THE PERIOD HOME
RENOVATOR NEW IDEAS FOR TRADITIONAL HOMES
&
THE 2016 BUYER’S GUIDE
Step back in Connecting with another era ISSN 1447-6347
aus $9.95 (incl. GST)
HOMage to the past Stately homes & HOUSE MUSEUMs GORGEOUS GARDENS HISTORY FROM THE ROOTS UP ART & SOUL DISPLAYING modern art in period homes
Contents
22.
Features Regulars 8
MARKETPLACE
Beautiful products and services to inspire your next renovation
110 Renovator’s Directory
All the experts and services you need
22
BAYSIDE BEAUTY
For their stylish renovation of this bayside home, Büro Architects built a bridge from past to present, seamlessly connecting a modern extension with the original building
32
LORD OF THE MANOR
In this stunning transformation, a Georgian Revival gem has been reinvented to create a sleek, modern entertainer for a growing family
198 BOOK STORE
Order your inspiration here
200 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
44 IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK
Live and breathe history with a stroll through a heritage-listed house museum, from Adelaide’s Carrick Hill, to Clarendon House in Tasmania
52
FIT FOR A QUEEN
Once an extravagant home for opera diva Dame Nellie Melba, this converted dairy farm has been beautifully restored to welcome a new generation of visitors
62 SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
32.
62. 68.
Introducing modern art into traditional homes is a delicate business. We asked gallery owner Charles Nodrum for his advice on making the most of your treasured masterpieces
80 DEVIL IN THE DETAIL
More than just pretty features, period detailing can provide clues to your home’s history, as architectural historian Peter Andrew Barrett explains
68 HONOURING THE ROOTS
87 STYLE GUIDE
Wander through two gardens – one city, one country – and explore different approaches to preserving the past in the green spaces that surround your home
Your guide to period architecture in Australia – including colours and features – from Colonial to Modern and everything inbetween
180. 163. 193.
170. Buyer’s Guide 114 Timber, Brick & Stone 118 Roofing 121 Exterior Decoration 134 Doors, Windows & Hardware 151 Walls & Ceilings 163 Floors 170 Fireplaces 175 Lighting 177 Interior Decoration 180 Bathrooms 189 Kitchens
189.
193 Furniture
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From the editor
Y
ou might have known there was something special about your house since the moment you clapped eyes on it, but what makes us fall in love with a home are its stories. From telling period details to clues unearthed during a renovation, this issue is jam-packed full of the marvellous tales that come as part and parcel of buying a period home. In bayside Brighton, Melbourne, Manveen Maan meets the owners of a regal Victorian with magnificent sunset views. They worked with an architect and heritage consultant to ensure the building’s history was honoured during its transformation, and discovered evidence of past renovations as they went (page 22). Not far away, in Toorak, I visit a magnificent Georgian Revival home tucked away in a leafy street named after an English lord. The street itself was once the driveway of an even grander property, and this history informed the renovation as much as the new owners’ desire for a home that fits their lifestyle; a modern entertainer with airy, indoor-outdoor rooms (page 32). A great place to walk amongst history is at a house museum like South Australia’s Carrick Hill or Clarendon House in Tasmania, both listed on the National Trust Register. I spoke to the caretakers of these properties about how they help tell each home’s story (page 44), while Freya Owen visited a converted dairy farm in Victoria’s Yarra Valley that once belonged to opera diva Dame Nellie Melba, and now houses her family as well as welcoming visitors to the region (page 52). Susanne Leonard learns how the past has been cultivated in two very different period gardens (page 68), while Ariana Fabris explores the complete history of period detailing in Australia (page 80), and gets the low down on how best to hang modern art in your period home so that both old and new work in harmony, telling a consistent story rather than drowning each other out (page 62). We hope you enjoy discovering some of the stories behind these magnificent homes. If you know of a home whose story deserves to be told, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch at cassy@publicitypress.com.au.
publisher Ross Copeland Editor Cassy Polimeni CONTRIBUTORS Ariana Fabris Susanne Leonard Manveen Maan Freya Owen art director Amy Tanner DESIGNERS Eva Herzog Cathy Silvio National advertising MANAGER Sue Kallincos Production Nicole Llewelyn ADMINISTRATION Gina Copeland
CONTACT US publicity press ABN 31 005 490 068 1120 High Street Armadale VIC Australia 3143 Telephone (03) 9804 4700 Facsimile (03) 9804 4711 Email: reception@publicitypress.com.au Website: periodhomerenovator.com Follow us on Pintrest All material in this issue is copyright © 2016 Publicity Press Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written consent of the publisher or editor. Articles represent the views of their authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher or editor. Contributions Pictorial and editorial contributions are welcome. Please contact us for guidelines: cassy@publicitypress.com.au
Cassy Polimeni Editor
Advertising For a current ratecard and specifications, please contact Sue Kallincos on (03) 9804 4700 or email: sue@publicitypress.com.au
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market Place Welcome to
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A PERSONAL TOUCH Mardini Constructions is a multi award-winning, family-owned home building firm in Sydney that caters for unique and challenging projects, including the reconstruction and restoration of historic and heritage homes. With extensive experience in structural and sealing detail, they also offer a variety of building remedial services, such as underpinning and waterproofing solutions for existing homes.
