A Melbourne couple knew from the moment they drove through the gates of this property, and beneath its stately 100-yearold cypress trees, that there was great potential in what lay before them. The secluded 1880s cottage Donna and Darren had set out to see might have been badly rundown, but it was nestled among towering bald hills and offered a beautiful, expansive outlook.
Bought in 1999, the house – located in the Central Highlands of Victoria, on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples – was surrounded by a smattering of characterful outbuildings but had sat vacant for 10 years. There were holes in the floorboards, where the clawfoot bath had fallen through rotting floorboards, no plasterwork or insulation, and the occasional nest of tiger snakes. It presented the couple with quite a challenge – and they knew from that point on it would be an ongoing project.
“The reason we moved to the country was to raise the kids in a rural community,” says Donna, who’d spent a lot of time in her childhood with extended family who lived in the region. “That sense of community was missing in the city for us. I’ve always had a strong connection to the country; for me it was important to get out of the city and reconnect.”
With a family that would grow to seven members, the couple set out to create what was first and foremost a comfortable family home: a place where everyone could be together yet also have their own space. The garden was approached similarly, with spots created to sit and gather or to quietly solve a problem under a tree. “Overall, our vision was to create a world that was ours,” says Darren.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2022-Ausgabe von Australian House & Garden Magazine.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2022-Ausgabe von Australian House & Garden Magazine.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Megan Morton's - RURAL IDYLL
The stylist and author reveals the secrets to her decorating journey with Mimosa Moon, her home in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.
RURAL RETREAT
A Colonial-look 1970s property on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria is gently renovated with an English-country aesthetic in mind.
Michael Reid OAM
The renowned art dealer and entrepreneur, who runs a congregation of creative businesses across the globe, shares the moments and muses that have shaped his extensive career.
MASTER peace
Gallery owner Michael Reid has created his own living paradise, a rambling garden he keenly shares with fellow art lovers who visit the Murrurundi, NSW, gallery location.
GARDENS of the world
Up close and personal with the most memorable gardens in Morocco and Spain.
INTO the wild
Three words inspired the rework of this Kangaroo Valley, NSW, home among the gum trees: embracing, vibrant and Animalia.
COUNTRY kitchen.
Flavourful and warming dishes from The Cordony Kitchen with seasonal vegetables as the stars of the show.
HOLIDAY at home
Missing the Indonesian villa they enjoyed on a recent holiday the owners decided to recreate their own retreat at home.
STATEMENT piece
For a holiday home that embodies the coastal beauty of Bermagui, NSW, minimalist bricks were the natural choice, inside and out.
EFFORTLESS charm
With a discrete street frontage, this home fulfils the brief to keep its visual impact on the lush surrounds to a minimum.