“Most of the pieces here I’ve been collecting over 20 years…”
When it comes to to finding beautiful things for her farmhouse in Ashbourne, VIC, Kate Thornell-Staig reveals that it’s not perfect condition that draws her to a piece, but rather the life story etched on its skin.
The house itself bears its own idiosyncrasies: the family spent five years building it, and leaving their own mark. It’s also actually two houses, mirrored — one for Kate and her family, the other for her parents.
The designer recalls, “I called Mum after viewing the house and said, ‘You know how you said we should all live together? Come and look at this!”
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Kate, who recently launched clothing and knitwear label Garçonne, lives here with husband David Staig and daughters, Abby Maya, 16, and Lotti, six. “Marks and chips on old things tell their story, and I’ve tried to explain that to Lotti, who wants all new things…” Kate laughs.
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The living area opens out to the deck and has views of the farm. Kate has decorated with cushions from Matteo in California.
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was designed around the antique wooden beam, which displays Kate’s bread boards. The ‘Domsjo’ sink is from IKEA. The dining table was given to the family from a friend.
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The kitchen’s handmade Moroccan ‘Zellige’ splashback tiles are from Tiento Tiles, while the Lacanche oven was made in France and is distributed in Australia by Manorhouse. An old shop counter with drawers on one side has been transformed into a kitchen bench. Lighting is by Edison Light Globes, Melbourne.
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In the living room, a collection of vintage oil paintings, bought on Etsy and eBay make a vignette with a 1750s French commode.
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The paisley designs on the wall in the main bedroom were hand-stencilled by Kate. The paintings were sourced online, while the lamp stand was picked up at an antiques fair in Fryerstown.
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Lotti in her bedroom, where Dave assembled the bed from separate end and side pieces found on online. Kate made the patchwork quilt.
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In the bathroom, a ‘Rodney’ tub and round concrete basin from Boyd Alternatives feature alongside a chair from Found. at Hepburn. The antique vanity is complemented by tapware from The English Tapware Company.
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The rear deck overlooks the garden and paddocks. Dave made the arbour for the crimson glory vine. “On summer evenings, I love curling up on my favourite cane chair overlooking the paddocks and the colours of the garden harmonising with the setting sky,” Kate muses.
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The kitchen garden, with its pretty sheds, also has a beehive.
