Who stays here?

Who stays here? Natasha and Brian, their three adult sons and Louis the Latin Groodle.
Where do you like to unwind? Natasha: “At the little round table in the front area of the house, doing a puzzle with family.”
Do you have any favourite materials? “The stone on the fireplace, where I like to relax in front of the fire with our dog.”
Which elements work particularly well? “I love to cook, and the kitchen and butler’s pantry work so well. The kitchen bench doubles as a servery for big groups.”

They chose the area for its “unspoilt” landscape. “It’s the nearest we could find to the green grass feeling of England, with especially colourful autumns,” she shares. The setting is so picturesque, it’s where the Australian film Babe was shot. As the couple’s three boys grew into young men, Natasha and Brian dreamt of building a spacious, welcoming farmhouse where they could gather comfortably for years to come. They enlisted Halvorsen Interiors and Life Home Builders to bring that vision to life, with construction kicking off in late 2023.

The process came with its challenges. “We had two boys do their final HSC exams and we had to deal with Covid-induced supply issues,” recalls Natasha. There were also months of rain, but a solid team and smart planning kept things moving.

Set among rolling hills, the home was “thoughtfully designed to embrace its scenic rural surroundings,” says Jessica Halvorsen, interior design director at Halvorsen Interiors. With a generous single-storey layout and strong north-south orientation, the interiors reflect a relaxed, classic country style. The stone-clad fireplace with a recycled hardwood mantle bring rustic elegance, while crushed linen bedding and natural woven blinds invite a laidback, luxurious feel.

These days, the couple remain Sydney-based for work, but escaping to their Highlands sanctuary offers a welcome change of pace. “We’re so lucky to have the best of both worlds,” says Natasha. They visit the cows, light a bonfire and enjoy the land with their sons – now grown – just as they once imagined. “We all love it. Our sons bring their friends. It’s perfect, whatever the weather throws at us.”

Entry

A Florabelle Living ‘Sass’ table and Canvas + Sasson ‘Sloane’ chairs in Moss greet the family at the entrance. The custom ‘Herringbone Granite Sisal’ rugs by Floorspace tone with solid timber shelves, crafted by Life Home Builders.

Kitchen

Cabinetry in Dulux Bogle offers a rich, grounding base, complemented by Di Lorenzo ‘Lily’ Moroccan zellige tiles on the splashback. An Athena White Marble benchtop from Art of Marble adds a luxe touch, while Rachel Donath ‘Grace’ counter stools bring natural beauty. The look is finished with Woodcut floorboards in Thistle and Astra Walker tapware in Iron Bronze, below four-metre-high coffered ceilings.

Living and dining

Around a coffee table from Indigo Love Collectors, Molmic ‘Sherman’ sofas upholstered in Zepel ‘Kanvas’ fabric in Cement are styled with Città and Walter G cushions . Custom curtains from Blinds by Peter Meyer frame the French doors, while sash windows feature ‘Urban’ Roman blinds from the same maker. An ‘Isla’ lamp from The Montauk Lighting Co tops the MCM House ‘Axol’ side table.

Bedrooms

WE LOVE…four-poster beds

One of Natasha’s favourite pieces of furniture is the bespoke four-poster bed in the couple’s bedroom, designed by Halvorsen Interiors. Crafted from weathered oak and with an upholstered headboard, the
bed frame exudes a sense of timeless luxury and quiet elegance. Even in modern homes, four-poster beds remain beloved for their ability to anchor a space, create a sense of retreat and evoke a romantic feel
without being overly formal.

“We’ve made sure there’s plenty of space for friends and family to visit and stay for a while”

Natasha, homeowner.

Bathroom

Laundry and mudroom

Source book

Interior design Halvorsen Interiors, halvorseninteriors.com.au
Builder and building design Life Home Builders, lifehomebuilders.com.au
Joinery Cobbitty Grove Kitchens, cobbittygrove.com.au

The post A pretty Southern Highlands farmhouse, where a family escapes to the country appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Situated inland on the NSW mid-north coast, their cosy cottage, cocooned by warm Australian timbers, looks over the trees and their tranquil village, a scene they appreciate daily… not least when relaxing in their outdoor bath. “We fell in love with the area over 20 years ago, during holidays and picking up our daughter from a friend’s weekender. It feels very English. It’s so green and the views are stunning,” says Susanne, an expat.

Who lives here?

Susanne, a former midwife, Chris, who worked in the fashion industry and their dogs, Ted the Australian Kelpie and Barney the Jack Russell Terrier. They also have horses, chickens and Belted Galloway cattle they bred themselves.
Best spot to relax? Susanne: “On the deck, just beyond the window seat, we sit with our tea or a glass of wine and look over the fields. It’s so lovely.”
What are your favourite aspects of the design? “We love the layout and that we use every inch of the house. There’s no wasted space.”
Country life changes? “I do lots of yoga and have joined a great gardening group. I love my vegetable garden, cooking with the fresh produce and getting eggs from our hens.”

A true (hard) labour of love, the home was built by their son-in-law Brendon (the couple have three adult daughters and seven grandchildren). Chris painstakingly sourced and prepped all the timber, from the property’s grey ironbark trees to the recycled timber he found on Gumtree and Marketplace (cue umpteen trips to Victoria with a trailer). “Chris spent a whole year wearing a gas mask, covered in sawdust,” shares Susanne.

The couple’s tree change was a slow burner. In 2005 they bought a shed on five acres, then in 2015 upgraded to this farm, which offered more land for the family’s horses. “We converted the machinery shed into accommodation and came here often, but I never imagined a permanent move,” says Susanne. Then two years on, they sold their Sydney home. “The shed was cute and we were happy living in it, so we wondered if we even needed to build a house, but at the end of 2020, during Covid, the time seemed right.”

With the couple’s designs approved and earthworks complete, a burnished concrete slab formed beautiful floors throughout and set the scene for a country cottage with a modern edge. “Having a big family, we wanted lots of living space and outdoor decks, but only needed two bedrooms because we also had the shed,” explains Susanne.

An open-plan living area comprises the central kitchen (with a butler’s pantry and laundry behind), fireside lounge, dining space and a family-sized wraparound window seat. The main suite offers privacy, morning sunlight and valley vistas. There’s also a guest bedroom and study.

The couple imagined “moody and warm” interiors, minus any “log cabin” overtones. “While it’s a rustic farmhouse, we were after a level of sophistication and modern feel,” says Chris, who welcomed light accents and blue cabinetry for fresh contrast and unexpected details.

Reflecting on the move, Susanne says “I worried that I’d miss family and friends too much, but also knew Chris would go mad retiring in the city. I thought I’d go back and forth, but as it transpired, my daughters now live close by and my best friend bought a cottage in the village. That and the community here is wonderful and we love waking up to the peaceful country sounds and feeling of space.”

Kitchen

Farmhouse style is alive in the kitchen, with a freestanding Ilve oven, Fat Shack Vintage aged copper pendant and Brodware ‘City Stik’ pullout kitchen mixer in Rumbled Brass Organic. Cabinetry in Porter’s Paint Squid Ink is striking against the Essa Stone benchtops in Ash Concrete, home to an Abey double sink. Zellige tiles in Seafoam from Eco Outdoor grace the splashback, offering texture and contrast.

“I wanted to stand at the island and look out to the dam and the hills, so this informed the layout of the whole living area. A large fridge and extra storage are out of sight in the butler’s pantry,” says Susanne (pictured with her daughter Anna, who has since welcomed her fourth child).

Living

The open-plan kitchen unfolds to the main living zone, decorated with a painting by Kate Debbo.

Effortlessly homely, the main living area is grounded by a rug the couple found in Morocco, a Kip & Co beanbag and two cream sofas, which brighten the timber tones (for similar, try Kulta Home ‘Sanger’ sofas from Freedom). “In the summer we live on the window seat and in winter we close the internal doors and settle next to the fire,” says Susanne.

A hero in the space is a Cheminees Philippe ‘Radiante’ wood heater on a concrete bench made by builder and son-in-law Brendon, who also crafted the coffee table from recycled timber. The walls behind the fireplace are finished in dramatic black oxidised steel.

A riot of colours, pattern and texture make for a joyous and comfy window seat, thanks to a variety of vibrant cushions from Bonnie & Neil, Kip & Co and Sage and Clare. The couple’s grandchildren (pictured), love relaxing on the generous window seat, as does Barney the Jack Russell Terrier. For a similar pendant, try ‘Oval Cotton’ pendant in White at Lighting Collective; for a similar fan, try ‘Caelid’ ceiling fan in Bronze/Natural from Beacon Lighting.

The idea was in my scrapbook for years,” says Susanne of this cosy nook off the dining area. “We use this space a lot and love it, especially when you open all the windows.” Sitting atop a favourite rug (try Sage and Clare for similar) is a coffee table that Brendon made. Vintage shelves and a cane chair complete the eclectic look near a linocut artwork by Paul Smith.

WE LOVE…timber tones

“I wondered if the timber might look too dark and thought, worst case scenario, we could paint some of it white. But I love it,” shares Susanne. In its natural state, reclaimed timber is the hero of the home, inside and out. “Several of the ceilings are Baltic pine, which brings a lighter tone to all the darker wood,” shares Chris, who scoured Carousel Interiors, The Design Ark and of course Renovators Paradise.

Bedrooms

Swathed in timber, it’s not surprising Chris and Susanne’s bedroom feels warm and relaxing. White bedlinen from The Sheet Society, a throw from Foxtrot Home and curtains from I Love Linen keep it fresh and simple, while the rug – a Moroccan find – adds softness underfoot (for similar, try Sage and Clare).

“When the family comes there are fourteen people, so we wanted this to feel like our ‘retreat’,” says Chris of the couple’s room.

Details such as aligning the ceiling planks with those on the walls and laying timber in various directions rise to the occasion in the guest bedroom. The bedlinen is from Kip & Co.

“We have a big family, so we wanted a house with plenty of space inside and out that allowed us to invite everyone over.”

Susanne.

Bathroom

The vanity and mirror made from salvaged wood lend a hand-crafted look to the couple’s ensuite. The concrete basin is from Stone and Rock, and other finishes echo the rest of the home for cohesion: zellige tiles in Seafoam and limestone floor tiles (also used for the pool coping), both from Eco Outdoor, and Brodware tapware in Rumbled Brass Organic. “We put the bath just outside on the deck as I don’t like getting too hot,” says Susanne. “We can quickly get back in through the doors. I love it, even in winter.”

“We bought good quality fixtures and fittings, as we knew we’d be here for a long time.”

Susanne.

Mudroom

The laundry and mudroom exudes rustic style. Brendon tweaked the design, adding beautiful raw timber details. The baskets are second-hand finds.

Deck and outdoors

A wide deck and picture windows frame verdant views from the dining area.

There’s nothing like diving straight in after you’ve been working on the farm. And our grandchildren [pictured] love it,” says Chris of the pool, which is finished with glass mosaics from Eco Outdoor. The concrete bath from Fossil Vintage has uninterrupted views.

Acres of greenery are punctuated by the rural charm of the wood shed.

“Our grandchildren have their ponies here, so they are always riding around the farm or playing in the pool.”

Chris.

Builder Binna Burra Construction, binnaburraconstruction.com.au.
Timberwork Round 2 Timbers, round2timbers.com.au.

Source Book

Be the first to read this story by subscribing to Home Beautiful magazine.

⁠Have it delivered to your door!

The post This rural timber farmhouse comes with a romantic outdoor tub appeared first on Home Beautiful.

The barn, with its rustic charm, was transformed into a twinkling backdrop for a group date, creating a truly romantic setting.

At the time, the farm’s owners shared shots of the farmers and their love interests on social media with a sweet caption: “So great to have the farmers and their ladies at the farm! We hope they find love.”

It seems the magic of the setting worked – two couples from the 2024 season, Farmer Dustin and Sophie, and Farmer Todd and Daisy, are still together.

Romance is clearly in the air at Lorn Rose Farm. The early 1900s homestead, with a flourishing flower farm, belongs to Denise and Mark Duffield-Thomas, who have lived there for six years with their young children, Willow, George and Piper Rose.

The family purchased the enchanting place at the end of 2018. “Properties like this simply don’t come along every day,” Denise told Country Style magazine in recent years.

Set on 9.9 acres at 229 Glenarvon Road in Lorn, the entire estate has been renovated tastefully, preserving its original period charm. The kitchen and dining area have high ceilings and a classic farmhouse-style sink.

The property is now listed for sale with James Hannah of PRD Hunter Valley, with a price guide of $4.5 million to $5 million.

The agent describes the estate as having a “very Bowral or Moss Vale” feel, which happens to be where former Farmer Wants A Wife co-host Samantha Armytage is restoring a country cottage.

Sam appeared on Farmer Wants a Wife’s 2023 and 2024 seasons before stepping into a new role as host of The Golden Bachelor Australia, which will air on Channel 9 in 2025.

Long-time viewers of Farmer Wants A Wife have been pleased to see Natalie Gruzlewski return as solo host for the latest season, bringing her signature warmth.

We’re sure to see more gorgeous country-style homes on the series in 2025, but perhaps none as stunning as Lorn Rose Farm. The main home has four bedrooms, and there’s also a two-bedroom cottage on the grounds that’s currently being leased out.

Owners Denise and Mark hope the next custodians will continue the rose farm’s legacy. As their agent James shares, “The main thing is to keep that integrity as part of the property because it is a working rose farm.”

While “Will you accept this rose?” might be more fitting at the Bachelor mansion, it feels just as apt for the sale of a flower farm. Either way, roses seem to have a way of making love blossom, no matter which show you’re on.

See the real-estate listing here.

The post This Farmer Wants A Wife property sparked lasting love appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Although living in a BAL-29 bushfire zone posed a few exterior challenges, new materials were carefully selected to meet regulations and reclaimed elements were adapted to suit. “With design aspirations for a 1900-1920s feel, I dialled back the clock by incorporating ornate cornicing, decorative panelling and fretwork into the architecture,” adds Alex.

Inside, soft grey and white shades coupled with pine floors lay the foundation for a collection of antique furniture, abundant plants, vintage fabrics, lighting and artwork. The amalgamation of new and old makes every space special and this extends outside to cottage-style gardens. “A lot of the plants are hand-me-downs we’ve transplanted here,” says Alex. Thoroughly loved inside and out, it’s a home imbued with memories with plenty more to be made.

Who lives here? Alex, an illustrator and designer, husband James, who works in finance, and their children, Sam, 11, and Ellie, eight, plus Chocolate Labrador, Dolly.
How would you describe your interior style? Alex: “Eclectic! A mix of vintage layers and antique faded tones. I love an Australian country farmhouse feel with layers of stories added in pieces sourced from travels across the globe.”
What do you love about where you live? “We truly struck gold when we stumbled upon this area. It has a country town feel in the burbs with the city only a 30-minute drive away.

Inside story

Living

Kitchen

Alex spent years looking for just the right antique item to use for the kitchen island. At the 11th hour, she found the perfect 1890s French timber bench from The Jardin Room. Topped with Carrara marble from WK Stone, the massive 3.4-metre bench also features a butcher’s block made by the builder from the home’s original Oregon beam lintels. “I am so pleased how all the varying elements I pulled together in this space just work to give me that original eclectic farmhouse feel I was striving for,” says Alex.

“I love how the light moves through the kitchen during the day and changes the colours and tones of the space.”

Alexandra Nea Graham

Bathrooms and laundry

Alex had a buffet from Empire Home modified to suit in the main bathroom (below) and paired it with a basin from Marble & Ceramic Corp and Brodware tapware. The wall behind is awash in zellige tiles in Pale Green, from Ammonite Living, punctuated by a wall light with a custom brass base from Fat Shack Vintage. The hand-painted silk chinoiserie wallpaper was custom made to measure via Etsy, with the green tones accentuated with vintage 1930 glass chandelier shades and green dado rail tiles, also from Etsy.

“The Art Deco shade in the main bathroom was a gift for my 21st birthday, which I’ve taken with me from house to house.”

Alexandra Nea Graham

Bedrooms

The new main bedroom wing, painted in Dulux Silver Tea Set, teamed with intricate cornicing from Unique Plaster, was part of the front extension. After discovering a set of original leadlight bay windows at Chippendale Restorations, Alex designed the main bedroom (below) around them. A Temple & Webster bed layered in Adairs bedlinen sits alongside a bedside table handmade by her grandfather.

Backyard and pool

The home’s sentimental treasures extend outside, where third generation hydrangeas bloom in abundance by the pool. “They originated in my great grandmother’s garden, from there my grandmother took her own cuttings and I’ve had success propagating from her plants,” says Alex of the heirloom plants, mixed with new hydrangea varieties. “They love this spot. They’re sheltered from the heat of summer under the magnolias and it’s a mineral water pool, so the splashes don’t bother them.”

Drafting: Paul Wilsher Design, @budhaus
Build & pool: Riverside Building & Design, riversidebuilding.com.au
Joinery: Concept Design Kitchens and Joinery, conceptdesignkitchensandjoinery.com.au
Kitchen doors: Farmers Doors, farmersdoors.com

Source book

Be the first to read this story by subscribing to Home Beautiful magazine.

⁠Have it delivered to your door!

The post A family home brimming with vintage treasures and farmhouse style appeared first on Home Beautiful.

The dream journey

Who? A busy couple live here with their three children.
Where? A Brisbane abode built almost 100 years ago.
Time frame? After the couple spent several years planning, work began in June 2023 and finished in October 2024.
The dream? To include contemporary comforts in the classic home and fill it with the family’s personalities.
Approach? The couple engaged interior designer Angie Rogers to help them decorate this home, which had been recently renovated by local building design firm Concepts Unlimited Design.
Must-haves? Opportunities to display the homeowners’ art, plus ducted air conditioning, better storage and a fully functioning kitchen.
Wishlist? To infuse the rooms with stylish wow-factor as well as improving liveability.
Why is this your dream home? “We love that the house feels like we are in an Australian bush setting, yet we are only six kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD. The house really capitalises on the forest vista and is the perfect spot to entertain or relax with family.”

Realising the dream

Greeting the family as soon as they get home, the light-filled entrance is a dream come true for the couple, and one of their favourite aspects of the new design. The marble floor mosaics and white walls provide the perfect backdrop for the their cherished collection of artworks.

