Julie has created a wonderful country-inspired home that’s an ever-changing canvas of the eclectic pieces and decorative treasures she’s collected over the years. Immediately upon entering Julie’s home you’re greeted by a large framed print of the cover art of her favourite book, My French Life by Vicki Archer, filling one wall. It’s a delightful personal touch, and a clue to the decorative taste she’s unveiled passionately throughout her home. Situated in Newcastle, New South Wales, the building is the second oldest in the suburb, although many modifications have been made to the interior spaces over the years, including Julie’s own architectural additions. The exterior, however, has a refined heritage charm, situated in a street fronted with similar homes and a sense of history.
Serene scheme
It’s Julie’s eye for mixing and matching decorative styles that really brings the home to life. Collections of wonderful finds are assembled throughout the house on antique dressers and tables to tell delightful visual stories. Decorative crucifixes appear time and time again as a motif throughout the house. She’s also cleverly put together a mix of artwork in mismatched sizes and styles with an assortment of frames to create a larger impact on singular walls. The overall eclectic look is pulled together by a crisp white backdrop throughout the entire home. Although many of the pieces are rustic and worn, the look is far from shabby; with the use of muted neutral tones, the house has a sense of understated luxury and a whimsical French-inspired polish.
A country kitchen
The combined kitchen and dining area appears to be straight from a delightful country farmhouse. All white cabinetry with ornate period handles create a simple workspace and exposed shelving displays vintage-inspired plates and platters of all shapes and sizes – all in white bone china. The impressive 10-seat dining table makes an inviting setting for family and friends and its warm timber hues are offset by classic white cane chairs. Retaining the original brick texture around the stove gives a sense of period charm, and the feature chandelier completes the look. Scattered on the dining table in bell jars, everyday objects as such balls of string and groups of candles make for interesting arrangements and create a wonderful visual story of simple country life.
Room by room
Throughout the interior, Julie created many cosy sitting nooks, establishing comfortable spaces to recline and relax. In the entry, a non-functional fireplace acts as a setting to display further collections of unique decorative finds. The country-style kitchen overlooks the open-plan main living area; a light-filled space with French doors on either side to give glimpses of the outdoor courtyards.The all white master bedroom is filled with light streaming through the wraparound plantation shutters. The unique architecture of this space includes high vaulted ceilings and a private dressing area accessed by a simple staircase behind the bed. The secondary bedrooms are filled with darker, more masculine-style antique furniture – but the look is far from heavy.
Story and Styling Tim Neve