Heritage glamour.

When Kristie and her husband Callum first viewed their 1895 Victorian villa in Ballarat’s sought-after inner-city suburb of Soldiers Hill, it was love at first sight, despite the house needing some attention.

Words by
Joanne Hawkins
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Photography Rachel Winton
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Kitchen with Wave Fold Sheer Curtains

When Kristie and her husband Callum first viewed their 1895 Victorian villa in Ballarat’s sought-after inner-city suburb of Soldiers Hill, it was love at first sight, despite the house needing some attention.

 

“She needed a lot of love and care but we knew she had so much potential,” remembers Kristie.

At first, the couple thought a lick of paint, new flooring and updating the window furnishings would bring the house back to life. But “reality hit” when a builder friend gave the house the once over and pointed out that most of the walls weren’t straight.

“I guess they didn’t have the best spirit levels, back in 1895,” laughs Kristie.

So, Kristie and Callum went back to the drawing board and came up with a plan for a much bigger renovation.

“We reassessed and decided she was worth the investment so drew up a floor plan and submitted plans to council to partially demolish the later period extensions at the rear, re-do the footings and re-frame the entire house,” explains Kristie.

Roller Blind in action

Modern love.

After a lot of hard work, the couple are now the proud owners of a gorgeous period property with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a spacious open-plan living, kitchen and dining area. They’ve even managed to squeeze in a home office and wine cellar.

The couple chose a stylish, monochromatic colour scheme for their renovated home. And, while the exterior is traditional, with pristine white weatherboards and black heritage fretwork, the interior is more contemporary.

“When we describe the interior of our house, we always say it is minimalist with bold features, throughout,” says Kristie.

When it came to the window coverings, practicality, value-for-money and a touch of the “wow factor” were top of mind.

“We priced up every curtain and blind supplier in Ballarat and online and dollar curtains + blinds were by far the most competitive whilst retaining high quality and having a huge range of different options,” Kristie continues.

 

 

Wave Fold Sheer Curtains

“We priced up every curtain and blind supplier in Ballarat and online and dollar curtains + blinds were by far the most competitive whilst retaining high quality and having a huge range of different options.”

— Kristie

Catching a wave.

In the kitchen area, ceiling-to-floor Wave Fold Sheer Curtains in Pearl Altitude fabric was chosen to both soften and add the desired wow factor to the stunning new interior.

The Sheer Curtains were designed with a left-hand side stack so they can be drawn open to the left allowing uninterrupted access through the sliding door. The Sheers also reduce glare while allowing daylight through, as well as hiding an adjacent brick wall.

The Sheer Curtains have been designed to “puddle” on the floor. Finishing the fabric with an extra 10cms on the floor creates an opulent look.

“We knew we wanted the ceiling-to-floor Sheers but the value the dollar curtains + blinds team added was advising us about the different options on how the sheers could sit on the floor,” says Kristie.

“I’m so glad we opted for The Puddle finish because they beautifully cascade onto the floor enhancing the soft feel of the room.”

Elsewhere, the couple opted for Blockout Roller Blinds in Vamp fabric in the Bounty colourway in their guest bedrooms and study.

The Blockout Roller Blinds were a practical option in the study, in particular, which also houses a four square metre wall of wine bottles that needed to be protected from the heat and sun.

In the guest bedrooms, the Blockout Roller Blinds blend into the wall colour to create a “barely-there” inconspicuous look when open.

Reno over and Kristie says that she and Callum are “obsessed” with their new Sheers and Blockout Roller Blinds.

“They are such a talking point when people visit. They complement the overall style of our home and warm it right up. Without them, the house would look unfinished,” Kristie says.

 

Wave Fold Sheer Curtains

“I’m so glad we opted for The Puddle finish because they beautifully cascade onto the floor enhancing the soft feel of the room.”

— Kristie
Wave Fold Sheer Curtains

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