These days, many share the dream of a little cottage in the country. It was something that Kerrie and Greg von Menge also nurtured — to have an escape from their busy city lives. Their particular dream had a twist though: Kerrie and Greg ran an art framing business in Melbourne and also wanted to share their retreat with their artist friends. “We thought we could offer them a break in the country, too,” adds Greg, the hands-on framer in their business.
Kerrie was keen to find a country escape around Hepburn Springs near Daylesford, 118 kilometres north-west of Melbourne — a town also well known for its artistic community. Built in the 1860s, the weatherboard miner’s cottage the couple stumbled upon sat on a corner block on the road running down the ridgeline into Hepburn Springs village.
From the rear, it had views high over the Wombat State Forest and a track winding down through bushland to Hepburn’s famous Mineral Springs Reserve and Bathhouse and Spa in the gully below. They instantly knew it would be the perfect weekend retreat, not just for them and their two children, Jackson, 25, a graphic designer, and Sienna, 22, a teacher, but also their friends.
Kerrie and Greg have long shared the dream of a relaxed country life.
Kerrie loves to decorate with her vintage collections and, long before they found the house, she knew she’d furnish their future getaway with the interesting pieces she’s gleaned from the roadside, markets and antiques stores, as well as the couple’s extensive art collection.
The floor lamp is from Freedom and the vintage surveyor’s measuring stick is from Tarlo & Graham. An artwork by Australian printmaker Douglas Hale hangs above the fireplace, which is painted in Dulux Domino. The coffee table was an op-shop find.
A pendant light from IKEA hangs in the dining area, where the property’s name Ebony Twigg — designed by Kerrie’s son, Jackson — is proudly displayed. Her grandfather’s old football trophy has been turned into a fruit stand.
Previously it had been used as a holiday home and was still filled with all the furniture and bits and pieces of the late owner. Looking past it all, Kerrie’s eyes lit up at the green enamel stove sitting in the fireplace — it clinched the deal. “I loved that stove,” she recalls. “It was a real country house and, from then on, everything we did revolved around that.”
The green enamel cooker (brand unknown) in the fireplace came with the house, as did the chairs. The table is from Matt Blatt. Thejars and bottles were found at Daylesford Sunday Market, and the green tin from Found. at Hepburn. Above is a painting, Playground, by artist David Frazer.
The artworks include gifts from visiting artist friends, clients and family connections (artist Mark Schaller is Greg’s cousin, and the late David Larwill his brother-in-law) plus Kerrie’s own intricate wire-and-twig work, lampshades, birdcages and sculptures, which she labels Ebony Twigg. These she prefers to give away as gifts, rather than sell, to friends and those who stay at the cottage. “We’ve called the house Ebony Twigg, too — there are lots of twigs here!” she says with a smile.
In the twin bedroom, the bedside table is a roadside find. The knitted cushion is from Freedom, and the lamps are from Adairs. The prints were sourced from a local Facebook group.
As for the existing furniture in the house, they intended throwing it out until Kerrie started sifting through, finding several pieces that could be restored. “Everything was mahogany coloured, and there was blue carpet and purple velvet-flocked paint in one of the bedrooms,” she says. Among the pieces were a set of kitchen chairs, bedside tables and a stained pine dresser, which Kerrie and Greg have since smartened up with a coat of black paint.
The pine dresser came with the house and was also painted in Dulux Domino. The old tea set is from Daylesford Bazaar.
ABOUT THE HOUSE
The main bedroom was painted in Dulux Vivid White and Dulux Tranquil Grey
Living area floors were painted in Black Japan stain from Feast Watson
Kerrie loves to find pieces at her favourite local haunts, including The Amazing Mill Markets Daylesford; Found. at Hepburn and Trentham General
A Pony Rider wall-hanging hangs above the sideboard from The Amazing Mills Market. The timber foundry mould was also from the market, discovered at the Wooden Duck stall. The birdcage was a found piece.
Meanwhile, the living area’s floorboards were finished in a black timber stain while the four bedrooms were recarpeted. Walls were painted soothing white, and light and dark shades of grey. Greg then repanelled the internal doors and is still in the process of replacing all the doorknobs with old ones.
The bedside table in the main bedroom came from the set of 1980s Australian TV show Carson’s Law, which Kerrie worked on. The bed linen is from Adairs‘ Vintage Washed Linen range. The large artworks (from left) are by an unknown artist and Louise Rippert. The chair was found in the neighbour’s hard rubbish. |
For the couple, one of the delights of country life has been discovering the bartering system operating within the community. “We swapped one of our beds for some organic beetroot and carrots,” says Kerrie. “We have lovely grapes and a plum tree — we started giving our plums away to neighbours, and they came back with plum cake.”
In the bathroom, the vanity is painted in Dulux Domino with black tapware from Bunnings.
Kerrie adds that the country dream was always about sharing as well as finding the right balance in life. “Greg always finds things to do when we’re here,” Kerrie says. “He enjoys the morning walk to get the papers and coffee, and we both love walking down the old fire track to the old Hepburn swimming pool and the springs. It’s so central we can pop up to Bendigo, or drive out to the ruins of Yandoit — or just sit on the verandah watching the birds. The whole idea of this place was to just get away, and the best thing is bringing friends up here and showing them around.”
A wirework birdcage by Kerrie alongside a copy of Australian Printmaking in the 1990s by Sasha Grishin.
Find Ebony Twigg on Instagram, or visit [Dayget]((https://www.dayget.com.au/ebony-twigg|target=”_blank”|rel=”nofollow”) for more information and to book accommodation.
