Brenda’s Vintage House Tour

Brenda lives in Springwood NSW in the Blue Mountains, in a gorgeous mountain home built in the 1920’s. The garden is magnificent and the camellias and azaleas are particularly beautiful when in bloom. She has only been here for 18 months but says it will be their “forever home”. Built in the 1920’s, it is a fibro and brick home, with timber floors. It was extended about 12 years ago by previous owners, making it a 4 bedroom house. Brenda says the bedrooms are a bit hickeldy pickeldy – which they love -rooms off rooms! The land is 1200sqm with many big trees and gardens, which they have tamed a lot since moving in as it was very overgrown. She says it is still a work in progress but as she loves gardening, it is not a chore in any way.



Brenda has tried to keep the decor in line with the age of the house wherever possible. Most of their furniture has been purchased at op shops or second hand stores. She has lots of things that belonged to her mother and grandparents and is very pleased to be able to use and display them now in her gorgeous home.



Brenda’s favourite room in the house is a bit hard to pick, but probably the spare room, which is usually used by her granddaughter when she stays over. It’s furnished with a 1920’s wardrobe bought from the Salvo’s, a vintage dresser which a friend gave to her (silly woman was going to throw it out she says!), secondhand bed and bedside table, and a gorgeous old bedspread bought on eBay. Brenda’s mother’s old dolls pram completes the picture. Brenda feels that this room takes her back to a childhood from a previous life.

The main bedroom is a perfect mix of old and new. Brenda bought the bedhead several years ago on ebay. It’s a Moroccan style, which she loves. The throw at the end of the bed was handmade in Egypt.The middle eastern style curved stool at the end of the bed goes really well with the look. She has a new tall boy chest of drawers and painted up a vintage Italian clothes stand, purchased from an antique shop and even her husband loves it. She displays some favourite bits and pieces on a clever ladder shelf.


Brenda’s study is another favourite room in the house. Being an avid collector of books, she has had the enormous bookshelf for many years. She bought the vintage desk from a second hand dealer a couple of years ago and the little drawers are a favourite feature. The drawer unit belonged to her late mother in law and is perfect to display photos and bits & pieces she has collected over the years. Brenda is passionate about Egypt and the Middle East and collects old maps. The old black shipping chest was bought from a second hand shop and is great for storage.



The lounge room also takes a vintage approach with the lounge suite being from Vinnies for $250. Her parents bought the camphor wood chest for her 16th birthday and it was her glory box. The decor is a mix of things that belonged to her mother and some savvy purchases from secondhand shops and garage sales. The hall stand, which is in the hall, not the lounge room, was her biggest bargain ever – $20 on ebay! The kitchen is a delightful blend of old and new.










Brenda loves to sit out on the side verandah. The light in the morning is wonderful and is visited by all sorts of birds in the trees at the side. Everything here is second hand. The chairs were found on the side of the road and Brenda repaired and repainted them. She has repainted all the black pots and kitchenware. All were completely rusty when she got them. They’re great for succulents and just for display. One of her favourite pieces is the little table made from an old sewing machine base. Also, the other table, next to the chairs. Both have been bought back to life with a lick of paint and varnish.












The back garden is just lovely and they get so many native birds here. Brenda loves rusty bits & pieces and has them all around the yard. “I can’t go past a rusty item when I come across one. There’s a place for it all somewhere!” she says. The area at the side of the house is bordered by lots of trees, which attract the native birds too. Brenda loves begonias and has a collection of them at the side, and loves to walk along the winding brick path that leads to the backyard of this beautiful vintage home.
If you would love to share your home, just get in touch
Helen
xx