Passion for blue - Australian Country - http://www.universalshop.com.au/australian-country-magazine-subscription?search=australian%20country Passion for blue - Australian Country - http://www.universalshop.com.au/australian-country-magazine-subscription?search=australian%20country

We first met Ellie Ramsey, owner of the iconic Paddington store Blake & Taylor, when we visited her country property Fat Ted Farm in Harlin, a small town 90 minutes drive from Brisbane. This time we visited Ellie’s city abode, a stunning renovated timber and tin Queenslander in the inner-west suburb of Toowong, just a short drive from her store.

Passion for blue - Australian Country - http://www.universalshop.com.au/australian-country-magazine-subscription?search=australian%20country Passion for blue - Australian Country - http://www.universalshop.com.au/australian-country-magazine-subscription?search=australian%20country

“When we first saw the house it was a dump,” Ellie recalls. “It had been added onto so much over the years it was almost impossible to see the original, splendid 1906 home itself. It was covered in security grills, ramps had been added and the verandas had been closed in. It started as a lovely, grand home but along the way had been a boarding house, then cut into flats before being converted back to a family home.”

Passion for blue - Australian Country - http://www.universalshop.com.au/australian-country-magazine-subscription?search=australian%20country Passion for blue - Australian Country - http://www.universalshop.com.au/australian-country-magazine-subscription?search=australian%20country

Ellie’s beloved collection of blue and white ceramics work in with her collection of blue and white cushions, sourced from her own store, Blake & Taylor.

The first thing Ellie and her husband, Duncan, did was to strip the home back to its original state and then rip out as many internal walls as possible to let the light flood in. The living area was extended to include a large deck, allowing the family to make the most of the leafy views. A partially glazed little breakfast room was added to the side of the deck and a new Hamptons-style kitchen, with glossy black subway tiles, was installed.

Passion for blue - Australian Country - http://www.universalshop.com.au/australian-country-magazine-subscription?search=australian%20country Passion for blue - Australian Country - http://www.universalshop.com.au/australian-country-magazine-subscription?search=australian%20country

“We did a lot of work on the house, but tried to retain all the good bits,” Ellie says. “For instance, the hall was in a bad way but we didn’t gut it and replaster. Instead we kept as many original features as possible, including the old archway and belt rails, and worked around them. In the new additions such as the breakfast room, we matched the architectural details, including skirtings, as closely as possible. And though the kitchen is new, we included old corbels and mouldings. It was all added expense but worth it. I hate old homes with modern boxes tacked on. I wanted the house to feel whole.”

Passion for blue - Australian Country - http://www.universalshop.com.au/australian-country-magazine-subscription?search=australian%20country Passion for blue - Australian Country - http://www.universalshop.com.au/australian-country-magazine-subscription?search=australian%20country

After seven years of gardening, renovating and decorating, Ellie says they’re finally finished. “We’ve just completed the front fence and garden, which was our last job, so no more ‘to-do’ lists,” she admits. “We’re finally free to sit back on the front verandah and just enjoy!”

This story was originally published in the December 2015/ January 2016 issue of Australian Country. Keep up to date and subscribe to the magazine here.

Read more home and interior stories here.

Words Tahn Scoon
Photography 
John Downs

More Like This

Douglas Blain

The Extraordinary Journey of Douglas Blain: Preserving the Past with Passion

Douglas Blain’s remarkable life has been devoted to rescuing old buildings and turning them into boutique hotels.

Outback Aussie Tours

Exploring Queensland’s Heartland with Outback Aussie Tours

Alan and Sue Smith, owners of Outback Aussie Tours have been showing Australian Country around the paddocks of Rosebank station.

Montville Mist Springwater

The Collins’ Montville Mist Springwater Success

Alli and Peter Collins juggle raising a family and running, Montville Mist Springwater from their home in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Paper Pocket Australiana

Our Top 10 Favourite Calendars and Diaries to Kick Start Your 2024

Discover Australia’s favourite range of 2024 Calendars and Diaries from Paper Pocket. Keep track of your year, organise your appointments, plan your […]

Date & Ginger Bundt Cake

Date & Ginger Bundt Cake Recipe

This date and ginger bundt cake is an adaptation of my mum’s much-loved sticky date pudding recipe.

Visitors Paradise Home

Turning a 1929 Home into a Visitors Paradise

Aussie wildlife and mushroom foragers are among the many visitors to Sue and Tony Johnson’s paradise home in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills.

Heritage Home Renovation

A Heritage Home Renovation Back to the Origins

After almost three decades of renovations, Darren and Sue Turner have returned their 111-year-old home to what it once was.

Kiama

Seduced by Simplicity: A Kiama Transformation

Michael and Michele Bell turned a Kiama beach house from the sixties into a stunning seaside home that’s too good to leave.

Follow Us on Instagram