FRENCH OPEN

Treasured memories of times abroad inspired the aesthetic of this cottage in the NSW Southern Highlands.

- Sue Ramsey

EXTERIOR Sisters Coco and Luella head up the stairs of the cottage freshly renovated by their parents, Felicity and Brenden Sewell. Roofing finished in Nutech Midnight. The exterior of the house is painted Dulux Lexicon Quarter.

When Felicity and Brenden Sewell bought their picturesque cottage in the NSW Southern Highlands, they hadn’t planned on living there for long, but the charms of their now-renovated home won them over. “This was just intended to be a flip,” says Felicity. “We thought we’d just do it up and after a year we’d leave, but it will be three years soon,” she says of the home they share with their two daughters, Coco, 11, and Luella, nine, and Wolfie the German shepherd.

ENTRANCE The front door, painted Porter's Paints Aniseed, opens to reveal the beautiful gardens. French oak flooring flows from the hallway to the living areas beyond. Felicity and Brenden bought the console from a store that has since closed. FA33 mirror by Gio Ponti for Gubi, is available from Cult Design. Vintage vase, Rudi Rocket. Papier-mâché bowl, Orient House.

When the cottage was put on the market, Felicity – who grew up nearby – recognised it instantly. “I remember when it was built 20 years ago,” she says. “I’ve always liked the house – it’s weatherboard with french doors and a very pretty facade, which presents nicely from the street.” It had been in the same family since then, so when it came up for sale right after Felicity and Brenden had sold their own home, it was perfect timing.

LIVING Antique terracotta jug. Vessels, all Rudi Rocket. Serax plant pot.