For artist Whitney Spicer, her husband Tim and their three young children, the transformation of their newly renovated home has been a labour of love. Bought over four years ago as a restoration project, the 50-year-old farmhouse in Orange, NSW was renovated gradually – one room at a time – with natural materials relied upon to draw in the surrounding landscape and inject a nostalgic vibe into the design.
With no intent to match a particular style or aesthetic, the family allowed the design to evolve organically, resulting in a distinctive modern farmhouse look drawn on a material palette of wood, wicker, iron and stone. The slower process has allowed the family to spend time sourcing pieces they love, resulting in a home that feels loved and lived in.
The garage has been converted into the master bedroom with the design vision focussed on creating a luxurious parents’ retreat that would allow them space to relax and unwind away from the children. Featuring white wood panelling and natural oak floors, the bedroom is light and airy, with mismatched antique bedside tables and layered stone bed linen completing the look.
However, the ensuite is the highlight of the master bedroom project with Whitney designing the space around an antique bath recovered from the farm’s garden shed. Originally cast in eggshell porcelain with brass claw feet, the bath sits as a centrepiece of the sanctuary with the couple using natural tones and brass fixtures to create a seamless flow throughout the space.
The bathroom is spacious and luxurious, aided by the floating appearance of the frameless shower screen, which allows for an open flow through the space. Without the visual blockage of frames and fixtures, the natural stone floor tiles are able to run freely across the floor, amplifying the spatial effect of the bathroom.
The simple screen structure of a single wall gives the shower added width, with these grand proportions leaning into the luxurious feel.
