Australian House & Garden

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Initially attracted to this establishe­d garden in the Southern Highlands, the talented new owner then turned her attention to the house that came with it.

- STORY Rosa Senese | STYLING Ashley Pratt

Lisa Burdus admits that the house on the rural property she fell in love with in 2016 was very basic. “It was built in the 1990s and didn’t have much character,” she says. “But I knew I’d be able to decorate quickly so I wasn’t worried. All I wanted was a good block of land with mature gardens, and somewhere we could just move into and live.”

One year on, the savvy interior designer has transforme­d the N SW Southern Highlands property into a true country home with all the attendant qualities of wide green expanses and bountiful produce. Nearby are the picture-perfect towns of Moss Vale, Bowral and Robertson. “It’s a country place with a bit of style,” says Sydney-based Lisa. She and her partner Toby, with their blended family of nine children, use the property as a retreat.

Lisa’s eldest three have finished school and left home, but the couple still share the care of her two younger children and Toby’s four, ranging in age from 12 to 17. Rather than buy a huge home in Sydney’s overheated property market, the couple came up with a plan to enjoy a lifestyle that afforded the best of both worlds: a city apartment and a country retreat for weekends and holidays. They looked at properties of various sizes before

finding a 2ha property they liked; the clincher was its thriving orchard and vegetable beds. The unexciting but structural­ly sound four-bedroom house was the trade-off.

As a designer, Lisa yearned to renovate immediatel­y but common sense held her back. “We thought, let’s just decorate for now, then renovate in five years when our needs are different.” Her relatively simple but thoughtful changes have completely transforme­d the home. One bedroom was repurposed as a TV room/library and one of the two garages was converted into a bunk room that sleeps six. Kitchen handles and some light fittings were replaced and window treatments updated throughout. The white paintwork was retained in all but two of the bedrooms, which have been revamped with bold new wallpaper. “I’ve decorated in the same way I would a city home,” Lisa says. Traces of the country can be seen, however, in the sculptural foliage she collects and arranges in vases all over the house.

Life here has plenty to offer all ages, whether it’s lounging in front of the fire, playing cricket, or bushwalkin­g in nearby Bundanoon National Park. Keen to share the good times, Lisa and Toby now tend to entertain here rather than in the city. “Friends might arrive for dinner and spend the night, then we’ll all go out for breakfast before they leave,” she explains.

Part-time country living has been such a success that the couple can picture themselves making a more permanent move in the future. “You’re either a city person or a country person,” says Lisa. “I’m definitely a country person.”

‘Gyprock walls can feel a bit flimsy, but with another layer such as wallpaper or panelling, you instantly create depth.’ Lisa Burdus, owner/interior designer

 ??  ?? Vintage art from antique stores and auctions is a great way to add character.
Vintage art from antique stores and auctions is a great way to add character.
 ??  ?? Lisa Burdus, Sydney and Southern Highlands, NSW; 0409 489 225 or www.lisaburdus.com.au.
Lisa Burdus, Sydney and Southern Highlands, NSW; 0409 489 225 or www.lisaburdus.com.au.
 ?? | PHOTOGRAPH­Y Chris Warnes ??
| PHOTOGRAPH­Y Chris Warnes
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 ??  ?? THE LAYOUT
THE LAYOUT

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