Each of the four bathrooms now has its own personality, utilising pops of colour and pattern, mixed materials and statement lighting to make them unique, though for cohesion, ‘Trinity Bianco’ floor tiles feature throughout. “Stepping into the bathrooms, Angie’s hand-picked finishes give the impression of being in a five-star hotel,” say the homeowners.

The kitchen – with its deep green joinery, quartzite-topped island, generous butler’s pantry and window overlooking the trees – was designed especially for the lady of the house, who is a keen chef.

“I remember the husband saying to me that he wanted the kitchen to be beautiful for her,” shares Angie. “She is a fabulous cook and baker, and he felt she would always put herself last and deserved something gorgeous. I have visited several times since the project was completed to find Dad tucked up in his study, a string of kids piled on the sofa playing video games and Mum cooking away in the kitchen, delicious aromas filling the air.”

Lessons learnt

Decorating this home was a lesson in how to cleverly mix “splurge and save” pieces. “Buy quality items in areas that do the heavy lifting, such as door and cabinet handles, tapware, sofa fabrics and flooring – things that will be touched multiples times a day,” says Angie.

She placed luxe materials where they would be most noticed – the marble floor tiles in the entry and the dreamy quartzite on the island benchtop – then opted for similar but less expensive surfaces for other areas. Angie also put offcuts to use and upholstered small items and soft furnishings with fabric remnants.

Best advice

Angie’s advice is to set your decorating budget at the start of a project. “Often the furnishing stage of a project is left until the end, when funds may have run out,” she says. “You can have the most beautifully built house, but you need the furnishings and styling to bring it all together and make it feel like a home.”

She suggests listing every room and item you’ll need to complete each space, including pieces you already own. “Think about lighting, window coverings, wallpaper, furniture, rugs, soft furnishings and styling accessories, setting a price point for each new item,” says Angie.

Facade

It was the outlook and sheer size of this home’s footprint that drew the homeowners, a family of five, to the old Brisbane abode. Wanting to give it a new look, they engaged interior designer Angie Rogers, who tapped into the couple’s “fun, eclectic” style for the interiors.

Spread across three storeys, with a fourth lower-basement level, its characterful facade was left as is, with stucco walls in Dulux Casper White Quarter, timeless dormer windows and a terracotta-tiled roof, exuding warmth and charm. The upstairs attic functions as a hangout space for the homeowners’ children.

Angie refreshed the front door with Karen Walker Paints in Half Robin Egg Blue by Resene, and a striped navy and white awning above complements the home’s relaxed Queensland aesthetic. Angie worked with interior designer Hannah Warlow to balance the new with the old.

Entry

“The existing entry lacked any wow-factor for such a grand style of home,” says Angie, but the breezy new entry foyer has plenty. ‘Rosca’ marble mosaics from Edge Tile & Stone feel amazing underfoot and “give the impression of both grandeur and warmth – we love it,” say the homeowners.

Angie teamed a console from Woolloongabba Antique Centre and a mirror from Warranbrooke with Emac & Lawton ‘Dino’ sconces, which she recovered in a designer remnant fabric for a cost-effective finish.

Avid art collectors, the homeowners’ pieces include a nude by François Boucher, ‘Soleil Sun Heart’ and ‘Soleil Pineapple’ tiles from Jones & Co, and a work of Palm Cove by J Payne.

Stairwell

“Angie was amazing with bringing her own style and seamlessly enmeshing it with our own,” say the owners of the stairwell.

Living

Traditional antiques, charming fabrics and statement lights mingle in the open-plan living and dining space, where bi-fold doors frame the upstairs verandah. Key pieces include a rolled-arm sofa upholstered in James Dunlop Textiles ‘Trailblazer’ fabric in Cement and a custom sofa by EJP Furniture Manufacturer covered in Warwick ‘Arlington’ chequered fabric in Duckegg. A Morris & Co ‘Pimpernel’ rug in Vintage Blush from Ruggable grounds the timber coffee table.

Joinery in Polytec’s ‘Sussex’ profile in Ghostgum and ‘Woodmatt’ in Boston Oak adds much-needed storage in the living area.

‘Rum Jungle’ by Janey Forbes hangs above a bone inlay dresser

A vintage artwork by A Mason is displayed in the living area above a second-hand cabinet found on Facebook Marketplace.

Kitchen

“The kitchen is the heart and soul, a place where everyone can gather around,” shares Angie. “It also helped set the design direction for the rest of the home.” The island, in Polytec ‘Sussex’ profile panels colour-matched to Laminex ‘Otway’, is the star of the space, topped with ‘Palazzo’ honed quartzite from SNB Stone. ‘Urban Natural Weave’ Roman blinds from Blinds by Peter Meyer and P&R Styling ‘Lottie’ counter stools further elevate the space with brass Emac & Lawton ‘Cromwell’ wall lights. “With this project, we purchased all of the lighting at the very beginning of the build and kept it in storage for months to ensure we would have these beautiful pieces, even if there were unexpected costs blowing out on the build side,” explains Angie.

Small details in the handles, hooks, knobs and shelf brackets add to the appeal of the kitchen. “We designed the kitchen island to feel like a piece of furniture,” says Angie of the statement joinery unit, complete with open shelving to display vignettes. “The deep green has a moody, vintage feel – it’s classic and timeless and speaks to the owners’ vintage pieces.”

Butler’s pantry

The couple can access everything they need in the shelf-lined butler’s pantry, which can be closed from view with a large barn-style sliding door.

Dining

Meals are enjoyed at the family’s existing farmhouse-style table and antique chairs, with two ‘Antigua’ small drum chandeliers in Natural Abaca from Bloomingdales Lighting suspended above.

Laundry

A ‘Kingsley’ mixer in Brushed Nickel from ABI Interiors, ‘Florence’ lamp from Adairs and custom blind in Morris & Co ‘Bower’ fabric bring style to the laundry. ‘Trinity Bianco’ rectified tiles from Edge Tile & Stone echo the floor mosaics in the entry.

Main bedroom

The parents’ retreat enjoys neutral Eternity ‘Normandy’ carpet from Choices Flooring and Taubmans Cotton Sheets on the walls. Contrast is added by the Mayvn Interiors bedhead, blinds trimmed with Style Rev ‘Quincy’ tape and bedside lamp shades in Quercus & Co ‘Drawing 5’ fabric. Anna Spiro Textiles ‘Leilani’ fabric dresses the sconces.

Main ensuite

An existing bath was revived in Porter’s Paints Aniseed in the parents’ ensuite.

Interior design: Angie Rogers Interiors, angierogersinteriors.com.au

Joinery: McInnes & Hill Designs, mcinnesandhilldesigns.com.au

Building designer: Concepts Unlimited Design, cudesign.com.au

Source book

Be the first to read this story by subscribing to Home Beautiful magazine.

⁠Have it delivered to your door!

The post A Brisbane home is given a timeless, character-filled makeover appeared first on Home Beautiful.

The floor plan of the five-bedroom abode was enlarged to include an open-plan kitchen and living room, with a butler’s pantry and wine cellar. “The wine cellar was my husband’s idea. He’s always had an interest in good wines,” shares Jill. “The entire project was based around a big cellar we could sit in and entertain up to eight guests.”

As the house is set on a sand dune, digging out the cellar turned into a three-month expedition. Once the walls were reinforced, it could be imbued with old-world charm, including stonework and space for more than 1500 bottles. “Designing this space was no small task,” says Lysandra. “We had to consider how to maintain the optimal temperature for the wine and accommodate the extensive collection.”

Exposed beams, natural stone benchtops and gold glimmers combine for a home that’s comfortable and commanding. “We’re thrilled that our investment in this project has not only created a beautiful space for our family to share but also increased our home’s value substantially,” says Jill.

Who lives here?

Jill, a nurse, her husband Craig, a criminal defence lawyer, and their Groodle, Billie.

Biggest lesson learnt? Jill: “That things don’t always go to plan. We learnt to compromise and be flexible when it came to issues of the build.”
Any ideas Alisa and Lysandra had that you’re happy you went with? “Introducing VJ panelling on the walls and ceiling in the living room, as well as installing black curtain rods, when I thought they might be too much.”
Favourite piece of furniture? “The imported American occasional chairs [in the living room] that came out from the States and took eight months to get here. They’re stylish and comfortable and have the most intricate timber detail that I adore.”

Living room

“Despite the expansive extension, the home retains a cosiness and warmth that makes it truly inviting,” says Lysandra Fraser, director of Alisa & Lysandra Interiors alongside her sister and co-director Alisa Ayres. The ceiling beams were stained to match the Nature’s Oak flooring in Denali. Over the living space hangs a ‘Darlana’ chandelier from Visual Comfort & Co. Mokum ‘O’Keeffe’ fabric curtains in Sand cover arched windows. An Indah Island ‘Brunhild’ console in Oak stands behind the lounge.

“I love the thoughtful detail in the fireplace mantel to hide our sound system and wires.”

Jill, homeowner

The Escea gas fireplace is framed by Polar Ice marble from CDK Stone with a timber mantel and Bodega Freeform stone wall cladding from Eco Outdoor. The banquette cushions are covered with Zepel fabric in Fawn and lit by ‘Dean’ picture lights in Natural Brass from The Montauk Lighting Co. Two ‘Lincoln’ chairs from Boyd Blue face a pair of ‘Plantation’ coffee tables in Antique Brown from Dianna-Lynn Decor and a Natuzzi lounge.

We love… a big island

With a large extended family, the island had to be made to suit. “The kitchen bench is 4.2 metres in length, so there’s plenty of room to spread out and enjoy,” says Jill. “We spend the majority of our time in the kitchen and family room, whether we’re sitting reading a book in the sunshine or prepping for a dinner party.”

Kitchen

The large kitchen features Polar Ice marble from CDK Stone on the benchtops and splashback. Hanging in the centre are ‘Darlana’ lanterns in Gilded Iron from The Montauk Lighting Co. These tie in with the Perrin & Rowe pot filler and sink mixer with white porcelain lever taps from The English Tapware Company. A row of Black Mango ‘Manor Oak’ counter stools surround the island.

Butler’s pantry

To the side of the kitchen is the butler’s pantry, with EasyCraft ‘EasyRegency’ 150 wall panelling paired with Polytec ‘Notaio’ Walnut shelves. The stool was pre-existing and artwork is an op-shop find. A Zip HydroTap offers instant cold, sparkling and hot water.

Dining

A pair of pendants from The Montauk Lighting Co adorn the dining space, where the couple’s table is surrounded by Black Mango ‘Manor Oak’ dining chairs on a rug from Alisa and Lysandra’s collection.

Wine cellar

The custom glass gas-strut door in the floor leads down to the wine cellar, paved with ‘San Selmo’ Classico Limewash bricks from Austral Bricks. The cellar wall features Bodega Freeform stone wall cladding from Eco Outdoor, alongside a Koala Living ‘Belfast’ bar table, illuminated by a row of Lighting Collective ‘Country Style’ pendants in Black. Wine storage was built by Portsch Classic Furniture.

“The wine cellar is such a standout element and we were determined to get it just right.”

Lysandra, designer

Laundry/mudroom

Designed for cleaning clothes and kicking off shoes, the laundry-meets-mudroom also contains a dog washing station in the corner with a portrait of the couple’s pooch. Beaumont Tiles ‘Atmosphere’ tiles run along the wall and splashback. Cabinetry colour is Dulux Narrow Neck, fitted with Mayfair Collection Touch Handles in Brushed Brass and a ‘Maddox’ hanging rail in Brass from Savage Design.

“Alisa and Lysandra encouraged us to feature lighting to create the right ambience in each area.”

Jill, homeowner

Powder room

Located off the laundry is the powder room, styled with body products by Alisa and Lysandra’s brand, Al.ive. A ‘Bjorn’ arch mirror from Middle of Nowhere and ‘Calais’ wall lights in Brass from About Space Lighting are set on ‘Swedish Tree’ wallpaper by Colefax and Fowler, above a Roca ‘Inspira’ round basin and Milli ‘Pure’ tap and handles from Reece.

Alfresco area

“The expansive outdoor entertaining area is complete with an outdoor kitchen and a pool – an entertainer’s dream!” says Lysandra. The backyard was redesigned, working with the existing pool, and executed by LCS Landscapes. The space is tiled with Marshet Limestone in Light Nougat from Tumbled. Bench seating was built by the project’s builder, Bellevue Building Concepts. “I cannot stress enough the importance of finding the right builder,” says homeowner Jill. “His work and commitment to the project, along with Alisa and Lysandra, made this project a pleasure.”

The undercover space features the couple’s outdoor table that’s large enough to host big gatherings, alongside a fully-equipped kitchen. The area also features a built-in Escea outdoor fireplace kitchen from the EK Series for an alfresco cooking experience that’s communal, while also keeping the area cosy in the cooler months.

Design: Alisa & Lysandra Interiors, alisaandlysandra.com.au.
Building design: MF Building Design, mfbuildingdesign.com.
Builder: Bellevue Building Concepts, bellevueconcepts.com.au.
Joinery: Portsch Classic Furniture, @portschcf.
Electrical: Glenelg Electrical, glenelgelectrical.com.au.
Landscaping: LCS Landscapes, lcslandscapes.com.au.

Source Book

Be the first to read this story by subscribing to Home Beautiful magazine.

⁠Have it delivered to your door!

The post A farmhouse-style home by Alisa and Lysandra celebrates warm textures appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Who stays here?

They agreed on one thing: the building meant far too much to their family to fall into further disrepair. “It’s the original farmhouse and we wanted it to live on and be handed down to our kids,” she adds. Budgets were tight, so they opted to do the lion’s share of the renovation themselves, with the goal of tidying things up and making the home liveable again. But the more Georgina worked on the cottage alongside her family – husband Cameron, brother Brad, her mum Tracy and Uncle Dave, a builder – the more she fell under its spell. “I really didn’t want it to be just a white cottage,” she says. “I wanted it to stand out and be unique.”

Undaunted by the sheer labour involved in laying flooring, replacing walls and installing a kitchen thrifted from a house in nearby Bangalow, Georgina soon hit a roadblock when decisions had to be made concerning paint colours, furniture selection and infusing the cottage with personality. Having worked on a previous project with interior design studio Cedar & Suede, Georgina called on its founder Carlene Duffy for help. “The whole way she had my complete trust,” says Georgina, who didn’t bat an eyelid when Carlene suggested a brazen palette of lime green, burgundy and dusty blues accentuated by flashes of red.

Stripping the home back to its studs and making it whole again was a full-circle moment for Georgina, whose kids now enjoy a childhood like hers. “Hopefully it’ll last another hundred years,” she says

Kitchen

Georgina loves the kitchen cabinets painted in Porter’s Paints Dark Newport Blue and splashback tiled in ‘Rosa’ travertine herringbone mosaics from Burleigh Tiles . However, her favourite feature is the ‘Henley’ double fluted farmhouse sink from ABI Interiors. “None of the original cabinet doors fit that sink, so we bought similar doors from Ikea, cut them in half and glued them back together,” says Georgina. “It was so much work, but I kept saying, ‘I really want this sink’.

“The second-hand kitchen was one of the first things we bought before we even started renovating.”

Georgina, homeowner.

A corner dining booth feels inviting and maximises the space available. The ‘Newport’ round pedestal table from Abide Interiors is the hero of the home’s dining zone, while chairs thrifted on Facebook Marketplace are painted in Resene Raging Bull. “Georgina almost didn’t paint the chairs,” recalls Carlene. “I said, ‘Well, you have to paint the chairs,’ and when she did she said, ‘I’m so glad you made me paint them’.”

Living

Throughout the cottage, Facebook Marketplace finds mingle with upcycled Ikea pieces. An Ikea ‘Ektorp’ sofa in the living area is reupholstered in bold ‘Amboli Indigo’ fabric from Warwick. The armchair and ottoman are also from Ikea, and are covered in ‘Brixham Indigo’ and ‘Mojave Russett’ respectively, which are both also from Warwick. A ‘Barcelona’ pendant light from Gypset Cargo ties the whole look together.

Bedrooms

Painted in Porter’s Paints Back Country, the couple’s bedroom, known as ‘the mustard room’, showcases a vintage chest of drawers and a ‘Biscayne’ rattan bedhead in Tobacco from Naturally Cane. A ‘Kantha’ coverlet from Temple & Webster tops the linen-dressed bed (for similar, try I Love Linen).

With walls painted in Resene Mocha, the ‘rust bedroom’ is perhaps the cosiest room in the house. Curtains with classic blue stripes are contrasted with a vintage Kantha cotton floral bedspread from Etsy and bedding in marine blue from I Love Linen. An ‘Austin’ wall light from Emac & Lawton illuminates the rattan bedside table (for similar, try the ‘President’ rattan bedside table from Naturally Cane).

“They wanted to celebrate the house, and I interpreted that as ‘let’s go nuts with colour.”

Carlene, designer

The only time the cottage’s colour palette came into question was when Georgina began painting the bunk room in Resene Gingko, which appeared almost neon before the blinds were installed. Two coats of Resene Tangaroa high gloss turned a simple ‘Dante’ pine bunk bed from Luxo Living into a hero feature, while glass panes in a vintage wardrobe were replaced with fabric curtaining in ‘Amboli Indigo’ from Warwick.

Bathroom

Penny round tiles contrast with ‘Artisan Roma Piazza’ matte floor tiles, both from Burleigh Tiles, while a Roman shade in ‘Salford in Abyss’ from Warwick highlights the salvaged timber windows in the bathroom. VJ panels in Resene Double Fossil are a backdrop for thrifted art and a cane vanity mirror.

Laundry/mudroom

Vintage baskets are a pretty and practical way to add interest to the laundry walls, painted in Resene Peanut.

The rear hall serves as a compact mudroom, with patterned flooring from Burleigh Tiles leading from the threshold into the laundry. ‘Hövolm’ peg board rails from Ikea create additional hanging and storage space.

Interior design: Cedar & Suede, cedarandsuede.com.au.

Builder: David Green.

Stay: This home is available for short-term rental accommodation on Airbnb as Keltara.

SOURCE BOOK

The post A colourful renovation restores a century-old farm cottage to its former glory appeared first on Home Beautiful.

