Australian Period Home Style

If you are a regular reader of Australian Period Style, you may have noticed some changes in the magazine this issue. Not only is the magazine now known as Period Home Living, but we also have a focus on mixing period properties with modern touches. Despite the name change, this issue is filled with an abundance of beautiful period home inspiration. Our feature homes range from Sydney to Surrey, in the United Kingdom and showcase the deep passion that these homeowners, builders and architects have in order to revive these properties in an authentic manner and bring them into the 21st century. As always, our valued contributors have provided words of wisdom on numerous topics. This issue, Paul Rosenberg, of Moorabool Antique Galleries, writes on the joy of collecting (page 16), despite…

Valentine’s Antique Gallery is renowned for its wide range of exceptional antiques, which includes a large collection of boxes and treen. Over many decades in business, Valentine’s has earned an enviable reputation for an ability to source a selection of fine-quality 19th century English travelling cases, sometimes referred to as the “Nécessaire de Voyage”. Used by both men and women, these travelling cases were highly personal items and provide an intimate glimpse into the world of Victorian England. Although these cases share a common purpose, a close inspection reveals that each has its own story to tell. Boasting an ever-changing selection, the team at Valentine’s looks forward to sharing the stories of these travelling cases with customers as they choose the one most appealing to them. Travel has always offered an opportunity…

Acollectable is an adjective and its meaning is {of an item} worth collecting; of interest to a collector. What do you collect? In today’s society, the collecting instinct is often suppressed due to the “fashion trend” that has swept the globe — the decluttering craze. From what I understand, this involves discarding everything except “what gives you joy”. What if your collection gives you joy? To follow the trend you should dispose of it, as the very nature of a collection is a “group of items” — easily confused as a clutter. We clearly don’t follow this trend. There’s always a danger of collections becoming an accumulation, without focus or point. By having a focus, a collection gains definition and purpose, and in this light it takes on a life of…

Every day, at least one customer walks into my shop and asks, “Does brown furniture still sell? We took all of our Victorian/Edwardian/Deco/French furniture to auction and got nothing compared to what we paid for it in the ‘80s or ‘90s, so how can you be doing so well?” My reply: “Did you have anything resembling the stock in my shop?” Their answer is always no. Then I say, “What brought you into my showroom?” Their replies are, “We liked your window display” or “We saw your furniture at our friend’s home.” The fact is, each week, scores of couples are downsizing, moving into modern apartments or townhouses where their large, fancy, heavily carved, out-of-style pieces simply do not suit. As a result, they throw them into an auction room where the…

Australia’s gold rush created instant wealth for the lucky few, but even in the 1800s, money didn’t necessarily buy taste. Like modern rap artists with their “bling”, ostentatious displays of riches were very much a part of Victorian society and for those who rose rapidly from rags to riches. By 1853, the gold rush had created a growing market for prestige items including high-quality firearms, horses and carriages and jewellery. Around 30 jewellers and goldsmiths from Britain and Europe are known to have worked on the Victorian goldfields and major cities in the 1850s. They fashioned watch chains, cravat pins and heavy gold rings for the men — and brooches for their wives, sweethearts and other desirable females. The most famous of these was Lola Montez, who entertained men on the goldfields…

On the east coast’s Great Dividing Range, the Blue Mountains provides a spectacular backdrop to numerous villages in its upper regions, such as Medlow Bath with The Hydro Majestic, Leura’s exquisite gardens and, at its highest peak, Blackheath, a small town known for rhododendrons and a panoramic view, which many say surpasses The Three Sisters. Known as Govett’s Leap Lookout, it was described by Charles Darwin in 1836 as “stupendous”. While Darwin struggled for five days on horseback and convicts continued to cut a road across the Blue Mountains, today, only two hours by road or train from Sydney allows ready access to these somewhat remote townships. Such locations can guarantee unique opportunities for both inspiration and acquisitions that will enhance the discerning restoration, renovation and decoration of period homes. Cinema…