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A former bacon factory becomes a simply beautiful family home

By Jen Bishop โ€ข Leave a Comment

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This is an edited extract from The Poetry of Spaces by Sarah Andrews, published by Hardie Grant Books and out now.

Factoria VII, Adelaide Hills

Iโ€™ve adored this space for many years, coming across it after following its ownersโ€™ store, Poetโ€™s Ode in the Adelaide Hills, which stocked the most delightful things. Handcrafted ceramics, a cushion cover dyed with plant-based dyes, an amazing scent, a vintage oil painting. Everything was simply displayed on old tables or cabinets, and classes, often by local makers, and exhibitions were held in a big room out the back. There was such a calm yet quietly thrilling feeling about Poetโ€™s Ode; it was created with such conviction for the simple, beautiful and rare things, and I always got the sense that they got as much out of their finds as all their customers did.

That sense of calm and conviction carries through to the house they lived in in a village in the Hills. It was built in the 1870s as a bacon factory (who knew such a thing existed!), and while anyone else might have been tempted to knock the industrial beginnings out of the building to turn it into a home, what I love about the approach to this  space is its celebration of simplicity. 

Just letting a beautiful thing be a beautiful thing. Sounds so basic, but itโ€™s rare to find in this world where everyone is eager to put their stamp on things and bring them into line with what everyone else is doing. 

The balance between the house itself, and the family that lives inside is, to me, a symphony. The homeโ€™s rough stone walls, its timber beams. Sitting perfectly besides what has been found, treasured, restored, curated, collected and foraged. 

What I love, too, is that the owners have known when to stop with their own belongings and let the space continue with its own charm โ€“ the lintel above a door is left raw; the jarrah flooring has been stained a dark colour; the stoves and flues are black and utilitarian. And thereโ€™s an industrial-style bench in the kitchen, inspired by the buildingโ€™s previous use as a factory. 

The simple approach is refreshing โ€“ the vintage paintings, without frames, hanging on bulldog clips, curling at the edges. I think about how different this house would be if it were filled with perfection. Polished golden frames. Mirror-finished antiques, pin straight built-in modern kitchen. 

Here, thereโ€™s a story in every corner that makes me want to linger. The commitment to honesty follows through to the window coverings โ€“ fabric draped over a pole or pinned to rafters and knotted, or a painted shutter, shaped to follow the curve of the window. I canโ€™t tell you how happy it makes me just looking at such unadorned beauty. 

Every now and then thereโ€™s a surprise โ€“ the vintage sofa restored in deep blue velvet is unexpected, making it even more curious. Most furniture and bits and pieces had, at some point, been at Poetโ€™s Ode โ€“ I believe itโ€™s a good thing to use what you have, as much as possible. The owners had probably not expected to be living with pieces they had curated for the shop, and perhaps a blue velvet sofa may not have been their first choice, but it works brilliantly here. 

I wanted to show you this home for its sense of conviction to celebrate what it is, what the owners treasure. I admire their sense of balance and restraint. The result is a home that will be forever beautiful. Forever a respite from all that is overwhelming about a fast paced, over-saturated life. 

The Poetry of Spaces is out now, published by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $65.

A Byron Bay ‘new old house’ filled with playful moments
There are pockets within Byron town where creativity and community come together as a welcoming gesture. โ€ฆ
How to elevate your living room by stylist Natalie Walton
This is an edited extract from the new book Style: The Art of Creating a Beautiful Home by Natalie Walton. โ€ฆ

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October 11, 2023

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Love this one ๐Ÿ˜ The brief was simple โ€“ to de Love this one ๐Ÿ˜

The brief was simple โ€“ to deliver a functional, light filled, beautiful and contemporary family home that honoured the history of the old interwar home, whilst being financially efficient,โ€ says @splinter_society_architectureโ€™s Asha Nicholas.

On the homepage now via link in bio.

#interwararchitecture #heritagearchitecture #heritageaddition #heritagefacade #heritagerenovation #heritagefeatures #splintersocietyarchitecture #doubleheightspace #moodywalls #moodyinteriors #paintedbrick #originalfireplace #heritagefire 

Photos: @sharyncairns
๐Ÿ’ฆ Summer's here and if you don't already have a ๐Ÿ’ฆ Summer's here and if you don't already have a pool, you might be wishingย you did, or planning one for next year!

