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Meet and greet: Lucy (medical administrator and medical science student) and Sebastian Giardina (chef), their children, Birdie, six, and Bleu, five, and Maltese cross Rosie, Persephone the rescue cat and chickens.
The property: A renovated 1930s cottagecore home.
Eden Cottage’s undeniable feminine energy distracts from its industrial beginnings. Originally built in a mining town in the 1930s, the home was moved to the nearby port town in the 1950s, before becoming home to the Giardina family in 2019.
“I always knew our house was female,” says owner Lucy Giardina. “When we first walked in, it had these romantic aspects, like the pressed metal ceiling panels, which have since been amplified by the florals and pastel colours.”
Lucy and her husband Sebastian, a chef, live in the cottagecore home with their daughter Birdie and son Bleu, as well as Rosie the Maltese cross, Persephone, a rescue cat, and a brood of chooks out the back.
If I can source something secondhand or use a family heirloom, I will always choose that over a trending item.
Not always the idyllic family residence it is now, Eden Cottage, which sits on a 763sqm block, needed a serious makeover when Lucy and Sebastian bought it. “We bought this house that was half falling apart and many people thought we were crazy,” explains Lucy. “But I always think we were meant to own this home. It sat vacant for 18 months before we purchased it and I like to think it was waiting for us.”
Determined to preserve the cottage’s historic charm, Lucy and Sebastian avoided decorating trends, instead opting for a considered, sympathetic restoration guided by the home’s original features. “We always said we didn’t want to take a beautiful old heritage home and make it modern,” says Lucy. “So, even though we’ve still got holes in the floors, we’ve retained a lot of the character and that’s all part of the enchantment for us.”
Choosing secondhand and period pieces wherever possible, Lucy sourced furniture and decor that felt in line with the home’s era from Facebook Marketplace and local antique dealers. Desiring a sustainable, cottagecore home with a low environmental impact, Lucy says, “I look for classic pieces that won’t need to be replaced. If I can source something secondhand or use a family heirloom, I will always choose that over a trending item.”
This sensitive approach has at times been a source of frustration for the family, as the combination of tight budget constraints and local trade shortages, has meant the project is still a work in progress five years after it began. “Living in a rural town has pros and cons, but one of the biggest cons is you don’t have a lot of choices – especially for boutique and specialist tradespeople and products,” says Lucy.
I always think we were meant to own this home… I like to think it was waiting for us.
However, instead of deflating the couple, all those challenging factors inspired Lucy and Sebastian to find creative solutions. “Our toxic trait is that we think we can do anything,” jokes Lucy. “During Covid, when we started the renovation, there were no tradies available, so taking on a lot of the work ourselves was born of necessity.”
Learning plenty along the way, Lucy says there were times when big jobs almost became too much. “We found out the hard way why no-one takes on so much of the work [themselves],” she says. “For example, restoring windows – you don’t realise until you do one for yourself what a big job it is.”
Although the work is ongoing, the duo has already achieved their endgame. “The goal has always been to create a haven to raise our children in,” says Lucy. “We have created somewhere that truly suits our personalities and lifestyle.”
For the Giardinas (whose name aptly means “garden” in Italian), prioritising a connection with the outdoors and bringing nature inside was paramount. “I love to work out in the garden. It’s my happy place, with the chickens, veggies, bees and washing on the line. All these things feel very nostalgic and important to me,” says Lucy. “Sebastian is a chef and comes from an Italian family. We particularly enjoy cooking and eating, and growing our food as a family.”
Overall, Lucy describes the process of restoring Eden Cottage as slow, but immensely satisfying. “For me, the most rewarding part has been learning new things and challenging myself,” she says. “I now appreciate how much work, time and energy goes into things, which you don’t get if you just pay someone to do it. I feel very proud of that.”
Lucy and Sebastian’s 1930s cottagecore home’s style
See more of this cottagecore home
Birdie’s gorgeous bedroom is adorned with Sanderson Dune Hares wallpaper.
Bunting and charming storybooks brighten Bleu’s room.
Lucy relaxes beneath a portrait of her great-grandfather.
The antique gramophone, sideboard and various artworks were purchased online.
The antique bar cart was a lucky Facebook Marketplace find.
Bleu and Birdie love their treehouse adventures.
Busy bees at work in the garden.
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- This New Plymouth villa has been restored to its former glory, with a few contemporary touches
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