Interior designer Leslie Walford, who heralded the push away from drab interiors, to be buried next week

The funeral of the doyen of Sydney interior decorators Leslie Walford will be held at St Marks, Darling Point on Monday, February 20, 2012 commencing at 3 pm.

He died on February 13 peacefully at the Sacred Heart Hospice, Darlinghurst.

The Society of Interior Designers suggests Walford was one of the best-known figures in Australia in interior design having worked at the top levels of design for several decades, not only in Australia but also in Europe, Asia and the UK.

His business, Walford and Horgan Interiors – regarded by many as a byword for excellence in design – had many wealthy clients that included the media tycoons Reg Grundy and the Fairfax, Murdoch and Packer families.

He was described this week as “the man who 70 years ago began the slide away from drab interiors filled with Victorian brown furniture,” by John Furphy at the Australian Art Sales Digest.

"A good antique can be more of a friend than an object that doesn't have a past," Walford repeatedly suggested.

Surrounded by an eclectic collection of furniture and artwork, he celebrated his 85th birthday last month at his Double Bay penthouse, but abandoned his regular sojourn to his Sri Lanka villa due to his deterioriating health.

His entertaining tips were published in a 1983 interview piece.

His funeral notice acknowledged he was the dear friend of Richard (Dick) Keep and of Colin Davies.

When he was two years old Walford’s father died and his mother took him from Sydney to England for his schooling, and from there he went to Paris to study design.

It was in Paris that he developed a passion for period furniture, returning to Australia aged 27.  In 1957 he established an antiques and decorating business in Double Bay's Knox Street.

Walford, who was proud his parents had convict ancestors, grew up with a love of Sydney.

He was a foundation member of the Society of Interior Designers and its national president from 1965 to 1966 and again from 1978 to 1979.

He was very much tapped into the Sydney social set – and for many years wrote a weekly Sunday paper column, Our Town.

The bits and pieces that he’s sold to clients over the years turns up occasionally at auction, such as a 1957 acquisition of an American feather picture of the eagle and flag.

In recognition of his contribution to the profession Walford was made a life fellow of the Design Institute of Australia, and in 2008 he was inducted into the DIA Design Hall of Fame.

Some of his collection was auctioned on his retirement in 2007 by auctioneer Mossgreen.