my island home
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H&G H&G houses living
MY ISLAND HOME The sublime valleys of southern Tasmania have produced an endless source of inspiration, and a new way of life, for Australian author Posie Graeme-Evans. STORY AMANDA CARMEN CROMER | STYLING CHARLOTTE BELL | PHOTOGRAPHY NICK WATT
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www.houseandgarden.com.au
Posie Graeme-Evans with feline friend Teddy. Her latest novel, The Island House (Simon & Schuster, $29.99), will be published in November. OPPOSITE Valley views from the main deck. It’s possible to follow the sun all day, thanks to a well-placed verandah and decks that wrap around the house.
www.houseandgarden.com.au
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H&G houses
“ T
his is my first time living on a hill, and I absolutely love it,” says Posie Graeme-Evans of her southernTasmanian home. “On a completely still day, I can hear voices rising up from down in the valley.” Posie, one of Australia’s most successful TV producers and now a best-selling novelist, grew up all over the world and lived most recently in Sydney before succumbing to the pull of the island. “I’d been flying from Sydney to Tasmania every couple of months to see my mum, who’d moved here some time ago,” she says. “I came to this valley to finish the draft of a book and just fell in love with the area.” At the time, Posie and her husband Andrew Blaxland had been looking for land in NSW and had come close to buying a couple of times. Nothing had been quite right, however. Then they saw this place for sale on the internet. “We bought on Valentine’s Day, 2007, and began travelling to it on weekends,” says Posie. Perched high on a hill with breathtaking valley views, the property consisted of the main house (which was “in a bit of a state,” says Posie), an applepicker’s hut and several farm buildings. The circa-1907 farmhouse was a classic four-room cottage but, like most structures of that era, it wasn’t designed with the glorious views in mind. It came down to Andrew, who had studied architecture before becoming a television producer, to translate his vision of light and space and transform the dark, poky rooms. “I’m so fortunate to be with someone who’s a great visualiser,” says Posie. “Andrew’s first response, after taking in the scale of the project, was to open the house up to the unique light and expansive views. The first structural thing was to create a line of sight from the east-facing kitchen, through the house and out over the valley to the west,” she says. >
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www.houseandgarden.com.au
H&G H&G houses living “The old white cabinet in the kitchen has travelled around Australia with me for almost 20 years,” says Posie. An antique campaign table partners with Eames chairs in a cosy alliance of modern and traditional. Chairs from Living Edge. Sisal rug from Freedom. Windows from Uptons Trading. Walls painted Dulux Antique White USA. OPPOSITE A timeless rural tableau in the foyer evokes long rambles through the countryside. Chair by David Ralph. Doors throughout are from Stegbar, in durable western red cedar. For Where to Buy, see page 299.
‘It’s a completely liveable house, not an artefact. Our building is an engine and machine for light.’ POSIE
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H&G living houses < Although Andrew and Posie had a clear idea of what they wanted to achieve, they realised they wouldn’t be able to project-manage the job themselves. “Because we were coming and going so much, we found an architect, Karen Kennedy of Eco-style Achitecture & Interiors, for Andrew to manage the build with,” says Posie. “He’d send her drawings and sketches, and emails that she called ‘novels’. It was an unusual relationship between client and architect, which Karen handled gracefully and with warmth.” Building started in earnest in 2008. It took about 18 months to complete the house and the picker’s hut, which now serves as Posie’s writing space and guest quarters. By the end, the couple were reassessing their dedication to Sydney. “Our business and family were in Sydney, but I’d just finished McLeod’s Daughters and I badly wanted to become a full-time writer,” says Posie. “I said to Andrew, ‘Just give me two years to try to make it as a novelist.’” >
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www.houseandgarden.com.au
H&G houses Glorious views, wild weather and the changing seasons provide Posie with rich inspiration. “Tasmania has great writing weather – storms, rain, wind,” she says. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT An etching by Mandy Renard adorns a sandstone fireplace surround that Andrew designed and built with Posie’s brother, Alex. The dark feature wall throws into sharp relief a Roca basin from Elite Appliances and Caroma tapware. Andrew also designed the dining table, its form influenced by the US Craftsman period. This guestroom in the old apple-picker’s hut features a drawing of Posie’s father by K Kowdratski and a quilt made by her daughter, Emma Mackellar. Watercolour by Bruce Latimer. For Where to Buy, see page 299.
