Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 18 i Australian Country Homes

Hello dear readers, And welcome to another issue of Australian Country Homes. As we prepare this issue, the world is in yet another state of flux. From war to extreme weather events, we are seeing and feeling it all. The home has never felt so needed as we seek sanctuary and comfort in the familiar. In this issue, we celebrate some of our favourite country homes that we have visited throughout the years. We also take a trip overseas to South Africa, where we discover a gorgeous artist seaside residence that we’d just love to spend some time in. There’s also a special new feature in this issue. Going forward, Australian Country Homes will have a Period Style bonus. This mini magazine celebrates some of the things we love most…

No matter the time of year, memories of precious moments shared around the festive table at Barfield station are still fresh in the minds of those who scored an invite. “We have an annual Christmas party inviting all our neighbours and friends along Barfield Road,” Melinee Leather, who owns Barfield with her husband, Robert, and is the resident Jill-of-all-trades, says. “Santa arrives with presents for the kids and a meal is shared under the stars on the front lawn. All our guests leave with a handmade gingerbread house, which is decorated by anyone lucky enough to be visiting on the day of their construction. We have done this wherever we have lived since our children were born. Now we are making memories for our grandchildren.” Melinee and Robert have always…

Nicole O’Connor is the first to admit that all her visions of a quiet country life have evaporated since she and her husband, Michael, bought Coonghoongbula station near Dalgety on the banks of the Snowy River in southern NSW. “We’re skiers and we had a holiday house at Tyrolean Village near Jindabyne, so we weren’t strangers to the area,” Nicole explains. “But we’ve been so busy ever since we moved down here that I think we managed only one day on the slopes last winter. The whole notion of a slower life in the country is a bit of a furphy. I don’t think we’ve ever worked harder in our lives.” Michael owned and ran a packaging company in Sydney for 20 years and keeps one foot in the city…

Since opening my store in Melbourne more than 30 years ago, I have had many memorable experiences. The first was in 1992 when I was asked to restore the interior of Invergowrie in Shakespeare Grove, Hawthorn. I remember saying to then-owner, Jacky Taranto, “I’ll call by and if the job isn’t too big, I’ll happily give you some tips to do it yourself.” Well, stripping and re-French polishing the entire interior of this beautiful home was my first big job. It gave me a lot of pleasure and getting to know Jacky, a very special man, was a bonus. During this job, I also met one of my best friends, Daniel Dadian, a wonderful interior painter and a man who became the greatest friend one could wish for. Daniel is…

When it comes to benchtop surfaces, there is a large selection of products to choose from for both bathroom and kitchen spaces. From porcelain and natural stone to timber, laminate and more, there are many different options available on the market. While this allows for diversity in choice regarding colours, textures, style and budget, a big selection often creates an overwhelming sense of confusion. Choosing the right fit for your lifestyle and desired aesthetic is paramount. “There’s nothing more glamorous than showing off a beautiful feature benchtop in a bathroom or kitchen space,” says Kelly Donougher, director and designer at 13 Interiors. “It’s like the art of your wet area, where all the features connect to create your focal point, but it’s also important to get that focal point just…

After 23 years running the multi-award-winning Thorn Park Country House in the Clare Valley, owners David Hay and Michael Speers decided it was time to slow down. Far from their initial plans of retirement, the couple sold the original property in 2011 and purpose-built a smaller version of the bed and breakfast. Much to the relief of frequent travellers to this region, their South Australian institution was to live on. Renamed Thorn Park by the Vines, the property is located at Sevenhill in the heart of Clare wine country. While the house design followed the same 1850s architectural style of the original B&B, it was a modern interpretation. An interior designer in a former life, David says his goal was to achieve a sense of familiarity with a more contemporary…

Dear reader, It is my utmost pleasure to welcome you to the new section of our magazine: Period Style. This publication explores some of the most important restoration processes and antique dealers in the country, offering you inspiration and advice when it comes to furnishing your home with treasures from times gone by. In our debut format, we discover the truth about brown furniture and whether it still works — you might be surprised by the answer! — and explore some gorgeous antiques and from our partners such as Giltwood.com, Baimbridge Antiques and Victory Theatre Antique Centre. And, in this important time of social change, we celebrate some of the exciting collections coming up at The David Roche Foundation. South Australian readers, you will not want to miss this. I…

What a great time to buy antiques. It seems to me that those in the know have not bought into “minimalism”. What could be more aesthetically pleasing than the carefully arranged display of one’s lifetime collection? Good taste and style has never gone out of fashion — it was only the availability of the right stock that had diminished. How pleasing it is to see that antiques, combined with a modern setting and décor, can create an extraordinary dynamic. History has indeed repeated itself; once again, good-quality antique items and décor are far better value than a modern man-made reproduction import. Many clients have said to us that they have been very disappointed with the quality of all of those Asian imports flooding the market. Interestingly enough, we also keep…

