Clockwise
from right:
Barn doors connect
the bedroom and
ensuite; dusty pink
provides a bedroom
accent; elegant
marble tiles in the
ensuite bathroom.22 australiancountry.net.auAT HOME IN THE COUNTRY
beautiful farmhouse ambience by upcycling old furniture.
“I’ve always had a love for interior decorating or anything
crafty,” she says. “My first attempt at refurbishing furniture
was in my early 20s with an antique wardrobe I stripped
back and restained. My dad is pretty handy, too, so I used to
come up with ideas for furniture and he would build them
for me. I designed a change table when I had babies and I
think he ended up having to make about four others for
family and friends!”
There’s now plenty of room for their cherished old
friends from Clermont, who are always welcomed by the
scent of freshly baked scones made by 13-year-old Hollin,
the resident pastry chef. “She has perfected choc-chip
scones,” Jules says proudly. New friends are never far off ,
either — the former owners of the family’s haven have
become much more than neighbours. “They are lovely
people and we have enjoyed being able to know the history
of this place and the reasons why things were done,” Jules
observes. “The kids love visiting them and it’s nice to have
someone look out for us while Matt is away.”
They’ve named their home Diamond Cottage and it’ll
no doubt be the centre of many more treasured times
ahead. “We have never looked back,” Jules says. “It has been
the most life-changing and amazing experience. We’re so
glad we did it.”