FIREPIT - first fire of the season #firepit #australiancountrygardens #barossavalleyhome #sturtstreetproject
SALVIAS - Autumn in the garden 💜 #australiancottagegardens #barossavalleyhome #sturtstreetproject
AUTUMN 🍂🍁🍁🍁 - my favourite time of year has arrived!! #autumnvibes🍁 #barossavalley #barossavalleyhome #sturtstreetproject
🔥- As it was September when we moved in we hadn’t paid too much attention to the fire, beyond lighting it on a few cold nights to ensure it was working ok. So I’m all about wood storage and accessories at the moment - love our @templeandwebster fire tools that arrived yesterday 👏 The brass picks up the light switches beautifully and I am feeling more and more happy with the black pendant we had installed in here each time new lounge features interplay so well- roll on winter in the Barossa 🔥🔥🔥 #woodheater #winterinthevalley #countryhomerenovations #australiancountryhomes #victorianhome #sturtstreetproject
HALLSTAND - when you need to lope off some greenery & not sure what to do with it 😆. The demijohn is one of my most well loved marketplace finds when we first moved to the valley ❤️ #hallway #barossavalleyhome #australiancountryhomes #countryhomerenovation #sturtstreetproject
GARDEN FINDS - tell me you live in a very old house without telling me….just few of the things we have found in various parts of the yard these past few months #vintagefinds #medicinebottles #kolynos #barossavalleyhome #sturtstreetproject
MARBLE - the entry steps to the house are slowly coming together now both antique gates are sandblasted and the capitals for the gate posts have arrived. The existing concrete step entry from the street had slabs of marble retaining them. I had them cut to brick size and decided to have @engravingcrew sandblast the year the house was built into them. I’m hoping they will be able to be set by the stonemason into the new brick steps we are building. Step by step we are getting there 😊 #frontentrance #bricksteps #countryhomerenovation #barossavalleyhome #victorianhome #sturtstreetproject
POWERBOX- it’s moving finally!! After almost 3 months we have heard back from SA Power confirming we can move the power-box to where we want to 🙌🙌 ie: off the front of the house- it feels like since the roof has gone on this has been holding up so many things - like the the facade restore, so we are so excited 😃 #barossavalleyhome #countryhomerenovations #victorianhome #facaderestoration #sturtstreetproject
AUTUMN- God I love Autumn. It’s always been my most favourite times of year and I missed it so much when we lived in Perth. I love the late afternoon light, the cool nights, the gorgeous days. It’s been a big day in the garden- Rob’s almost finished his Jasmine wall project, I’ve been recomposting the veggie garden & planting pansy’s and random bits to give colour - it’s so hard when not much seems permanent. We seem to be constantly saying “but this will change when we extend so let’s not do that”…so the colour brings patches of joy, even if it’s only for now. Cheers to Autumnal afternoons 😃😃🍁🍁 #autumn #australiancountrygardens #countryhomerenovations #barossavalleyhomes #sturtstreetproject
ROTUNDA- everyone has one of these in their backyards right? 😂 This was a little surprise when we first inspected, a reminder of the grand old dame the house would have been on the hill. There was much debate what made it a rotunda/pavillion/gazebo- architects welcome to the chat 🤷♀️ It’s one of our next yard projects (once Rob finishes the Jasmine trellis on the back fence 🫤😬…) she will get a paint to match the new roof and the old cement flooring will be pulled up. I’m thinking some sort of light to hang as well -may as well jazz her right up 😁 #rotunda #federationgardens #australiancountryhomes #barossavalleyhome #australiancountrygardens #countryhomerenovations #sturtstreetproject
BYE BYE SUMMER - the last of the summer haul. We spent today turning over the veggie patch in preparation for winter plantings, the last of the tomatoes were pulled out and one more small batch of passata is on the stove. 🤞🤞 the basil stays for a bit longer before Barossa autumn nights steal it away. Lots of chook poo & soil improver will build on a solid base & we found a spot for Jo’s sweet pea seeds (our beautiful neighbour is the most wonderful gardener & I listened earnestly to her “plant on St Patrick’s Day” instructions when she gifted them to us in late spring #southaustraliangardens #barossavalleyhome #countryhomerenovation #veggiegarden #sturtstreetproject
MORNINGS- Gosh I am ready for Autumn. This run of hot days and steamy mornings feels like everything is languishing- the renos, the gardens, the kids 😂 Though every time I open this front door my heart sings & the view of the hills soothes me, even without a front yard 😬 #hallway #australiancountryhomes #barossavalleyhome #sturtstreetproject
