Caecilia and James Potter and Family

The incredible Hawthorn home of Caecilia and James Potter and Family.  Original Victorian facade.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Front sitting room.  ‘JJ Chairs’ from Space Furniture, 20 year old Sofa Bed upholstered in Stroheim and Romann Strie with Zoffany trim, Mountain Zebra rug from South Africa, ‘The Road’ artwork on wall over side table by Michael Peck.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

View from dining room to entrance and front door.   Original tessellated tiles, polished stainless steel Cuckoo Clock by Pascal Tarabay from Space Furniture, Bamboo chair from Meizai.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Willow display cabinet by Zuster (wallpaper inside cabinet is Cole&Son's Fornasetti ‘Nuvole’ wallpaper from Radford Furnishings), ‘Wenge’ Raw Steel dining table from Hermon and Hermon, Caecilias 19th century fish plate collection in vitrine and Mary McKillop cross on cabinet from Camberwell Market, with gilded French mirror.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Let me tell you a story.  A few weeks ago, Sean Fennessy and I were driving along early one morning to a shoot a house in Hawthorn.  It was the first of two shoots (we usually try and squeeze two into one day) and whilst we had seen a few impressive interior snaps of the home prior to our visit, lets just say we weren't entirely prepared for this level of amazing!  As we drove along chatting, we passed a seriously stunning Victorian mansion, complete with tower and flagpole, and we both remarked at how impressive it was. Distracted, we soon realised we'd gone too far... so we U-turned, slowing down to look closely at the street numbers.  As we drew closer to the amazing turreted mansion we had driven past just moments earlier, we realised, THIS was the home were due to photograph.  In 3 hours.  Oh Lord. This house is truly BREATHTAKING.  It is one of the most unique and character-filled homes we've had the privilege of documenting for TDF, somehow effortlessly combining a respectful nod to its Victorian heritage, with an unmistakably eclectic, contemporary  sense of style.  This fine balance can be attributed to the remarkable vision and skill of interior designer Caecilia Potter, who lives here with husband James and their kids Jasper and Cyrus, and Archie the cat. The Potter family have lived here just 3 years, but have wasted no time updating their surroundings. 'We had to substantially renovate as the home was in poor condition' explain Caecilia.  The home was rewired, re-plastered, re-painted, whilst the beautiful old timber panelling, doors and staircases were painstakingly cleaned to reveal their original finishes - 'that was about 200 buckets of water by our wonderful decorator Matthew!' says Caecilia.  The original floors were also repaired and refinished, and bathrooms redesigned. The gardens, though impressive in size, also presented an immense challenge. 'The gardens were very run down, so I re-designed and landscaped, including building the natural swimming pool, designed to preserve the 120 year old peppercorn tree in the back garden' says Caecilia.  The pool is actually a feat of engineering in itself - it is a natural freshwater pool cleaned by a system of rocks and plants, using German technology, with a 20m lap pool and 3.4m deep diving zone!  Amazing!  Not far away, a solar pergola was built just outside the kitchen, which sees daily use - 'it's really like another dining room' says Caecilia. Caecilia is a truly amazing woman, with many incredible stories to tell!  Her business is Atticus & Milo - an architecture, interior and landscape design  consultancy, currently with seven staff.   Prior to changing her career direction, she studied chemical engineering and law/arts, commencing her career in business/IT  in the 1980's.  Years later, whilst on safari in the Okavango Delta Botswana (!!), Caecilia has what she calls 'a career epiphany', and decided to return to study interior design at RMIT.  Since launching her business in 1998 she's worked on a great variety of residential projects, and Atticus & Milo has built a strong reputation for their eclecticism, warmth and individuality, combined with a love of bold colour, pattern and texture. Caecilia has a wonderful way of describing her home. 'We all love the sense of patina and age in our home, she is like a warm and fun old lady with a very original character' she says! 'We love the gardens, which I designed to be a bit Victorian in feel - rambling, bursting with variety, wonderful for cutting flowers and foliage and not overly formally landscaped... and the natural pool is a delight to swim in, just like swimming in a mineral spring as no chemicals are added.  And we love the wonderful views from the tower, for example watching the fireworks on NYE - they seem so close!  It is a fun house to share with friends and family, great for parties!' Indeed, this is an amazing home for entertaining, and despite her busy schedule, Caecilia loves to throw a party!  In fact, during our visit, preparations were well underway for a farewell lunch for one of Atticus and Milo's much loved staff - when we finally finished our shoot at lunchtime there were a gaggle of ladies laughing, chatting and eating amazing home cooked food outside under the pergola!  It was so lovely to work whilst delicious kitchen smells wafted through the house (and to be offered a drink whilst we worked - dangerous!) - but above all, to experience this very special home full of joy and fun and bubbly conversation. Massive thanks to Caecilia and family for sharing their incredible home with us today!  If you love this one, do pop over to the Atticus & Milo website for a closer look at Caecilia's other projects.

