Captain Kelly's Cottage by John Wardle Architects
Cottage Conversion
Captain Kelly was a well known mariner and adventurer who made numerous discoveries around Australia and New Zealand in the 19th century. One of the many places where he left his mark was Bruny Island in Tasmania, where he built a cottage in the 1830s. Since then, the cottage has suffered from unsympathetic alterations and has become somewhat dilapidated. When Melbourne-based John Wardle Architects were asked to renovate the cottage, they came up with a clever design scheme which not only restored the original features but also added some distinctly 21st century elements.
The original weatherboard cottage comprised two separate buildings for the bedrooms and for the kitchen. The larger building is surrounded by a wide verandah which the architects extended to connect the kitchen block. Under this bridge between the two buildings is the new living room, which retains the exposed rafters as a key design feature, thus creating a visual link between the old and the new. Large folding window shutters add an element of rustic charm as well as offering protection against the harsh elements. At the back of the new living space is a sheltered courtyard complete with a new chimney and a charming seating area made of wooden slats. The original parts of the cottage have been painstakingly restored, including the removal of layers of paint and non-original works. The result is a clever and sensitive mix of heritage and progress; a beautiful example of design and renovation of the highest standard.
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John Wardle ArchitectsShop the Style
Product Inspiration
Create a contemporary "old and new" look by mixing materials and textures, such as the Mathilda chair from Moroso, the Star console table from Coedition and the Valet bar cart from Stellar Works.
Natural, understated lighting would work wonders in the Kelly cottage. Try the Scraplight Ausi suspension light from Graypants, the Material pendant in terracotta from New Works and the Chou table light from LZF.
For accessories which capture the atmosphere of the cottage try the Smokestack fireplace from Frederik Roije, the Half Coil necklace from Eleanor Bolton and the Scrapwood wallpaper from NLXL.
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