As 2015 drew to a close, they’d been on the lookout for land. “It was New Year’s Eve and we were doing a quiz in the weekend paper, which makes us sound like real ragers, but the question was, ‘What is the widest canyon in the world?’” recalls Edwina. “Neil piped up and said, ‘Oh, that’s the Capertee Valley’. He grew up nearby in Lithgow, so he was familiar with it.”

A quick search of properties for sale revealed an 1890s sandstone shearer’s cottage on 42 barren hectares, and they sprang into action. “We drove down on Australia Day in 2016 and purchased the property right then and there,” says Edwina.

She sat down with Home Beautiful to share stunning pics of the vast garden and charming country-inspired interiors. Plus, scroll on for all the details you need to book this idyllic farmstay for your own blissful getaway.

Edwina Bartholomew escapes to the country

“It’s honestly changed our lives. It’s been such an amazing project for both of us and an amazing base
for our family.”

Edwina Bartholomew

When Edwina Bartholomew and Neil Varcoe first inspected this property, they were greeted on the driveway by a friendly turtle. Upon buying the land, the couple named it ‘Warramba’, or ‘turtle’ in the local Wiradjuri language. The gentle pace of the farm is a refreshing contrast to their busy lives in Sydney.

After renovating the run-down interior and readying the charming three-bedroom farmhouse for short-term rentals, the couple turned to the exterior. “With the exception of the grapevine, there was no garden at all, not even a plant. There was one tree, a cedar, which we had to cut down because it was poisoning the water supply,” says Edwina. “There was grass right up to the verandah and that was it, not even a shrub, so we really started from scratch.”

Creating a country garden

What followed was a garden design driven more by site than style. “You can’t put in a traditional English-style garden out here without having to pump it full of water, so it made a lot more sense – both for the native wildlife and for the conditions – to lean into it, as opposed to fighting against it.”

“We needed the garden to be really low-maintenance, drought-tolerant and impactful.”

Edwina Bartholomew

Guided by Warren Walker of Wariapendi Native Nursery in the NSW Southern Highlands, the garden is now lush with hardy native and non-native plants that withstand the sub-zero winter nights and summer days of 40-plus degrees Celsius. “Warren took it to the next level, because instead of building a garden inside a fence, he designed a garden that incorporated the fence, so it flows in and out of the fence line and undulates beyond it,” explains Edwina.

The country wedding of Edwina Bartholomew and Neil Varcoe

Edwina and Neil tied the knot at Warramba in 2018, inviting guests to contribute a gift or a tree to their budding orchard. “All the trees in the orchard were bought by our friends, and now we’re starting to see them fruit and grow really tall. That’s been lovely,” says Edwina. They have since welcomed a daughter Molly, four, and son Tom, two, who love the garden.

In 2024, Edwina revealed she has received a cancer diagnosis and has begun treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia. She spent the following weeks at Warramba, where the family continue their pilgrimage and find solace with each visit. “When you’re there, even if it’s just for a weekend, it feels like days and days because you are in the garden,” she says. “It feels like time away from the world.”

Tour the country oasis

“It’s a free-flowing garden that has a little bit of order to it. As we change, the garden changes, too. It’s been an evolution.”

Edwina Bartholomew

“My favourite hangout is the front verandah with the big outdoor couch. Often in the mornings you’ll get kangaroos on the front lawn, so we’ll sit there, have our breakfast and watch the kangaroos go by,” says Edwina of the entry. Topiaries of Callistemon ‘White Anzac’, Philotheca ‘Winter Rouge’ and Rosmarinus officinalis frame the entry, adding structure to feathery fronds of Dianella grasses and kangaroo paw, a native perennial.

The yoga deck

On a distant hill, the couple built a raised yoga deck large enough to host sunset picnic dinners. “It has the most spectacular 360-degree views of the Capertee Valley,” shares Edwina.

The barbecue area

It wouldn’t be an Australian country garden without a barbecue. Edwina Bartholomew’s xeriscaped barbecue area is surrounded by paths lined with Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ groundcover. The pathway is illuminated by lighting from Gardens At Night.

The pool

The couple recently added the circular above-ground mineral pool, which is one of children Molly and Tom’s favourite spots. Edwina designed the pool with Allcast Precast in Queensland and had it clad in hardwood timber battens, which help it blend into the backdrop of slender poplar trees. “They change colours in autumn, which is beautiful,” says Edwina.

An old cedar was replaced with a peppercorn tree, which now towers over the cottage and pool.

The verandah

Edwina loves curling up on the Uniqwa Collections outdoor sofas with a cuppa resting on the vintage stools she found at Kabinett in Kyneton. “It’s a beautiful spot to read a book and relax,” she says.

The homestead’s original sandstone walls stand proud, harking back to its 1890s origins as a shearer’s cottage.

It’s Neil’s job to chop the firewood, which is piled up beneath the home’s storybook sash windows. Edwina keeps busy with other tasks. “I mowed the lawns last time I was there, and even though my lawns are a little bit like a bad haircut, I just love it,” says Edwina.

Meet Edwina Bartholomew’s pet cows

Edwina and Neil named their affectionate fold of Scottish Highland cows after illustrious real-life and fictional Scottish characters, including Susan Boyle, Jamie Fraser, Annie Lennox, Shirley Manson, Ewan McGregor and Andy Murray.

The family’s Scottish Highland cattle recently welcomed little Merida. But it’s not just the cattle, pet dog, or the property itself that Edwina Bartholomew and Neil Varcoe have blessed with names. Even the trusty four-wheel drive is worthy of a name, christened Reginald Warramba Varcoe the Land Rover.

SOURCE BOOK

Landscape design: Wariapendi Native Nursery, www.wariapendi.com.au
Landscaping: ED Landscapes, www.edlandscapes.com
Stay: Warramba is available for holiday rentals and sleeps up to six people. Visit Airbnb or www.warramba.com.au to book.

Tour Edwina Bartholomew’s country cottage

Set on 100 acres of regenerated farmland in the Greater Blue Mountains, the incredible restoration was completed with the help of Edwina’s good friend Felicity Slattery of design practice Studio Esteta.

As is so often the story, significant work was needed to create the stunning modern homestead we see today. “We didn’t realise at the time that there was a garden hose connecting the tank to the house as the main source of water, and a green tree frog living in the loo!” Edwina shares. Roping in the help of builder Ben from Pirie Homes, they decided they would eventually rent out the property, so invested in a comprehensive renovation to open up the living spaces, lay new flooring over the top of unsalvageable cement and wood floors, and address the aesthetics of the house and gardens over a six month period.

A country kitchen

Edwina addressed the aesthetics of the home and gardens over a six month period.

The bathroom

The cottage has one generous bathroom to share.

Kitchen and dining

The fully equipped kitchen to creates a cosy hub in which to cook and share meals in true country style.

Bedroom

Edwina chose all the furnishings for the interiors herself.

Bedroom

Warramba sleeps six guests in three beautifully appointed bedrooms.

Bedroom

The cow artwork above this bed is reminiscent of the Scottish Highland cattle that roam the property.

Previous

Next

Stay at Edwina Bartholomew’s country escape

If you’re looking for a blissful country escape, hit the road and head west to enjoy quintessential wide open roads, culminating in majestic vistas of the Capertee valley. Lovingly restored as a bolthole for the world-weary, Warramba sleeps six guests in three beautifully appointed bedrooms and has one generous bathroom to share. The fully equipped kitchen to creates a cosy hub in which to cook and share meals in true country style. Or add a couple of swags to the mix and camp out under the stars to get even closer to nature. 

Prices average $800 per night for two people with a two night minimum stay. Visit warramba.com.au or Book here.

The post Edwina Bartholomew and Neil Varcoe’s life-changing country property appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Who lives here?

Builder and content creator Alicia, her electrician husband Ian, and the couple’s two young daughters and son.

Three Christmas traditions: Alicia: “The kids decorate the tree and I’m not precious about it. We have a water fight in the garden and pancakes for Boxing Day breakfast.”

Favourite DIY project? “I love the fireplace, which I built from scratch: making the frame and lining it with heatproof materials, and then giving it a lovely rough rendered finish that adds texture to the room.”

Family downtime activities? “We love cooking and we also like gardening. The girls have their own flower garden. They sell their flowers and the chicken eggs.”

After 23 weeks, they moved into their two-storey, raised timber home, gradually finishing the interiors to create a five-bedroom modern farmhouse, complete with a generous back veranda, where Ian loves to smoke meats for family and friends.

While the pair have been building their own homes since their early 20s, this custom-designed house was the couple’s “most challenging” project yet. “I ran the build, sourcing all the materials and sub-contracting trades, and did a lot of the manual work myself, including constructing the kitchen, laundry and fireplace,” says Alicia.

The result feels homely and lived in, giving the impression the home has been here for years – a sentiment enhanced by second-hand finds, American farmhouse-style homewares and inherited pieces from Ian’s family of farmers. “I wanted it to have character and be full of things with a ‘story’,” says Alicia, who loves upcycling furniture she finds on Gumtree and eBay. Different shades of green meander through the soft, calm interiors, with some of the rooms colour-drenched for a cocooned effect.

“Our last house was all white and decorated to have broad appeal for selling. I wanted this one to have more colour and feel warmer,” explains Alicia. Designed to accommodate the family long-term (they’ve welcomed a baby boy since it was finished), the house has ample living spaces, including an upstairs playroom and a technology-free living room. This suits the self-proclaimed homebodies, who wanted to create a home they’d miss when away.

“I wanted living here to feel like a warm hug,” says Alicia. “We spend most of our free time at home. It’s our sanctuary and makes us feel happy.”

The living room

“We have the everyday lounge with a TV off the kitchen, but this is the ‘relaxation’ and technology-free room,” says Alicia. Porter’s Paints French Green provides a serene backdrop for textural layers, including a Kmart rug that Alicia painted with stripes, rustic baskets from Provincial Home Living and cushions from Kmart and The Cullin Design.

A wreath adds festive cheer above the rendered fireplace, while an artwork by Debbie Mackenzie echoes the pastoral scenes outside the family’s windows.

The kitchen

You can almost smell the freshly-baked bread in this warm and welcoming farmhouse kitchen, where timber beams and VJ wall panels painted in Porter’s Paints Volcanic Ash pair perfectly with the Kaboodle Kitchen cabinetry, which Alicia installed herself using Shaker-style ‘Alpine’ doors in Kaleo.

The Kaboodle Kitchen ‘Hickory Maple’ laminate benchtop complements a timber island from Provincial Home Living’s outlet, customised to fit the Schots Home Emporium stools.

Kitchen plates from Provincial Home Living are on display in a DIY plate holder in Porter’s Paints Volcanic Ash. The vintage scales are from Mill Markets.

Dining

This space is mostly used in summer, when the sun shines on VJ panels swathed in Porter’s Paints Old Stone Wall. The farmhouse cabinet (painted with Rust-Oleum in Tate Green) and table were Gumtree finds, paired with Provincial Home Living chairs and a Barn Light Australia pendant.

“The interiors feel calming, with an English cottage-meets-farmhouse feel that I love.”

Alicia, home owner

Bedrooms

An upholstered bed and timber bedsides from Temple & Webster are centrepieces in the couple’s bedroom. “I wanted the room to feel luxurious yet cosy, with soft, plump layers of bedlinen,” shares Alicia.

(Photography: Kate Enno/ Styling: Annalese Hay)

Bedding is from Target and Kmart, blinds are Ikea, curtains are Spotlight and lamps are from Provincial Home Living.

Porter’s Paints Olive Grove is calming in the couple’s daughter’s room. “We spotted the pretty bedlinen in Kmart and she asked me to make these scalloped bookshelves for her.”

The bathroom

“Evoking bathroom design details of yesteryear, the ensuite nods to classic features with its cast-iron bathtub from Schots Home Emporium, subway tiles and a chequerboard floor (both from Johnson Tiles). “I wanted to get away from ‘all-white’, create something striking and to experiment with texture,” says Alicia.

We love… upcycling

“You don’t need to spend a lot of money to make your home beautiful, and I often buy damaged furniture and repair or remodel it,” says Alicia. Look for good buys at outlet stores. Get started with @theshed_outlet (MCM House), @provincialoutlet (Provincial Home Living), and earlysettler.com.au/collections/clearance.

Builder/owner: Alicia, Provincial Farm Touch

Source book

The post Inside an idyllic modern farmhouse in Melbourne appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Related: Inside all of Martha Stewart’s iconic homes

Martha Stewart’s Bedford home

The signature Martha Stewart style is evident right from the start in her Bedford home. Many of us have fallen for the look of all-white panelled cladding in recent years which can refresh a tired home. Instead, Martha’s place is painted in a much warmer greige colour. Combined with the stone on the chimney and rich reds and yellows of the autumnal leaves in the garden, it’s an incredibly inviting sight to behold.

The front steps are decorated with a simple row of pumpkins on either side. It just goes to show that you don’t need to overcomplicate decorating. Small touches like this which give a nod to the season can go a long way to livening up a home.

The front door to Martha Stewart’s Bedford home is decorated with a wreath made from natural-looking elements and a gold bow. The neutral colours tie in effortlessly with the home’s hues and surrounds.

The kitchen

Martha Stewart’s farmhouse-style kitchen has all of the classic features, such as open shelving, cream-coloured joinery and a freestanding oven. Subway tiles in a similar shade create visual flow, with contrasting dark accents in the benchtop and floors.

The dining area

Rustic elements like the wooden dining table and chairs, along with the wicker armchair look lovely alongside the calming green vases and urns.

The living area

In Martha Stewart’s living room, refined pale blue and elegantly patterned chairs set the tone for a refined yet homely stay. Multi-pane windows bring in lots of light and offer an outlook to the beautiful gardens outside.

The bedrooms

In keeping with Martha Stewart’s style throughout the rest of the home, the bedrooms are elegant and cosy. Neutral walls and white doors and frames are contrasted with black accents in the mirror and bed frame.

A book shelf is built in behind the single bed with wall lights adding ambience for reading. The glass-panelled windows completely transform the space into an idyllic retreat.

The bathroom

If you were looking for farmhouse bathroom inspiration, this is it. The creamy colour makes the simple space feel classic and effortlessly beautiful. Details like the freestanding bath and basin with the old-fashioned bath and shower tapware add to the elegant feel.

To browse more cosy stays like this one, head to Booking.com.

The post See inside Martha Stewart’s cosy Bedford farmhouse appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Who lives here?

A busy couple with their three teenage daughters and two dogs. They enlisted interior designers Sarah and Heather from Oak & Orange to create their dream home.

The biggest challenge with this project?
Sarah: “The home’s corner block location presented the challenge of two distinct facades. Installing a beautiful fence around the perimeter enhanced the home’s privacy and minimised noise from the roadside.”
Tips for making a good first impression?
Heather: “The smaller the facade, the fewer materials and colours you should select. Don’t overcomplicate it.”
What’s your favourite space?
Sarah: “The kitchen. I adore its minimalist design and striking palette.”
Heather: “The living and dining offer a sense of grandeur as you walk down the hallway, enhanced by the high ceilings.”

This aesthetic begins at the facade, where vertical wall cladding, glazing bars on the windows and cross detailing nod to that classic barn look. Exterior walls painted a crisp Taubmans Alpine Snow are offset by charcoal Colorbond Monument roofing and gutters, while a modular fibre-cement composite wall provides privacy around the side.

“Being a corner block, we wanted to ensure that both street frontages looked as impressive as each other, and the modular wall certainly helped us achieve a beautiful finish,” says Sarah.

The black and white colour palette and barn-style details carry through into the interiors, where wide timber floorboards add warmth and upholstered furniture, rugs and cushions bring the comfort factor.

“The glazing bars add architectural interest and tie in perfectly with the American barn style,” says interior designer Heather.

The bedrooms are a tactile haven of boucle bedheads, thick carpets and textured blinds, while the bathrooms feature crisp white joinery, tiled accent walls and chrome fittings. “All of these elements blend to create a space that genuinely feels like a home,” adds Sarah.

Functionality was another important consideration, and Heather and Sarah worked some clever extras into the design. Understair storage optimises unused space, while a mudroom behind doors is fitted with open shelving and a bench with storage underneath.

There’s a home office hidden by a white sliding barn door, a walk-in linen cupboard and pantry, a handy laundry chute connecting the two floors and an upstairs living space that doubles as a teenagers’ retreat.

To the rear, large picture windows provide a glorious connection between the open-plan kitchen, dining and living space and the alfresco entertaining area, complete with a pool and fire pit.

“It’s a relatively small space, but we managed to incorporate room to relax, swim and entertain, as well as a grassed area for the family’s fur babies,” says Heather.

It’s a home that ticks all the boxes for the family.

“It’s beautiful and just what we dreamt it would be,” they say. “It feels very resort-like with the pool seen from the heart of the home, and we love having people over. But that said, it’s also our sanctuary to escape the hustle and bustle of our busy lives.”

Kitchen

Featuring the same classic light and dark palette as the exterior, the kitchen includes Caesarstone Alpine Mist benchtops, MFL by Masson ‘Bianco’ ribbed conical pendants from Beacon Lighting, a chrome mixer from Reece and black ‘T-Pull’ handles from Lo & Co.

A butler’s pantry offers overflow storage and Abide Interiors ‘Zen’ stools add farmhouse texture. The oven and cooktop blends seamlessly with the kitchen colour scheme, while the generous width makes entertaining crowds a breeze. For similar, try the Electrolux ‘90-centimetre Ultimate Taste 900’ freestanding electric oven with induction cooktop in Dark Stainless Steel from Harvey Norman.

“The kitchen feels like the heart of the home, where style and function meet in perfect harmony.”

Sarah, interior designer.

Heather and Sarah thought long and hard about the staircase, as it can be seen from the kitchen, dining and living spaces. They opted for Victorian ash timber treads to match the vinyl flooring, and a balustrade in Dulux Colorbond Monument.

This finish was also used on the roof and gutter of the facade, enhancing the sense of continuity and cohesion as you move throughout the home.

Living area

A calming scene unfolds in the living space, with a timber ‘Narul’ coffee table from Barefoot Gypsy and ‘Ocea’ armchairs from Abide Interiors. The ‘Issho’ console in Smoked Oak and ‘Fleur’ ottoman, both from King, add to the striking features alongside art prints from Urban Road.

