“Country Homes Around The World: Melissa Penfold”

by ally redmond

Welcome back to my blog series “Country Homes Around The World,” where each month, I spotlight an inspirational country home and homemaker from around the world. For July, I’m inviting you into the beautiful residence and life of Melissa Penfold,  one of Australia’s most trusted journalists. A tastemaker, writer and trendsetter, Melissa runs an eponymous blog and is a respected authority on style and design.

woman in the driveway

What part of the world are you in, and how would you describe this part of the country?

Our country house is in Australia’s Southern Highlands of New South Wales, which has long been a beautiful country escape for city-dwellers with its charming villages, gorgeous homes, great food and rolling hills. But these days, people are as likely to come for the shopping as they are for a great weekend. In a world that can seem overcrowded, the district feels big and gloriously quiet, yet dynamic and relevant, too. To be two hours from Sydney, there’s lots to do, eat, see, visit and explore. It has the highest percentage of Australian artists per capita. I knew the area well as a child, but I wasn’t such a fan. We lived in Sydney, but my father and mother had a 500-acre property which I didn’t like visiting – I wanted to be in the city having fun. My paternal grandmother, sister and daughter all attended the same girls’ boarding school in the area. Green space is far more appealing now. Plus, the Highlands is very social if you want it to be, and quiet if you don’t.

exterior of country home

Tell us a little bit about the character of your home. How did it come to you?

My husband, Nicholas Care, and I had barely begun a casual search when we stumbled upon our country house in the picturesque village of Burrawang. We came to see another house but noticed an inspection for this one by chance. We came down the drive and just thought, “This is it.” Then we walked in and thought “Heaven.” Within two to three weeks we owned it. Nicholas had never been to Burrawang in his life. He’s Italian but spent the first eight years of his life in Germany, and it reminded him of that. Now he’s a regular at the pub and plays golf here. The stone and rendered house is 10 years old and incorporates many old, salvaged timber and stone pieces, including doors, windows, lights, flooring and a fireplace, so feels a lot older.

woman and man at a table outside

How old is your home, and how long have you lived here?

The house is a decade old but looks much older. We’ve lived here for six years and can’t imagine it not being part of our lives.

whit house with doors and flowers

Who do you share your home with?

My politician husband, Nicola Care. My 28 year-old daughter, Isabella, is a regular visitor and my 25 year-old son, Hugo, has moved home during lockdown, which is a great treat.

woman and daughter in living room

What is your favorite room or space in the home and why?

The kitchen-living-dining area is the hub of the house; it’s where everything happens. It’s a warm, welcoming space – and we’re always in it. There’s plenty of seating areas, so people can gravitate to the window seat or the sofas, the dining table or the kitchen bench. A big fireplace in salvaged stone has a fabulous impact as an architectural detail, plus it’s the ultimate focal and gathering point that forces people to relax. Plus, there’s windows on both sides of the room that infiltrate the space with natural light and makes it feel amazingly calm – everyone who visits has the same feeling of serenity.

fireplace and country style decor

How did you create spaces for family life?

In the beginning this was a weekender, but now it’s become home. There’s room for everyone, and it’s the most wonderful house to live in. It’s a thoughtfully designed house with clearly delineated spaces for living, working, relaxing and sleeping, which fosters a feeling of balance, health and pleasure for all family members. The main entry and the mudroom is at the side of the house and opens to a huge area with a round library table that doubles as a table for breakfast and lunch as it gets lovely morning light. To the left towards the front of the house, there are three bedrooms, a study, a bathroom and powder room. To the right is a large living, dining and kitchen area and beyond that, the master bedroom with ensuite, dressing room and laundry.  Behind the house is a barn with a one bedroom guest apartment upstairs, a garage, a laundry room and a cellar downstairs. This has been invaluable during Covid. My husband, son and daughter’s beau have taken turns using it as their study, and work area. It means they can get distance from the rest of us when they need space. This has allowed a sense of getting away when travel is impossible.

dining room tablescape with lemons

How would you describe your style of decorating?

