THE SEEKERS

OVER, MORE THAN A DECADE, A COUPLE POURED THEIR PASSION INTO TWO HOMES, LAYERING SPACES WITH PATTERN, COLOUR, WHIMSY AND CHARM

- KYLIE JACKES

Sue and Justin have enjoyed living in older homes in various parts of the world, from a genuine Californian bungalow in California, a 15th century cottage in the English county of Norfolk, to a Victorian brick terrace in Melbourne.

A common thread has been Sue's interior style, which melds vintage finds and a joyful kaleidoscope of artwork and textiles. "I've become bolder over the years, each house has been more colourful than the last," says Sue. When the couple sold their former Brisbane home - the new owner was so enamoured with the interiors they bought the entire contents with the home. "All we took with us were our clothes, photos, books and two pieces of furniture which had belonged to my grandmother," says Sue.

For the couple, whose adult sons had flown the nest, being untethered from possessions presented an exciting opportunity to start afresh, gently transition into retirement and embrace a tree change to Eumundi in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland. Keen to tackle a project, they knew they'd found 'the one when they stumbled upon a semi-renovated, circa 1910 farmhouse on two acres. "It instantly felt right and offered scope to add our own touches," says Sue. Serendipitously, the move also led to an unexpected 'second career', with Sue, a former nurse, 'falling into making lamp shades. "I'd always loved lamps and making the shades has been a wonderful creative outlet to indulge my passion for fabrics and interiors," says Sue.