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A super stylish heritage home makeover in rural NSW

By Amy Collins-Walker •

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After moving to Australia over 20 years ago from Mexico, Cecilia Mazadiego was very happy living in the Sydney seaside suburb of Clovelly with her property developer husband Sam Brewer and their young son Luca. But with the onset of COVID-19 and the initial lockdown, the family escaped to their beloved Kangaroo Valley and decided to make the move permanent as a result.

“We purchased a farm in Kangaroo Valley four years ago so know the area well. My husband fell in love with farm life – we have cattle. I didn’t want to leave Sydney but after spending four months here last year I fell in love with it too,” says Cecilia.

BEFORE front
BEFORE front
AFTER front
AFTER front. What an overhaul! The house was painted in Dulux Beige Antiquity with trims in Dulux Vivid White

After deciding to move, it became apparent that it was going to be difficult to find a house to purchase (their farm has no dwelling on it), given most properties are heavily booked as holiday rentals. “This little cottage came on the market, and we checked it out. We thought we could do a quick reno and move in,” says Cecilia of the gorgeous 1918 home that she overhauled with the help of architect Gian Cerruti over a nine month period. “Sam and I were very involved with everything. I chose all the finishes and colours,” says Cecilia.

BEFORE lounge
BEFORE lounge
AFTER lounge
AFTER lounge. The period light fitting was purchased from Chippendale Restorations in Sydney.

“We wanted to keep the heritage house and re-use whatever we could and bring it alive. It was very beautiful. For the back addition, we were careful to build something that didn’t dominate the heritage front. We wanted something that blended so that the transition was smooth,” says Cecilia.

BEFORE master bedroom
BEFORE master bedroom
AFTER master bedroom
AFTER master bedroom. Dulux Viridis paint features.
Ensuite
Ensuite. All of the tiles were sourced from Onsite and the basin is from Astra Walker.
Ensuite
The ensuite also features a luxurious Victoria + Albert freestanding bath tub

From picture rails to decorative ceilings, timber windows and Huon pine floors, the original home has plenty of gorgeous details – they just needed some love. “Those details really are the essence of the home,” says Cecilia who improved the original home’s light and ventilation by adding extra matching period windows that were salvaged from the back of the original home.

BEFORE guest bedroom
BEFORE guest bedroom
AFTER guest bedroom
AFTER guest bedroom. The rattan bedhead is from Yak + Yeti Trader while Dulux Grey Pail features on the walls.
Luca's bedroom features the gorgeous House of Orange Frankie bunk bed
Luca’s bedroom features the stylish House of Orange Frankie bunk bed and Dulux Grey Pail paint
Bathroom
Bathroom

The light-filled rear extension features concrete, recycled bricks and black steel windows in an area that includes an open plan kitchen, dining, formal living room, office and laundry. “We used recycled timber beams on the ceiling. It was really beautiful to see how it looked altogether without overpowering the original house,” says Cecilia.

Kitchen and lounge
Kitchen and lounge

One of the biggest splurges of the renovation, the extension features a gorgeous terrazzo tile from Onsite. “We fell in love with that tile at first sight. It is so beautiful, but it was very expensive,” says Cecilia.

Recycled timber beams line the ceiling and complement that stunning terrazzo tile
Dining room
Dining room

Having lived in and renovated four properties before, Cecilia and Sam had plenty of experience to draw on. “After a lot of hard work and lots of decisions, we feel that the restoration really has shown her beauty, creating the perfect place that we now call home. We’re not moving!

Backyard
Backyard
Pool
Pool

Interior decoration and styling: Cecilia Mazadiego | Photos: Moss & Co Photography

Blacksmith
2019 hospitality design awards: Rural areas feature
Recognising the best in design across restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels and more, the Eat Drink Design Awards are Australia’s only hospitality design honours, and 2019’s coveted trophies have just been…

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October 20, 2021

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Nestled among the rolling vineyards of the Shoalha Nestled among the rolling vineyards of the Shoalhaven area on the NSW South Coast, former Block contestants @rachelandryan Carr have transformed a tired rural property into a luxurious holiday retreat that feels like a slice of Italy. Surrounded by the natural beauty of gum trees and rural views, the property is designed to transport guests to the heart of Tuscany, blending the charm of the Australian landscape with the elegance and luxury of Italian design. 

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Swipe for before An interior designer shares the Swipe for before 

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This fireplace became a beautiful focal point after a lick of paint, for example.

See more before and afters from @wandarra_homestead on the blog now via link in stories/bio.
How heavenly is AFL star @rhysstanley_'s home he s How heavenly is AFL star @rhysstanley_'s home he shares with wife @kirstenstanley_ and their young kids?!

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Take the tour on the blog now, via link in bio and stories.

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Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS! Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS!

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📸 @jonathantabensky
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Amy Collins-Walker

About Amy Collins-Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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