HISTORIC REVIVAL Antiques and earthy colours complement the character of an Arts & Crafts home in Tasmania
An Arts and Crafts home located in an iconic area of Tasmania has been given a new lease of life with William Morris prints and a moody palette
Step over the threshold of Ethelmont Rise, the beautiful home of Emma and Stuart Burgess, and you are immediately immersed in a sense of nostalgia. Timeworn pieces fill this special property – from the mustard lampshades that are original to the house to the handsome antique dresser, a family heirloom that is now filled with warm yellow vintage French pottery from Poterie du Soleil.
‘The ochre tones have informed the colour palette throughout this house,’ says Emma.
The hillside Arts and Crafts house has picturesque views down to the River Derwent and across to
Sandy Bay from the front, while from the back, you look up to dramatic Mount Wellington. ‘The mountain and water influence the feel of each day,’ says Emma. Built originally in 1929 on the Ethelmont Estate owned by Charles Ernest Webster, the house was first lived in by the Clennett sisters, followed by an elderly couple. ‘You can feel the palpable sense of history: spaces had been left largely untouched and our renovation has been very respectful of the Arts and Crafts architecture.’
The chalet-style house retains its original sash windows – lovingly restored – and has three bedrooms. Upstairs, there is a twin room with antique beds, said to have come from the Ritz hotel in Paris, while downstairs there are two elegant doubles. At the end of the hallway, a family space leads into a kitchen and dining area. A salvaged window was added and the kitchen now has views out to the garden and the mountain beyond.
The couple bought the property four years ago to use as a bolthole away from the hectic bustle of their lives in Sydney, where Emma is a headteacher and Stuart is a horticulturist. ‘I discovered Hobart in my 20s – it has a great cosmopolitan feel and a way of getting under your skin,’ says Emma. ‘It is a wonderful escape for us and our three girls: Isabella, 18, Molly, 12, and Charlotte, nine.’
In 2018, Emma enlisted the design services of Australian stylist Sarah Andrews, who helped to create a scheme for the house. Two years on with the renovations complete, the property is now also rented occasionally via Airbnb. ‘The structure of the house was sound, but decoratively it needed a lot of work,’ says Emma. Peeling bedroom wallpapers were stripped back and replaced with William Morris designs. ‘Ceiling timbers were restored and carpets pulled up – but we left surfaces unsanded as we were keen to preserve the original integrity,’ she says.
While Stuart acted as project manager, Emma worked her magic filling the space. ‘I am an avid collector and love the mix of antiques, newer details and more decorative finds. I am constantly on the hunt – ebay, Gumtree, our local antiques emporiums.’ In the kitchen, a 200-year-old French dining table is juxtaposed with contemporary painted units – upcycled from the family’s Sydney home – while zellige tiles from Morocco are teamed with classic brass hardware. In the bathroom, an antique cabinet has been repurposed by Stuart with legs removed and modern basins added, to create a bespoke vanity. ‘Stuart has a very practical, can-do attitude,’ says Emma. ‘He is very tolerant of my ideas and I love that he is able to turn them into reality!’
The house, painted in warm lime-wash shades of Blue Spruce, Chintz Grey and Triple Lead by Porter’s Paints, is punctuated with textiles in softer tones of rust, pale pink and oatmeal. Everywhere you look there are abundant floral arrangements. ‘Everything in our house has been lovingly put together,’ says Emma. ‘It is a very soulful place and we all feel very sentimental about coming home.’
Emma Burgess shares her style vision and loves
SECRET ADDRESS
Drill Hall Emporium in New Norfolk, Tasmania, and La Maison in Sydney.
BIGGEST INDULGENCE
The amazing zellige tiles in our kitchen.
GO-TO DESIGNERS
Sarah Andrews and Sibella Court.
MUSEUM TO VISIT
Musée de l’orangerie in Paris.
NEXT GAME CHANGER IN DESIGN
The importance of sustainability.
LAST EXHIBITION YOU VISITED
Sydney’s Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW. DESIGN HERO William Morris.
LAST PIECE OF ART YOU BOUGHT
A handstitched paper dress lithograph by Tasmanian Simone Pfister.