An 1840s sandstone cottage gets a wonderful new chapter

If walls could talk, these sandstone marvels would have fascinating stories to tell. And, as this 1840s cottage in central Tasmania enters an exciting new era, it weaves a fresh narrative, with the signature sandstone remaining a leading character.

Named Raffah House, the three-bedroom property was bought by Sophie and Nick Weeding in 2017. Originally from Victoria, she moved here to be with her husband on his family farm. “When we welcomed our first son in 2017 [the couple now has two children], my parents were visiting and walking down the main street, when they spotted this sandstone beauty for sale. They hinted it could be a wonderful interstate base for my family – and the rest is history,” she says.

Walls painted Dulux Lexicon Quarter. Artwork by Alexandra Blunn. ‘Lucia Twist’ side table, Chelon. Ceramic jug, Coco Blue. Wall hooks stained Feast Watson Black Japan and antique school bench, all The Jardin Room. Striped linen bag, Carlotta + Gee. ‘Chess’ floor tiles in Black and White, Johnson Tiles. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

Seduced by what she saw, Sophie was easily persuaded. “The sandstone fireplaces in all the rooms especially caught my eye.” That, along with the fact that the couple discovered the land was originally owned by Nick’s direct ancestor, James Weeding, from 1828.

“It seemed too serendipitous to pass up such an opportunity to renovate.” And there was a lot of work to do – extensions through the ’50s and ’70s had introduced “lots of linoleum and treated pine not in keeping with the original building”.

Pendant lights, Temple & Webster. Runner, Zebra Home. Console, The Jardin Room. Framed prints from John Derian Picture Book. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

Sophie’s brief to herself? “To make it function for growing families, it had to be bulletproof, while maintaining the simple luxuries you seek when on holiday. We wanted visiting family and guests to relax and unwind the moment they walked through the door.”

To that end, Sophie’s comprehensive Pinterest board consisted of exposed timbers, jute, linen, light-filled spaces and “fun patterns” in rugs and cushions. “We wanted to create a home that is classic and warm – to not only look romantically warm from the outside with a puffing chimney, but also to feel warm inside, physically and visually.”

Kaboodle joinery in Haymes Paint Poplar Grove, Bunnings. Splashback tiles, Rossetto Tiles. Benchtop in Absolute Black granite, Dunn Stone. Fisher & Paykel cooktop and oven, Winnings. Basin, Restoration Online. Tasmanian oak floorboards finished in Whittle Waxes Evolution. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

Wall and windows painted Dulux Lexicon Quarter. Skylights, Velux. Roman blinds, Winflo Curtains. Pendant lights, Fat Shack Vintage. ‘Mayotte’ food cover, Provincial Home Living. Dining table, The Jardin Room. Dining chairs, Bon Bentwood. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

First came the inevitable rewiring, repointing and re-piling. Then the couple gutted every room, although the layout required little altering. Three bedrooms flank the hallway, which has a door to shut out noise from the new open-plan living zone that was created by knocking out a wall. And they sacrificed a fourth bedroom for a separate sitting room, accessed through double doors from the kitchen. At the back, a bathroom and laundry remain in their original location, although the couple reconfigured the bathroom with a freestanding bath, walk-in shower and double vanity.

Wall and windows painted Dulux Lexicon Quarter. Skylights, Velux. Roman blinds, Winflo Curtains. Pendant lights, Fat Shack Vintage. Benchseat cushion in Anna Spiro ‘Grandma’s Quilt’ fabric in Green. ‘Mayotte’ food cover, Provincial Home Living. Dining table, The Jardin Room. Dining chairs, Bon Bentwood. Art prints, Inner Luxe. Candelabras and antique bench, The Jardin Room. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

Three skylights in the kitchen and dining, another in the bathroom and one on the back porch ensure the interior is bathed in natural light.

Pendant light, Society Inc. Gas heater, Rinnai. Coffee table, foot stool and sideboard, all The Jardin Room. IKEA sofa in Bemz ‘Simply Linen’ in Rosemary. Framed prints from John Derian Picture Book. Rug, Indigo Love. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

THIS IS THE LIFE

This versatile cottage is designed as a place to come together or for a little me-time. “The dining table is heavily used for long evenings by the fire over drinks and dinner where the conversations don’t stop flowing until the early hours,” says Sophie. “The kitchen hums with conversation, while the separate sitting room works perfectly for those relaxing or planning day trip itineraries.”

Exterior painted Wattyl Grey Ember. Window painted Dulux Bedbox. Walls painted Dulux Lexicon Quarter. ‘Norwest’ wall sconce, Beacon Lighting. Wall hooks stained Feast Watson Black Japan and antique school bench, all The Jardin Room. Linen bag, Carlotta + Gee. ‘Chess’ checkerboard floor tiles, Johnson Tiles. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

Exterior painted Wattyl Grey Ember. Window painted Dulux Bedbox. Roof in Colorbond® Shale Grey. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

English buxus hedging and rosemary surround a quaint outdoor setting from The Jardin Room. Shed painted Wattyl Grey Ember. ‘Norwest’ wall lights, Beacon Lighting. Matchstick blinds, Bunnings. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

Not surprisingly, the stone’s the star, but sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. “Every wall in the kitchen and dining area was sandstone, but this felt overwhelming and cave-like,” says Sophie. So a stonemason re-pointed the walls to preserve them and then the couple clad them in plasterboard, leaving one as a feature wall and focal point.

Joinery, artwork and the furnishings complement the stonework in each room and soften the spaces. Finishes include Tasmanian oak floorboards in the open plan, original timber floors in the hallway and matt-black granite tops, together with subway tiles in the kitchen, bath and laundry.

Walls painted Haymes Paint Black Olive. Lamp, GlobeWest. Side table, Ivory House. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

Sophie enlisted the help of “colour queen”, interior stylist and decorator Belle Hemming of Belle Bright Project “to add depth” to the bedrooms and bathroom. “The beautiful green in the bathroom is so enticing and the dark bedrooms create a warmth that pulls you in,” she says. The bedrooms each have a colour or wallpaper theme.

Throughout, the home is furnished with found and recycled objects, all given new life. The custom wine rack was crafted from an old railway sleeper the couple found on the farm. Most of the antique furniture throughout was sourced from The Jardin Room antiques (conveniently located across the street) to complement both the home’s period character and modern inclusions.

Bath, Reece. Tapware, Meir. Vintage stool, Coco Blue. Tiles, Beaumont Tiles. Antique artwork. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

“We don’t tire of walking in when friends or family are visiting and seeing the joy on their faces,” says Sophie. “We have created airiness within the cosy and inviting spaces. What was once a rabbit warren of rooms and darkness is now a light-filled retreat. And, equally importantly, it respects the property’s long and wonderful history.”

Door painted Porter’s Paints Bayleaf, gate Dulux Bedbox and fence Wattyl Grey Ember. Original floorboards finished in Whittle Waxes Evolution. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

Neat balls of English buxus, lavender and catmint brighten the streetfront. Roof in Colorbond® Shale Grey. Posts, window frames and fence painted Wattyl Grey Ember. Fence pickets painted Dulux Bedbox. Front door painted Porter’s Paints Bayleaf. Street number and sandstone balls, The Jardin Room. ((Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming)|(Photography: Jessica Bellef | Styling: Belle Hemming))

The Design Team:

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Add depth and personality by layering traditional homewares in brass notes, deep tones and reclaimed timbers.