Funnily enough, I've never wantedย a pool but that may be because I grew up in England!๐Ÿคฃ

The votes are in for Australia's best pools and we have them all on the blog today. Via link in bio.

From tiny backyardย plunge pools to big family pools with slides, acreage pools, Hamptonsย pools, shipping container pools, pools with views, spas and glass windows, pools on sloping blocksย and everything you could think of in between!

Do you have a pool? Do you use it a lot? Do you wish you had one?

#poolgoals #backyardpools #plungepool #plungepools #pooldesign #poollandscape #poollandscaping #infinitypool
#shippingcontainerpool #hamptonspool
At the weekend, Seb asked if he could put a box of At the weekend, Seb asked if he could put a box of drawings out the front of the house to sell and raise money for the homeless at Christmas.

Of course I planned to sneak my own coins into the box when he wasn't looking, but then a lovely passer by left this note and $5 in an envelope "To the artist" and made his day ๐Ÿฅฐ

I want my kids to be kind and empathetic above all else โค๏ธ You bet I'm proud of him for coming up with this idea himself.

And as grownups, let's be the people who leave a note and encourage this sort of thing ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป
A or (swipe) B? This divine coloured concrete Jun A or (swipe) B?

This divine coloured concrete Juno bath from @nood_co (available in 21 colours) or this fluted number (available in 1500 or 1700mm length) from @highgrovebathrooms?

Baths are no longer the basic that you choose all your statement tiles and tapware around. Now the tub can BE the statement!

Just two of the new products featured in this week's bathroom roundup, on the blog now via link in bio.

#statementbath #featurebath #bathlover #bathtubgoals #bathtubdesign #bathtubs #freestandingbath #bathroomniche #bathroomtrends2023 #concretebathroom #concretebath #concretebathtub #colouredconcrete #concretebasin #bathgoals #bathtubsofinstagram #noodco #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #highgrovebathrooms
Summer ๐ŸŒž๐Ÿ’ฆ๐ŸŒธ #hydrangeas #hydrangea #aussi Summer ๐ŸŒž๐Ÿ’ฆ๐ŸŒธ

#hydrangeas #hydrangea #aussiekids #aussiesummer #aussiebackyard #trampolines #hydrangealove #hydrangeaflower #hydrangeaseason #sprinklerfun
Victorians, are you still allowed to have gas in y Victorians, are you still allowed to have gas in your home? We share the ins and outs on what you need to know about the new rule in Victoria when it comes to your energy.

The good news is, for most people nothing will change, however if you are planning a new build/renovation that requires a planning permit โ€“ you will need toย speak to your builder toย get your permitย lodgedย before 1 January 2024!

ย Weโ€™re here to answer all your questions with the help of @australiangasnetworks!ย Read more via link in bio now.

ย #cookingongas #gaspower #gasconnection #australiangasnetworks #australiangas #australiangasnetworks #gasappliances #gascooker #gasfireplace #gasbarbecue #gasfire #gasstove #gashotwater #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #realrenos
Our ever popular top places to buy Australian bed Our ever popular top places to buy Australian bed linen online post has been updated for 2023! Head to the blog now via link in bio to get some bedroom inspiration!

Whether you liked classic stripes, fun florals, moody linen or cotton covers, we have something for you!

#bedroomstyle #bedlinens #bedroomrefresh #bedlinen #bedroomgoals๐Ÿ˜ #bedroomstyling #bedsheet #bedsheetonline #bedsheetlovers #duvetcover #doona #freshsheets #freshsheet #newbedroom #bedroomstyle #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
The owner of Noosa homewares and furniture mecca @ The owner of Noosa homewares and furniture mecca @coastalvintage, Sally Oulton travels the globe looking for amazing interior finds. And now you can join her on one of her bespoke interior sourcing tours to Bali where youโ€™ll be taken far from the crowds to discover the best homewares and furniture that the Indonesian paradise has to offer. Read all about it via link in bio.

#baliindonesia #balishopping #balishop #balisourcing #balihomewares #balihomedecor #balitrip #balistyle #baliinteriors #baliinterior #baliinteriordesign
Just capturing Mr 5 here before he stops going to Just capturing Mr 5 here before he stops going to daycare and preschool next month and becomes a school boy. All the feels ๐Ÿ˜ญโค๏ธ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 10 years. She is mum to two young boys and lives in Sydney.

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