Home: Vintage meets Modern

Josh and Sharron and their three children live in a semi-rural part of Queensland on a 1/2 acre block of land. The modern home is furnished effortlessly with a mixture of modern, and vintage items, creating the perfect balance between functionality, personality and warmth. The white and neutral tones are subtlety enhanced using bursts of colour through interesting ornaments and books. The house has a modern edge yet Sharron has cleverly brought warmth and history to the home through vintage/shabby-chic furniture and accessories. What Josh and Sharron have created is truly the definition of transforming a house into a home.

What is your favourite room?

I like every room for different reasons.

What is your favourite piece of furniture?

Probably the Ikea Billy Bookcase Cupboard System in our TV room.  It’s got a place for everything, is compact, highly customisable and affordable.

 

Where do you find your inspiration?

Magazines and shop displays.  Better Homes and Gardens is my favourite home magazine.

 

You’ve brought a lot of history into a modern house.  How have you managed that?

I started with large furniture pieces and kept them neutral and simple, and then brought colour and age through pictures, smaller furniture and nic-nacks.

Where do you find your vintage pieces?

Second hand shops, ebay and garages sales.  It’s amazing what you can find and what people throw out.

How do you get a feel for what is good value?

I find ebay is a helpful research tool because it’s a great price and popularity guide.  And then I go to the op shops and find similar pieces.

What are some of your great finds?

1. What: Original acrylic canvas picture  Price: $450 reduced $65 Where: Closing down shop

2. What: Vintage prints Price: $3 each Where: Salvation Army

3. What: Bathroom ladder Price: $200 reduced to $50 Where: Loot

4. What: Vintage meat safe Price: $75 Where: Konnexion Shop on ebay

How have you effectively mixed the old with the new?

I’ve mixed a vintage hall table with a new mirror in the hallway entrance.

Old: Vintage hall table New: Mirror Price: Wall stand ($80) mirror ($25) Where: Hall table (Konnexion Shop on ebay) Mirror (Target).

A second-hand fireplace brings warmth to a stark room.

What: Fireplace with original lead-light cabinets Price: $180 Where: ebay

How do you store the toys in your children’s room?

The Idea Expedit system is fabulous for toys because you can choose to use the shelfs to store nick nacks or place baskets or buckets to store many toys.

How have you created different living/sitting spaces?

By sectioning rooms off with furniture and crating many places to just sit, inside and out.

What advice would give someone home decorating?

Don’t be afraid to try something different and be prepared to shop in second hand shops to find the treasures within. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a house, a home.

“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a house, a home.”

Have a “you” space

You will often find me here.  This is my place.  I love looking out at my garden and the spinning wheel. I often sit here, look out and enjoy what is around me.

More

Feature Homes