In the picturesque Yarra Valley, designer Leora Mendelson reinvents a 1970s family homestead as a sophisticated weekend getaway.
Just fifty minutes from Melbourne city, the Yarra Valley has long been a place of escape for both weekend warriors and those in more serious pursuit of a slower lifestyle. In local winery, restaurant and homestead Seville Estate, design-discerning city slickers may have found their ideal retreat. A family business with a firm emphasis on celebrating local craftsmanship and produce, the estate offers an authentic yet sophisticated way to experience the local landscape – and the jewel in its crown has to be the newly-restored Seville Homestead.
Leora made the most of local designers and makers in the furnishings for the homestead, sourcing handcrafted tables, cabinetry and accessories throughout. Signature pieces like the Made by Morgen dining set and the Ross Gardam wall lights add a contemporary detail to the spaces, which are characterised by base materials such as timber, whitewashed brick walls and stone. There is a sense of pride throughout the homestead; of both the surrounding landscape that underlines the design and the lifestyle it celebrates.
We rarely need an excuse to get away for the weekend here at est, and Seville Homestead makes it oh-to-easy with its character-filled design, comfortable spaces and award-winning wines. Oh, and did we mention the restaurant (also recently redesigned by Leora) showcases seasonal produce from neighbouring farms and the estate’s own vegetable garden? Suddenly a weekend at Seville Estate doesn’t seem long enough indeed.
This piece originally appeared in est magazine issue 31.
The original bricks were repainted to a bright white throughout the home to lend a gentle modernity while keeping the rustic foundations of the home.
This house makes me weak at the knees! So stunning in its simplicity. Were the original bricks rendered in some way before painting? Great to see the slate floors as a feature too, after not being popular in recent years.