FRONT GATE - this old dear is the current side/main entrance to our house. We took it off and replaced it with a Bunnings number painted in #woodlandgrey (a temporary solution as the renovation will change the footprint of this section of the yard). This original gate is to be powder coated and take up pride of place as the new front garden/front entrance to the house. The @milkcanoutdoor mailbox and some new steps will complete the look. I’m getting so impatient for this part to come together #vintagegate #australiancountryhomes #countryhomerenovation #barossavalleyhome #sturtstreetproject
FIG TREE - we have a single fig tree …that 🤞🤞 will give us fruit next season 🌳It’s amazing to remind myself of the difference looking back at photos (first photo is in settlement week and second photo is today) I have been feeling a bit down about the garden lately, the hot, dry weather has been unrelenting, I don’t think it’s rained in a month & we have one water point. In many ways the garden just doesn’t look as good as when we inherited it…but I am hoping the clean up reaps rewards by next Spring. We would have taken 10 loads of green waste out of this infamous back area alone; and thanks to another go this week Anthony from BV Gardens wrangled the fig suckers, found a tree to stake and hopefully it becomes part of the a new orchard space #barossavalleyhome #australiancountrygardens #countryhomerenovations #figs #sturtstreetproject
STUMP REMOVAL - Not long after we moved in we made a plan to remove all the vegetation off the side of the house; mainly to protect the foundations and reduce termite risk but also we knew eventually we would be required, when we extend, to put a footpath up against the house (as per building codes). Those stumps are now dead enough to remove so stage 2 begins today thanks @s.mason_contracting 😁 This didn’t come without a massive fail by the way, and a tip for new players - When using new contractors do a through check they know what they are doing. The person we used to help with vegetation was pretty heavy handed on the roundup/tree killer and photo 2 is the unintended result of this. The old Ash is tough, it’s one of 3 on the yard but we are fighting hard to keep her…😬😔 Ecological Tree Consulting from Adelaide have provided a solution -so 10kgs of sugar a week are going on all the surrounding Ashes and lots of water 🤦♀️….🤞 I have been losing sleep over the neighbours thinking we are ecological terrorists 😩 I guess renovating never comes without learning & stresses #treefail #savingthetrees #countryhomerenovations #stumpremoval #sturtstreetproject
MAILBOX- the world of insta says I just wait until it’s all together and “reveal” 🍾🎉…but I’m too excited- when @milkcanoutdoor meet @baysideluxe !! They are both just such beautiful products. What a collab, I can’t wait to put this all together ….largely as the current mailbox/wonky arbour/60year old climbing rose situation is in such need of our attention. Waiting on new stone steps, than we can put in the antique gates I salvaged, put in the arbour I had made especially AND renovate the greenery and finally cement the mailbox in place- I honestly can’t wait. 👏👏 #mailbox #countryhomerenovations #housenumbers #barossavalleyhome #countrygardens #victorianhome #sturtstreetproject
APPLES- we can’t claim we did anything to enjoy the fruits of these labours. The previous owners blessed us with a few fruit trees & the Grannies are ripe! The pink ladies succumbed to the birds & our plan always was to make sure we net them next year. The peaches has been one of our fails that comes with learning about a new piece of land. They had curly leaf when we arrived but the fruit had already set so too late to treat; then we stressed them at a crucial point thinking the natural rain fall in September, early October didn’t need supplementing at the time (we were wrong). Possibly not making the time to buy a hose that reached the back of the block in those few early weeks didn’t help 🤦♀️… 🤞🤞 they keep recovering & we have more luck next year 🍑🍏🍃 #apples #australiancounteygardens #countryhomerenovation #barossavalleyhome #sturtstreetproject
FASCIAS & EAVES- Since the new roof has gone on & the scaffold is still up it’s makes sense to quickly get the fascias and eaves painted too. I’m glad, as having Rob or I trying to paint the road side height scares me particularly. There is a heap of prep work with the older paintwork, particularly on the eaves, but he is making it look like new again 😁. It’s so hard to see how it will come together with such a patchwork of colours and new vs old currently, but I have to keep trusting the process. Continuing the fascias in woodland grey, like the gutters, will create the definition I was looking for. Porch roof gets finished hopefully this week 🤞 #painting #barossavalleyhome #countryhomerenovation #victorianhomes #australiancountryhomes #sturtstreetproject