Formal dining room.   Willow display cabinet by Zuster, ‘Wenge’ Raw Steel dining table from Hermon and Hermon, 4 x Mirror hung as one found at a flea market, Dizzy dining chairs by Milk Furniture, Farahan collection hand knotted fine wool rug from Loom, Existing 18^th Century 24k gilded French 12 light Chandelier.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Formal dining room.  4 x mirrors hung as one found at a flea market, Dizzy dining chairs by Milk Furniture.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

1890 Alcock Elevator Billiard / Dining Table, 1950’s Danish rosewood sideboard from Grandfathers Axe finished with Cole&Son's 'Circus' wallpaper from Radford Furnishings, Painting over sideboard - 'God' by Gareth Sansom, over doorway sits Jim Thalassoudis’ ‘Art Gallery of South Australia’.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Conservatory sunroom downstairs doubles as  a guest rom and art studio. Linen by Linen and Moore, stools by Tait.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Upstairs sitting room.  ‘Bang Boom’ light fitting by Ingo Maurer, sofa upholstered in a Zoffany fabric, custom cabinetry by A&M.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Master bedroom.   Main curtain fabric  ‘Glow sheer col steel’ from Roylston House, Curtain band ‘Rusca velvet col Tundra’ from Warwick Fabrics, custom made Ottoman by A&M, existing wardrobe. Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Custom made 4 poster bed designed by Caecilia with Fornasetti Cole&Son ‘Venice 82/8015’ wallpaper from Radford Furnishings.  Venetian panels as bedhead and Tolomeo aluminium reading lights from Artemide on Wenge platform base, muslin curtains from Shades of India with Caecilia’s shell trim from her treasure box!  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Master bathroom.   Curtain Fabric supplied by Mokum, Jeeves and Wooster Pendant Lights by Jake Phipps, Zuri Pearl White bath and Fantini tapware from Rogerseller.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Staircase leading up to the tower!  ‘Manuel Canovas Bengal Paprika’ wallpaper from Geraldine Cooper. Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Powder room detail.   The walls are a pumpkin and magenta custom colours, painted in a FRESCO finish by Matthew Collins Art and Interiors, white ceramic animal heads from Meizai.   Mirror found at flea market, CS Catalano basin and Fantini Milano  tapware both from Rogerseller, vanity unit was an existing commode re-painted, ‘Moooi Smoke pendant’ light from Space Furniture.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Left - powder room detail.   The walls are a pumpkin and magenta custom colours, painted in a FRESCO finish done by Matthew Collins Art and Interiors, white ceramic animal heads from Meizai.  Right - ‘Manuel Canovas Bengal Paprika’ wallpaper from Geraldine Cooper. Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Upstairs hallway and staircase.  Artwork on right side of staircase - Sun weaving by woman weavers from Yunupingu.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kitchen - oiled American Oak benchtops, ikea cabinetry, Aga stove, Wine fridges from Eurocave.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

AMAZING freshwater swimming pool!  Caecilia designed the pool to preserve the 100+ year old peppercorn tree (seen in the next photo). It is a natural freshwater pool cleaned by rocks and plants using German technology, with a 20m lap pool and 3.4m deep diving zone.  Custom outdoor cushions in Mokum fabrics.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Natural freshwater pool  designed by Caecilia to preserve the 100+ year old peppercorn tree.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Upstairs balcony.   Black chairs from Caecilia’s student days, re-painted black, table cloth made by Caecilia from Designer’s Guild’s ‘Amprapali Peony’ from Radford Furnishings.  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Original Façade - 'gardens a work in progress!' says Caecilia!  Photos by Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.