RENOVATOR'S DELIGHT: A RUSTIC CHIC MAKEOVER
Living room
Annie had a clear vision of the cottage's potential. "I knew if I peeled back the layers and simplified things there would be something very homely there," she says. She kept the hardwood floors and doors in their original, roughed up state, and painted the walls in Dulux Antique White USA. Once completely concealed by an old cooker, the fireplace is now the heart of the home, topped by a new mantle created using corbels from Schots Home Emporium and timber stained to match the floors. Annie houses her television in a timber chest she found at a market.
Dining room
Ever the bargain hunter, Annie found her dining table at The Bottom Drawer in Tyabb. "It had a ridiculously cheap ticket on it," says Annie. "It was a big effort to get it home but I managed." The dining chairs belonged to a friend's grandfather and the lamp is from Ikea, as are all the pendants in the home.
Lounge room
With loose white linen covers and lots of padding, the 'Ektorp' sofa from Ikea looks and feels incredibly comfortable.
Living room
With loose white linen covers and lots of padding, the 'Ektorp' sofa from Ikea looks and feels incredibly comfortable.
Kitchen
Proving her worth as a DIY queen, Annie redid her whole kitchen; the original wood stove is the only remnant of the old space. The backs of the old cabinets were exposed to the outdoors so she patched up the holes with cement sheet. She then painted everything in Dulux Antique White USA and put in Ikea cabinets. Thoughtful flourishes, such as the splashback in pressed metal left over from the hallway, complete the room's quirky yet timeless appeal.
Kitchen
Annie returned the original wood stove to its former glory with a coat of White Knight Pot Belly Black and now uses it occasionally for heating. A new mantle and corbels blend seamlessly with the time-worn bricks. The antique style clock adds to the rustic feel.
Kitchen
Solid ash benchtops, made by a local cabinetmaker, apply a personal stamp and a touch of luxury to Annie's Ikea cabinets. She then had the timber bench stained to match the floors, and added a ceramic sink - another lucky Ikea find!
Studio
Welcome to Botanica HQ, Annie's floristry studio. The dramatic black and white scheme immediately transports her into work mode. Annie added comfort to the space by including a daybed, originally her childhood bed. She sourced a piece of carpet from a wholesaler and hand sewed the edges to create an affordable rug.
Studio
An old cabinet and desk - a Salvos find - were both painted in black enamel and lifted with new handles from Schots Home Emporium.
Studio
In the adjoining room, where Annie does her floristry, timber panelling put up by the previous owner forms a rustic backdrop. "I haven't done anything to the panelling, as I love it in its raw state," says Annie.
Bathroom
Annie used Dulux Super Enamel in Antique White USA to paint the floor. Annie's cast-iron bath was an Ebay purchase, she had it refinished and painted the outside Dulux Light Rice. Annie added glamour with a sparkling pendant from Beacon Lighting, a console from Horgans and mirror from Recollections, also painted Dulux Light Rice.
Guest room
Annie made the bedhead using chipboard covered with foam and fabric from Spotlight. The bedlinen is from Target; "Ruffles seem to work really well in this room," she says. Mixing old with new is one of Annie's signature moves; the lamp base was found at Daylesford Market, but the shade is from Ikea. The ironwork was another local find, unearthed at a little store in Daylesford.
Backyard
The backyard was inspired by an English cottage garden. "I wanted lush green, silver and white," says Annie. "It needed to be a cottage-style garden to go with the house and it needed to be quite frost-resistant. I love English gardens, particularly up here in the cold climate."
Verandah
Grey-painted cladding and pots sit harmoniously with the blue and silver plants.
Fireplace
Minou curled up in a ball in front of a crackling log fire. Every day, the ginger feline heads out to explore his misty country Victorian surrounds, then every afternoon, without fail, he is drawn back to this very same nook.
