Date published: 12.04.26
Category: Home Tours
Author: Arabella Peterson

Inside Marie Claire Editor Georgie McCourt’s City-Meets-Country Home

Set on acreage in Australia’s lush Southern Highlands, antiques fill this classically styled home.

Editor's Note

There’s a growing appetite for a life that sits somewhere between urban and bucolic. For Georgie McCourt, that balance plays out in the Southern Highlands, where she’s built a life that allows for both a dynamic role in media and a grounded place to raise a family.

Not everyone will make the move to the countryside, but the desire for a peaceful, softer way of living is universal. It’s something we’re all trying to bring into our homes, wherever they are – so let Georgie and her flower-filled world inspire you.

We hope you love it as much as we do,

Genevieve Rosen-Biller, Co‑Founder, Bed Threads.

A successful magazine editor trades the fast pace of the city for a quieter life in the country: rolling hills, a classic country house, a labrador, and two donkeys. It reads like a Richard Curtis film – but it’s Georgie McCourt’s reality.

As a journalist, author, and Editor-in-Chief at the helm of one of the world’s most renowned titles, Georgie’s career has taken her around the globe. But the Southern Highlands – Australia’s answer to a Curtis-esque English countryside idyll – has her heart: “It’s just heaven to me.”

Cacao & Coast Swirl Cushion Cover (coming soon), Crème & Coast Arch Cushion Cover (coming soon), Lagoon & Crème Muslin Throw.

With her third book, Best Laid Plans – a nonfiction that explores navigating life’s unexpected turns – Georgie is well-versed in recalibration. After over 10 years of living in a chic inner-city suburb of Sydney, the niggling desire for a tree-change became harder to ignore. This transition was a significant one – leaving a terrace in Paddington for two acres in the misty hinterlands.

The move was in large part spurred by her desire to foster a beautiful childhood for her two daughters. Another of Georgie's endeavours is The Grace Tales, a digital lifestyle platform for mothers exploring “the struggle, the juggle and the joy” of parenthood. This instinct to centre family shaped her decision to relocate. “When [my girls] were around eight and nine, I thought, okay, I've got less than 10 years until they're adults, and while Paddington is charming and lovely, there’s nowhere for them to run around.”

“I think you’re only as happy as your unhappiest child,” she says. “And both my girls are very, very happy.”

Cacao & Coast Swirl Cushion Cover (coming soon), Crème & Coast Arch Cushion Cover (coming soon), Lagoon & Crème Muslin Throw.

As well as its strong schools and proximity to Sydney (about 90 minutes, give or take), the appeal of the Southern Highlands lies in how metropolitan it feels compared to other regional towns. From cafés to restaurants, “there’s even little cocktail bars and cute, buzzy spots,” Georgie says.

Then there’s the community (“People aren't rude. Everyone's friendly.”), the sense of ease (“You can park anywhere. No one beeps at you!”) and the serenity (“I thrive off the peace and stillness”). The latter is a defining feature of daily life, with her home backing onto national park. Although the pitch-dark nights and the silence took some getting used to, Georgie now cherishes the calm it brings.

Cacao & Coast Swirl Cushion Cover (coming soon), Crème & Coast Arch Cushion Cover (coming soon), Lagoon & Crème Muslin Throw.

It stands to reason that Georgie always had her sights set on the pastoral charm of the highlands – her tastes lean romantic and traditional. “When I hit 30 – I'm now 44 – I developed an allergy to modern [styling].” she jokes. “My mum is obsessed with vintage furniture, and growing up she would take me to antique houses around Sydney.”

The musty smell of timeworn timber and memories of traipsing from store to store lingered into adulthood, and for a while she preferred the idea of new and shiny interiors. But as the Oscar Wilde quote goes, “All women become like their mothers”, and for Georgie, this meant falling in love with the antiques she once dismissed. “When I had my first baby and I was starting to nest, I just fell in love with antiques,” she explains, “Most of my furniture is either from an auction house or Facebook Marketplace.”

Sage Duvet Cover, Sage Fitted Sheet, Sage & Olive Swirl Pillowcases (coming soon), Olive Pillowcases, (save 20% when you Build Your Own Bedding Bundle™ ).

