Home Tours

An Australian farmhouse renovation creates warmth and light

Article by Your Home and Garden

Drawing on countless international influences, this multifaceted farmhouse renovation is the perfect fit for GlobeWest’s Stephen Mendel and his wife, Tanya Bifolds frame the vistas from the living room. The occasional chairs, sofa, coffee table, ottoman, side tables and rug are all from GlobeWest. The sculpture is by Camie Lyons and the exterior is Alpine Dry Stone and Howqua Freeform cladding by Eco Outdoor.

Home profile

Meet & greet: Stephen and Tanya Mendel (GlobeWest furniture co-owners), their daughters Gaby, 26, and Asha, 24, and cavoodle Milly.

The property: Renovated 1980s five-bedroom holiday home.

Stephen and Tanya chose the stools from GlobeWest and used Atlantic Pearl and Sea Pearl granite on the island and countertop. The cabinetry is painted in Dulux Currency Creek and Wyndam limestone tiles from Eco Outdoor.

Perhaps not surprisingly, global influences permeate the holiday getaway of Stephen Mendel, co-founder of furniture company GlobeWest, and his wife, Tanya.

When he first saw the five-bedroom house in 2018, it evoked happy memories of his childhood. “Warm and welcoming, it was reminiscent of traditional farmhouses in South Africa’s Western Cape, where I grew up,” he says of the solid masonry, pitched roofs and architectural detailing.

Morning Light by Emily Heysen takes centre stage and is complemented by a Linea Oslo dining table and dining chairs from GlobeWest.

A more recent stay at the bohemian Bairro Alto Hotel in Lisbon became the inspiration for a subsequent renovation.

“The warmth, relaxed vibe and quirky design all made a lasting impression on us,” says Stephen.

A rattan chair from GlobeWest occupies a corner of the main bedroom.

Adding to that, his company’s globally inspired furniture (hence its name) is peppered throughout. So it’s little wonder the couple, their two adult daughters, Gaby and Asha, and cavoodle Milly, visit at every opportunity.

“We love the area,” says Stephen. “It’s close to the beach, but still feels rural and we’re in walking distance of the general store and wineries. And, because the house is equidistant between our offices and our city home, we can share our time equally between the two.”

Texture rules in the main bedroom, which features a V-groove wall treatment, luxe bed linen from Aura Home and a fluted bedside cabinet. The bed and bedside table are both from GlobeWest and Starlight pendant from Mondoluce. The ceramics are by Katherine Mahoney and artwork by John Lloyd.

The couple was looking for a retreat that they could use in summer and winter. But the original 1980s house needed a total update.

“Being an older home, with just two bathrooms for five bedrooms, it didn’t have the ratio that would make it a comfortable entertaining space for our family plus visitors,” says Stephen. “And the ceiling heights were low, so you couldn’t take advantage of the incredible views and sunsets.”

A solid timber stool and storage bowls from GlobeWest round off the stylish guest bathroom and the freestanding bath is by Reece.

They hired long-time friend Russell Casper of Casper Architecture & Design (CAD) to work his magic on the spaces. “Stephen and Tanya asked me to design a casual but sophisticated family retreat, taking full advantage of the view,” says Russell.

The hallway’s oak door was made by a family-owned local joinery company.

The brief stipulated two distinct areas – living spaces and sleeping quarters, with a clear demarcation between the two. “We wanted a space where we could all congregate as a family, but also enjoy our privacy. And we wanted the house to flow seamlessly from inside to outside and be equally as comfortable in summer as it is in winter.”

Leaving a double-storey wing housing the bedrooms virtually intact, he replaced its timber windows with double-glazed aluminium in smart matte black and remodelled the bathrooms. “It was structurally sound and well placed – we knew we could work with it,” he says.

But Russell demolished the single-storey wing to make way for a one-level extension that embraces living and dining areas, kitchen, laundry, mud room and garage. With its wall-to-wall glazing and lofty ceilings, it makes the most of the sweeping vistas, which include views to the new pool as part of an indoor-outdoor connection.

The interiors are a nod to Stephen’s past as well as the home’s location. “We wanted a farmhouse feel, with texture and warmth created from different materials. It’s quite distinct from our city home, which is contemporary,” he says. “Instead of modern finishes, we preferred antique brass tapware and other traditional fittings and used colour in the joinery and paintwork to create warmth.”

In the powder room, the oval mirror and vase are both from GlobeWest and the vanity top is Sea Pearl quartzite.

With its stacked-stone cladding, limestone flooring, V-groove ceilings, and its embracing of soft greens, tans and warm greys, the materials palette was driven by the colours and textures of the area. “It was great to see that Stephen and Tanya were keen to explore natural materials, in colours of the landscape and with nothing engineered,” says Russell.

Not surprisingly, the home is a showpiece for furniture from the firm that Stephen founded and runs with brother Alan. “We love our large Sketch modular sofa, where we can sit back and relax while enjoying the fire with a glass of red,” he says. “The textural Harper buffet and the Tully coffee table are also among our favourite pieces.”

The stacked-stone fireplace is a talking point in the living room and made of Alpine Dry Stone and Hoqua Freeform cladding from Eco Outdoor. The hearth is honed bluestone. The Sketch modular sofa and ottoman, coffee table and side table are all from GlobeWest. The walls are painted in Dulux Natural White and the antique jugs are from South Africa.

The couple spends most of their time in the family room, which extends onto the deck and pool area. “It’s the perfect place to take in the sunset, in summer and winter, and delivers total relaxation,” says Stephen. “It was important that the pool blend seamlessly into the landscape and this has since become our happy place to enjoy time away from our everyday routine.”

A bay tree lends shade to the firepit area. The occasional chairs and various stools are all from GlobeWest. A local landscape design company assisted on the garden design.

That room also houses the home’s signature fireplace, with its striking stonework chimney. “It’s spectacular, like an enormous piece of art,” he says. “Each piece was carefully placed to fit like a jigsaw.” Just like this multi-faceted home, which, from the living room to the pool and the firepit, has become the perfect fit for the couple, their family and friends.

Words: Chris Pearson

Photographer: Martina Gemmola

Shop their style: Australian farmhouse renovation

1. Sea Ceramic Water Pitcher

$240 at Shop Your Home and Garden

This water pitcher is stylish and chic, and makes for the perfect table centrepiece or featured item on your kitchen counter.

SHOP NOW

2. Duvet Cover in Shade Half Blue

$415 (Queen sized) at Shop Your Home and Garden

Add a splash of colour to your bedroom with this calm and cool coloured duvet cover.

SHOP NOW

3. Jimmy Occasional Armchair

$899 (usually $1,199) at Freedom Furniture

This sleek occasional armchair is available in eight different colour options, and is a stylish and functional way to make any extra space feel more homely.

SHOP NOW