East Coast Classic - Grand Oasis

An 1860s cottage held by a family for five generations forms the sentimental heart of this palatial hamptons-inspired farmhouse

- Kylie Jackes

LIVING ROOM

Homeowners Natalee (pictured opposite) and husband Mark had long fantasised about buying the cottage that his great-grandfather built. When the dream was realised two years ago, a grand plan to renovate the decrepit little house was put into action. Natalee’s Hamptons-inspired vision is reflected in every element of the build and in the exquisite finer details. In the main living area (below), a soaring eight-metre-high ceiling and wall of French doors and transom windows, by Jason Windows, floods the room with natural light. The crowning glory is a one-metre-wide chandelier from One World, which hangs majestically over the lavish space. Prior to the floor plans being drawn up, Natalee – the founder of interior design brand Indah Island – had chosen and positioned almost all of the furniture. “I always visualise how I want spaces to look and the furniture I want, then design the size of the room accordingly,” she says. Key pieces include sofas from Molmic, a timber coffee table from Abide Interiors, rattan pieces available through Indah Island and a sea of blue and white custom cushions from Tigger Hall Design and Westbury Textiles.

Natalee and Mark’s home is well off the beaten track. Set on sprawling farmland in the Western Australian Wheatbelt, it’s a good hour-long drive from Perth and 20 minutes from the nearest country town, yet as you meander up their dusty driveway, this stately manor is impossible to miss. “It’s not your average farmhouse, it’s more like a beacon, particularly at night when it’s lit up – you can spot it two to three kilometres away,” says Natalee.