Beautiful homes: Heritage charm

In the home’s new extension, made up of the kitchen and a combined dining and living room, the muted colour scheme provides an unobtrusive backdrop to an elegant mix of antique and provincial-style furniture. Filled with favourite finds, the lounge area is a perfect mix of relaxed and refined. Rattan tub chairs from Dare Gallery join a hessian stool and a comfy linen sofa, both from Schots Home Emporium. Overhead, the sophisticated fabric pendants were found at Period Details. A sizeable wool rug from Carpet Call delineates the living zone from the rest of the open-plan space.

Symmetry is key to this traditionally styled open-plan kitchen, with two large windows flanking the generous freestanding cooker from Prestige Appliances. In front, the Bianco Gioia marble-topped island bench does triple duty, acting as an informal eating area, prep zone and storage unit.

Eye-catching vignettes of antique finds are artfully displayed on the ‘Obernai’ timber library cabinet from Provincial Home Living, adding character and charm to the home’s new extension.

Soft white walls are teamed with caramel cream carpeted floors in Joanne and Russell’s serene master bedroom. An elegant chandelier from Schots Home Emporium, upholstered linen bed and blue ticking pillowcases, both from Provincial Home Living, all lend a French influence, while the antique dressmaker’s mannequin adds a vintage flourish.

Situated at the front of the house, the sisters’ shared bedroom is accessorised with floral bedlinen from Holy Sheet and a playful paper lantern from Vivid Room. Wrought-iron beds picked up on Ebay were hand-painted, and add a traditional touch.

A finalist in HB’s ‘Beautiful Rooms’ 2012 competition, this spacious bathroom’s glamorous visage belies its function as the only bathing zone for a busy family of five. It comes complete with twin butler-style basins from Builders Renovators Warehouse, a large double shower and a traditional claw-foot bath from Richmond Second Hand Building Materials.

As the only bathroom in the house, it also doubles as an adults’ tranquil spa retreat, with luxurious marble countertops, elegant wood-panelled joinery and a delicate chandelier from Mirabella. Ornate silver framed mirrors from Print Decor are paired with Bastow taps and chic plantation shutters. A white timber towel ladder from Recollections is a stylish alternative to a standard rail.

This five-year-old’s room is filled with playful touches. Timber plantation shutters are teamed with rattan toy boxes and traditional cast-iron beds from Ebay dressed in Adairs linen. Colour is injected with a selection of vibrant toys, a paper lantern from Vivid Room and a bright artwork by Meredith Gaston.

Heritage design is evident in every corner of this home. The reinstated high skirting boards, intricate cornicing, wood-panelled walls and traditional joinery all work cohesively for an authentic ambience.