Escape to the Country (111)Our first stop is the bush country of Southern Australia to visit a Melbourne interior designer who transformed an old schoolhouse into a weekend getaway. Remnants of the old school property—such as an old cricket field—remain on the premises, and the add-ons to the home were done so seamlessly that it's difficult to tell where the old house ends and the new house begins.
Then, it's off to the hills of Portugal to visit an 18th century Portuguese farmhouse, or quinta. Highlights of the romantic countryside property include a rustic kitchen with a large, open hearth, accented by antique Portuguese pottery.
The next stop is the South of France to visit a couple living among the region's vineyards. Tour the spectacular grounds and Provencal interiors of their charming house, which was once a shelter for farm animals.
Finally, travel to Shelter Island, N.Y. There, you'll meet a Parisian woman who opted for a simple existence on a remote island in the American Northeast, where she could provide a cozy upbringing for her children. Her antique- and treasure-filled house is a typical example of a Carpenter's Gothic-style cottage, which was popular on Shelter Island during the late 1800s.
Melbourne School Facts:
- The area of countryside located two hours south of Melbourne is known as the Australian bush.
- Stuart Rattle consults historical engravings for his furniture designs.
- The original cricket field and shelter shed (where the children went to escape the Australian heat) remain on the property.
Contact Information:
Suzanne Rheinstein, Interior Designer
Suzanne Rheinstein & Associates
817 Hilldale Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 777-0100
sr@srandassoc.com
Stuart Rattle, Interior Designer
Stuart Rattle Interiors
411-413 Malvein Road
South Yara
VIC 3141 Australia
(011) 61-3-9827-0180
Quinta Facts:
- Merces Quevedao Freemon's Portuguese quinta sits on 10 acres of land.
- The quinta dates back to 1737.
- Freemon grows her own vegetables on the property.
French Vineyard House Facts:
- Entrecasteaux is a small village located in the hills above St. Tropez along the French Riviera.
- Olivier's father lives on the property in a charming guesthouse.
- Years ago, when the property was a farm, animals would sleep on the first floor of the house, and their body heat would rise to the second floor to keep the farmer's family warm at night.
- Napoleon III was the emperor of France from 1852-1870.
Shelter Island Facts:
- Shelter Island is located at the eastern tip of Long Island. It's accessible only by ferry.
- Campaign furniture was popular during Napoleon's military campaign. It had to be lightweight, collapsible and easy to move from camp to camp.
- Florence de Dampierre's house is built in the Carpenter's Gothic style, or gingerbread style, which was popular with Victorian architecture.
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