Australian Country Homes Issue 18

Australian Country Homes celebrates the warmth of the country aesthetic. We open the doors to some of Australia’s most interesting homes and see the enviable everyday lives of those who have made the move to a calmer, more welcoming and personally enriched way of living. Brought to you by Australian Country magazine, this new quarterly publication showcases the best of Australian country residences; from the weekender to the station homestead, the farmhouse to the historical home. Australian Country Homes covers the length and breadth of Australia. In every edition of Australian Country Homes you will see inspiring ideas from real Aussies on real budgets just getting out there and creating wonderfully warm environments. You will also experience rare glimpses into the families and businesses behind some of Australia’s most desirable lifestyles. Tour the styles, the plans, and the self-made touches that create a welcoming country home.

R 39,13

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From the editor

Hello dear readers, And welcome to another issue of Australian Country Homes. As we prepare this issue, the world is in yet another state of flux. From war to extreme weather events, we are seeing and feeling it all. The home has never felt so needed as we seek sanctuary and comfort in the familiar. In this issue, we celebrate some of our favourite country homes that we have visited throughout the years. We also take a trip overseas to South Africa, where we discover a gorgeous artist seaside residence that we’d just love to spend some time in. There’s also a special new feature in this issue. Going forward, Australian Country Homes will have a Period Style bonus. This mini magazine celebrates some of the things we love most about period style,…

1 min

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Marketplace

LOOP COLLECTION BY VINCENT SHEPPARD Attractive design and amazing functionality — Loop combines the best of both worlds. The Loop Collection is light to handle and move around, allowing you to follow the sun effortlessly. In terms of design, the see-through chairs give a light, uninterrupted look to a verandah or terrace, allowing air to circulate through the tautly strung construction. This collection embodies simplicity while adding a modern edge. The Loop Collection is available now from Cotswold InOut Furniture in black, white or coal, and price is available on application. cotswoldfurniture.com.au JARDIN BIRD COLLECTION Let your imagination take flight with the Jardin Bird Collection from Le Forge Furniture. These glazed terracotta delights make a stunning addition to any garden or sunroom, with their curved shape and subtle colouring blending with many design…

4 min

In This Issue

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

A holiday home poses a very particular challenge to a designer — it must be all things to all people. An oasis of calm, a beacon of fun, a showcase for signature style — it needs to tick all the boxes but not at the expense of any single one. This kind of task needs a cohesive team and a clear vision, and this particular beach house in Plettenberg Bay (one of the most popular and sought-after spots on South Africa’s Garden Route coastal stretch, and an idyllic holidaymakers town) had both, as well as benefitting from the fact that the team in question are long-time friends. A lot of thought went into creating spaces for everyone, from a study to escape to when the house is noisy and a pool…

5 min

In This Issue

BORN-AGAIN BARFIELD

No matter the time of year, memories of precious moments shared around the festive table at Barfield station are still fresh in the minds of those who scored an invite. “We have an annual Christmas party inviting all our neighbours and friends along Barfield Road,” Melinee Leather, who owns Barfield with her husband, Robert, and is the resident Jill-of-all-trades, says. “Santa arrives with presents for the kids and a meal is shared under the stars on the front lawn. All our guests leave with a handmade gingerbread house, which is decorated by anyone lucky enough to be visiting on the day of their construction. We have done this wherever we have lived since our children were born. Now we are making memories for our grandchildren.” Melinee and Robert have always centred…

5 min

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HOSPITALITY HEROES

After 23 years running the multi-award-winning Thorn Park Country House in the Clare Valley, owners David Hay and Michael Speers decided it was time to slow down. Far from their initial plans of retirement, the couple sold the original property in 2011 and purpose-built a smaller version of the bed and breakfast. Much to the relief of frequent travellers to this region, their South Australian institution was to live on. Renamed Thorn Park by the Vines, the property is located at Sevenhill in the heart of Clare wine country. While the house design followed the same 1850s architectural style of the original B&B, it was a modern interpretation. An interior designer in a former life, David says his goal was to achieve a sense of familiarity with a more contemporary finish.…

6 min

In This Issue

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

There’s no such thing as land that can’t be cultivated, according to Jane Phillips … there are merely challenges awaiting a determined gardener. Jane has spent most of her adult life putting this theory to the test and the gardens at the home and holiday cottage she shares with partner, Dave Sherriff, on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula are testament to her vision and perseverance. Jane grew up in the Clare Valley as part of the celebrated Ashby pastoral family, founders of both North Ashrose Merino and Bundaleer Shorthorn studs. The landmark bluestone homesteads of her home country usually came with equally impressive gardens, so she says a green thumb was part of her DNA. By her own account, she was sent to Adelaide’s prestigious Methodist Ladies’ College “where they failed to make…

4 min