Two world travellers turn a classic Queenslander into a modern Australian home with a European twist.

STORY ALEXANDRA CARLTON STYLING KATE NIXON PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN DOWNS

What do you get when you combine the casual breeziness of a classic Queenslander, Chinese and Vietnamese lacquerwork, antique mining memorabilia and a dash of traditional European gravitas? In the wrong hands, probably a jarring mess. But under the careful guidance of architecture publication editor and design aficionado Sabine Thiel-Siling, this most unlikely of fusions results in a captivating and truly unique living space.

The property she shares with her partner, mining engineer Frank Leschhorn, began its life as a basic weatherboard cottage in Hamilton in Brisbane's north-east. It had been allowed to deteriorate since the 1950s to a state of almost total disrepair – which, ironically, was exactly what Sabine was looking for.




The couple had relocated from Germany some years earlier and were eager to revamp an Australian home and make it their own."The house is my baby," says Sabine. "I fell in love with these Queenslander houses and I wanted to renovate one – not to death, but to beauty."
The intrinsic beauty of the home was already there but it was hidden under many years of neglect. Sabine was undaunted. The first priority was to add a storey without disturbing the classic features of the front facade. This was achieved by raising the entire house only slightly and adding the bulk of the modern extensions to the rear of the property, which now houses the dining area and kitchen on the upper level, main bedrooms on the lower storey, expansive windows to take advantage of the sweeping city views and a generous deck.

It seemed at first, though, that the house itself wasn't entirely pleased with this new chapter in its life. "Everything was a pain in the neck – the first architect didn't work out, the builder got ill, we had to redo the sewerage system. I began to think the house didn't want to be touched!" says Sabine. "I finally convinced the house that we wanted to do good for it and from then on things went smoothly."

The decor reflects both the owners' tastes and their geographical ties – with new and antique pieces from Europe, Asia and Australia tying together with a loose palette of neutrals with red accents. For Sabine, her baby came together just the way she wanted it.

"It's a fusion of everything we love – the Australian characteristic with European touches," she says. "And that's us – Europeans in Australia. It's a true reflection of who we are."

To contact the architect, call Danny Fox on (07) 3211 7183; and Roche Building Company on (07) 3393 0664.