PENDANT LIGHT - while the grunt jobs move slowly outside I tick off little things inside that make me smile. When the electrician fitted the light switches I also had him replace the pre-existing lounge rattan number with a beautiful @lightsforyouonline 3 pendant light. I wanted something that felt country without being overtly grand, & in black to interplay with the wood heater (again a functional feature we won’t change regardless of what this room becomes in the future). I’m so pleased 👏 #countryhomerenovation #barossavalleyhomes #victorianhome #australiancountryhomes #lights #sturtstreetproject
POLISHED BRASS- My husband genuinely hated these light switches when they arrived. For me, the accent brass was already through old parts of the house we were not going to change, so it made sense to embrace it & have fun with it. Now they are installed I love the way the light picks them up, draws you to the old door fittings & the coat hooks in the hallway #polishedbrass #colonialhomes #federationhomes #countrydoor #countryhomerenovation #barossavalleyhome #sturtstreetproject
It seems like forever since I’ve been waiting for this gorgeous blue birds lamp from @earlysettlerfurniture but gee it was worth the wait. Spare room almost done 🙏 #countryhomerenovation #barossavalleyhome #victorianhome #sturtstreetproject
VEGGIE GARDEN- I love having a plentiful veggie garden….though when this is your daily haul and you are the only one in the house that eats tomatoes it’s problematic 😬😆..Passata anyone? #veggiegarden #barossavalleyhomes #countryhomerenovation #victorianhomes #sturtstreetproject
ROOF!! - it’s taking a little longer than the few days promised, the yard looks like a scrap metal project, the noise is likely disturbing the neighbours (while we have been away enjoying some r n r 😬) & as suspected we have unveiled some rotting parts of the front porch that need to be replaced before new sheets can go on BUT soon we will have a non-leaking, consistent colour, shiny new roof 👏 #newroof #roofrestoration #colorbondroofing #countryhomerenovation #barossavalleyhomes #victorianhomes #sturtstreetproject
HOLIDAYS #yorkepeninsula #sunsets #muchneededbreak #sturtstreetproject
SCAFFOLD- new roof and gutters go on this week!! There is lots of banging and we have a house full of visitors 😬 but it’s the next stage that just had to happen now. 140 year old fascias are@coming off today and being replaced by new ones in preparation. #colorbondshalegrey #newroof #countryhouserenovation #barossavalleyhome #victorianhome #sturtstreetproject
VINTAGE LOVE- total impulse purchase, ❤️ . When I saw the Westbourne Park (where Rob grew up) bus scroll I couldn’t say no. Have to have a hanging wire attached but also had to see ASAP how it would look. Thanks @rustiquetype for this sentimental find #busscroll #vintagefinds #barossavalleyhome #countryhomerenovations #library #victorianhome #sturtstreetproject
FRONT YARD- We have been gradually chipping away at the removal of the old concrete paths along the side of the house and the old front garden. Our goal this year is to give the old girl a front yard and a way to enter off the street to the front door- it’s a big project that requires lots of prep. This and the removal of two large Contoneasters (that surprisingly gave us more of a peak at Angaston’s hills) is the beginning #frontyardlandscaping #australiancountrygardens #barossavalleyhomes #victorianhomes #countryhomerenovations #sturtstreetproject
FLOWERING GUM - I think in summer this will always be my most favourite tree on the property. It’s almost iridescent red makes me smile every time I drive up the street (especially since we appear to have violently pulled so much greenery away pruning the climbing rose, so we can replace the wonky arbour and plant out a consistent hedge) #countrygardens #floweringgum #barossavalleyhomes #victorianhome #sturtstreetproject
LIGHT SWITCHES - looking forward to having these being installed. The current brass switches are dulled and some have been replaced with more modern alternatives over time. The more we play with how the new and old will intersect, the more I want to stay true to original features in the old homestead. I love the fluting on these and it replicates some of the interior fitting choices we have already made. #vintagelightswitch #countryhomerenovation #barossavalleyhomes #victorianhomes #sturtstreetproject
DRIVEWAY - phase 1 of the driveway plans started 😁…& was the reason for my Watsonia clump pulling. We moved these aggies from the side of the house 🤞 they take even though it’s the totally wrong time to move them. We just needed to get started on our plans for this section of the garden. Rob has always wanted a driveway lined with agapanthus, & it works with the existing virbinium hedges, so this is his project. #gardening #agapanthus #barossavalleyhome #countryhomerenovation #victorianhome #sturtstreetproject