GROWING TOGETHER GOOD MANORS Pool + Garden was established by Raoul Van de Laak and Ron Berkelmans in 1986. Focusing on quality rather than quantity, the company completes a select number of projects each year. The team at GOOD MANORS prides itself on taking a holistic and individualised approach to each design and construction and recognises the importance of a garden as an oasis for its owners – be it a place for recreation, relaxation, entertainment, exercise or simply contemplation. The company’s passion is to design, build and maintain its gardens into maturity. GOOD MANORS 32 Halloran Street Lilyfield, NSW 2040 Tel: (02) 9818 3377 goodmanors.com.au
MARDINI CONSTRUCTIONS For more information, visit mardiniconstructions.com.au
WELCOME HOME Temple & Webster is Australia’s most beautiful online shopping experience for the home. Find fresh furniture and homewares daily, along with endless inspiration for a gorgeous home. We source your favourite big brands, boutique labels and up-and-coming designers, all beautifully priced and available for delivery around Australia. Come home to a complete style overhaul, or find that one perfect piece to complete your renovation. Temple & Webster For more information, visit templeandwebster.com.au
THE HARDWARE YOUR HOME DESERVES The English Tapware Company is the exclusive Australian supplier of Frank Allart door and window hardware. As makers of fine English brassware since 1914, Frank Allart produce elite hardware for discerning homeowners worldwide. Available in a wide range of styles and finishes. THE ENGLISH TAPWARE COMPANY For further information, visit englishtapware.com.au
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beauty IMAGES: Diana Snape, AMY TANNER
Bayside
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The PERIOD HOME RENOVATOR
Cover Story
From the outside, this Victorian mansion in Melbourne’s south-east is a passport to another era, but step inside and you’ll discover a host of improvements designed to create a bridge between past and present WORDS: MANVEEN MAAN PHOTOGRAPHY: Amy Tanner and Diana Snape
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THIS PAGE FROM TOP: Increasing the height of the doorways helped to open up the home and invite more light in; the original staircase was reconfigured to straighten it; green parrot statues; the intricate front door with stained glass detail; a peek inside the formal dining room. OPPOSITE PAGE: An architectural drawing of the façade by Bßro Architects.
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Cover Story
M
ore often than not, the veneer of a house gives you a clue to its interior, but every now and then, you are pleasantly surprised when the inside turns out to be wholly unexpected. Such is the case with this bayside abode. Originally built in the 19th century, it has been substantially altered to create a series of elegant living spaces, and 20th century additions have been removed to make way for a new pavillion. Located across from the beach, this historic home towers above the ground, and you feel its commanding presence as soon as you walk through the wrought-iron gates. I half expect a horse and carriage to pull up in the portecochère – such is the impact of the exterior. We enter through an intricately designed front door and find ourselves in a home that effortlessly balances old and new. The front of the house retains much of its original look – albeit one that has been slightly altered over time. “We kept uncovering all sorts of things as we went along,” the owner tells us. “It was a two year renovation process and along the way we figured the house was previously renovated at least twice, and we think it could have been apartments for a period of time.” Leading us through the majestic formal living room and the den, she recounts the renovation process. “It looked vastly different before we
started. For example, the ceiling in the living room was lower, and in one of the bedrooms we uncovered three ceilings before we got to the original one, so they must have layered one over another.” Walking through this stately home, what stands out is the sheer height of everything. The tall doorways make a huge difference, letting in lots of light at every corner. “The archways were very low before, you would almost have to duck to go in,” she says. “There were single, standardsized doors that we redid to open up the spaces a little more.” Taking in the intricate details of this historic home, it’s apparent the owners have gone to great lengths to stay true to the original structure. “Maintaining the older façade was very important to us. We looked for a number of years before finding a home that we thought would fit us, and we got excited when we saw this. I think it was the grandeur of the house that sold us. “When we were looking for architects to work with, it was important to find one that had the same appreciation of classical buildings. You want to be able to blend the modern in, but retain enough period features to showcase its original beauty.” This is a sentiment shared by architect Paul von Chrismar of Buro, so it’s easy to see how this partnership flowed from the very beginning. “We didn’t want the juxtaposition of old and
new to be jarring,” explains von Chrismar. “For the exteriors we thought about what makes a Victorian house. Words that come to mind are detailed, ornate and rich. How do you do that justice by adding something on the back? You add something with a level of detail. So it has the richness of the old house along with simplicity.” A trip up the converted staircase (“We redid the staircase, and had to move it as it wasn’t quite straight!”) leads to a stunning open entertainment space, with a rooftop deck overlooking the bay. Our host estimates that the rooftop was a 1940s addition. “It’s pretty solid and on a good day it’s spectacular out here,” she says. “We did have some ideas of covering this area but it was too hard to get past the council. In some ways we’re glad we didn’t, because the sunsets here are out of this world.” The idea behind the upstairs renovation was to create new spaces. “You don’t want to reproduce what you’ve already got, so we decided to use different spaces for different purposes,” she tells us. A small room on one side that used to be an eating area and kitchen has been converted into a bar, while the space on the other side of the entertainment area is taken up by the master bedroom. “We originally had the idea of this space being our retreat as our bedroom is on this side of the house,” she says. “As the kids get older and take over, we know we’ll have a spot just for us.”
