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Artist Annabelle Gfeller looked for a decade (!) for the perfect place for her family to call home: somewhere that ticked all the boxes and then some.
She found it in this Vaucluse property, originally designed by Luigi Rosselli Architects, which wouldn’t look out of place in the Spanish or Italian village. ‘Our home blends Mediterranean architecture with rustic and contemporary influences. Luigi thoughtfully designed a space where the garden wraps around the house creating multiple focal points and intimate spaces to enjoy,’ says Annabelle.
‘There’s a real sense of depth and warmth throughout, with natural stone, rough-rendered walls, and French-style windows and doors. The limewashed exterior evokes the charm of a Tuscan villa, while the Spanish tiled roof and climbing bougainvillea add to its old world charm.’
Over 10 years on, these qualities are never lost on Annabelle and her family (husband David Goding and two children Gaia, 17, and Raphael, 13). ‘Stepping through the doors always feels like being on holiday’ Annabelle confesses.
The existing house didn’t immediately ‘need’ anything, except for a bit of TLC in kitchen area and around the pool. These works involved interior painting, sanding and re-staining timber floors, cleaning limestone, and upgrading the kitchen.
‘It was very important to us that we maintain the look and feel of the home and I really feel we achieved that. The kitchen looks as if it was always there’, says Annabelle.
In the years since, Annabelle and her family have also invested in significant landscaping works, to allow for a purpose-built artist studio.
‘It isn’t very big, but it has a beautiful feel and serenity to it. I look out over the garden and pool and back of the house… It is my happy place and an absolute joy to work from,’ says Annabelle of the studio. ‘We mimicked the dark timber doors and open shelving from the house and put in limewashed and smoked timber floors.’
The styling of the home has naturally evolved as Annabelle has collected pieces travelling overseas and from vintage stores in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Subtle blue and green tones echo the calm of the garden and pool, rugs were sourced in Istanbul, and there are many much-loved artworks displayed throughout the home.
It’s still very much a family home, so nothing is too perfect or precious. ‘We have children, pets, mess, and a busy lifestyle, so you need to strike that balance between a home that is aesthetically beautiful without being too fussy or styled,’ says Annabelle.
Mission accomplished!
