen to beautiful Baroque music which I so love.

The biggest challenge of my career turned out to be one of my proudest achievements.