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Stately Homes
If these walls could talk Australia’s heritage-listed stately homes are true national treasures, offering visitors a window into life in another era. We take a peek inside two historic gems WORDS: CASSY POLIMENI PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED
S
tep inside one of these stately homes and you’ll be transported back in time, all the way to Colonial days, or the rough and ready interwar years. History is palpable in National Trust protected house museums, which are open to the public for events ranging from walk-throughs to guided tours, festivals and functions, or ghost tours. This is an open house with a difference – there’s a story in every square of polished hardwood floors, every inch of plaster, and every ceiling rose. It’s an inspiring and special way to imagine yourself into another life. CARRICK HILL, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Australia’s most intact twentieth-century heritage house museum and garden, Carrick Hill is also home to an impressive private collection of French, British and Australian fine and decorative arts. Completed in 1939, it was a labour of love for department store heir Sir Edward ‘Bill’ Hayward and his wife Lady Ursula Barr Smith whose even wealthier family were involved in mining and pastoral activities that helped shape South Australia. 44 |
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Inside out “The interesting thing about the way Carrick Hill was built is that they collected the interior first, then built the house,” says Director Richard Heathcote. “Bill and Ursula spent their honeymoon in England where they went to a demolition sale of Beaudesert, an aristocrat’s country house in Staffordshire. It was the Depression and a lot of English country houses were being sold because they were inefficient to run, so the Haywards were able to purchase doors, windows, panelling, fireplaces, and a very unique piece called the Waterloo staircase. One of the owners had been the Duke of Wellington’s cavalry commander at the Battle of Waterloo and lost a leg, so a special staircase was created that he was able to walk up with a prosthetic leg. “The Haywards had everything shipped back to Adelaide where local architect James Irwin designed Carrick Hill around these specific components.” To the manor born The house is constructed from local Basket Range Sandstone in a manor style. Heathcote
explains: “In the British class system an English manor house was a place where the gentry lived – not the aristocrats – so it’s the centre of social life. It’s where the squire or the lord of the manner does all his social and professional business. “That’s how the Haywards lived – their friends were artists, writers, and other eccentric, interesting people, and their art collection reflects this. They collected 17th century oak furniture, as well as the works of British modernist painters – people like Stanley Spencer and Augustus John – so they were well ahead of their time. “They liked the ‘country house’ style of living – slightly cluttered and eclectic. Apart from the great oak panelling, the interiors are mostly cream to set off their extraordinary collection, but then when you get to the bathrooms and kitchen it’s 1930s chic – pink and green with marble on the walls. “When it came to the functional side of life, they had heated towel rails and a staff of 12 servants to run the place so it’s the last hurrah of the interwar years. It’s sort of a Downton Abbey vibe: ‘How are we going to make ends meet? We’ve only got 40 hectares of land!’”
Stately Homes
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Style Guide
1840 - 1860
Early Victorian
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The PERIOD HOME RENOVATOR
Style Guide
H
ouses built in this period are generally simple, whether they are terraced or freestanding. They commonly have one or two rooms across the front. Their overall appearance is formal but plain, with simple verandahs or none at all, and restrained ornamentation.
Garden:
fences made of simple pickets a great variety of vegetables and fruit trees, a limited range of ornamental plants
Outside:
pitched, hipped roofs of timber shingles, slate or corrugated iron walls either: face brick, often from local brick making works; or rendered, often ruled into blocks to look like stone weatherboards, they are usually square edged but sometimes with a beaded edge windows, timber generally with small section sizes; often double hung sometimes side opening casements; centrally placed limited ornamentation
Inside:
moulded skirtings and architraves, but ceilings often unadorned, with any cornices fairly small and limited to front rooms usually plaster on walls, sometimes timber lining boards hessian covered with wallpaper or painted finishes to walls
Colour and design notes:
roofs natural slate or shingles, galvanised metal sometimes painted to match slate external walls generally variations of cream and brown with trims matching wood colours brickwork usually rendered and possibly limewashed, or painted weatherboards
EXTERIOR COLOURS:
COLOURS FROM LEFT: Light Stone, Biscuit, Earth, Terracotta
Exterior Details:
COLOURS FROM LEFT: Deep Brunswick Green, Light Cream, Brown, Deep Indian Red
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