In fulfilling her dream of a country home, Jan used her creative skills to maximum decorating effect.
It had almost no street appeal. in fact, it had no street appeal at all. Jan and Greg drove past the house four times before she even agreed to go inside. “I told Greg I didn’t want it, that it was ugly,” says Jan. “We were running a wedding venue decoration business in our present home and needed more space. Even the garage was completely full with all our stock. We needed another place but I thought, not this one.”
MUCH TO LOVE
An agent had told them about the spacious house in Lorn, in the lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, and eventually they went to have a look. Once inside, the couple discovered they loved the house as it had a good layout and spacious rooms. The existing rich green paint shade in the lounge and entry hall was perfect for them, as were the white-painted fireplace surround and dark timber mantelpiece. The living area not only had picture rails, it also had a more unusual shallow plate shelf above. In the stairway room, two antique American candle sconces struck a lovely note. Even in the garden, the bones of the landscaping were good.
CREATING STREET APPEAL
As is usually the case, there was still work to be done, starting with the distinctly discouraging streetscape. The front brick fence was repaired and painted and iron inserts were added. A focal point was created by placing a striking fountain amidst old brick paving and surrounding the area with Buxus hedging.
Jan was quick to change one of the porch features she detested the most: two ‘gargoyle-style lions’ that flanked the front steps. They were replaced by simple and stylish sandstone globes. To banish the gloomy and uninviting look of the dark brick, the front verandah was given a light lift with white trim and rattan furniture. Small planters of colourful seasonal flowers add more bright colours.
REBUILDING THE KITCHEN
Grant Sheldon of Sheldon’s Timber Kitchens in Teralba, NSW, built a new kitchen in the footprint of the existing one. It was in the old verandah, which the previous owners had enclosed. Two timber pillars were incorporated into an island bench and the dark timber floors were retained.
An inveterate reader of Country Home Ideas, Jan knew what she wanted and took pictures from the magazine to her consultations. A painted finish was the key to the look and Grant Sheldon calls it ‘Elegant White’. The countertops are Caesarstone Whisper White and the island bench incorporates a butler’s sink. And, again, inspired by Country Home Ideas, Jan opted for exposed cupboard hinges and requested a bespoke plate rack.
A TRADITIONAL BATHROOM
In keeping with the look of the house, the bathroom has a traditional style with the floor in classic black-and-white chequerboard tiles. Wainscoting from Bunnings is on the walls, painted in Dulux White Duck.
The toilet suite was replaced and the pedestal sink given classic chrome taps. An impressive freestanding claw-foot bathtub holds pride of place, while a pendant leadlight lamp made by Jan hangs directly over it. When designing the light, she says she took a simple pattern and “busied it up” for a stunning effect.
TIPS FROM JAN
• Don’t fi x what isn’t broken. Jan and Greg kept the wall colour in the lounge and stairway rooms as well as the dark timber pillars in the kitchen.
• Re-use and recycle. Jan kept antique candle sconces already in the house, and used pieces from their old home to create the decor.
• Use your own skills. Greg built a dovecote and did the bathroom tiling as well as all the landscaping, while Jan used her leadlighting skills in several different places.
• Buy things when you see them. The white-painted dining setting was spotted at a secondhand shop and bought at a time when it wasn’t actually needed. But it’s now in a perfect spot in their Lorn home.
Story by Jebby Phillips
Photography by Ryan Hernandez
Styling by Kathryn Borglund