'home away from home'

During my mid semester break adventures, i began to develop some ideas for the next 'into my window'. as i was riding my bike on a sunny day along the geographe bay coast, thinking about all the houses and wondering what was inside them, a lovely bunch of people waved to me from their porch and invited me in for a lemonade! invigorated and inspired by the house, (and by the holiday makers' generous hospitality) i endeavoured to stop by again and take some pictures, and so i did :)

i love this house every time i step into it. from the carpet to the lights to the garden, everything about it has charm. i wanted to challenge myself with this project, and i thought the best way to capture this house was with film! so, armed with the clunky 1980's camera and a roll of film, i clicked away! a couple weeks later, with the photographs back from the lab and an interview with the wonderful owners, i present to you..the 'home away from home'...


"The house was built in 1963 (yep, all good things come from that year) for Mrs A Pinnock", says Diane, owner of this antique gem with her husband Daniel. They purchased the house as a holiday retreat, somewhere they could relax and unwind in a beautiful place of the world.
"The reason we bought the house was because of the location. I didn’t take much interest in the actual house itself. [However], once we spent a week there, I loved it! It just felt good, just like the fitting of an old pair of jeans, cosy and comfortable."



Cosy and comfortable are appropriate words to describe the house. Although it is only lived in for a parts of the year, stepping inside reveals a home that is warm with feeling and a sense that it has been lived in.



"What I find exciting is that there has been no hammering in this house at all. It is still in its original condition, with sixties/seventies décor. From the green brown yellow floral carpet, (top quality carpet in those days - I think its westminister 100% wool carpet), to the bamboo patterned curtains, the kitchen overheads with the sliding glass door, the brown and cream tiling in the bathroom and laundry, and the built in wardrobes with the Queen Anne style handles -nothing has been updated!"



One of Diane's favourite parts of the house are the light fittings in the main living area. "the orange and white glass waffle designed ball lamp fittings suspended from the ceiling by a plaited cord. Absolutely fantastic!"



She also loves the picture of the bird in the living room. "It's painted, and I would like to take a closer look at it next time we are there, and find out who the artist is and do some research. Who knows, it could be worth heaps, or maybe just $2 from a op shop!"



She also says that the house came with a few extra surprises in store!
"We found a cupboard in the laundry which was locked. We left it for a few months, but curiosity got the better of us and we prised the cupboard open. Yes, it was a treasure trove! It was filled with hand painted crockery, silver serving dishes, vintage Tupperware and also sorts of fancy glassware .My favourite from the treasure trove was the hand painted salt and pepper shakers. They take the honourable position on the mantle piece above the fire place."



I love the fact that even though this house is used as a holiday getaway, the original and untouched decor make it a place that still feels like home. I'm so glad the owners have chosen to keep this house the way it was, and have the same passion and devotion in maintaining the essence of this house as the original owner once did.





Thanks so much for letting me into your, Daniel and Diane (and Carol and Eric of course who put up with me flitting around the house in all weird and wonderful positions to capture the house)!!