A designer creates a heavenly retreat from the shell of an old Gippsland church.
Discovering a small church and school in rural Victoria meant Melbourne interior designer Diane Bergeron finally had a weekend project to put her heart and soul into.
Achildhood near Boston, two hours from Cape Cod; many years of adulthood spent in New York City, the same travelling time from the Hamptons… These were the precedents for finding a country property when Diane Bergeron and her family – husband Peter Throsby and daughters Annis, now 23, and Coco, 21 – crossed the Pacific to live in Melbourne 14 years ago. They had a city base but yearned for a rural escape and, in 2008, just the right property appeared – only two hours from home. “It was tough to find something old and charming, so I was thrilled when I spotted it,” says Diane.
Known as Churchill House, the property is located in South Gippsland, about 150km south-east of Melbourne. Built in 1940, it was originally two structures: a small fibro church and Sunday school, later connected with a breezeway-like addition. It was a bit of a mess, admits Diane. “But it had good bones and an amazing setting, so we cleaned it up with minor renovations.”
Prior to the makeover, the interior was brown and really dark. Diane had the floors sanded and painted white for a fresh, CapeCod feel, except for the large central living zone, which was stained a rich ebony. The pulpit and organ, now surplus to requirements, were removed and the leadlight hopper windows were customised with insect screens and covers to keep the dust and cold air out. The kitchen and bathroom were both gutted and refitted.
“It’s a cosy house, but the layout makes it feel spacious,” says Diane. “The main room is very open and has a 4.5m peaked ceiling. It has several seating areas and a dining area, with a raised alcove that serves as the second bedroom. The entrance/mudroom has french doors that lead out to the deck overlooking an amazing view.” At the opposite end of
KNOWN FOR HER SOPHISTICATED INTERIORDESIGN STYLE, DIANE CAN REALLY LET HER HAIR DOWN HERE.
the home from the main living area, in what was once the Sunday school, is the kitchen, main bedroom and bathroom.
Diane is one of the country’s best-known interior designers, as well as the founder of Melbourne’s Mercer School of Interior Design, so kitting out the house was easy. Her decorating philosophy is mixing ‘high’ and ‘low’. “If something is amazing and worth the money, fine, but if something else is practical and just as good, I’m not opposed to a bargain,” she says. Thus, antiques and vintage pieces sourced from the US during her regular work trips mix with inexpensive accessories, bric-a-brac, artworks and books found at fleamarkets, stores such as Ikea and Pottery Barn, and on Etsy and eBay.
It’s a great house for entertaining, says Diane. “I love to cook. The kitchen is laid out perfectly for serious cooking and there’s a beautiful view out to the dam and a paddock with sheep.” She opted for a traditional French treatment for the kitchen cabinets;
DIANE MIXES ‘HIGH’ AND ‘LOW’ TO GREAT EFFECT. VINTAGE PIECES MING LE WITH MARKET GEMS, IKEA BED SAN DE BAY FINDS.
instead of cupboards, linen skirts hide the contents of the shelves. White subway tiles were used for the splashback, a timeless choice. One of Diane’s favourite features is perhaps one of the smallest: the Dash & Albert indoor/outdoor rug on the kitchen floor. “It’s synthetic but feels just like a flatweave cotton rug and can be taken outside and simply hosed down,” she says.
Building a deck was one of the final stages in creating an inviting second home. Diane and Peter have left the hardwearing treated-pine deck surface raw, painting only the sides; the aim is for it to grey off and develop a weathered, New England-style finish.
In the early years, the whole family would visit most weekends, but these days it’s often just Diane and Peter. Wonderful to know that, when the kids are off doing their own thing, there’s a place for all seasons you can retreat to.