A Miss Amara ‘Tilos’ rug creates a layer of softness and texture underfoot, while helping zone the chill-out area in the open-plan space. Complementary light grey tones abound, with a modular ‘Concerto’ sofa
covered in Bronte Natural fabric and a curvaceous ‘Crescent’ ottoman, both from King Living.

Heather and Sarah incorporated a 3.6-metre-high ceiling in the living area for a sense of grandeur.

“The chandelier from Light In The Box and thoughtful styling creates a warm and inviting atmosphere that beckons you to linger and relax for hours,” shares Heather.

A window overlooks the garden with glazing bars to match the front facade, cohesively welcoming the facade’s farmhouse charm into the interior.

Bedrooms

Each room in this home features a careful selection of timber furniture and upholstered pieces to evoke warmth, and the couple’s bedroom is no exception. Mixed textures bring life to the space with its ‘Stockholm’ bedhead from Adairs, timber bedsides from Barefoot Gypsy, and Miss Amara ‘Leilani’ rug and ‘Zalla’ quilt cover from Bambury. ‘Bella’ lamps from Paola And Joy and cushions from Baya Living add extra layers of detail.

Panelled walls painted in Taubmans Crisp White introduce quintessential country flavour, while ‘Byng’ carpet in Wheat and block-out blinds, both sourced from Andersens, soften the overall effect.

One of the home’s tranquil bedrooms features a ‘Ginnie’ boucle bedhead from Luxo Living, ‘Rasha’ side table from Life Interiors, Paola And Joy ‘Mila’ lamp, and cushions and throws from Baya.

Bathrooms

Mixed black and chrome fixtures from Reece keep things sleek in the bathrooms, where sconces from Beacon Lighting, Kado Lux basins and ‘Trinity’ mirrors from Future Glass are key inclusions.

Laundry

Home to fresh white Shaker cabinetry, the laundry is finished with ‘Marlow’ splashback tiles from ColorTile and a sink and mixer from Reece.

Outdoors

The round ‘Colorado’ table and chairs from Bask Outdoor Living are the perfect fit for the square undercover entertaining space. Large-format floor tiles from ColorTile are a cool choice underfoot, while the Beacon Lighting fan circulates air with sculptural flair.

‘Sonata’ outdoor sofa from Freedom and ‘Kumi’ pots from Green Image Lifestyle set an idyllic scene in the pool area, where a ‘Vogue Wall’ modular fence from Modular Walls forms a bold backdrop.

Interior design: Oak & Orange, oakandorange.com.au

Builder: Better Built Homes, betterbuilthomes.com.au

Source Book

The post An American barn-style build in the Hawkesbury Valley appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Moving in with daughter Alessandra, now 12, while Adriana was pregnant with second daughter Caleya, now six, the family immediately embraced a more rural lifestyle, acquiring several ponies to take advantage of the property’s paddocks and horse arena. A dirt bike trail was also established, where Casey could teach the girls to ride in the backyard.

While the family fell in love with the property, a renovation to rejuvenate and repair the 30-plus-year-old house was always on the cards. In preparation, a shed was purpose built where the family could ‘glamp’ on site during the renovation.

Who lives here?

Casey Stoner, a retired two-time MotoGP World Champion; his wife Adriana, a stay-at-home mum and daughters Alessandra, 12, and Caleya, six; Silky Terrier Frankie; Chestnut pony Janie; and bay pony Gucci.
What makes your location idyllic? Adriana: “With Casey still frequently travelling, the size of our acreage is manageable and also conveniently close to town and an airport. We love the space and privacy it provides, too.”
Renovation tip? “It’s all down to the builder. We are very thankful to have been recommended Kai Konstruct to take on the renovation. They exceeded our expectations and were a pleasure to work with every step of the way.”

Engaging the expertise of local company Kai Konstruct, the extensive project began in 2023, with the scope encompassing a redesigned kitchen, updated bathrooms, additional internal stairs, office space and mudroom, as well as reconfigured and extended upper level for a new main bedroom, ensuite and trophy room.

A pool house for guests was also updated, along with the gym. “Virtually everything was changed,” says Adriana, of the new look.

Kitchen

Moving back in December 2023, thrilled with the renovation, Adriana says the house felt brand new. Yet their jubilation was dampened somewhat when, just weeks later, a storm categorised as a tornado tore through their property on Christmas night. “Our builder Tim was amazing, going over and above to come out on Boxing Day to do repairs, and luckily we had generators,” recalls Adriana.

The repercussions continued, with a storm on New Year’s Day flooding the nearby blocked creek and deluging the shed they’d just moved out of. Despite the effects of the weather, the family considers themselves fortunate compared to others impacted by wild summer storms and appreciate their place more than ever.

Designed specifically to suit the way the family congregates and entertains – often around an island bench – the kitchen features both a working island and social island, teamed with bar stools.

“A big butler’s pantry and a gas cooktop were musts,” explains Adriana of the kitchen redesign, which features an impressive Ilve ‘Majestic’ 150cm dual fuel oven in Antique White and Brass – still quite a novelty to use, after almost a year spent without an oven.

Working with Kai Konstruct on the selection of finishes to achieve a modern country feel, the palette was kept simple and sophisticated with Euro Marble Calacatta Oro benchtops, mosaic splashback tiles from Three Balls Red and brass accents such as Hepburn Hardware cabinetry handles, a Blanco kitchen mixer tap and ABI Interiors ‘Elysian’ pot filler.

“It was Casey’s idea for all the major joinery to be blue,” says Adriana. “Yet with so many [shades of] navy, which can look so different in different lights, finding just the right shade was one of the trickiest decisions in the whole house,” she adds. Ultimately opting for Porter’s Paints Yacht Race, they couldn’t be happier with the hue used for all Farmers Doors joinery. Visit Porter’s Paints.

We love… deep blue

Laundry

A real workhorse, the laundry is stylish and incredibly functional with an abundance of storage. Cabinetry in Dulux Vivid White, topped with Marbella benchtops from Stone Ambassador hug two walls, with a charming Farmhouse Sinks fluted sink positioned below the window.

Trophy room

A feature on the upper level is a trophy room. Taking pride of place are his bikes he won two world MotoGP titles on – a Ducati GP7 and Honda RC212V.

Living area

The more formal of the home’s several living spaces, this zone enjoys an indoor-outdoor feel, with its wrap-around glazing and French doors providing views and access to the pool and alfresco areas.

While the existing travertine floor tiles were kept, door frames and walls have been refreshed in Dulux Snowy Mountain Quarter with furnishings that were chosen to reflect the blue of the pool beyond. A Pottery Barn rug and sofas define the sitting area where cushions from Hamptons Style and Provincial Home Living add a dash of pattern to the space.

Dining

In the dining area, a timber bench is paired with a dining table, both from Pottery Barn. Upholstered chairs from the family’s previous home complement the setting as does a ‘Riva’ perforated island pendant in Antique Brass, from Interior Collections, which adds to the home’s modern farmhouse feel.

Main bedroom

A large part of the renovation was reconfiguring and extending the upper level to create a new spacious main bedroom, ensuite and dressing room. The bright, airy feeling is enhanced with lofted ceilings, while curtains from Decorators Workroom diffuse the stream of sunlight when needed.

“We love the modern country look because we feel it’s timeless, warm and inviting.”

Adriana

In the ensuite black matt large format tiles from Three Balls Red provide the foundation for a fluted bath, from ATS Tiles and Bathrooms. The vanity by Farmers Doors in Porters Yacht Race, topped with a slab of Marbella from Stone Ambassador, is paired with twin ‘Stadio Groove’ fluted oval stone basins from ATS Tiles and Bathrooms and ABI Interiors tapware.

Pool and outdoor area

Boasting resort-sized proportions, the existing pool didn’t need any enhancing. Year round, it provides a beautiful water outlook from multiple spots within the house and a lovely alfresco spot to entertain.

“We really love it here,” says Adriana. “We feel very blessed to have ample space where we can enjoy a variety of activities, so much so that on weekends the girls don’t want to leave.”

Builder: Kai Konstruct, 1300 524 284, kaikonstruct.com.au.
Cabinetry: Farmers Doors, 1300 725 151, farmersdoors.com.

SOURCE BOOK

The post The sprawling country home of Adriana and Casey Stoner appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Minimally landscaped and with dated finishes and a polarising terracotta facade, the charms of their dream home weren’t immediately obvious to all, but Kate was smitten. She says, “I hadn’t even walked inside – we just walked to the front door and I said to Gary, ‘This is it.’ He thought I was joking, because it needed so much work.”

Who stays here?

Kate and Gary, their adult daughters Harriet and Emma and their partners, and dogs Mr Pancakes and Miffy.
Where do you find inspiration? Kate: “My interior design books and magazines, along with our travels.”
How would you describe your style? “I would say definitely classic and traditional. It never dates.”
What is a typical Sunday morning? “After walking our dogs, having a coffee in the outside room and enjoying either the sunshine or a roaring fire.”
What do you love most about country living? “We adore the peace and quiet of the country and the sense of stepping away from the hustle and bustle of the city.”

They contacted design and construction company Cadence & Co to do a minimally invasive but transformative makeover on the space. “Originally, the brief was to bring a modern freshness to the interiors, with a more tailored approach to a country aesthetic. It was a light touch in terms of structural modification but as the project developed, more opportunities became apparent and the scope grew,” says Cadence & Co design principal Michael Kilkeary. “Creating an enclosed link between the existing garage and house enabled a secondary, informal entry, which allowed some new thinking in terms of the overall spatial layout. It also provided a more private enclosure in the rear garden.”

This change in the nature of the back garden, from open space to cocooning secret garden, with exquisitely crafted design by landscaper Myles Baldwin, completely altered the home’s relationship to the outdoors. The French-inspired garden makeover inspired a rethink of the main bedroom suite. It was reconfigured to include a large and light dressing room, an adjoining bathroom was pinched to become the new ensuite, and a whole wall of windows added to the bedroom, so Kate and Gary can wake up to a dawn-lit garden.

Dining room

Kate and Gary’s antique chairs in the dining room were reupholstered with Colefax and Fowler ‘Erith’ fabric in Silver by The Classic Outfitter, and matched with a striking pendant from Interiors by George. The fresh, white scheme – walls are in Dulux Natural White Half – keeps the focus on the sculpted garden view.

Kitchen

The angled kitchen island was fundamentally flawed for this family, fitted with an upstand that divided the kitchen from the rest of the space. “I wanted people to sit on the other side of the island and have chats with me while I’m cooking and I wanted to be able to see into the family room. I can see the whole back garden when I’m in there and it’s just lovely,” says Kate of the new island, which is topped with Bianco quartzite from Gitani Stone and illuminated by ‘Hampton’ pendants from Urban Lighting.

“The style was to be traditional and classic, but with a modern twist as well. The objective was for a modern country lodge.”

Gary, homeowner

Living room

The living room scheme was originally heavy so Cadence & Co introduced a sense of lightness. “A new palette of finishes really changed the feel of this room, bringing more sophistication and elegance, but with a casualness that was important to our clients, ” says Michael.

“It’s a more pared back and quiet palette. It has a sense of calm.”

Michael Kilkeary, Cadence & Co

Main bedroom

To give the main bedroom a point of difference, Cadence & Co opted to add Intrim mouldings to the walls. The William Yeoward ‘Huxley’ bedside table from Cromwell flanks a blue-toned bed setting, featuring a custom bedhead and valance in Colefax and Fowler ‘Laurie’ fabric, and velvet quilt from Few & Far.

Dressing room

“I’ve always wanted a large dressing room,” says Kate. “It works really well because the bedroom is now just for relaxing; all the working bits – the wardrobes and the drawers – are out of the way.”

Ensuite

In the ensuite, the emphasis here was on softness, so hard surfaces are limited to Artedomus ‘Elba’ stone tiles and a stone skirting from Gitani Stone, with painted walls used instead of tiles everywhere except the shower recess.

The exquisite landscaping influenced interiors that spoke directly to the garden – and the ensuite was no exception. The Turner Hastings ‘Cambridge’ bath and Brodware ‘Winslow’ bronze spout were centred beneath a new window, positioned to take in leafy views. Alhambra ‘Candela’ linen blinds from The Classic Outfitter lend softness to the bathroom and allow privacy.

We love… a nice view

Guest bedroom

Thibaut ‘Bankun Raffia’ wallpaper in Fog lends cocooning texture to the guest bedroom. Georgia Boyd of The Classic Outfitter added further layers of comfort with a custom bedhead and valance in Fabricut ‘Cosada Stripe’ fabric and quilt from Restoration Hardware.

Outdoor entertaining

A dramatic outdoor fireplace and bocce court draws people out into the garden for relaxation and play, while a wellness pavilion has been added – a gym with sauna and outdoor shower among the greenery – so one can emerge from a stay here feeling thoroughly revitalised.

“The most important thing is that it be a family destination spot that we can all enjoy, people of different generations. That was the thinking behind the bocce court, for example – it’s multi-use, going from enjoying a nice summer evening playing bocce, through to the idea of little kids riding bikes around,” says Gary.

Flanked by a bocce court, the outdoor fireplace is a desirable destination any time of the year. This towering structure – made from ‘Apollo Random Ashlar’ stone cladding from Eco Outdoor and Bundanoon sandstone – is designed to visually balance the landscape.

Now a regular weekend destination for not only Kate and Gary but their daughters and their partners, the home is serving exactly the purpose they hoped, as a space for all to reconnect and recharge.

Design and construction: Cadence & Co, cadenceandco.com.au.
Interior design: Cadence & Co in collaboration with Interiors by George (interiorsbygeorge.com.au) and The Classic Outfitter (theclassicoutfitter.com).
Landscape design: Myles Baldwin Design, mylesbaldwin.com.

SOURCE BOOK

The post The ultimate country weekender in the Southern Highlands appeared first on Home Beautiful.

“The grandkids have spent a lot of time in this house over the past decade and to see the joy they get, climbing the old mulberry tree, picnicking under the 100-year-old Poinciana, swimming in the pool and just running amok through the paddocks on their motorbikes fills us with great pleasure,” shares Margaret.

Who lives here?

Margaret and Peter, retirees and caretakers for Glenwood Guest House @glenwoodguesthouse; their best friend Nick, a horticulturist; and dogs Jack Russell Rossi, and Whoopi the Cavoodle.
Best renovation decision? Margaret: “Gutting most of the internal walls to give the home that open-plan feeling.”
Favourite spot to spend time? “The kitchen. It’s where I enjoy making food for my family and teaching the grandkids how to cook. We all naturally gravitate to the kitchen table.”
What’s your decorating approach? “Be courageous with colour, go with your gut and if it’s what you truly want, stick to your decision. Take a chance, you might just love the outcome.”

Brimming with personality and warmth, the place is utterly unrecognisable from the rundown ’70s bungalow the couple bought 14 years ago. While other buyers were deterred by its dismal appearance, Margaret had a keen eye for its potential. With two decades of experience in the interior design industry and more than a dozen renovations under her belt, she envisioned what it could become – a family home imbued with a European farmhouse feel.

During their first year in the house, Peter and Margaret’s aim was to make it liveable on the cheap – ripping out carpets, giving it a new lick of paint and enhancing the functionality of the kitchen and bathrooms. A pool was installed, gardens planted and paddocks revegetated. Several years later, Margaret’s vision took shape with a complete renovation.

“We basically gutted the entire house, lifted the ceiling to expose the rafters, reconfigured the layout, added a bedroom wing and joined the house to the existing tractor shed, which was turned into the library,” she explains. The final phase of the masterplan was completed last year, with colour injected in every room and tweaks to the floor plan to enhance its versatility as a guesthouse.

Kitchen

Serving as a true family hub, the kitchen reflects Margaret’s love of European-inspired design. “On our travels in Italy, I saw the use of kitchen tiles running across the floor and continuing up the wall, and thought I’d always like to try it one day,” she recalls.

Drawn to the blue of ‘Santiago’ encaustic tiles from Teranova, the colour pulls the eye to the functional space featuring gloss timber cabinetry painted in Dulux Maximus, with classic white subways from Byron Bay Tiles.

Living area

The metamorphosis is a credit to the couple’s hard work and talent, as well as their daughter Kit, who now runs their residential design business Alida and Miller and collaborated on the home’s interior. “Kit knows my style well, so it was great to work with her on colours, furniture selection and lighting,” says Margaret.

Almost every room features a different shade of paint on the walls, which gives spaces a distinct feel. “Colour really is the starting point for our design process; it adds so much depth and brings so many moods to a home,” says Margaret. “Sometimes it can take up to 20 samples of a shade to get the tone just right in a space, but the right backdrop often makes the room.” For more ideas, visit Dulux.

We love… bold wall colour

Dining area

Removing multiple external walls and lifting the ceiling to expose structural rafters completely changed the sense of space and light in the home’s main living, dining and kitchen area. Now luxuriously open plan, bi-fold doors further enhance the expansive feel and link the area to the adjoining deck and pool zone. Margaret and Kit enjoyed the process of sourcing and artfully arranging furnishings and art within the space.

Peter and Margaret love entertaining, so it was important to incorporate a large dining table. This setting from Bisque Traders adds a rustic vibe and complements the timber table in the kitchen.

Library

It took incredible vision to reimagine the property’s original tractor shed as what it is today – a 1940s English Farmhouse-style library. “I was brought up in a home full of books and every project we have renovated has always had a space for a library, big or small,” says Margaret. The reading haven has floor-to-ceiling shelving loaded with design tomes, novels, coffee table books, magazines and works collected over four decades.

“Books and flowers are my two most favourite things and I love to fill the house with them.”

Margaret

Twin bedroom

Inspired by travels, particularly to Italy and France, the home has a distinct European flavour. “I just love the layers of history and use of colour in their farmhouses, and because the natural light in Italy is similar here, we felt bold, moody colours would work really well,” says Margaret of the inspired use of deep greys, greens, blues and mustards that infuse the interior with character. Timber furniture and antiques feature throughout accompanied by gorgeous sofas, bedheads and tiles.

