Full CIRCLE

A gentle renovation and a relaxed decorative approach has seen Marie Cottrell's much-loved family home return to its past glory

- WORDS EMMA J PAGE

When Marie Cottrell first visited the 1930s building that she now lives in with her family, it felt like a homecoming of sorts. 'The lady who owned it was German,' recalls Marie, who herself has Dutch-German heritage. 'The house had a slightly European feel in the way it was decorated thanks to its relaxed blend of family pieces and soft colours. I instantly felt a connection to the place, which reminded me a little of how I had grown up.'

Both Marie and her husband Tom come from large families so they were searching for a home with a generous garden and the flexibility for them to put down roots. 'I'm one of seven, and as children, we always gravitated towards the kitchen,' recalls Marie, 'so I knew that a large, open-plan space was going to be important for us.' The couple also wanted to find a home that could accommodate the changing needs of their own growing brood, including Francis, eight, Wolfgang, seven, and Cecilia, four.