TRADITIONAL HOME WITH A CONTEMPORARY TWIST

Inspired by the traditional Queenslander, this Brisbane home has a delightfully contemporary feel.

When entering Janine and Geoff Tucker’s gorgeous Brisbane home, you notice two things: it’s exceedingly well presented and the décor has a distinct French country flavour. On closer inspection, something else is apparent: the replica Queenslander, designed and built by Lee Manson, is very well done. The details are there — VJ (or tongue and groove) ceilings and walls, the high 10-foot ceilings, the solid brass fittings and century-old leadlight windows. The internal walls throughout the house are two tones of warm cream trimmed with a fresh white. The pale walls are teamed with internal white wooden shutters on the windows. This light palette, combined with the traditional architectural features of the home, creates a beautiful backdrop for Janine to indulge her love of French interiors.

As the owner of That’s Unique furniture and homewares stores (located in the Brisbane suburbs of Toombul and Camp Hill), Janine says she is forever falling in love with new pieces and bringing them home. She adds she did not set out to have such a strong French influence in her decorating “but it was just what I was attracted to”.

The room in which this is most apparent would have to be the master bedroom, which is located upstairs at the front of the house. Rather decadently, Janine designed this room to be the entire width of the house, which makes it a generous eight metres long — spacious enough to furnish with painted Louis-style pieces. There is even a reading nook at the end of the bedroom, as well as an ensuite and roomy walk-in robe. French doors lead out to a balcony overlooking the front garden. Upstairs also houses Janine’s son’s room, the main bathroom and a second living room.

The main bathroom boasts a striking black bath with gold clawed feet as the centrepiece. Above the bath hangs a decadent black-flecked chandelier. Creamy Italian tiles mimic the pale colour scheme used throughout the home, but in this room the accent colour is definitely black. Natural light floods into the room when the internal shutters are open, but frosted glass ensures privacy. The bathroom’s spaciousness is reinforced by the design. The shower is hidden in the deep recess created by the toilet next door, giving the illusion that the entire room is dedicated to the luxurious bath.

The story was originally published in Australian Country 14.6. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.

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Words Tahn Scoon
Photography John Downs