Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A House of Healing in the Victorian Courtyside
A home in Diamond Creek centres itself around meditation, healing and nature
Nestled in the surrounding greenery of Diamond Creek sits Gwandalan, the home to Carol Sammut, her family and their horses. The name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning ‘peace and rest’.
Carol practises Kundalini yoga – which teaches a combination of meditation, mantra, physical exercises and breathing techniques – and has visitors from near and far come to find enlightenment at her ‘healing hut’. Carol was initially reluctant to try this type of ‘yoga of awareness’, because of a few underwhelming experiences with other forms of yoga. However, it has since become a huge part of her life in which, she believes, has given her purpose through healing and meditation – features that take a leading role in her home’s decor, too.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Carol Sammut, her husband, Martin and their son, Jon
Location: Diamond Creek, Victoria
Size: 35 square metres on 12 acres; 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
Era built: 1955
That’s Interesting: The home has its own meditation and healing studio.
Carol practises Kundalini yoga – which teaches a combination of meditation, mantra, physical exercises and breathing techniques – and has visitors from near and far come to find enlightenment at her ‘healing hut’. Carol was initially reluctant to try this type of ‘yoga of awareness’, because of a few underwhelming experiences with other forms of yoga. However, it has since become a huge part of her life in which, she believes, has given her purpose through healing and meditation – features that take a leading role in her home’s decor, too.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Carol Sammut, her husband, Martin and their son, Jon
Location: Diamond Creek, Victoria
Size: 35 square metres on 12 acres; 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
Era built: 1955
That’s Interesting: The home has its own meditation and healing studio.
In 2009, Carol completed her teacher training in Kundalini yoga. She says, “Yoga is purely a connection to my soul.” Almost all the decorating decisions in the house have been made with yogic philosophy in mind – every object holds a deeper meaning with an intention to remove negative energy. Carol is drawn to symbols that represent the sun, the moon and triangles.
It’s fitting that the Aboriginal word for peace and rest resides at the driveway of the property. It sets the scene for the serenity that awaits in the house.
You’ll notice triangles, a symbol for the heart or Anahata, are prominent throughout the home. Triangles represent matter and spirit, combining at the heart’s centre and raising this energy upward.
This triangle is from Carol’s travels to Brazil. Carol has been on many journeys across the world and when she sees something she has a connection to, it is like ‘finding pieces of her own puzzle’.
This triangle is from Carol’s travels to Brazil. Carol has been on many journeys across the world and when she sees something she has a connection to, it is like ‘finding pieces of her own puzzle’.
Much of Carol’s style originates from her former life spent as an interior decorator. She says she has been helping friends style their homes for years.
She’s been drawn to gold for the last 15 to 20 years and thinks it goes back to her passion for the golden sun and the abundance and joy that comes from it.
Her bedroom is a peaceful space where she continues to surround herself with treasures. “I just love the energy of the bedroom,” she says. “It’s peaceful and filled with things that make me feel happy and connected to my soul.”
Chest of drawers: Truswell Imports; bedlinen: Sheridan
She’s been drawn to gold for the last 15 to 20 years and thinks it goes back to her passion for the golden sun and the abundance and joy that comes from it.
Her bedroom is a peaceful space where she continues to surround herself with treasures. “I just love the energy of the bedroom,” she says. “It’s peaceful and filled with things that make me feel happy and connected to my soul.”
Chest of drawers: Truswell Imports; bedlinen: Sheridan
Carol’s passion for the golden sun can be seen in her extensive collection of sun-shaped mirrors. From her bedroom to the exterior of the house, she feels they bring more light and warmth into the space.
The kitchen salutes Carol’s love of the English cottage-inspired aesthetic. It was installed by Complete Kitchens. The original flooring is from when the house was built in 1955.
Carol likes that Kundalini yoga is described by Yogi Bhajan (a spiritual leader) as the ‘house holder’s yoga’. She feels this describes her well: “The yoga and my home life merge and I love that,” she says. “I’m this Yogi at heart but I’m also the house holder.”
The dining/living room is a light-filled space with wall-to-wall windows. Carol, who is a big fan of conservatories, tried to create the same sunny atmosphere in this room. “Every room has a wing and a view of the surrounding property, which isn’t great for heating but is beautiful,” she says.
The dining/living room is a light-filled space with wall-to-wall windows. Carol, who is a big fan of conservatories, tried to create the same sunny atmosphere in this room. “Every room has a wing and a view of the surrounding property, which isn’t great for heating but is beautiful,” she says.
When people come to visit, Carol says, “They just feel lighter, people like being here – they won’t know why, but the reason is the energy of this home.”
