Cart 
Like many from its era, this Georgian-style gingerbread cottage in Castlemaine, Victoria, had small internal rooms with little natural light. It also, due to its age, had issues in the roof and was in dire need of some TLC.
Its charm, however, was undeniable.
The clients, wanting to preserve the original architectural features but add some modern amenities, enlisted the help of interior designer Max Copolov to bring the old dame back to life.
Their brief; ‘create a sense of warmth in tone and texture, with finishes and furnishings that borrow from the building’s evolving history.’
‘My intention was to draw focus to the past, by contrasting the traditional elements of the design with a sleek and contemporary flourish,’ says Max.
Said ‘flourishes’ are found in the kitchen and bathroom, where Max has applied modern tiles and honed granite benchtops. These details sit comfortably next to the more whimsical coloured basins and traditional tapware.
An AGA cooker and hotplate were installed in the kitchen, along with modern amenities such as an integrated fridge. Cabinetry, too, has a slightly more modern profile, but the soft sage colour and rounded handles hark back to the home’s roots.
‘These spaces are furnished and styled with an eclectic array of the owner’s objects and furnishings that accentuate this blended style,’ explains Max, referring to the fluted pendant lights, timber dining table and pink tea cabinet in the kitchen.
Adding to the warmth and simplicity of the cottage’s revitalised interiors are granite paving, aged timber floors, and VJ wainscot panelling.
‘[These materials] don’t try to overpower or compete with the other design elements,’ he says.
In the living room, he transformed the once-tiled and painted-brick walls into a space wrapped in a warm blue with timber-lined ceilings, restoring the old fireplace and filling the room with warm texture and pattern.
Just as the clients requested, Chester Cottage is now home to a harmonious blend of modern finishes and original features — its charm renewed for guests visiting the area.