My house is very feminine… It definitely had a bit of a transformation when my marriage ended,” she continues, “it was kind of lovely because I was like, ‘Okay, this is my house, and I'll lean even more into that feminine side.’” In turn, florals are a core feature of the home, both in the natural and decorative sense. She loves to bring the outside in, cutting branches and flowers to style the house. “The wonderful thing about living in the country is I don’t spend any money on flowers anymore. It’s such a joy to be able to walk out into my garden and pick various bits and pieces.”

Sage Duvet Cover, Sage Fitted Sheet, Sage & Olive Swirl Pillowcases (coming soon), Olive Pillowcases, (save 20% when you Build Your Own Bedding Bundle™ ).

Nostalgic touches like wallpaper and archival patterns adorn Georgie’s home. “I love colour, print, and texture… the way British interior designers layer a house, I think about the English countryside and all the textures and patterns, and I'm very inspired by that,” says Georgie.

She resists the pull of stripped-back neutrals and trend cycles in favour of a more enduring aesthetic. “I would get very bored if a room was just beige. I don't like clutter, but I can't do the minimalist white look. It's just not me!” Some favourite pieces that embody her style are three Laura Jones paintings, a second-hand CLO Studios couch and a Coco Republic curved sofa. “I have to love it, or I won't keep it,” she says of all her prized possessions.

Cacao Placemats.

Backyard fire pits weren’t a staple of Georgie’s life in Paddington (though not for lack of trying), but in the Southern Highlands, they’ve become central to how she entertains. “My favourite thing is to have people over for a fire pit, because that's something you can't do in the city,” she says, recalling a less-than-successful attempt on her terrace that “almost burned down the house.”

Now, evenings are spent gathered around the fire with friends, a glass of wine or champagne in hand, the smell of smoke and trees in the air. Over Easter, she hosted a bonfire in the backyard with her daughters, her partner and even her two miniature donkeys in attendance – “it was very magical.” With more space and a culture of open, outdoor hosting, entertaining in the Highlands feels easy; here, she says, people invite each other over often, making the most of their gardens and surroundings.

Cacao Tablecloth, Lagoon Table Runner, Lagoon Napkins.

Despite a busier-than-ever role, Georgie says she’s “definitely calmer than I’ve ever been.” Much of that comes down to the small, grounding rituals of daily life – weekends spent tending to the veggie patch (though, she admits, it’s “not as easy as Instagram makes it look”), bush walks with her Labrador, and time outdoors away from her phone.

Evenings are deliberately slow: an early shower, a change out of work clothes, and retreating to bed, which she describes as her favourite place to be. “Anytime I can be in bed, I will be in bed,” she says. The TV has been moved out of the main house, reinforcing a home environment centred on rest, reading and stillness. For Georgie, it’s these consistent rituals – occasionally punctuated by a margarita and a fire pit – that define her version of balance.

Cacao Tablecloth, Lagoon Table Runner, Lagoon Napkins.

Unsurprisingly, the bedroom is Georgie’s favourite room. With views out to the national park, the Blue Mountains and her animals, it’s a space dapled with natural light – something she considers essential, particularly in the cooler Southern Highlands climate. “I’m very responsive to light,” she says. “I hate being in dark rooms. I’ll always gravitate towards light-filled spaces.” It’s also where she leans into comfort: after years of making do with a queen, upgrading to a king bed felt like “the most luxurious thing in the world.”

Her home reflects this best-of-both-worlds sensibility. Heritage-inspired patterns and contemporary pieces are layered onto classic foundations, creating a space that feels fresh while never losing its character.

Cacao Tablecloth, Lagoon Table Runner, Lagoon Napkins.

With her house now on the market as she prepares to downsize from two acres to one, Georgie has been reflecting on what makes a home. “I’ve sold a couple of houses over the years and it’s sad, but once you get all your stuff out and your family leaves, the soul of the house is gone,” she says. “I never feel sad about leaving a house because I’m taking the people I love with me – we’ll make new memories somewhere new. Home is the people who are in it.”