WATSONIAS 😩 - These things are rapidly becoming my nemesis and I’m convinced it’s going to take us 10 years to remove them all. Self seeding at a rapid rate and sprinkled in random areas around the yard a small 1/2sqm patch that I decide to attack, like this one, will easily yield 100 bulbs. Their greenery in spring is lovely, but now the leaves have died back I have started on attacking the random patches were we intend other things to live. Not great on the back but satisfying when a section is cleared #gardening #watsonia #barossavalleyhomes #countrygardens #countryhomerenovation #victorianhome #sturtstreetproject
SHUTTER LOVE- the kids sharing for now, and having too many toys, has made me feel overwhelmed with clutter every time I walk into this room! The new plantation shutters have opened the room right up and doused it in so much light. It feels workable again ❤️ #plantationshutters #victorianhome #countryhomerenovation #barossavalleyhome #kidsbedroom #sturtstreetproject
PLANTATION SHUTTERS- in the whirlwind before Christmas it was install day for another project. We managed to get shutters into two of the four original rooms. They make the already beautifully expansive rooms look bigger again 😁 We are really happy we decided to do this post settlement day #plantationshutters #victorianwindows #barossacountryhomes #victorianhomes #countryhomerenovations #sturtstreetproject
ROBES- still find myself wandering into this room just to admire the built-ins by @sturtstreetkitchens …Though it has made us think about the fireplaces a bit more….to see what’s behind the boards & take a risk on the condition of the hearth and original grate or not??? Loving the @baysideluxe handles. They provide such a nice bit of fluting detail without throwing an art deco vibe ❤️ #builtinrobes #victorianhouse #barossavalleyhomes #countryhomerenovations #sturtstreetproject
SUMMER POSIES 🙏 #sturtstreetproject #flowersfromfriends
NEXT PROJECT- this weeks marketplace find means some upcoming weekends are busy with side gate renos! Apparently this gate has its origins in an early established local winery. The heavy wrought iron scrolling definitely indicates an early vintage. It will be a side garden gate in the same colours as the new fencing once I am finished with it 👏 #newproject #vintagegate #barossavalleyhomes #countryhomerenovation #victorianhome #federationhomes #sturtstreetproject
STAINED GLASS- one of the things I love most about our house is the numerous works of stained glass art. This piece of magic lives in the 60s (we think) kitchen addition that was tacked on to the four original rooms. I’m not even sure if it was salvaged from somewhere else or created just for this space. It will absolutely be saved when we do the addition and take up pride of place - I’m thinking perhaps in a mud room entrance or ensuite?? #stainedglass #barossavalleyhomes #countryhomerenovation #1880shome #sturtstreetproject
HISTORY - The local historical society have been so generous with their knowledge and time in our quest to uncover more of our home’s history. We were originally told the house was circa 1910 and I assumed a #federationhome but the land title records indicate she is likely built around 1885/86 😲 Our house was originally the home of the first butcher’s in town who had the shopfront built in 1889 in the Main Street. I feel very attached to her and her history. My next quest is to try and find an original photo of her standing proudly on the hill before the surrounding blocks were developed. #historicalvillages #barossavalleyhomes #australiancountryhomes #sturtstreetproject
CHOOKSHED- the farm girl in me loves we have veggie gardens and wicking beds and a chook shed. Besides the fence running along the back not much will change with this top section of the block ….for the next 10 years at least 😆 For now we are just ensuring Pecky, Snowdrop and Butter are happy and laying well 🐓🥬 #countrygardens #chookshed #barossavalleyhomes #federationhomes #sturtstreetproject
EXTERIOR- it’s so true living in a house first absolutely influences your design choices. The more we learn about her history the more wedded we become to honouring how she once looked. On first inspection I had thought we wouldn’t do much beyond the then owners original intentions, on moving in we were thinking a complete repaint of neutral colours and #woodland grey; now we are 99% convinced to strip all the years of paint off everything including the quoining and have her shine as she would have in 1890. I’m so confused. I will happily take advice on roof, gutters and which way we should go- red bricks or not? #renovationdecisions #federationhomes #countryhomerenovation #barossavalleyhomes #inspoboard #sturtstreetproject #stonemasonry