‘I rejoice when extreme weather comes in. I pull this house around me like a doona.’ POSIE
www.houseandgarden.com.au
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H&G living houses
H&G houses < “We had Christmas 2009 in Sydney
and then New Year’s Eve at this house. It was just us, sitting on the porch with our Champagne, watching an amazing lightning storm. It was an enchanted evening, as if the house and the landscape were saying ‘Welcome’.” The couple sold their Arts and Craft-era bungalow in Sydney and transferred most of the contents to Tasmania, where they sit beautifully within the new space. The completed home and its environs have now become vital to Posie’s craft; the views and the weather giving her license to write on epic subjects. “We still spend about one week out of four in Sydney, but this is where I come back to when I need to write,” she says. “I’m beginning another book and I have no idea what will happen in it yet, but I trust the magic in this place to give me inspiration.” H&G Eco-style Architecture & Interiors, Hobart, Tasmania; (03) 6234 6077 or www.eco-style.com.au.
A tiered candelabra, picked up years ago at a garage sale, now takes pride of place in the conservatory. Chinese elm stool from Orson & Blake. OPPOSITE Mountain views invite lingering at the outdoor dining table or in a classic Adirondack-style chair. The exterior of the house is painted British Paints Mesh. For Where to Buy, see page 299.
‘I love the turning of the seasons here – the bulbs, the blossom and the wattle.’ POSIE 30
www.houseandgarden.com.au
www.houseandgarden.com.au
31
H&G H&G houses living
MY ISLAND HOME The sublime valleys of southern Tasmania have produced an endless source of inspiration, and a new way of life, for Australian author Posie Graeme-Evans. STORY AMANDA CARMEN CROMER | STYLING CHARLOTTE BELL | PHOTOGRAPHY NICK WATT
24
www.houseandgarden.com.au
Posie Graeme-Evans with feline friend Teddy. Her latest novel, The Island House (Simon & Schuster, $29.99), will be published in November. OPPOSITE Valley views from the main deck. It’s possible to follow the sun all day, thanks to a well-placed verandah and decks that wrap around the house.
www.houseandgarden.com.au
25
H&G houses
“ T
his is my first time living on a hill, and I absolutely love it,” says Posie Graeme-Evans of her southernTasmanian home. “On a completely still day, I can hear voices rising up from down in the valley.” Posie, one of Australia’s most successful TV producers and now a best-selling novelist, grew up all over the world and lived most recently in Sydney before succumbing to the pull of the island. “I’d been flying from Sydney to Tasmania every couple of months to see my mum, who’d moved here some time ago,” she says. “I came to this valley to finish the draft of a book and just fell in love with the area.” At the time, Posie and her husband Andrew Blaxland had been looking for land in NSW and had come close to buying a couple of times. Nothing had been quite right, however. Then they saw this place for sale on the internet. “We bought on Valentine’s Day, 2007, and began travelling to it on weekends,” says Posie. Perched high on a hill with breathtaking valley views, the property consisted of the main house (which was “in a bit of a state,” says Posie), an applepicker’s hut and several farm buildings. The circa-1907 farmhouse was a classic four-room cottage but, like most structures of that era, it wasn’t designed with the glorious views in mind. It came down to Andrew, who had studied architecture before becoming a television producer, to translate his vision of light and space and transform the dark, poky rooms. “I’m so fortunate to be with someone who’s a great visualiser,” says Posie. “Andrew’s first response, after taking in the scale of the project, was to open the house up to the unique light and expansive views. The first structural thing was to create a line of sight from the east-facing kitchen, through the house and out over the valley to the west,” she says. >
26
www.houseandgarden.com.au
H&G H&G houses living “The old white cabinet in the kitchen has travelled around Australia with me for almost 20 years,” says Posie. An antique campaign table partners with Eames chairs in a cosy alliance of modern and traditional. Chairs from Living Edge. Sisal rug from Freedom. Windows from Uptons Trading. Walls painted Dulux Antique White USA. OPPOSITE A timeless rural tableau in the foyer evokes long rambles through the countryside. Chair by David Ralph. Doors throughout are from Stegbar, in durable western red cedar. For Where to Buy, see page 299.