As a rule, my rooms are unstudied, unself-conscious and unrestrained, perhaps because – when I pull rooms together – I just “feel” my way along. The feeling is always light. And lived. Comfortable for 20, comfortable for two – with offbeat pieces mixed with grander items, placed off center. Ultimately, it is more important to find out what you like and what suits you. Everything that surrounds you affects you, so only have things you love, and your rooms will continue to refresh your spirit. For me, it’s big, squashy sofas upholstered in white canvas and wicker chairs with large, crumpled cushions and timber floors and shafts of sunlight overlooking an endless, lush green landscape that bring endless joy.

table with magazines and objects

I love neutrals – they’re restful to live with. I always use the same “non-colors” for tones and textures in an interior. And fill rooms with things that make you happy, as you are more likely to enjoy your surroundings and – most importantly – they will work well and allow you to live a life free of complexity. That’s perhaps the greatest luxury in these increasingly chaotic times we live in.

What is your favorite season at home and how do you celebrate?

I adore all seasons, yet spring is special. Every outside wall is festooned in flowers, foliage and vines. They trail, creep and climb everywhere, becoming a textural backdrop to plants in the garden. Yellow roses cloak the entry.  Boston ivy adds greenery to the entire side and front of the house. Clematis, wisteria, and Begonia roses make lovely company, spreading across walls. The terrace, which opens from the dining rooms, has a diamond-shape trellis of jasmine blossoming with flowers. There’s views of endless hedges and lawns and sky. We eat outside every day. It’s so peaceful.

dining table outside

Any special tips for creating the feeling of “home?”

To look and feel like a home, it needs to speak to and of you; think of things that put you in a good mood – your surroundings should make you feel equally good. If you want to live well, it’s never too late. You don’t have to be rich, and every day is an opportunity for a fresh start. It’s about creating an emotional experience.

kitchen counter with fruit

What does “country home” mean to you?

Open kitchens with lots of beautiful cupboards for tidying things away, insanely good food and open fireplaces. To gaze from your spacious, calm bedroom at endless hedges, lawn and sky. It’s a fairytale. Our house is completely peaceful. Not so much a place to be seen, but a place to disappear. I love arriving here, closing the door and not thinking about anything. The secret to country houses is big, tranquil rooms that are easy to live in (and maintain): lots of mirrors, a few really good pieces of furniture, beds with crisp, white linen and big bunches of foliage for a feeling of country splendor. It’s easy to live well in a country home, and at the end of the day, living well is what it’s all about.

wicker chair plant and armoire

Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous home with me, Melissa!

All photography by Melissa Penfold.

If you’d like to see more of Melissa and her work, follow her on Instagram at @melissa_penfold and visit her website HERE.

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10 comments

Sarah Plummer July 31, 2020 - 9:00 am

I’ve been following Melissa on Instagram for a long long time, and I loved to read this interview, thank you!

Sarah Plummer

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mary jones July 31, 2020 - 9:01 am

I love the way she mixes old and new in her home, it is so beautiful! heading over to check out her site

Mary
Ontario

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Mary Jane Street July 31, 2020 - 9:03 am

I’m a big fan of Melissa, her down to earth practical advice on home decor is always so interesting. Loved to read your interview with her, can you invite her onto one of your instagram videos?

MJ

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sharon santoni July 31, 2020 - 9:05 am

HI Mary Jane, thank you for your comment, and yes, I’m hoping to host Melissa on a live video very soon 🙂

Sharon

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betsy July 31, 2020 - 9:06 am

Oh my goodness her home is amazing. I’m in Australia, but I don’t know anyone with a home this beautiful!

Betsy

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alison Hardy July 31, 2020 - 9:08 am

I love this: “think of things that put you in a good mood – your surroundings should make you feel equally good”! What great advice. Just read your interview with Melissa and then walked around my house looking carefully at all my ‘stuff’, and checking if it puts me in a good mood. Actually the result was reassuringly positive, but I still managed to make a few changes, thank you for this great post!

Alison Hardy

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elizabeth rose July 31, 2020 - 9:11 am

Very interested to see that she has a coffee table completely covered in books and magazines. I think it looks great, but when I try this at home it just looks messy, and nobody ever dares put anything on top, so its very unpractical. I’d love to know if she leaves it that way all the time, or just for the pictures?

I really love your country home series Sharon, thank you for taking us inside so many amazing places around the world

Elizabeth Rose

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Jane July 31, 2020 - 10:32 am

I wish I could see more!!

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Fred Mike February 19, 2024 - 1:03 pm

Melissa Penfold country home in Burrawang is a true gem! The description of the kitchen living dining area being the heart of the house filled with natural light and a salvaged stone fireplace paints a vivid picture of a cozy and welcoming space.
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