Devoted to the grandkids when they sleep over, this room showcases British Paints Unbaked Clay on the ceiling teamed with walls in Dulux Raw Cotton. “It was Kit’s idea to use a bold contrasting colour, which was something we saw a lot of in Europe, often to disguise dodgy ceilings in older buildings,” explains Margaret.

Main bedroom and ensuite

Dulux Treeless was also chosen for the couple’s bedroom walls – the perfect backdrop for an elegant Create Estate bedhead and Plum Check ruffle linen from Society of Wanderers.

Previously a small bedroom, this space was absorbed within the main bedroom as a walk-in-wardrobe/lounge retreat, furnished with pieces from Byron Bay Hanging Chairs.

“Your home will remain timeless if you decorate it with the things you love, rather than simply what’s on trend.”

Margaret

The main bedroom ensuite features black tiles from Byron Bay Tiles and Florence Broadhurst ‘Egrets’ wallpaper.

Powder room

This sweet powder room wouldn’t look out of place in a Parisian apartment. Glowing in Dulux Treeless, the pink walls are underscored with chequered tiles from Byron Bay Tiles, while the repurposed vanity paired with a marble basin from a previous renovation was painted in Dulux Maximus to match the door.

Guest ensuite

Originally an office, this space is now a guest room ensuite with blue and white tiles from Byron Bay Tiles.

Pool

The couple turned the front paddock into a lush tropical sanctuary, which creates privacy for the pool. Along with their good friend Nick, they did as much of the physical work as possible, installing the decking, developing the gardens and painting the exterior in Dulux Pink Stock.

“We have created a space that reflects our family and how we like to live, and it’s not too precious, but still has a bit of magic to it,” says Margaret. “It’s where memories are being made and that’s what makes a house a home.”

Interiors: Alida and Miller, alidaandmiller.com, and Kit Spaces, kitspaces.com.
Builder: Belcon Constructions, belconconstructions.com, and Aarko Construction, @aako_construction.
Joinery: Design Spec Joinery + Kitchens, designspec.net.au.

SOURCE BOOK

The post A 1970s bungalow reimagined as a charming European farmhouse appeared first on Home Beautiful.

“I think the audience will be genuinely surprised that my house is not white and bright and light and airy,” Erin shared on Instagram. “It is a little bit of a step away from that classic Three Birds look.”

Where is Erin’s wonderfully made-over home? It’s located on a sprawling block in a leafy suburb in The Hills District of New South Wales. having started out as a tired 1990s brick home with a terracotta tile roof, it’s been transformed into a welcoming urban farmhouse.

Erin shares the home with her husband Nathan Cayless, a former professional rugby league footballer and now NRL coach with the Parramatta Eels, and their three children.

It’s the latest in a line-up of extraordinary home renos for the Three Birds Renovations trio. Others in the mix have included co-founders Bonnie Hindmarsh’s dream home and Lana Taylor’s forever home. At this point they’re pros at flipping homes, and Lana is joining the new Channel 7 series Dream Home as a judge in 2024.

True to the Three Birds’ style, Erin’s Urban Farmhouse is full of incredible interior ideas. It has five bedrooms, a kitchen and butler’s pantry, a dining room, a main living room and a family lounge, a study, laundry, main bathroom and three ensuites.

Outdoors is an expansive entertaining zone and landscaped gardens, complete with a pool, tennis court and atrium.

We take a tour of the dreamy family home and get expert tips to emulate the organic interior style.

Inside Erin’s urban farmhouse

It’s hard to believe this beautiful exterior was once anything but. The dated tiles have been replaced with a fresh roof, gutters and fascia in ‘Basalt’ from Lysaght.

Cladding from James Hardie in Dulux ‘Grey Port’ complements the lush surrounds. Black Stegbar windows contrast beautifully.

Main living area

The main living room in Erin’s urban farmhouse is light-filled and open plan, while still feeling cosy. Stone cladding from Artisan Exterior and the Lopi fireplace creates a focal point, with barn-style doors adding a rustic touch.

The key to Erin’s farmhouse aesthetic, says Sydney Rose – stylist for Miss Amara rugs – is that it mixes and matches modern and traditional furnishings and fabrications.

“For this property, Miss Amara’s Vanni rug was styled in the main living area,” says Sydney. “Opting for curved shapes adds balance to a space and is a great twist on a classic rectangle rug that we typically see styled in living spaces.”

Kitchen & living area

The open-plan living area and kitchen embraces earthy details such as a vase, chopping board and mortar and pestle from The Voyage Home.

“Lending itself to the laidback Australian sensibility, the urban farmhouse style utilises a neutral colour palette,” says Sydney. It blends natural materials and layered textures.

The once-tiny back porch was expanded to an impressive 5.5 x 12 metres, providing plenty of space for living, dining, and a fully equipped built-in kitchen for barbeque enthusiasts.

“This was the biggest structural part of this renovation but worth every cent as we love to entertain and plan to spend most of our time out here,” says Erin.

Family lounge room

The second lounge space is everything you’d want in a relaxing zone. The calming sage Dulux ‘Still’ on the walls and ceiling evokes a serene atmosphere. “It’s the perfect shade to bring a beautiful and bold personality to this space,” the Three Birds Renovations team shared on Instagram.

Their top tip for choosing paint shades? “Do not select your paint colour until you’ve sampled a few shades in your space!”

Study

The home office is a place where Erin can go for some quiet time to get things done. It features a window seat and Luxaflex curtains that pull across when it’s not in use.

“Window coverings not only help to create privacy, but also play a significant role in the overall aesthetics of a room,” says Erin. “It is important to consider window treatments early in the planning stage, ensuring they complement the rest of your interior décor.”

Bedrooms

The main bedroom is a serene dream, with walk-in-robes and an ensuite. It’s painted in Dulux ‘Buff It’ with EC Carpets making it soft underfoot.

In Erin and Nathan’s eldest daughter Mia’s bedroom, peachy shades and pretty details abound. A shell artwork from Olive et Oriel sets the tone above the bed, with a Create Estate bedhead and bed linen from Society of Wanderers.

Mia has a built-in desk in her bedroom. The chair and mirror from Alba Atelier add character, while the walls and ceiling are Dulux ‘Buff It Half’.

This boisterous bedroom will stand the test of time for a boy who’s growing up fast. The ceiling detail by IntrimGroup painted in Dulux ‘Blue Metal’ is an inspiring twist on a traditional feature wall.

The mattress, bed base, bedside tables and ottoman are from Freedom, with bedding from I Love Linen. The bench seat fabric is from The Society Inc. Artwork from Olive et Oriel adds a little oomph to the space and picks up the rustic hues in the Clo Studios lamp.

The youngest in the family, Marli, has a bedroom that is fun and playful. It features bedside tables from Black Salt Co and artwork by Jai Vasicek.

Mia has a beautiful study space with desk by Carrera By Design and desk handles by Lo & Co Interiors. Boucle 4304 carpet in Ovie from EC Carpets covers the floor.

Main bathroom

Just like the rest of the house, the main bathroom is full of neutrals, but is warm rather than stark. It features tiles from Tile Cloud, with a bath, vanity, basin and tapware from Reece Bathrooms.

A round Freedom mirror is a lovely feature, next to a Lighting Collective wall light. A white stool from MCM house is a place to pop products while you soak.

Alfresco entertaining area

“Creating a weatherproof outdoor space was a top priority for our family, but figuring out how to achieve that seemed daunting. The range of Luxaflex external awnings provided the perfect solution, allowing us to enjoy our outdoor entertaining area in any weather,” says Erin.

“This alfresco area gets a lot of westerly sun and, in addition to protecting from this, these awnings maintain wind and rain protection as well as light control and privacy all year round.”

The Three Birds Renovations team really have outdone themselves with this wonderfully warm home. We can’t wait to see what they have in store next!

Shop Erin’s urban farmhouse

01

‘Calvin’ occasional chair

$799, Freedom

Best for: Statement seating

The wide seat and broad back make it incredibly comfortable. Upholstered with a textured durable fabric in a creamy white, it will suit any style of home. Perfect for styling up an empty corner or for additional seating in any space. It’s versatile and timeless.

Sizes: 77cm width, 71cm depth, 75cm height, 12.8kg

Colours: Sky Natural

Materials: Seat upholstered with a textured durable fabric with powder coated metal fame

Key features:

• Armless design
• Wide rectangular seat
• Broad back

Shop Now

02

‘Vanni’ curved wool rug in Solid Cream

$711.55 for 230cm x 160cm (usually $749), Miss Amara

Best for: Stylish zoning

A contemporary alternative to the traditional rectangle rug, this asymmetrical bean shape rug adds some luxe to a space. Handmade in India by skilled artisans, it’s modern bohemian meets glam.

Sizes: 230cm x 160cm; 280cm x 190cm; 330cm x 240cm

Colours: Ivory cream

Materials: Super soft 12mm weave of 90 per cent wool and 10 per cent viscose, with cotton backing

Key features:

• Handcrafted
• Made from wool
• Ivory cream

Shop Now

03

‘Monty’ leather swivel chair

$2199, Freedom

Best for: A touch of luxury

This occasional chair is oversized with a plump back and seat cushions. It has a large, round pedestal base that lets you twist and twirl. The low back is ideal for lounging, with a swivel base for flexibility.

Sizes: 89cm width, 115ccm depth, 74.5cm height, 38kg

Colours: Camel

Materials: Leather upholstery with timber and metal structure

Key features:

• Large, round pedestal base
• Oversized and roomy
• Hand dyed camel coloured leather

Shop Now

04

French flax linen sheet set in Clay

$325, I Love Linen

Best for: A good night’s sleep.

Made from European Flax grown in France and stonewashed for softness, this linen bedding set is deluxe. It won’t pill and only gets softer with time. The Clay shade is warm and inviting, complementing neutral interiors or working well with complementary shades.

Sizes: Single, King Single, Double, Queen, King

Colours: Beige Gingham, Blush, Charcoal Gingham, Clay, Clay Gingham, Creme

Materials: 100 per cent pure French Flax linen

Key features:

• 1 x flat sheet with hemstich border (sign of good quality)
• 1 x fitted sheet with sturdy elastic (to assist with fit)
• 2 x pillowcases with deep envelope closures (Single and King Single receive 1 x pillowcase)

Shop Now

05

Ecoya French Pear Hand and Body Wash

$29.95 , Ecoya

Best for: An elevated bathroom.

This hand and body wash not only looks divine, but smells good too. It has a rich and sophisticated scent with crisp tree-ripened Queensland pear, vanilla and clove. It’s designed to gently wash and cleanse your skin.

Sizes: 450ml.

Colours: French Pear

Materials: Botanical base of macadamia, coconut and almond oils with vitamin E

Key features:

• Fragrance top notes of pear, lemon and orange
• A nourishing gentle hand and body wash
• Free from parabens, propylene glycol, silicone and artificial colours.

Shop Now

Other Three Birds Renovations features

Previous

Three Birds Renovations turn a dingy shack into a Hamptons haven

The Three Birds’ latest renovation! Front formal lounge room, laundry and study

The Three Birds’ latest renovation! We reveal the stunning backyard.

Next

The post Explore Erin’s “not white and bright” farmhouse by Three Birds Renovations appeared first on Home Beautiful.

“We thought it would be the easiest thing in the world, which it definitely wasn’t!” For starters, the search for the perfectly imperfect and particularly large blocks of sandstone led to an unlikely supplier. “We couldn’t find what we wanted in Australia, so the stone ended up being shipped to us from a Buddhist monastery in Vietnam – that’s how the monastery makes its income,” says Krystal. “It does make the stone even more special because I feel every block must be full of really positive energy!”

Then there was a case of ‘lost in translation’. “Somehow, the people at the monastery got it in their heads that we were Australian movie stars. We kept trying to tell them that wasn’t the case, but the message didn’t seem to get through!” she adds. “Then a monsoon ended up washing in the mine where the monastery was getting the stone. We had to wait for the mine to be dug out again.”

Who lives here?

Krystal and Adrian, who work in property development, and their children Jasmine, 18, Johnny, 17, and Kelly, 13, plus a menagerie of animals.

Favourite spot for ‘me-time’? Krystal: “Our ensuite with the freestanding bath that looks out to the view. It’s absolute heaven having a bath with a glass of wine and a little stand so that I can watch Netflix!”

Do the kids love life on the farm? “They absolutely do. We’re all country folk through and through!”

What is the best thing about the home? “We built the house exactly in the middle of the property. You really feel alone with nature, the birds and, of course, the animals.”

Living area

Texture is king in the living zone, where a sandstone wall serves as an organic backdrop. “The exposed sandstone, which you also see in the formal living room, creates structure in the home,” says Terri. “I love to put all the lamps on at night in here as well as the fireplace, and it’s like being in a luxury resort,” adds Krystal.

Conversation flows on the custom sofas and armchairs, upholstered in Mokum ‘Infinite’ fabric in Linen, and the custom ottomans upholstered in Unique Fabrics ‘Babou’ fabric in Lake, all by Bloom Interior Design & Decoration. Adding further interest and subtle colour to the relaxation zone are a pair of framed contemporary prints by Halton Abstract Collection, sourced from Designer Boys Art.

Kitchen

“Full disclosure – I’m not the world’s best cook,” confesses Krystal, adding: “But my mum, who’s a fabulous cook, loves to come and cook here.” It’s easy to see why, with this luminous kitchen a triumph of clever planning and stylish design. Honed Carrara marble from Apex Stone tops the benches, providing a crisp contrast to the Eveneer Parisian Oak island base from Elton Group and the Thonet Bentwood barstools. The white cabinetry is two-pac Dulux Antique White.

We love… bold lighting

Sculptural pendants are everywhere, such as the cone-shaped glass ‘Gadsden’ lights from Emac & Lawton above the benchtop and an EF Chapman ‘Classic Ring’ three-tier chandelier from The Montauk Lighting Co. “We’ve used lots of beautiful lighting that suit a country style property,” says Terri.

Main bedroom

Inviting textures in blue and grey deliver a soft feel to Krystal and Adrian’s bedroom where the Thibaut Design ‘Shang’ wallpaper blends with curtains from Unique Fabrics in ‘Waterfall’ fabric.

In early 2020, construction commenced in earnest, with plans provided by Kate Thomas of Total Building, which also took charge of the build. Then Covid threw a spanner in the works. Fortunately, the couple had engaged interior designer Terri Shannon of Bloom Interior Design & Decoration. “My heart is in classic interiors and this home lends itself very well to that look,” says Terri.

“It’s a very layered home in terms of the soft furnishings. We didn’t want it to feel contrived.”

Terri, interior designer

Walking through the house, Terri’s expert eye is evident. Organic texture sets a timeless scene, from the American Oak flooring to the sandstone feature walls in the living zones and marble in the kitchen and bathrooms. As does the soothing palette of whites and greys punctuated by highlights of blue that bring the home to vivid life.

Family bathroom

Blue Menta square wall tiles from Signorino link the main bathroom with the home’s standout colour, while Bianco Carrara Hexagon mosaic floor tiles from Earp Bros provide a luxe look alongside the Carrara marble that tops the Eveneer Parisian Oak vanity.

“The timber and texture throughout the home bring in so much warmth.”

Terri, interior designer

For Krystal and Adrian, there really is nothing like their stone farmhouse. “We absolutely love it here,” says Krystal. “I feel relaxed every time I step through the front door.”

Mudroom

It may be one of the less glamorous domains in the house, but the mudroom certainly hasn’t been neglected in the style stakes, with walls painted in soothing Dulux Sepal and a tactile sandstone floor. Bench and shelf in solid American Oak with walnut stain.

• Interior design: Bloom Interior Design & Decoration, (03) 9397 4343, bloominteriordesign.com.au
• Builder: Total Building, (03) 5367 1222, totalbuilding.com.au
• Stonemason: Billy Elliot, 0419 880 052

SOURCE BOOK

The post A wonderfully warm stone homestead in central Victoria appeared first on Home Beautiful.

The plan was to knock down the house and rebuild, using her husband Nihad’s company, HNT Builders, but after buying the property in late 2021, the family lived in the original house for almost a year, while Amar enthusiastically tended to his mostly free-ranging trio of hens.

Who lives here?

Miki, a property paralegal; her husband Nihad, owner of HNT Builders; their sons Amar, four, and Arian, one; and their Groodle, Frankie.

What was a non-negotiable inclusion? Miki: “Skylights in the main ensuite and stairwell, which flood the house in so much natural light, and the beautiful Soktas ‘Coral’ wall lights in all the bathrooms.”

What was the best design decision? “The seamless flow from the entry door through to the entertaining area is absolute perfection.”

Where is your favourite spot? “Nihad and I particularly like sitting in the alfresco area, where we can relax and watch the kids play in the backyard.”

Having previously built five homes for themselves, Miki and Nihad wanted to create something unique. But with the arrival of baby Arian, the focus was also on family-friendly inclusions and robust finishes. “We’ve learnt something new every time we’ve built and, with kids, we’ve found the best designs are a seamless floor plan front to back and an open-plan layout overlooking the backyard,” says Miki.

Engaging long-term collaborators, Dane and Rebecca Power of Koda Design, the brief was to establish a distinct street presence with sophisticated form and functionality inside. Construction was completed in seven months.

Living area

The Regency ‘Panorama’ fireplace from Mr Stoves takes pride of place in the living area. The abstract artwork, Movement, by Brisbane-based artist Krystal Bradford, hangs above it. Built-in ledges on either side of the fireplace, that is topped in Stone Ambassador Ottoman Grey, are perfect for displaying ornaments. The ‘Mountain Drift’ sofa and ‘Cotton Star’ armchair, both from Kolbi, offer ample seating.

“We opted for a bold, dark palette and architectural style, inspired by European farmhouses – a nod to our European heritage,” says Miki. With its multi-gable roof line and striking exterior, featuring swathes of Dulux Domino tempered with Iron Ash timber, the house commands attention. “We had a lot of people comment that it was a risky colour scheme, but we were confident and loved that it was bold,” adds Miki.

Dining area

Miki loves entertaining in the open-plan dining area, that has Tolv inlay chairs and ‘Classique’ oval dining table, both from Globe West. A custom bar and wine-storage cabinet, with Woodmatt joinery in Prime Oak from Polytec and steel-framed glass doors from Seamless Shower Screens, dominate one wall.

