100-year-old weatherboard cottage comes back to life

The charming coastal facade was given a lift with a good clean and plenty of white paint. Teamed with the masses of greenery, including tropical palms and frangipanis, it has a fresh and inviting street appeal.

The owners built the flat-pack Ikea kitchen cabinetry in an afternoon and then had a carpenter install it. Fearing an all-white kitchen would look too bland, they paired the units with open shelves made from recycled wharf timbers.

The custom-made plywood unit displays a mix of sentimental favourites alongside a few of the couple’s much-loved books. Adding to the earthy feel is a ‘Madras’ rug from Freedom, wooden stool and vintage side table from Arikaya, with colour hits provided by Grace Garrett cushions. 

The owners chose muted tones for the bedroom, and added a mix of textiles to the tranquil space. The framed screenprint is a Florence Broadhurst design from Signature Prints and the macramé wall hanging came from Arikaya. Other pieces, including the bedspread, which was bought in Bali, were collected on various travels.  

Getting ready for their daughter’s arrival was an exciting time for the parents-to-be, especially as friends started gifting beautiful pieces like the Stokke cot. Sweet and sentimental artworks – including an illustration print by Catherine Campbell and a Jai Vasicek ‘Geo Deer’ tile from Ahoy Trader – grace the walls, while floating display bookshelves and a tepee draped in an old lace curtain bring interest and whimsy. The pendant is from Ikea, and the striped ‘Orange Big Top’ cushion by Rachel Castle is available at Koskela.

The footprint of the washzone remained unchanged, but a full suite of new fixtures and finishes delivers a fresh, modern feel. Pennyround mosaics from Exclusive Tiles and a Cibo vanity offer pared-back luxury, while square ceramic floor tiles from Exclusive Tiles gave a concrete look at an inexpensive price. Wire baskets and indoor plants add a homely touch, with timber pieces providing raw appeal. 

A walnut-finished Nisse Strinning ‘String System’ from Great Dane Furniture doubles as display space and a home office in the living area. The couple collected much of their Indigenous
art collection while working on location in the film industry. Here, a colourful piece by Jeannie Mills hangs beside a landscape by Roberta Daylight, from Warmun Art Centre in Western Australia. The orange and yellow vases were from Myer.

Hours were spent trawling through salvage yards and antiques stores before finding this vintage timber chemist’s table for the dining zone. The stools were picked up from Epoch Design Co in Sydney’s Manly. The framed ‘Wild Horses’ print by Kara Rosenlund was a gift.

The bentwood stools were an eBay find.

The family wanted an outdoor area that felt like an extra room, and could also accommodate their large table. With the addition of a separate kitchen station, dinner can go from barbecue to table in a flash when friends come over.