THE owners of this charming Emu Swamp house have managed to make the most of the building’s heritage without sacrificing any of the luxuries of modern life.
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While every room in the house is packed with country character, the lounge room is a standout, having originally served as a Methodist Church for parishioners from Emu Swamp and Lewis Ponds.
Built in 1873 the old church has been perfectly incorporated into the house’s free-flowing design, and is now used as a cosy retreat with a log-burning fire and formal dining table.
In recent years the property has undergone two major renovations and some additions, but it’s hard to tell where the original building ends and the new ones begin.
The expansive property now boasts four bedrooms, one with an en suite, a casual living space and formal lounge room.
There’s even a private sun-filled courtyard, the perfect place to drink coffee, read the papers and contemplate life.
Owners Marcelle and Rob have been careful to ensure their family home strikes the perfect balance between celebrating the old and embracing the new and their custom-built kitchen is a testament to that.
The kitchen incorporates a casual dining table and features a large Ilve oven as well as a traditional Nicholls Bros wood stove that Marcelle fires up on cold winter days to make soup.
“It’s hard to know if the kitchen is my favourite room in the house but I know it’s where I spend an awful lot of time,” Marcelle said.
“It’s a cook’s kitchen.”
Despite the abundance of unique features in the home, the fact the house is so light and airy appeals to Marcelle the most.
“The house is solar passive and lets in all the sunshine,” she said.
“Most rooms are north facing and you can go anywhere in the house and see outside.”
Over the years the house, which also has underfloor heating, has been perfect for entertaining, with visitors often keen to loll around the picturesque gardens or catch up over a barbecue.
“It’s an amazing place for parties, there’s plenty of outdoor areas for people to go,” Marcelle said.
According to Marcelle, the historic house was the perfect place to raise their now-grown-up children, each of whom had their own loft bedroom.
“They loved living here,” she said.