Kitchen

Evoking the look of marble, Stone Ambassador Ottoman Grey engineered surface, used for the island, benchtops, rangehood and splashback, is practical and easy to clean. Polytec cabinets in Dulux Natural White take advantage of the soaring ceiling, as do the trio of striking ‘Somerset’ pendants from Hinkley Lighting, which echo the black accents in the window frames and stools from Kira & Kira. Gas cooktop from Miele and sink and brushed brass mixer from Abi Interiors.

“I love cooking, so the kitchen needed to be beautiful and functional as it’s
where I spend most of my time”

Miki

Mudroom

A key inclusion was the mudroom, which flows through to the laundry and butler’s pantry. “I love that I can come in, dump the groceries, kids’ bags, shoes and rainy-day coats in there and it doesn’t add clutter in the rest of the house,” says Miki. Bench seat upholstered in Warwick ‘Bainbridge Loam’.

Main bedroom

Textural layers were introduced in the main bedroom with panelling detail and wainscotting punctuating Dulux Natural White walls. “This added a traditional element, but also a touch of contemporary quirkiness, with the Krystal Bradford artwork layered on top,” says Miki of the piece titled Complimented Duo. Bookended with bedsides from Globe West, the bed is adorned in linen, with accent throws and cushions.

Walk-in wardrobe

A walk-in wardrobe in the main bedroom has custom cabinets by Mivis Joinery in Polytec ‘Notaio Walnut’ and Dulux Natural White and ‘Tezra’ pulls from Abi Interiors.

Ensuite

Luxe touches abound in the main bedroom ensuite with its ‘Koko’ bath from Fienza, Timberline ‘Myrtle’ basins, custom mirrored cabinets by Mivis Joinery and Soktas ‘Coral’ wall lights, from Lighting Collective. Cabinets in Polytec ‘Notaio Walnut’, Silestone benchtop in Blanco Zeus from Cosentino, taps from Abi Interiors and ‘Chiswick’ tiles from Stone3.

Guest bedroom

A neutral palette in the guest bedroom is accented with layers in brown hues such as an Adairs throw in Chestnut. The home’s interiors feature coffered ceilings, mouldings and black steel-framed windows and doors. With each home the pair have built, the furniture has changed.

Apart from the kitchen stools, all the pieces in the house were supplied by Blok Design Co. Commissioned artworks by a local abstract artist were inspired by the home’s contemporary-meets-farmhouse aesthetic. “We don’t get attached to things,” says Miki. The family are already making their next move. “We’ll be close to a great school. If Amar is involved in the design input, he’ll definitely want to add a chicken coop.”

Laundry

In the laundry, a stunning brushed brass sink is paired with an ‘Elysian’ kitchen mixer, both by Abi Interiors.

Office

Unlike offices carved out of a spare bedroom or living room nook, Miki and Nihad thoroughly considered the home office from the outset. “We located it at the front, so it was a private uninterrupted space from the rest of the house which also had direct access to the garden,” says Miki. Bespoke joinery forms the backdrop with open shelves to display sculptural pieces, books and an artwork by Chris Williams titled Dark Outside. The Globe West ‘Tivoli’ desk is teamed with a Lucci Décor ‘Margot 2 light’ lamp from Beacon Lighting.

Black window and door frames

Black window and door frames suit contemporary interiors as well as industrial and farmhouse styles and can add drama and elegance in equal measure. Here, black steel window frames and French doors from Stegbar add another element to the predominantly neutral interior and draw the eye to the greenery outside.

“This is the sixth house we’ve had that Nihad has built and each time we’ve done something different.”

Miki

Pool

While the family was sad to see the original chicken coup go, the silver lining was a pool in its place. Created by HNT Builders, the generous splash zone was kept simple with a perimeter of ‘Chiswick’ tiles in Cream from Stone3, with the fence surrounding it painted in Dulux Domino. For similar outdoor loungers, try Bunnings.

Source book

Building design: Koda Design, (07) 3397 3003, kodadesign.com.au.
Builder: HNT Builders, 0468 747 012, hntbuilders.com.au.
Joinery: Mivis Joinery, (07) 3277 5818, mivisjoinery.com.au.

The post A farmhouse-style family home in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Who lives here?

Annabelle and Rob, who run their own business, a rural merchandise and hardware store, plus their children, Molly, 20, Kate, 19, and Jack, 17, plus dogs Sally and Coco.

Lessons learned? Rob: “My favourite saying in business is to surround yourself with good people … as local businesspeople, we wanted to use a local builder and we were lucky enough to find a builder who was able to build the home we wanted.”

Favourite spot in the house? “We have a barbecue area that opens up onto the front lawn. It’s a great spot when you’ve got a big heap of people. We can put a few more trestle tables in there and I think we had 22 for Christmas.”

The layout includes a mudroom, a butler’s pantry and a huge family bathroom, as well as generous living spaces. “We didn’t want a showpiece,” explains Annabelle. “I wanted it to be a house that the kids want to come home to and feel like it’s lived in.” Adds Rob: “We wanted a functional house; a house to live in. “We’re a family of five. We’ve got three adult kids now and we love entertaining with family and friends. However, we didn’t want wasted space.”

Annabelle and Rob originally lived nearby and bought the land with a view to renovating the original farm cottage that was located on the site. However, as time went on, they realised that a new building on the top of the hill would be a better option.

Rob says the design of the house was inspired by something he saw in a magazine years ago, which had a floor plan in a simple T shape, with a central living space and bedrooms in wings. He says he loved the idea because he felt it could work on the land they purchased, by allowing the living areas to capture the views while still giving them the option to shut off areas of the house if they wished.

Living Room

The living/dining area has a raked ceiling to create a sense of openness, and is separated from the formal lounge (which has a flat ceiling to evoke intimacy) by an enormous double-sided brick fireplace. Homeowner Rob and designer Angela chose the stones and sourced them locally.

“To make sure we got the colour right, we hand-picked the stone so that we had greys as well as the earthy red tones,” says Angela. “And then we chose that beautiful big timber mantle to go with it, which was all done through a local supplier.”

The dining table, from Domayne, is a nod to the rural location. “We didn’t want a marble-top dining table,” says Rob. “We wanted to bring a country cottage-y feel to the space and add some warmth.”

Kitchen

The kitchen is Annabelle’s favourite room of the house as she loves the fact she can be preparing dinner and interacting with the family in the room, or that multiple cooks can share the space. Situated on one side of the living area, it is kept tidy because of the inclusion of a butler’s pantry, where the main fridge is.

Feature lights, Visual Comfort ‘Aspen’ pendants from Bloomingdales Lighting, sit over the island bench, highlighting the raked ceiling. The kitchen stools are from Satara. On the back bench, Robert Gordon pottery complements an artwork by Brisbane artist Paula Truesdale.

The couple engaged local designer Angela Smith of Angela Smith Interiors to design and decorate the interiors, as well as help finalise the exterior colour palette. “Rob and Belle wanted a modern farmhouse feel – something quite different to what they had previously,” explains Angela. “We talked about whether we would go light on the outside and we ended up deciding to go quite moody, and more modern. It was about bringing the texture of the stone and the brick and going for black windows rather than white. We wanted to go a bit edgier this time.”

Cellar

Located in an alcove near the living room, Angela designed the wine cellar using Polytec Black Woodmatt for the joinery, paired with woven mesh inserts, and the same brick as the exterior for the backdrop. “The cellar is probably a little self-indulgent, but it’s another strong feature in the house,” says Rob.

Guest bedroom

The bedhead, valance and striped cushions in the guest bedroom are all custom-made by Angela Smith Interiors. The throw is from Canvas + Sasson.

Walk-in wardrobe

The couple specified extra storage in the walk-in robe. For similar blue-and-white china, try Victoria’s Basement.

Bedroom

Pretty cushions from Walter G adorn the bed in Molly’s room.

Family bathroom

The spacious family bathroom is one of designer Angela’s favourite rooms, she says. Rob specified the layout, which allows up to three people to use the space with complete privacy. Because the shower area can be closed off, the bathroom is also used as a powder room for visitors. 

The bathroom is brightened with colourful Boråstapeter ‘Lindskog’ 3950 wallpaper sitting underneath West Elm metal arched wall mirrors. The double vanity features the same Navurban ‘Box Wood’ timber veneer as the kitchen, with Fienza ‘Kaya’ tapware in Matte Black and Hepburn Hardware ‘Kew’ handles in Scorched Black.

Annabelle and Rob couldn’t be happier with the home’s final result. “When the builder came out to do the handover, after we’d lived in the house for six weeks, he said, ‘So now that you’ve lived in it, is there anything you’d change in your house?’,” says Rob. “And Belle and I straightaway said, not a thing. It’s just so functional; the design and the layout just works. From the office to the pantry, to the kitchen, living space, the size of the house – we would not change a measurement. I think everything fits well.”

Laundry

Custom-made joinery is a feature of the laundry, finished in Dulux Tarzan Green with a tile splashback of ‘Casablanca’ White Matt subway tiles.

Main ensuite

The ensuite adjoining the main bedroom echoes the Shaker-style design of the other bathrooms in the house, but features blue cabinetry and the same ‘Kew’ drawer handles from Hepburn Hardware, but in acid-washed brass.

Garage

The garage is separated from the house by a breezeway and doubles as a games room. Annabelle says she was nervous about having sections of the exterior in a strong dark shade (James Hardie ‘Axon’ cladding in Dulux Monument), but trusted Angela and her husband, who was keen on the idea. “I thought we should have gone with something a bit lighter,” she explains. “But Rob and Ange reassured me that no, the dark shade was what we needed. And they were 100 per cent accurate with that. But it wasn’t until it all came together, and we got the turf down that I understood and said it was amazing. It looks beautiful.”

Source book

Designer: Angela Smith, Angela Smith Interiors, angelasmithinteriors.com.au.
Architect: Aspect Architecture, aspectarch.com.
Builder: Antonio Building, antoniobuilding.com.au.
Joiner: Aspect Joinery, aspectjoinery.com.au.
Doors: Bradnam’s Windows & Doors, bradnams.com.au.
Tiles: Tilehaus, tilehaus.com.au.

The post A modern farmhouse in Toowoomba with remarkable 360-degree rural views appeared first on Home Beautiful.

A home that embodies comfort is a must in the NSW Southern Highlands, where Louise Keats and her husband John have built a dream country retreat for their family. And it’s all about the soft furnishings. “They’re important for creating cosiness in our home, which is especially important in the Southern Highlands where the weather can be quite harsh. I prefer a gentle, relaxed, lived-in look over anything too formal and stiff. The right furnishings – soft linens and quality wools– can help achieve that,” says Louise of her decorating style. “I also prefer earthy tones that are at home in our rural setting here over any loud, bright patterns.”

The sofa is the biggest purchase you will make for a room, so we asked Louise how she chooses furniture for different spaces in her home that meet all of the family’s needs. “For me, comfort and function is king when it comes to sofas, especially because we have children. I want everyone to feel like flopping on the sofa is a joyous, relaxing experience that encourages family conversation or nestling into a good book,” says Louise. Read on for sofa and armchair inspiration for every room.

“We have the larger sofa for relaxing and lying down and the armchairs are lovely for creating a sense of gathering”

Louise

“In our bedroom, the armchairs are there for our children to feel welcome to sit down and chat to us about whatever might be on their mind,” says Louise. For similar curtains, try ‘Byron’ in Smoke, Driftwood and Pure White curtains, from $255, Luxaflex. ‘Bronte’ rug in Pacific Blue, $3585/300cm x 200cm, and ‘Oliver’ swivel tub chair in Bronte Natural, $1471, both King. ‘Enes’ throw in White, $139, Saardé. 

The alfresco area allows for easy entertaining and gives guests and Queenie the quarter horse a view of the gorgeous surroundings. “We get four seasons in one day here, so our furniture needs to be able to withstand sideways rain as well as sun exposure,” says Louise. 

The post The relaxed Southern Highlands home of food writer Louise Keats appeared first on Home Beautiful.

After a year-long renovation, the original cottage has been redesigned and enlarged to cater for family getaways and entertaining. A favourite spot is the outdoor area, with its four-metre-high ceilings and reclaimed teak dining setting from Early Settler. “It was a priority to make the most of spring and summer entertaining so we got one of the biggest outdoor tables we could find and added a pizza oven, which is fun to fire up,” says Leah of the Tuscan-inspired addition from Pizza Ovens R Us.

“We instantly fell in love with the quaint little 1980s three-bedroom mudbrick cottage,” says Leah. “You could tell it had been really loved and it was full of character and potential.”

The quiet beachside area also suited the couple. They found that with their children Brooklyn and Riley, now five and three respectively, plus baby Josh, born in August, it was the escape they were after – and just an hour’s drive from their Melbourne home.

Who stays here? Leah; her husband Ash, an electrician; and their children, Brooklyn, five, Riley, three, and Josh, two months.

What was the biggest improvement? Leah: “The kitchen/dining/living extension has completely opened up the once-small, dark cottage and created a spacious, light-filled home.”

How do you unwind here? “With a glass of local wine by the fire pit or while soaking in the outdoor bath.”

Favourite thing about the area? “Balnarring has such a beautiful community feel, with many of the people in the area residing here permanently. It is also just a stone’s throw away from all the incredible Mornington Peninsula wineries and an array of fresh, local produce.”

As owner-builders, their plan was a total renovation and extension utilising Ash’s trade as a sparkie and all-round handyman skills. “We’d renovated to flip houses before, but not a project of this size,” says Leah, “and as we were keeping it, this was more emotional, a labour of love.”

The new hub is an open-plan living, dining and kitchen, with doors by All Timber Windows & Doors allowing in plenty of light and garden views to the north. “I love to cook so I wanted two ovens and a dual cooktop with gas and induction,” says Leah of the new kitchen. Cabinetry in ‘Duropal’ veneer in Natural Lancelot Oak by LI Surfaces provides abundant storage and envelops an island topped in ‘Taj Mahal’ Quartzite by CDK Stone. A ‘Chester’ fireclay butler sink from Turner Hastings channels the farmhouse feel the family wanted.

A large ‘Parquet’ dining table from Interiors Online is paired with ‘Cristo’ oak chairs from Oz Design Furniture to seat a crowd here, too. In the background hallway is a Jai Vasicek artwork titled India Rose. ‘Light Country’ travertine tiles from The Marble Merchant flow throughout the house and extend out to the dining area too.

A ‘Salsie’ modular fabric sofa in Dalton Natural from Freedom is layered with cushions from House of Orange, Eadie Lifestyle and Weave Home, and provides room to stretch out alongside a vintage Indian coffee table from Alabaster Trader. The rug is from Pottery Barn.

Enlisting interior designer Judy Parkin of Interior Blank, who they’d worked with previously, the brief involved lightening and brightening the dark interior, heroing some of the mudbrick walls and significantly increasing the home’s size with a new kitchen, living area, laundry, big outdoor entertaining area and three additional bedrooms. “My extended family lives in Queensland and we’d always found it difficult to find a place where we could all stay together, so our plan was to make this the place where we could get away and enjoy time together,” says Leah.

A feature of the rumpus room is the architectural solid Oregon beams. “They were originally quite dark and had too much colour variation, so we painted them white to complement the light, bright theme we were trying to achieve,” says interior designer Judy of the beams, which were updated with hardwood lining boards in a satin ash finish (try Wood Solutions). The original hearth area was also updated, with surrounds clad in natural fossil stone from The Marble Merchant. “We used the raw side as it had more texture,” says Judy.

“This was in keeping with the room’s original mudbrick, which was painted in Dulux Natural White.” For added comfort underfoot, a ‘Whittaker’ hand-knotted rug from Pottery Barn grounds a Lounge Lovers ‘Bronte’ sofa. Eye-catching additions also include a Bright Sea Lighting ‘Gold Decaro’ chandelier from Temple & Webster and an ‘Arena’ fossil limestone coffee fable from En Gold.

Demolition and gutting began in December 2020 and the project was completed in time for Christmas last year. The home was christened just as the couple had envisaged, too, with extended family on both sides staying throughout the festive season.

“We feel a sense of instant relaxation as soon as we set foot inside the house”

Leah

Texture abounds, with inspiration drawn from the home’s original mud-brick walls and coastal location. “If we used minimal flat finishes, it would have looked bland and lifeless next to the texture of the mudbrick,” says interior designer Judy Parkin, “so we used natural, neutral elements like travertine floor tiles, oak veneer kitchen cabinetry and blackbutt-framed window and doors, to complement the brick but not compete with it.” Visit lisurfaces.com.au and alltimberwindows.com.au.

Almost tripling in size, the old house is unrecognisable. However, by incorporating the original mudbrick walls and Oregon timber gable beams, it retains a sense of the past, which helps make it feel unique.

“We wanted this home to feel warm, textural and a change from our everyday life”

Leah

Ash’s handiwork features in the main bedroom, where Tadelakt Venetian plaster (try venetianplastershop.com.au) was used to create a subtle textural backdrop. “It really is our retreat,” says Leah. “It’s so spacious and sits at the opposite end of the house to the other bedrooms, so it’s lovely and quiet and looks out onto the garden.” Alongside the bed dressed in Target linen and L&M Home cushions, a ‘Kalise’ reclaimed timber plinth bedside table from Early Settler holds a collection of ceramics, and a ‘Crochet Wire Oblong’ pendant light by Lighting Collective adds a sculptural touch. The main bedroom’s make-up vanity is styled with a ‘Trent’ iron sconce and mirror from Temple & Webster.

Inspired by the mudbrick, the interior palette is a mix of natural, neutral finishes brimming with texture, from the travertine-tiled floors and handmade Moroccan clay tiles to warm oak furnishings. Ash even completed a course in Venetian plastering to master the art form used in all the bathrooms and on several feature walls, while Leah recruited her brother Jonathon, who works in interior design, to source furniture that evokes a Mediterranean farmhouse feel. “Everything had to work for us as a family with young kids and also for holiday rentals, so we opted for durable surfaces and sofas with washable covers,” she says.

All the bathrooms remained in the same spot but were gutted and reimagined. The guest zone now has a generous vanity and open shower below a skylight, as well as perfectly imperfect handmade Moroccan clay Zellige tiles from Lifestiles Design Studio. “I love them,” says Leah. “They have wonderful character and catch the light so beautifully.” The vanity is wrapped in ‘Troia Walnut’ veneer by LI Surfaces, topped with ‘Arctic White’ Neolith from CDK Stone and is teamed with tapware from Par Tapware.

