Brief:
Infuse the country property with warmth, intriguing tones and a space for the entire family.
Response:
Initially engaged by the clients in 2019, it was clear from the very beginning that Hollydene Park was going to be a complex job, with countless hurdles, delays and frustrations imminent. The property was uninhabitable, save for the sheep, possums, birds and other creatures looking for shelter that called it home.
The original floor plan was a maze of rooms and hallways, taking us several walk-throughs to understand the layout. Damage throughout the property was rampant: large cracks in the walls, the flooring rotten and dangerous. The existing pool had not been used or maintained for years, feeling more like a pond with its green colour and reeds growing out of it. The gardens too were non-existent, needing to be started from scratch. What we now call the Carriage House was a garage of sorts, totally run down and covered in sheep manure, with change rooms branching off.
Everything required a complete overhaul – electrics, plumbing, flooring, landscaping, new windows – the list was endless. However, despite all of this, I saw the charm and had a vision for what this home could be.
The brief was to transform Hollydene Park into a comfortable country home for the clients, with a private wing for themselves and the rest of property available for accommodating large groups of people.
The Carriage House was to become independent accommodation and we were tasked with converting the pool into a luxury, resort-style oasis, with garden rooms and areas of interest around the house to evoke a sense of peace and calm, complimentary to the country scenery and lifestyle.
Deciding on the layout was crucial, considering budget and how to maximise the property and space available to get the best possible results. We introduced extra bathrooms and powder rooms, as such a large house was lacking in these areas. Once we had the layout, schedules, design and materials, we sourced local builders and tradesmen, as well as engaging other teams from the Central Coast and Newcastle, to begin the renovation process.
One of the many highlights for The Essential Detail was the selection of the cornice, being a Victorian Paddington oversized style which was ornate but necessary for a home of this size, as we were working with high ceilings and knew the house could accommodate it. This element was a mission in itself, as supplying and installing such large cornices requires talent. To compliment this feature, we used oversized skirtings throughout the property.
Another highlight was the removal of walls to open up the kitchen and living areas, creating a large, welcoming country kitchen and pantry with shaker-style joinery and special features on the ends of the island and over the range hood.
The Winter Room (as we like to call the formal lounge room) has been turned into a welcome getaway to snuggle up and enjoy the gas log fireplace. This room can also be closed off using custom-made, oversized barn doors.
Due to the overall size of the property, everything was custom-made throughout, including the oversized dining table using recycled timber and a steel base, created by a local craftsman. The bathrooms all have a similar theme of black and white, with custom-made vanities and mirror shaving cabinets, which we feel are timeless and elegant.
The Mud Room is another incredible space and is perhaps the unsung hero of the property, being the place where you can come in from outside, remove wet and muddy clothes and freshen up before moving into the rest of the home. With an adjoining bathroom for showering, the black and white floor tiles bring life and interest to the room. The picture window frames the garden and custom joinery was designed and manufactured to create the console and seating area.
Each bedroom has an Australian flower theme, and we used five or six different styles of fabric to create the wonderful layering effect of colour. Each piece was selected individually and primarily features works by Australian artists printed onto the chosen fabrics. These pieces were sent to our workroom to be made into bedheads, curtains, cushions and other styling pieces. All wardrobes and bag storage areas were custom-made to suit each room.
The pool transformed from very much the ugly duckling to something truly unique. It was difficult to engage a pool company, as most felt that the job was simply fanciful. Eventually, we found a Central Coast business willing to embrace our vision and refurbish the dilapidated shell and surrounds, including large amounts of new concrete to create a deck and cabana. This was not an easy task, and there were lots of challenges along the way to reach the end result which we now feel is breathtaking.
As with every detail and selection, the pool fence was another highlight. We wanted a style to suit the country property and be able to see through the fence, without having the maintenance of glass. Ultimately, we selected an aluminium screen, coupled with hardwood posts and were fortunate to have a local builder on board who was very clever at adapting our plans and ideas and turning them into reality. We also used a local stone mason and locally-sourced stone to create the retaining walls.
With the gardens, the vision was to create a landscape that flowed and was predominantly white. With some beautiful original trees in place, after pruning and hard work they are now coming into their own. We created a working vegetable garden around the side of the house, as well as an orchard, chook-house and firepit area, with lovely lawns to wander over and hidden paths to explore.
Many days were spent sourcing the furnishings for the main house and the Carriage House, as both spaces needed to be cosy and suit the country-style of the property. The clients selected some wonderful artworks that created a sense of warmth and made the home feel very comfortable and enjoyable to live in.
The lighting was carefully selected and a detailed layout was created for inside the house, as well as the gardens. The home comes to life at night with the soft lighting that was installed in both the indoor and outdoor areas – truly magical. Lighting is sometimes neglected but is essential to lift any project to another level. The property was converted to Smart Technology and we also introduced solar to assist with the running of the property in an eco-friendly and sustainable way.
The Carriage House was wonderful to create as it was originally a garage and essentially a blank canvas. The new layout included a living space with a kitchenette, bedroom, full bathroom and a gym. We brought in some fun design elements such as the tiles in the bathroom, as the space overall was a little dark and needed to be lifted. The furniture in this area had to be robust and able to cope with tenants that may rent the house, so we went with vegan leather modular and leather dining chairs to create a country feel throughout. In the kitchen, we used navy within the colour palette to tie into the tiles in the bathroom, and all joinery throughout the house was custom-designed and built.
Hollydene Park has been a journey of work over a few years, creating a beautiful home from the front gate design, all the way through to the back gate. We are extremely proud to have been involved in this project.