PLAYSPACE- these kids have it so good & they have the best Dad who spends his weekends making sure their spaces just keep getting better. We spend so much time already under the trees. I feel so grateful ❤️ #playgroundmulch #sandpitbuiltbydad #sturtstreetproject #barossavalleyhomes #federation homes
STABLES- for the moment the original outhouses/stables are storing the kids bikes & outdoor toys. We are not quite sure yet what form they will take as we extend. The key was a thoughtful gift from an old work colleague at a particularly difficult time in my life. For me it represents new beginnings & establishing a home. It has hung in every house since it was gifted to me but none is more special, or right as here. #countryhomerestoration #barossavalleyhomes #federationhome #stables #sturtstreetproject
NEW PURCHASE- I have adored these fans since @beaconlighting first released them ..but having my heart set on a federation home I just figured they wouldn’t work. That was until I saw @joshandjenna gorgeous girls room in their heritage restoration project, was totally influenced, and realised it would absolutely work. I am so happy 😀 and I love the way the ridges on the tin ceiling interplay with the blades. Can’t wait to have the spare room finished 💕 #balifans #barossavalleyhome #countryhomerenovations #federationhomes #newpurchase #sturtstreetproject
The most amazing welcome bunch of flowers from the neighbours greeted me when I came back from school pick up today 💕. Jo’s roses sure do set a high bar #roses #australianrosegardens #welcomebouquet #barossavalleyhomes #federationhomes #sturtstreetproject
FOUNDATIONS- A bit of before and after (for now) so we can look back later & remind ourselves where we have come from. The greenery everywhere is lovely…but not always practical. The poor foundations of this old dear need to be looked after so garden beds climbing up the house simply needed to be removed. Stormwater drainage, new gutters and pathways that protect the house are all not very insta worthy but very necessary to guarantee the old girl can stand for another 100 years. We have started ….is what I keep telling myself when the overwhelm comes #barossavalleyhomes #federationhomes #countryhouserenovations #pathways #sturtstreetproject
KITCHEN- I don’t think I have had a kitchen this tiny since I lived in London in the early 2000s …but it’s the little pockets of sunshine that make me ok with that. Starting to think about how to ensure the old & the new will blend seamlessly once we do build our new kitchen. Can I keep the double hung windows? #countrykitchens #countryhouserenovation #barossavalleyhomes #sturtstreetproject #ourhouseproject #federationhomes
TREEHOUSE- the best surprise on moving week was the kids and their cousins discovering this hidden gem. We didn’t even know this secret was on the property. The previous owners did a wonderful job of creating a backyard for little ones to love. We are very grateful to them 💕 #barossavalleyhouses #countryhomesrenovations #gardensforkids #sturtstreetproject
CONCRETE!!!.. I created this page for us, to document everything we do; so we can see how far we have come & celebrate what’s been done. For me it’s not about heavily curated content but just us getting stuff done. Feel free to give advice along the way, we will happily take it. We think there is about 10 tonnes of concrete buried in old paths, tank stands & garden edges of the 50s and 60s 😲Just so Rob can whipper snipper where the kids tramp will live he decided this morning he was going to attack one of them. 😮💨 #barossavalleyhouses #countryhouserenovation #concreteremoval #oldgardenpaths #saturdaymorningjobs #sturtstreetproject
HALLWAY - I love a hallway dressed with flowers from the garden. Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed with unpacking, fitting our 5 bedroom home lives into our current tiny space and how much projects are costing or simply how much there is to do, I gravitate to the hallway and just breathe #hallwayflowers #flowersfromthegarden #countryhouserenovations #barossavalleyhouses #federationhomes #sturtstreetproject
KEYS - old homes mean old keys. Not sure I’ll be taking these around in my pocket #countryhomerenovation #barossavalleyhomes #sturtstreetproject #keys
PORCH VIEW- first offical night in, we are exhausted but happy. Sleep well Ango #sturtstreetproject #barossavalley #federationhomes #countrylife #viewfromtheporch #barossavalleybuild
GOODBYE “LEAN TO” - took the keys on Friday, front lean to gone by Thursday. Like many Federation homes in the Barossa as families grew and room uses diversified in the 50s and 60s the porch often became a bedroom. This one was carpeted and even had an air conditioner! I feel like the bones of the house can breathe again with this gone. I can’t wait to have the original facade as it was intended back again soon #federationhomes #barossavalley #countryhouserenovations #stage1sturtstproject #sturtstreetproject #leantodemolition