With the hard work done, the family loves to head here whenever they can – and this year, they’re looking forward to hosting Christmas once again. “I love cooking and spending time with all the family, so I think it will definitely become a tradition to celebrate Christmas here,” says Leah. And what a place to make memories.

SOURCE BOOK
Interior design: Judy Parkin, Interior Blank, interiorblank.com.au
Joinery: Seaview Cabinets, (03) 8726 0606, seaviewcabinets.com.au
Landscaping: Mode Landscaping, modelandscaping.com.au
Mudbrick restoration: Jorge Peña, 0432 234 478
Booking details: Mudbrick House, luxico.com.au, @mudbrick.house

The post A farmhouse-style holiday haven on the Mornington Peninsula appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Who lives here? Kristy and Neil, who are aiming to make Green Hills Farm their full-time residence and occupation in about two years.

Country living is …? Kristy: “The community. It’s all about sharing food, knowledge and time with people.”

Your ethos? Kristy: “We are very committed to land regeneration and ensuring it is better than we found it for future generations.”

Decorating approach? Kristy: “I am still finding pieces for the house. I am comfortable with the fact that I know what I am looking for, and it’s going to take time.”

Kristy was working in marketing and PR, and her husband Neil in corporate strategy, but their vision for the future involved building an eco-friendly agri-business and a new home in the country. “We had zero farming background, and we didn’t know anyone in the industry,” Kristy laughs. “Our friends thought we were mad when we bought the land, especially because it was 150 acres [60 hectares] and not just a four-acre hobby farm.”

Their property, Green Hills Farm, is located in West Gippsland, a 90-minute drive from Melbourne. “It was the first property we really looked at, and we instantly fell in love. We got an immediate feeling of home and place,” Kristy shares. The small, asbestos-ridden farmhouse was still standing, but the couple were awestruck by the western views of the Strzelecki Ranges gained from a tumbledown shed. “Walking around the old stables, the view of the hills came into life. We immediately knew this is where the house needed to go,” says Kristy.

“We wanted to create a new version of it, a modern barn, not just something off the plan.” The resulting home is a comfortable, contemporary farmhouse designed by Angus McKay and Len Chapman of Slap Architects and built by JW & WM Woodbridge.

Celebrating the organic textures, simple forms and hardworking spirit of Australian rural outbuildings, the iron-roofed, timber-clad abode is in harmony with the pastoral landscape. The merging of the natural and built environment continues inside, where daylight and tactile finishes flow. “We worked extensively with Kristy to develop the interiors based on the inspiration of the existing dairy farm materials, such as the weathered timber used in the interior wall linings and the brick flooring,” says Angus.

The low-maintenance retreat is minimally decorated with functionality at the fore. “There is a sense of simplicity when living in the country; it’s not about going out and buying lots of little things to fill up a room,” says Kristy.

“We are living on a working farm. Surfaces and flooring need to handle things like muddy boots, hence the concrete floors and the recycled brick paving in the entrance and mudroom.” Glazing features heavily on the western facade, capturing every inch of outlook and the spectacular sunsets. “It’s endless hours of golden glow here,” Kristy smiles.

The house at Green Hills Farm is thoughtfully designed for years of happiness and restorative gazing out to the far reaches of the surrounds. And how has the couple fared as farmers? With the help of a handful of dedicated people, they now raise grass-fed cattle and produce organic garlic, and their kitchen garden and orchards supply local restaurants. They run boutique accommodation on the lot next door and host events to celebrate local producers.

Kristy estimates she and Neil are about two years away from making Green Hills Farm their full-time residence and occupation, and they couldn’t be more excited. “Every time we walk in, we think how lucky we are to have found this place and built this home,” she shares. “It’s so calming and joyous and allows space for creativity with gardening and cooking. My cup is really filled by being here.

Architect: Slap Architects, slaparchitects.com.au.

Builder: JW & WM Woodbridge Builders, woodybuild.com.au.

Landscape design: Prue Metcalfe Gardens & Design, pruemetcalfegardens.com.au.

Landscapers: Tim Cannon Landscapes, timcannon.com.au and Local Boys, localboys.net.au.

Green Hills Farm: To find out more and shop the Green Hills Farm products range, visit greenhillsfarm.com.au.

SOURCE BOOK

The post A modern barn house with spectacular views in rural Victoria appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Who lives here? Sally, a medical practice manager; husband Pieter, a doctor; children, Jake, 12, Charlie, 10, and Angus, nine; Michael the dachshund and Lexi the kelpie.

What makes your home special? Sally: “The original features – pressed metal ceilings, brass window catches, the leadlights and ebony doorknobs.”

What is your home design philosophy? Sally: “It was great to be pushed out of our comfort zone by the designers.”

What is your weekend ritual? Pieter: “We love firing up the fire pit near the outdoor area for barbecuing and the kids love roasting marshmallows.”

Many years later, Sally and her husband Pieter had returned to Toowoomba from time spent in Brisbane and Perth, and were living with their children, Jake, now 12, Charlie, 10, and Angus, nine. Pieter, a doctor raised on a sheep property in South Africa, and Sally, who is practice manager of their medical clinic, hoped to one day live out of town with some land, an old farmhouse and livestock. That chance came in late 2020.

“We weren’t quite ready to take the plunge when this property first came on the market,” she says. “We thought someone would be lucky to buy this wonderful property, but didn’t seriously consider that it could be us. Some time later, Pieter went to have an inspection and thought we should seriously think about buying it. It was a big step for us and happened sooner than we planned, but we are very happy.”

They purchased Pindari and engaged interior designers Melanie Parker and Elizabeth Flekser of Ivy + Piper to create a more family friendly kitchen and help Sally, Pieter and the kids put their imprint on the living and dining areas. Together, they created a thread throughout that tells a cohesive story, yet each room has a distinct personality.

STYLE TIP: BOLD STATEMENTS

The dining room, where the family congregates for special occasions, has an impact with Dulux semi-gloss in Sunburst on the walls and ceiling. Drapery by Ivy + Piper in Le Manach ‘Palmyre’ fabric by Pierre Frey (try Milgate) frames the view to the garden. The English dresser was a find from Chelsea Coco Collectables.

The rear section was completely redecorated with bold colours and pattern, and antique furniture evokes a fresh, contemporary feel along with lighting, art and cabinetry.

“For small-scale decorating, buy interesting bits and pieces as you see them,” says Sally. “If you love them, you’ll make them work, and don’t be afraid to inject some colour. For larger-scale decorating, get advice from professionals before embarking on decorating, if you are unsure of how it will come together. It may save money in the long run, although it may be an additional cost at the outset. Older houses can have issues that pop up, and consulting with more experienced project managers helps to troubleshoot issues to get the best outcome and avoid costly mistakes.”

Pindari has been an opportunity for this family to connect with nature – and for Pieter to get back to his roots on the land. “We can’t wait to get home and our kelpie, Lexi, is always beside herself to see us,” he says. “We are enjoying growing some of our own vegies and have planted lots of fruit trees. The property is such a sanctuary for us and we feel very lucky to be the current custodians of this old home.”

SOURCE BOOK

Interior design: Ivy + Piper, 0432 334 286, ivyandpiper.com.au

Builder: Tom Eales Carpentry, 0428 329 955

Joinery: Blades Joinery & Construction, (07) 4633 1415, bladesjoinery.com.au

Tiler: Enhanced Tiling, 0403 640 280

Paint & wallpaper: JVZ Painting, 0414 984 588

The post A characterful Toowoomba farmhouse gets an infusion of colour appeared first on Home Beautiful.

In 2018, she and husband Oliver made the decision to relocate with their children, Henry, 12, and Elke, 10, from Sydney’s eastern suburbs to the NSW Southern Highlands – and they haven’t looked back. “Our kids’ school in Sydney had almost no outdoor space, and running in the playground had just been banned; it didn’t feel like the childhood either of us had,” recalls Annelise. “Friends had recently moved to the Highlands and we decided to explore this option for our own family.”

Who lives here? Annelise, VP of talent acquisition at American Express and co-owner of Curated Spaces; her husband Oliver, marketing and PR consultant and co-owner/director of Berrima Vault House; their children Henry, 12, and Elke, nine; and pets Ned the fox red labrador puppy, Clover the cockalier and Claude and Basil the cats.

Must-have inclusions? Annelise: “Marble in the kitchen and bathroom. Despite the high maintenance, I love it. And sisal carpets suit the country setting perfectly.”

Favourite local shopping spots? “Suzie Anderson Home, The Bronte Tram and Hunter & Gatherer Collections are great for decorative pieces.”

Future plans for your home? “We’re in the process of extending the garage to include a gym, sauna and second office.”

As is often the case, the couple couldn’t go past the first property they viewed. “The house, while not really our style, had a lovely family feel,” says Annelise. “I watched the kids run straight down to the back garden where a swing was hanging from a huge deodarpine and I was sold. Seeing them instantly gravitate to being outside on a big expanse of grass and climbing trees, it just felt right.”

They lived in the home for a year before embarking on a complete rebuild, expertly guided by close friend and architectural designer Sally Wilkins. “Sally has lived in the Highlands for longer than us and understands the importance of designing for the seasons,” explains Annelise. “She was able to suggest things we would have regretted not including, like having a separate family entrance for muddy boots.”

Together, they created a flowing, flexible floor plan that takes better advantage of the home’s north-facing aspect and includes options for entertaining and family-friendly features. There’s an expansive kitchen filled with bespoke storage, a private parents’ retreat with walk-in wardrobe, a lounge room with fireplace, dedicated kids’ retreat and a charming laundry and mudroom with a Dutch door – “possibly my favourite thing”, declares Annelise. “One of the best things about a rebuild is that you can design your space exactly as you need. Everything was considered against our lifestyle and needs, which means it’s a very easy house to live in.”

A central dining and sunroom was a pivotal piece, featuring raked ceilings and windows on all sides as an easy link to the outdoors. At one end, books line the windowsill and two plump couches are a cosy spot to read – while at the other, an eight-seater dining setting is ideal for hosting dinner parties or poring over the papers. “It works so well; there are beautiful views no matter where you’re sitting,” says Annelise.

Throughout, the base palette has been kept fresh and neutral – whitewalls, natural stone benchtops, warm engineeredoak floors and sisal carpets – with blues and greys in the living spaces. “Covid had an impact on supply and there were a few last-minute pivots with our finishes, but I’m really happy with the substitutes we found,” says Annelise. “We also sourced a lot of items locally, which felt good.”

Much of the existing furniture had been chosen specifically for their Sydney home and didn’t suit their country idyll, so Annelise sold the lot on [Curated Spaces] and started afresh with sumptuous lounges, stately chairs and timber chest side tables. Tufted rugs, handmade ceramics, plump cushions and indoor greenery bring colour and energy, as do special lighting pieces.”I love the ambience that feature lighting provides and chose some beautiful pendants for the kitchen, bedroom and dining, along with gorgeous sconces in the bathrooms and entry,” she says.

And outside, there’s room to roam, to relax, to breathe, be it on the huge deck that spills out from the kitchen, dining and sunroom, the paved sandstone area with fire pit and outdoor seating or by the pool. “Possibly the best way to describe our home is ‘calming’,” says Annelise. “It’s a real oasis and I feel instantly relaxed when I walk in the door.”

SOURCE BOOK

Design & interiors: Sally Wilkins Studio, [@sallywilkinsstudio].

Builder: KMI Builders, 0409 748 456, kmibuilders.com.au.

Kitchen & joinery: Cobbitty Grove Kitchens, (02) 4647 9900, [cobbittygrove.com.au].

Landscaping: Nick Wilkinson, Red Arrow Landscapes, 0438 283 785, redarrowlandscapes.com.au.

Painter: Carmel Interiors, 0410 651 013, carmelinteriors.com.

The post A city dweller creates a sprawling country manor in the Southern Highlands appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Yet none of that mattered. When they bought the house, the plan was to knock down and rebuild. Mark and Kristy had looked to buy in this area for years, and it was all about the land – a one-hectare block where their children, Joshua, now 10, Ruby, nine, Lachlan, six, and Stella, four, could enjoy a rural lifestyle complete with their own dirt bikes, and endless grass for horses Rivi and Teddy to graze. “We needed to stay in Brisbane for work and family, yet this area had a country feel so it was perfect,” says Kristy of the idyllic spot just 13km from the CBD.

Who lives here? Kristy, a stay-at-home mum; husband Mark, a company director; their children, Joshua, 10; Ruby, nine; Lachlan, six; Stella, four; dogs Milly and Hudson; ponies Rivi the palomino and Teddy the Shetland.

What is your decorating style? Kristy: “I don’t like too much clutter and I love everything to be meaningful. So most items serve a purpose or reflect my love of the country and the beach, which creates a modern country/coastal style.”

What do you love about the location? “We’re so close to the city and the kids’ schools, yet it feels like we’re in the country and so we get to experience both.”

Is there anything left to do? “We’re waiting for the garden to grow and watch it establish over time.”

After three months in the original house, the family were ready to move out and design their forever home, orientated to follow the lay of the land and overlook the surrounding bushland. Kristy immediately hit it off with builder Rachael Turner of Front Porch Properties, who ran the 18-month design and build. “We wanted a home that was classic, cosy and comfortable, and Rachael said yes to almost every crazy idea we had and thought outside the box to make it happen,” says Kristy.

“I love everything,” says Kristy of the striking kitchen, which features a natural oak island by Farmers Doors topped in Carrara Gris quartzby Smartstone. Its delicate grey veining picks up tones in the soft furnishings and wallpaper in the dining nook. Rather than timber or tiles on the floor, matt white polished concrete speckled with aggregate is the foundation for the open-plan space. “I love the look and feel and it’s incredibly low-maintenance,” says Kristy.

DESIGN TIP

Wallpaper is a wonderful way to define zones in open-plan spaces, such as the above informal dining area. Kristy selected Caselio ‘Hawaii’ wallpaper in Colour 6109 from Natty & Polly to break up a wall of VJ panels. “The blue and the gold tie in beautifully with the kitchen and add personality,” she says. Adairs cushions are tonal shades, while an Emac & Lawton ‘Zermatt’ wall lamp is another layer of interest.

A key requirement was a future-proof layout and beautiful robust finishes that would suit the family as their needs evolved. In addition to several living spaces, a priority were big bedrooms with plenty of storage, a laundry that doubled as a mud room and an alfresco area.

The entire process was a dream fulfilled for Kristy, who’d spent years collecting images of Queenslanders, Australian farmhouses, cottages and American architecture, which helped inspire the finishes and details. To add a modern touch to the timeless palette of timber and tumbled limestone, polished concrete flows throughout. Pockets of wallpaper give personality, as do eye-catching pendants and wall sconces, yet Kristy’s favourite feature is the tranquil blue-green which adorns joinery and is accented in homewares. “I wanted a colour that was different but still classic, and this shade suits the surroundings,” she says of Dulux Roland.

To soften the concrete floors, blinds by Tuiss and a jute rug by Weave anchor the generous Freedom sofa scattered with cushions, which pick up the blue tones of the custom joinery created by Farmers Doors and Front Porch Properties.

Kristy wanted a laundry that doubled as a mud room to store everything from ballet bags and cricket bats to goggles and helmets. “I love the arched cabinetry and lockers in my favourite shade of blue,” she says of the joinery in Dulux Roland, teamed with brushed brass knobs from Passio Interiors. “It looks beautiful and is really functional.” Rather than a tiled splashback, the couple opted for Easycraft VJ panels painted with Dulux Aquanamel in Natural White.

The process involved a few hiccups, yet one complication relating to site levels improved the design. “Initially we wanted the alfresco area on the same level as the living spaces inside, but it needed to step down from the kitchen, which turned out to be ideal,” says Kristy. “It allows for a better view from inside and means the alfresco area has a beautiful four-metre-high ceiling and a great connection to the backyard.”

It’s here the family enjoy spending lots of time as it offers easy access to the pool and vast backyard, which the kids have plans for. “They’d like chickens, a goat, a sheep, a highland cow and miniature donkeys,” says Kristy. “I think we’ll start slowly and work our way up in size!”

Source book

Builder: Rachael Turner, Front Porch Properties, frontporchproperties.com.au.

Drafting: Concepts Unlimited Design, (07) 3350 1311, cudesign.com.au.

Joinery: Front Porch Properties and Farmers Doors, (07) 5574 6881, farmersdoors.com.

Pool: Evans & Evans Pools, (07) 3202 1545, evansandevanspools.com.au.

The post A modern country farmhouse just outside Brisbane appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Who lives here? Ema, creative director; husband Corey, software developer; their sons Noah, 15, and Henry, 13; and Toffee, an American Staffy.

Describe your style. Ema: “Somewhere between coastal and farm style with a modern element. I love combining natural textures and imperfect, handmade, artisan features.”

Favourite feature? “The stonewall fireplace with the glass windows and doors either side.”

What was your best decision? “Choosing our builder, he went above and beyond, and guided us so well.”

What makes a great family home? “Creating zones for adults and a separate zone for kids. It’s a great way to give them a little ownership.”

Happy to bide their time, the couple travelled and lived in London for a year with sons Noah, 15, and Henry, 13, who were just babies at the time, before moving back and making a plan. “The first step was saving, which took us five years,” explains Ema. “Because we were outgrowing the shoebox-sized shack, we became incredibly motivated to save for the new build, so we took on extra work, sacrificed holidays and lived with just the bare essentials for a while and were happy to, as we had a goal.”

Their vision was to create a cabin-style home, which sat quietly among the natural setting. While Ema admits her initial plans were more idealistic than realistic, their gracious builder Mark Green suggested a simpler design, requiring less engineering, which was far more feasible. “We were complete construction newbies, with a Pinterest board the size of Queensland and a budget the size of a postage stamp, yet with lots of input from Mark we were able to tweak the design without compromising form and function,” she explains.

