Bluestone beauty

Tracking down authentic period features and antique furniture for an old home can be a time-consuming and frustrating process but the search can often uncover forgotten gems.

In this 1840s Melbourne homestead, elements of the original fabric were hidden beneath false ceilings and smothered under layers of paint. The homeowner even found original mantelpieces and doors in the shed. It was, says interior designer Kay Erwin, a home no longer fit for habitation, but it had fine proportions and good bones.

"When I had my first meeting with the homeowner, I could see the property was pretty dilapidated. But the owner wanted to keep the period style and personality of the original home, only without the dark interiors and he definitely wanted the convenience of modern, indoor bathrooms," she says.

As was common at the time, the homestead has a large kitchen, where the original settler family lived while they were building their home. The architect retained the original seven-bedroom homestead and kitchen, and built a glazed one-storey extension that provides daily living quarters for the homeowner.

The floor plan and architectural features have been preserved, as part of recreating the pioneer atmosphere. Erwin restored the cornices, doors, skirting boards and ceiling roses. The timber flooring, most of it original, has been sealed with beeswax to enhance its natural tones and grain.

Several elements have been custom made for the project, such as brass picture rails and doors for the rear of the property, which were needed to replace the weather-beaten originals.

In the dining room, four large mirrors lighten the space and make the room appear larger, just as they would have done when the home relied on gaslight and candles for illumination. The antique table seats 18 people, and is set with antique Wedgwood china. The renovation of the drawing room emulates its original decor and purpose a formal sitting room reserved for Sunday best.

"Normally I have to imagine how people will live in a space. For this project, I had to imagine how people would have lived in another era," says Erwin. "However, I did need to commission larger reproduction chairs as a sturdier option to original antiques as the current homeowner's family is fairly tall."

Typical of its period, a large patterned rug covers much of the timber flooring in this room, and similar rugs cover the floors elsewhere.

"I've chosen rugs that have a strong element of blue, as the homeowner had several blue objects and liked this colour. The blue also works well with the cream-coloured walls," she says.

In the master bedroom, built-in wardrobes have been removed and an antique mirrored wardrobe put in their place. Heavy drapes at the window are paired with light voile curtains underneath, tied back with ribbons.

A covered walkway links the homestead with the modern extension, where a mix of antique and more modern pieces helps blur the boundaries between the old and new architecture.

The merging of the two eras is also helped by selecting colours and materials that mirror those used in the original building. The same bluestone, for example, is used for the portal frames around the kitchen and part of the exterior walls.

The single-storey addition comprises an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area, master bedroom and walk-in wardrobe.

"The owner wanted the new extension to be low-maintenance, with an easy indoor-outdoor flow it's just a step away from the outdoor spa and barbecue," says Kay Erwin.

Story by: Alison Wall