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As soon as she stepped into this grand Victorian house, Clare Hillier, founder of accommodation Camillo House, knew it would be her next family home.
The house was originally built in the 1880s and retained many of its original Italianate-style features including marble fireplaces, a bluestone cellar, tessellated tiled verandah, stained glass windows, and a mezzanine with a wrought iron balustrade overlooking the home’s former ballroom. The ballroom was converted many years ago into what’s now the main kitchen and dining area beneath 6.6-metre-high ceilings.
‘I love the beauty, workmanship and history of these original features. In many ways, it feels like each family that has lived here is simply the custodian of a very special home,’ says Clare.
After purchasing the home in 2018, Clare worked with designers Larritt-Evans and GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens to refresh the house over four months.
Clare describes the renovation as heart led, timeless, and grounded in ‘real’ materials such as brass, stone, and timber. Period features have been retained and restored, including floorboards (stained black by the previous owners) returned to their natural beauty.
New drapes were also installed throughout to bring in rich colour and texture against the Dulux Natural White walls. ‘Claire from Larritt-Evans truly has a knack for colour and opted for some playful, confident tones — but nothing that screams for attention,’ says Clare.
The updated house retains its personality and grand proportions but feels more homey and lived in. There’s also some unexpected details — like the tiny backyard sauna! ‘Our sauna was a COVID project! We decided to make the most of the space down the side of our house that we weren’t using and had Drip Saunas custom built our own little retreat.’
Clare lives in the home with her partner Sean Morris and Clare’s two children. They love every inch of the property, from the back verandah that traps the morning sun, to the cellar where they enjoy the occasional drink, and Clare’s home office. ‘It’s the old mezzanine above the dance floor and feels like I’m working up in the treetops,’ she says.
‘Every corner of our home is used and adored!’
