Very Versailles |
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“But, apart from the expense and hard work involved, we felt by adding something we’d lose something as well. Now we can stand in one place in the lounge and see into most of the other rooms and we love that,” says Deb.
Tight budgets are well known for inspiring innovation and, though the Bells’ transformation references the French chateau style, their budget wasn’t at all grand. The most striking and ornate pieces – the vivid green bookshelf, oversized mirrors, fire surround and bedroom suites – all look three centuries old but are in fact much younger. They were mostly plain and functional second-hand finds given new life with paint finishes and timber mouldings from the local hardware store.
“As we renovated, we were conscious of building spaces to display the things we love. We don’t understand the meanness of minimalism,” says Deb. “We both have a lot of interests and like to be surrounded by proof of their existence. We don’t even mind the occasional mess about the place.”
La Maison des Portes sparkles with reflected light from the chandeliers in every room. They look expensive, but they are mostly lighting chain store purchases individualised by Deb.
Reflecting the theme of the home, the large garden is laid out in formal European style. There’s a knot garden in buxus and lonicera with an urn atop a central pillar, topiary in quirky shapes, a secret garden encircled by four brick pillars also bearing urns, dozens of rose bushes, a potager and a fruit orchard.
Now that all the hard work has been done, the pair take great pleasure in their home. Mark loves to wander around the garden in the early morning with his daily espresso and Molly, the fox terrier. Deb’s favourite time is spent in the living room with its view of the garden, watching the low winter sunlight paint the walls as it reflects off the coloured chandeliers.
Time will tell whether the Bells heed the siren call of serial renovation and move on to other challenges. Mark has already floated the idea of swapping the property for a house on Coochiemudlo, a tiny island off the coast of south-east Queensland. He knows his wife may take a little convincing. For starters, she’d miss all the entertaining.
“It’s like a train station here sometimes,” says Deb. “We have dinner parties, coffee mornings and afternoon teas. We all fit around the small dining table and guests help themselves to food from the butler’s tray nearby.
“Often people invite themselves over simply because they want their fix of the house.”
Story: Jesma Magill
Photographs: Anneliese Hough
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