‘It’s a completely liveable house, not an artefact. Our building is an engine and machine for light.’ POSIE
www.houseandgarden.com.au
27
H&G living houses < Although Andrew and Posie had a clear idea of what they wanted to achieve, they realised they wouldn’t be able to project-manage the job themselves. “Because we were coming and going so much, we found an architect, Karen Kennedy of Eco-style Achitecture & Interiors, for Andrew to manage the build with,” says Posie. “He’d send her drawings and sketches, and emails that she called ‘novels’. It was an unusual relationship between client and architect, which Karen handled gracefully and with warmth.” Building started in earnest in 2008. It took about 18 months to complete the house and the picker’s hut, which now serves as Posie’s writing space and guest quarters. By the end, the couple were reassessing their dedication to Sydney. “Our business and family were in Sydney, but I’d just finished McLeod’s Daughters and I badly wanted to become a full-time writer,” says Posie. “I said to Andrew, ‘Just give me two years to try to make it as a novelist.’” >
28
www.houseandgarden.com.au
H&G houses Glorious views, wild weather and the changing seasons provide Posie with rich inspiration. “Tasmania has great writing weather – storms, rain, wind,” she says. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT An etching by Mandy Renard adorns a sandstone fireplace surround that Andrew designed and built with Posie’s brother, Alex. The dark feature wall throws into sharp relief a Roca basin from Elite Appliances and Caroma tapware. Andrew also designed the dining table, its form influenced by the US Craftsman period. This guestroom in the old apple-picker’s hut features a drawing of Posie’s father by K Kowdratski and a quilt made by her daughter, Emma Mackellar. Watercolour by Bruce Latimer. For Where to Buy, see page 299.
‘I rejoice when extreme weather comes in. I pull this house around me like a doona.’ POSIE
www.houseandgarden.com.au
29
H&G living houses
H&G houses < “We had Christmas 2009 in Sydney
and then New Year’s Eve at this house. It was just us, sitting on the porch with our Champagne, watching an amazing lightning storm. It was an enchanted evening, as if the house and the landscape were saying ‘Welcome’.” The couple sold their Arts and Craft-era bungalow in Sydney and transferred most of the contents to Tasmania, where they sit beautifully within the new space. The completed home and its environs have now become vital to Posie’s craft; the views and the weather giving her license to write on epic subjects. “We still spend about one week out of four in Sydney, but this is where I come back to when I need to write,” she says. “I’m beginning another book and I have no idea what will happen in it yet, but I trust the magic in this place to give me inspiration.” H&G Eco-style Architecture & Interiors, Hobart, Tasmania; (03) 6234 6077 or www.eco-style.com.au.
A tiered candelabra, picked up years ago at a garage sale, now takes pride of place in the conservatory. Chinese elm stool from Orson & Blake. OPPOSITE Mountain views invite lingering at the outdoor dining table or in a classic Adirondack-style chair. The exterior of the house is painted British Paints Mesh. For Where to Buy, see page 299.
‘I love the turning of the seasons here – the bulbs, the blossom and the wattle.’ POSIE 30
www.houseandgarden.com.au
www.houseandgarden.com.au
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