Every day, at least one customer walks into my shop and asks, “Does brown furniture still sell? We took all of our Victorian/Edwardian/Deco/French furniture to auction and got nothing compared to what we paid for it in the ’80s or ’90s, so how can you be doing so well?” My reply: “Did you have anything resembling the stock in my shop?” Their answer is always no. Then I say, “What brought you into my showroom?” Their replies are, “We liked your window display” or “We saw your furniture at our friend’s home.” The fact is, each week, scores of couples are downsizing, moving into modern apartments or townhouses where their large, fancy, heavily carved, out-of-style pieces simply do not suit. As a result, they throw them into an auction room…

It’s a universal given that most renovations grow beyond initial expectations, but when property developer John Boyd suggested to his fiancée, Marly Calladine, that they should build a small chapel for their impending wedding, they had little inkling of the Ben-Hur-style proportions the project would assume. The event was planned for the grounds of the NSW Southern Highlands property John had owned since 2000. The house, which was unfinished and neglected at the time of purchase, had already had one extension in which an imposing stone facade and sweeping steps were added and bedrooms inserted in what was formerly a large underground garage. The chapel seemed like a good idea but then they needed somewhere to pitch the marquee for the reception and, to accommodate this, an area needed to…

A holiday home poses a very particular challenge to a designer — it must be all things to all people. An oasis of calm, a beacon of fun, a showcase for signature style — it needs to tick all the boxes but not at the expense of any single one. This kind of task needs a cohesive team and a clear vision, and this particular beach house in Plettenberg Bay (one of the most popular and sought-after spots on South Africa’s Garden Route coastal stretch, and an idyllic holidaymakers town) had both, as well as benefitting from the fact that the team in question are long-time friends. A lot of thought went into creating spaces for everyone, from a study to escape to when the house is noisy and a…

There’s no such thing as land that can’t be cultivated, according to Jane Phillips … there are merely challenges awaiting a determined gardener. Jane has spent most of her adult life putting this theory to the test and the gardens at the home and holiday cottage she shares with partner, Dave Sherriff, on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula are testament to her vision and perseverance. Jane grew up in the Clare Valley as part of the celebrated Ashby pastoral family, founders of both North Ashrose Merino and Bundaleer Shorthorn studs. The landmark bluestone homesteads of her home country usually came with equally impressive gardens, so she says a green thumb was part of her DNA. By her own account, she was sent to Adelaide’s prestigious Methodist Ladies’ College “where they failed…

The Australian Antique and Art Dealers Association (AAADA) is Australia’s principal trade association for art and antique dealers. Our members are vetted to ensure their experience and professional integrity will maintain the AAADA’s highest standards. Their stock must be of the highest quality and craftsmanship, and description true to date, origin and if possible maker/artist. Many members are expert advisors to the Australian Government and State Government departments and institutions. Many have also published books or have written reference articles on their chosen areas of expertise. AAADA members have researched and contributed greatly to the major public and private collections in Australia and abroad. Both buying and selling art and antiques by AAADA members ensures personalised service with privacy and integrity. A listing of our members can be found at…

On the east coast’s Great Dividing Range, the Blue Mountains provides a spectacular backdrop to numerous villages in its upper regions, such as Medlow Bath with The Hydro Majestic, Leura’s exquisite gardens and, at its highest peak, Blackheath, a small town known for rhododendrons and a panoramic view, which many say surpasses The Three Sisters. Known as Govett’s Leap Lookout, it was described by Charles Darwin in 1836 as “stupendous”. While Darwin struggled for five days on horseback, and convicts continued to cut a road across the Blue Mountains, today, only two hours by road or train from Sydney allows ready access to these somewhat remote townships. Such locations can guarantee unique opportunities for both inspiration and acquisitions that will enhance the discerning restoration, renovation and decoration of period homes…

Tim and Jane Johns have had a commuter relationship for around seven years. But then they had enough. The dual existence was wearing thin. Here’s what a usual week used to look like for this couple: From Monday to Friday, Jane led an urban existence. She occupied a flat in Sydney’s Surry Hills, worked long hours (as a graphic designer and importer) and immersed herself in a vibrant city life with all its trappings. Once this timeframe was up, she travelled three-and-a-half hours southwest to Braidwood, NSW, where she joined her husband, Tim. The weekend done and dusted, Jane would turn around and do it all over again. The formerly city-loving Tim had a very different nine-to-five schedule. He doesn’t wear a suit anymore. He manages cattle, pastures and the…