Hunters Hill House

by Brett Mickan Interior Design

An impressive sandstone home built in 1876 was purchased by a family with 4 young children. The house had been through several renovations over the years, the last one being in the 1980’s. The new owners wanted to update the design whilst being sympathetic to the beautiful architectural details of the original structure. The brief was for a design that would impress without being ostentatious and be robust enough to withstand 4 young children and regular entertaining. To revitalise the interiors in the older areas of the home, while emphasising the period details, we used a balance of bold hues to make the walls recede and allow for a considered collection of furniture and art from a mix of periods, each able to hold its own, as if exhibited in a gallery. In the kitchen / family room area, the wall of large sandstone blocks that was once the exterior of the home, gave us the warm grey colouring.

With an emphases on luxurious natural materials and simple lines, this light filled area works beautifully as the hub of the home. In the fit out of all wet areas, again we used traditional materials and referenced existing details in a clean lined layout. The home began its life as a sandstone cottage, so there was an emphases on not being frilly in the detailing. Even though the materials were luxurious the forms are simple. Filling the home with furnishings from a mix of periods makes the location and date of the interior somewhat ambiguous. The longevity of a design is a win for any client. When it was built, this home would have been a proud display of the owners best pieces. We’ve reinvented this sense with a collection of contemporary furniture, lighting and art. This mix feels right at home in this classic architecture and speaks of the new family that lives here.

Image Credits:

Images 1-5, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22: Thomas Dalhoff

Images 6-13, 15, 16, 18, 20: Pablo Veiga