Bathroom vanity: Schots Home Emporium
The guest bedroom has recently been redecorated since her daughter moved out of home. Her daughter had painted it in a deep teal and added black furniture. To make the space lighter and friendlier, Carol painted it in a lighter blue and added white furniture and bedlinen.
Bedlinen: Bed Bath N’ Table; bedside lamps: Beacon Lighting
Bedlinen: Bed Bath N’ Table; bedside lamps: Beacon Lighting
Much of the meditation and healing work Carol does is conducted through sound so it’s no surprise to find musical instruments around her home.
“To create a peaceful energy in my home, I always play (even when I am not home) peaceful and relaxing music,” she says. “When I come into the home after being out in the world, the energy is pure and uplifted because of the sound current of the music.”
“To create a peaceful energy in my home, I always play (even when I am not home) peaceful and relaxing music,” she says. “When I come into the home after being out in the world, the energy is pure and uplifted because of the sound current of the music.”
The two guitars are played by her husband Martin who loves to strum a tune in the living room each night after work.
The house is filled with Carol’s personal creative touches. She made this footrest during a period in her life when she was interested in needlework and tapestry.
Armchair fabric: Warwick Fabrics
Armchair fabric: Warwick Fabrics
Another object you’ll find in repetition around Carol’s home is the lotus flower. She notes that “it’s so divine, yet begins in the mud.” The lotus is a symbol of purity despite its worldly origins.
The lotus is seen here sitting on either side of an urn that Carol collected during her decorating days.
While there are many places inside the home for relaxation, Carol has also made an effort to bring this energy into the outdoor areas of her home.
She has decorated many of the trees on the property with Tibetan prayer flags to promote peace, compassion, strength and wisdom. These prayers aren’t addressed to any Gods, but are supposed to be carried by the wind through the pervading space.
She has decorated many of the trees on the property with Tibetan prayer flags to promote peace, compassion, strength and wisdom. These prayers aren’t addressed to any Gods, but are supposed to be carried by the wind through the pervading space.
This is Carol’s ‘peace garden’, another perfect example of combining Asian and British design elements.
A favourite spot for Carol’s children is this small patio area. Carol says the tin roof resonates a beautiful sound when it rains. The family quickly rush to get a cuppa ready to sit out here and watch the rain when it falls.
From the veranda you can see over to their pool and the rolling hills of Diamond Creek. “It’s all about the view, I love it,” she says. Her and Martin had the view in mind when designing this outdoor area, ensuring the patio was at the right height to make the most of their surroundings.
Another special outdoor feature is Carol’s ‘healing hut’. Carol was inspired to build a studio space to engage in healing and meditation after a friend’s suggestion.
At the entrance to the studio sits Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology – another peaceful symbol that surrounds the home.
Carol likes to have the space separate to the rest of her house. It’s purely for her own practice – to concentrate on distant healing and sound work.
The ceiling is pointed upward resembling the Anahata triangle symbol. The centrepiece of the yoga room is the healing table. Not seen are the Himalayan and Brazilian quartz crystals buried in the earth under the studio.They create a calm and tranquil, healing energy within the room.
The ceiling is pointed upward resembling the Anahata triangle symbol. The centrepiece of the yoga room is the healing table. Not seen are the Himalayan and Brazilian quartz crystals buried in the earth under the studio.They create a calm and tranquil, healing energy within the room.
A triangular window was installed at the back of the room and decorated with more of Carol’s sacred items.
Carol works with crystals, gongs, singing bowls, tuning forks and other objects that move energy when she does the healing in this room.
Carol works with crystals, gongs, singing bowls, tuning forks and other objects that move energy when she does the healing in this room.
Carols daughters’ horses, Sox and Ron, can be found having lunch in the back paddocks of the property.
Carol’s advice for a happy home life is to “not be afraid of connecting with the things in life that bring you peace, joy, happiness and harmony. Make that part of your everyday existence. Build a life that you don’t need to escape from.”
Carol offers spiritual healings and instruction in Kundalini yoga in Diamond Creek, Victoria.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
Carol offers spiritual healings and instruction in Kundalini yoga in Diamond Creek, Victoria.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
The home was originally built in a modern 1950s style, with streamline aluminium frames that were on trend at the time and disjointed rooms. Carol and Martin brought the furniture from their previous home, which was a period house. It was important to Carol that the furniture and the home were cohesive.
To do this, the couple replaced the aluminium window frames with timber and painted them white. They also reconfigured the kitchen and living room, which were walk-through areas, into separate rooms to make the space more cosy. “I didn’t consider extending the house because I never wanted to have one of those homes where your kids leave and it feels empty and too big,” says Carol.
The family moved in 2005 from Heidelberg Heights. Carol says she was drawn to the space and the abundance of nature the Melbourne suburb had to offer. Her daughters (who have since moved out) are also avid horse riders and the move meant they would have extra space to stable their horses.