DESIGN TIP: STONE FIREPLACE

It’s hard to beat the impact of soaring ceilings, yet when they’re matched with a 5.5m tall stacked stone fireplace, set among a wall of glazing, the effect is incredible. “A grand fireplace was ‘the’ must have,” says Ema of the splurge-worthy double-sided Cheminees Philippe wood fireplace, which you can peer through and see the pool.

Rather than a two-level home with a loft as originally planned, scaling back the design to a single-level layout kept the budget in check and allowed for their lengthy wish list, which included an abundance of glass, soaring raked ceilings, a stone-clad fireplace and a pool for the whole family to splash about in. “We were so thrilled to incorporate as much glass as possible, as being surrounded by nature, we didn’t want to miss any of it while indoors,” says Ema.

Inside, timber flooring from Elk Falls flow throughout the kitchen and living areas adding warmth, as do textural furnishings and select brass fixtures. During the eight-month build which was completed in early 2021, Ema sourced key furniture and Corey, with the help of a friend, made a floating timber TV unit and beautiful dining table which takes pride of place. Yet having waited so long to build the house of their dreams, the family are in no rush to fill it, preferring to take their time and add pieces that add layers of interest, rather than match perfectly.

With the budget stretched after the build, the couple took time to furnish their bedroom . “We just made do with a bed and nothing else for some time,” says Ema. I Love Linen sheets and cushions from Magnolia Lane are swapped out seasonally to refresh the palette. A Lounge Lovers chair is positioned to enjoy the outlook, while a console, also from Lounge Lovers, provides a spot to display vessels from Marloe Marloe and Hello Trader. A Bunnings floor lamp provides bedside illumination.

“The zones were designed around the moments we’d have together as a family,” says Ema.

Positioned off the back deck, overlooking bushland and a river, the pool is completely private and doubles as a water feature, which can be enjoyed from the living area. “We were inspired by the jaw-dropping hotels with infinity pools positioned on the edge of cliffs and wanted to recreate something similar,” says Ema.

The landscaping is also ever evolving, with plans to tame some of the wild overgrown areas, refine an alfresco area by the pool and hang a double swing from an old fig tree overlooking the river.

To give the cabin an organic feel with a modern edge, James Hardie Axon cladding painted in Dulux Colorbond Monument ensures it sits subtly among the trees, while the kids and parents wing enveloped in weatherboard painted in Dulux Lexicon Half visually softens the overall effect.

“I still get a feeling of ‘I can’t believe I live here,'” reflects Ema. “I love looking out into the dreamy forest scene only metres from my kitchen. I didn’t imagine it would look so beautiful through the lens of the three oversized glass sliding doors. It almost doesn’t look real.”

SOURCE BOOK

Builder: Mark Green, MCG Building & Supervision, @mcg_building

Joinery: Cuisine Kitchens, (07) 5564 8518, cuisinekitchens.com.au.

The post A contemporary log cabin in the Gold Coast hinterland appeared first on Home Beautiful.

WHO LIVES HERE? Bec and her husband Justin, who both work in the financial services sector; their children Jack, 13, Brodie, 11, Harry, nine, and Cruz, six; and their cat Rocky.

DESCRIBE YOUR HOME’S STYLE? Bec: “Relaxed beach-house feel with fresh white and a mix of timber types, paired with aged tapware and rustic floors.”

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FEATURE? “I love that almost every room has water views, whether it’s the pool or the river. It creates the feel of being on holidays.”

BIGGEST SPLURGE? “Definitely the fireplace. It would have been a lot cheaper to purchase pre-fabricated cladding, but the hand-cut natural stone gave it the feel I was after.”

The doormat at the front of Bec and Justin’s house reads, ‘There’s like a lot of boys in here’. With four sport-loving sons – Jack, Brodie, Harry and Cruz – aged from six to 13, it’s a lively household that sees plenty of action, whether it’s mini-golf on their 4-par course, trampolining, table tennis, swimming in the pool, dropping a fishing line off the jetty adjoining their riverfront property, or hopping aboard their boat. It’s an idyllic lifestyle, which is exactly what the family were seeking when they moved from Sydney to the Gold Coast seven years ago. “We wanted to make the most of the warm Queensland weather, maximise our time outdoors and create a home that gave us a relaxed holiday feel on weekends and when we came home at the end of a busy day,” says Bec.

When a big riverfront block came up for sale, it ticked all the right boxes. It was on the water, there was a football field across the road and it was a short bike ride to the boys’ school. Rather than renovate the existing house, the decision to knock down and rebuild also fulfilled Bec’s desire to design a dream home from scratch. An epic three-year project ensued, with the design alone taking 12 months to perfect; a timeless, coastal-meets-farmhouse look, underpinned by clever planning considering the family’s needs now and in the future.

“Everyone provided a wish list. The boys wanted lots of fun spaces, including a games room to share with friends, Justin was keen to have a boatshed to potter around in and I got an amazing kitchen and laundry where I’m happy to spend time,” reflects Bec. Keen for the home to have a lived-in feel, crisp white walls provide the backdrop for natural textures and tones introduced through French Oak engineered parquetry flooring, aged stone, handmade pendants and brass tapware chosen for the patina it develops over time. Many pieces of furniture that they already owned were also effortlessly worked into the scheme with a fresh coat of paint or new upholstery.

“The whole colour palette was selected around my desire to have an organic brass feature tap that would patina over time,” says Bec of the kitchen. Once the Astra Walker ‘Icon’ pull-out sink mixer in Eco Brass was picked, everything else fell into place, from the Quantum Quartz ‘Naturale Concrete’ benchtops, to the Farmers Doors American Oak cabinetry in Dulux Vivid White installed by Smart Joinery, freestanding Smeg cooker, trio of ‘SpongeUp’ pendants by Klaylife and the ‘Kusina’ elm barstools from Uniqwa.”To me, the brass, oak cabinetry and timber stools create a lovely, warm welcoming feel – a space where my Mum, the boys’ Nonna, can come over and cook treats with her grandsons,” reveals Bec.

New additions include a Klaylife pendant suspended from the room’s soaring rafters and a pair of Uniqwa tub chairs. Creating the stone wall, which frames the Lopi gas fireplace, was one of the biggest challenges. “Having lived in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Justin and I loved the older style beach houses in Avalon and Palm Beach and really wanted to evoke a similar feel,” says Bec. As Queensland stone wasn’t quite the right colour, the search extended south to a quarry in Gosford on the Central Coast in NSW where large sandstone blocks were cut to size and treated with ageing techniques to create a weathered look.

Glass doors lead to the garden on all three sides of the living area. To create a timeless look in soft grey and white, Bec consulted Tracy-Lee Narain of Themba Design Style to rework existing furniture with new pieces. Atop French Oak engineered parquetry flooring, from Marques Flooring, the space was lightened with an Armadillo rug teamed with a repainted coffee table and reupholstered sofa in 3Beaches outdoor fabric. A ‘Malawi’ chair from Village was also revamped with white paint.

During the planning stage the above space morphed from a separate building, encompassing a playroom and kitchenette, to a family TV room with a generous daybed connected via a walkway to the living area. “The decision to make one end a reading nook has really paid off,” says Bec. “It’s such a great spot to sit, relax and open the doors out to the pool.” Comfortable and practical, the bench seat by Smart Joinery features deep storage drawers filled with kids’ games and is topped with an upholstered seat by 3Beaches and scatter cushions from Bandhini Design House, Adairs and Provincial Home Living.

With its beautiful mix of tactile elements, the guest bathroom leaves an indelible impression. The leafy scene is a striking backdrop to a custom mirror from Mirror Gallery and a sculptural Klaylife ‘Barrel’ pendant. A timber console from Biku Furniture & Homewares converted into a vanity, paired with an ‘Arc’ basin from Concrete Nation and an Astra Walker ‘Icon + Lever’ wall set in Eco Brass, adds a rustic touch.

Upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms offer a place to retreat, yet for the most part the place to be is downstairs where the kitchen and generous living areas spill out onto alfresco spaces with wrap-around water views. “I love the sound of water lapping against the beach and with the changing tide, each day there’s something different to see says Bec. “There are dolphins, stingrays, jumping fish, pelicans who fly in and a family of swans who regularly visit us.”

As with the best holiday spots, on weekends the family don’t feel like venturing far. “I didn’t grow up on the water so it’s a new experience for me and I feel so grateful the kids can enjoy it,” says Bec. “In the afternoons, Justin and the boys will cast a net off the beach or sit and have a quiet fish on the jetty.” What could be better?

The couple’s retreat is at the opposite end from the boys’ four rooms on the upper level. The soaring ceiling is accentuated with VJ walls in Taubmans Cotton Sheets framing an Alfresco Emporium bedhead and bench stool, while shell lamps from Signature on Hastings top Pottery Barn bedside tables.

To speed up bathtime, the four boys share two bathrooms, which both feature a navy and white scheme paired with custom vanities and mirrors by Smart Joinery.

Although there was an existing pool on the site, the area was redesigned to incorporate a new custom pool that complemented the new home. “The boys all love to play pool rugby or volleyball so instead of one deep end where you can’t touch the ground, the pool slopes from side to side rather than longways,” explains Bec of the splash zone tiled in ‘Goby’ glass pool mosaic tiles from Three Balls Red. For a relaxed coastal look, surrounding hardwood timber decking was left to grey naturally, while mature palms and frangipani trees were introduced to provide dappled shade.

SOURCE BOOK

BUILDER Mat Rose, Elite Construction SEQLD, 0401 813 622, @eliteconstructionseqld.

ARCHITECT Bayden Goddard, BGD Architects, (07) 5592 6188, bgdarchitects.com.

POOL Beith Building & Developments, 0400 055 678, beithbuilding.com.au.

CABINETRY Graham Wilson, Smart Joinery, (07) 5594 9860, smartjoinery.com.au.

The post A timeless, coastal-meets-farmhouse family home on a dazzling Gold Coast riverway appeared first on Home Beautiful.

The spell was cast the first moment she and husband Dan saw the secluded pocket of land guarded by a leafy awning of gum trees. Not even the fact that the postwar bungalow awaiting their inspection had seen better days could dampen her enthusiasm. Quite the contrary.

“When we bought the house in 2011, it was an old, salmon-brown fibro shack, but I saw so much potential in it,”says Belinda, director of Gallerie B Interiors.”It was in reasonable condition, but very basic. It had no insulation so it was drafty year-round and freezing in winter.

“There was orange-toned timber flooring, a brown exposed-brick fireplace and creamy-yellow walls – definitely not my colours! Over the years, we de-fibroed it and added insulation and timber cladding. We also slightly expanded it to make it more comfortable, without having to alter the footprint very much at all.”

“I love pendants over an island bench. They really define the space.” ~ Belinda

What Belinda did do, and to gorgeous effect, was bring the style of the home into a new era with a top-to-toe overhaul. The mum to Lucy, 16, and Mia, 13, was in her element as both designer-decorator and client.”There was definitely a freedom that came with that,”she says.” Although, of course, I still had to keep to a budget, as we all do!”

Describing her decorating style as “classic but with a contemporary and elegant edge”, Belinda has long been a fan of the Hamptons look. “This house has Hamptons-style features, such as shaker-profile doors to the cabinetry and a shiplap wall on the fireplace,” she says.

A sense of serenity permeates, its seaside setting lending inspiration for the key highlights of blue. Shades range from a duck-egg hue in the kitchen to navy in the family bathroom and bring harmony to the zones.

Happily, practicality and comfort also prevail. After all, this is her family’s holiday house. In the living room, a plush sofa layered with cushions and throws promotes a laid-back atmosphere, while each of the divinely decorated sleep zones feels instantly inviting.

“The sofa is light grey but has been Scotchgarded, so we don’t have to be particular with it,”says Belinda.”The benchtops in the kitchen and the bathrooms are reconstituted stone, which is so hard-wearing. We didn’t want this to be a precious house. I was conscious that when friends and family visit, they would feel cosy and comfortable.”

Important, too, was that the exterior, painted in a moody charcoal, connects to its lush surrounds. French doors link the living zone to the deck and native garden beyond, and an outdoor lounge and fire pit beckons in a corner of the yard.

“The foliage is a eucalyptus green, which contrasts against the dark exterior and the white trims,”says Belinda.”I wanted to create a real feeling of inside-outside living.”

She can’t imagine ever saying a permanent goodbye to her home away from home and simply says,”It’s pretty perfect for all of us.”

“It’s your home and, if you love colour, you need to surround yourself with it.”

~ Belinda

“The fire pit gets a lot of use even in spring, when it can still be chilly at night.” ~ Belinda

The post A serene holiday bungalow on the Mornington Peninsula appeared first on Home Beautiful.

“It suits us all,” she explains of the family’s tree change from the nearby suburbs of the Gold Coast. “Rob spends weekends puttering about on his tractor, the girls do horse riding and there’s so much space for the kids to run around and just be kids.”

The push to move to the Gold Coast hinterland came seven years ago, when the couple realised they’d outgrown their previous home. “Our family had doubled in size, so when I saw this two-hectare block for sale I thought it was the ideal place to relocate and build a spacious forever home where we’d be content,” says Leanne.

The picturesque elevated site captured the couple’s imagination and prompted Leanne to quickly compile a hefty book of inspiration filled with pictures of charming farmhouses and classic country kitchens.

The priority for Rob was a custom garage to house the beloved family caravan, with space also for a workshop. To realise their vision, the couple engaged husband-and-wife architect team Angela and Mark Jamison of Jamison Architects, who produced a design which fulfilled all their wishes and more.

“We loved it,”recalls Leanne.”It embraced the beauty and aspect of the site, and every detail was cleverly thought out to meet our needs as the kids grew.”

Designed as a long, single storey home, with a triple-gable roof and rooms opening onto shaded verandahs and pergolas, the exterior is as pretty as a picture.

Inside, a soaring raked ceiling adds to the wonderful light, bright, open-plan feel, as do abundant louvres, and a wall of glass doors to the north that creates a connection to the outdoors and views.

At nearly 800 square metres, the home’s sheer size was a mammoth project for Rob to take on as owner-builder while working full time. A lot of the work was done in the evenings and on weekends, stretching the build to 18 months, and the family lived in a caravan on the block for nine months.

“Living in the van meant less travelling back and forwards, and we were on site to answer questions from trades, but it did have its challenges,” says Leanne.

“There were a few interesting school mornings where I’d be cooking the kids’ breakfast and the power would go out, or I’d be in the shower in the van, with my hair soaped up, and the water would be switched off. It was an adventure. We had a lot of tractor rides, fire-pit barbecues and star-gazing nights.”

While Rob was absorbed with the build, Leanne enjoyed selecting finishes that imbue a contemporary country feel. With a preference for natural materials, timber and stone floors lay the foundation for a warm palette layered with vintage finds and heirloom pieces.

Although there’s ongoing finishing touches and plenty of garden projects to keep them busy on weekends, it seems the family enjoys nothing more than tinkering about at home.

“We just love being here,” says Leanne. “It’s incredibly peaceful and calm. When Rob was building the house, we really grew as a family, pulling together and working to create it, which has given all of us a deep sense of ownership and appreciation. There’s nowhere else we’d rather be.”

“My favourite spot is by the fireplace. We use it every night from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day. It makes the house cosy.” ~ Leanne

The post A contemporary farmhouse-style home in the Gold Coast Hinterland appeared first on Home Beautiful.

But this year also marks the family’s first Christmas since losing Louise’s grandmother, Margaret Fulton, the legendary Australian food writer and national treasure.

“She was custodian of all our Christmas traditions,” says Louise. “She always made sure we had crackers and wore our hats. And she made an amazing Christmas pudding with flaming brandy and homemade custard, studded with sixpence saved from her childhood in Scotland.”

Although her absence will weigh down heavily on the family, Margaret’s spirit will be felt in the Royal Copenhagen dinnerware on the table and the fizz of the champagne (always French). And, while Louise’s mother Suzanne is on pudding duty this year, it’s a safe bet whoever finds the sixpence will be thinking of Margaret as they make their wish. “It’s still really raw,” says Louise, “but Grandma’s old traditions will continue and they will be passed on to her great-grandchildren.”

“I feel like ceilings can really make a room. Unfortunately for our budget, I spent a lot of time on Pinterest and I started to fall in love with these ceilings.” ~ Louise

This year’s celebrations will be the family’s second time hosting Christmas in their forever home, which they moved into in spring 2018. “Last year was really special, and now will always be remembered, because my grandma was there,” explains Louise. Fittingly, it was a full-scale affair. “The idea of throwing some prawns on the barbecue in a T-shirt and shorts at Christmas isn’t for us,” she says.

“The kitchen is definitely the heart of my home and it gets a major daily workout.” ~ Louise

There surely could be no better place to reinforce a family legacy than here. The home is a gracious new build with an age-old soul, sprawling across one level with north-facing windows and highland views for days. Louise describes her home as a “modern farmhouse” and it’s a magical marriage of sustainable architecture, timeworn materials, antiques, modern pieces and family heirlooms.

Louise and husband John bought their 40-hectare property five years ago with just a set of stables on it. Step one was to put a two- bedroom apartment on top of the stables, where they lived for two years. Then came their dream house on the hill.

“I wanted a house I would love in 2019, but also 50 years from now – something that was both traditional and modern,” she says. Louise’s father is an architect and insisted on just two things: no box gutters (“a plumbing nightmare”) and a north-facing aspect to minimise the environmental footprint.

The expanse of north-facing windows means the play area is highly visible.”The kids can have a true free-range childhood,” she says. “I really encourage them to go outdoors, engage with nature.”

Not surprisingly, the family is often found convening in the kitchen. At Christmas, the messy business of cooking with kids reminds Louise of cooking with her grandma. “As a little girl, my job was to sit and stir the custard for the pudding,” she says.

This year, the kitchen will again be packed with family, food and debate. “That’s what Christmas is about for us; taking time out of our hectic lives, rolling up our sleeves and spending countless hours cooking and eating. Together.”

“For some people, it’s all about the cricket in the backyard or the pool, but for us, Christmas resolves around the kitchen and the dining table.” ~ Louise

“I like things to be modern but have a hint of tradition – it’s very hard to find fittings that fit the bill.” ~ Louise

“A lot of my finishes and fittings were custom. It drove my husband and builder crazy, but we got there in the end.”~ Louise

The post A fabulous modern farmhouse in the NSW Southern Highlands appeared first on Home Beautiful.