Dingleigh Sassafras
Overview
Situated in the charming village of Sassafras in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges National Park, Dingleigh encompasses two cottages and one homestead, all lovingly refurbished to encapsulate and celebrate their almost century-long history.
“The characterful buildings were hand built in the 1930s to replace the original mud brick home from the 1880s,” says Dingleigh’s owners, who relish the privilege of owning such a historical property. “Whilst packed with original features, the buildings were in need of major repair.” It was this impetus that set about a decade-long project to restore them to their once handsome state.
Before moving onto the studio and main house, the first building to be renovated was the two-bedroom cottage, the owners working tirelessly to find not just the most attractive components, but the most appropriate ones. “We spent most weekends hunting through reclamation yards, dedicating every spare evening scouring the internet for special finds, and sending off for boxes and boxes of samples to find the right finishing touches,” they say. The result is antique wall clocks, disparate paintings hung on picture rails and objects of miscellany scattered about to enchanting effect.
When they discovered TradCo, they knew they had found hardware that would do justice to the heritage of their beloved estate.
“We started looking for the right finishing touches which would marry well with the original features, whilst also offering a luxury feel.”
“The TradCo Antique Brass range provided a high-quality heritage look.” The Bar Pull Handle, evokes bygone days with its weight alone – a feeling as subtle as it is remarkable.
Over in the kitchen, with its quaint muntin windows overlooking the five acres of 19th century gardens beyond, TradCo Standard Pull Handles in Antique Brass feature on the cabinetry, their gentle curvature redolent of Victorian design. But even if guests don’t want to cook – lucky holidaymakers get to stay in these remarkable properties – they can’t avoid the little touches of history, because even the Federation Light Switches in Antique Brass, set within white-slicked Pine Switch Blocks breathe an air of antiquity thanks not only to their traditional form, but the satisfying sensation one gets when flicking them on and off.
Nature makes its way into the buildings via the focus on more natural materials – timber floors, tongue and groove ceilings and bright, copper pans. “We wanted to create spaces that blended with the surrounding forests and gardens,” say the owners, “paying tribute to the rich history of the property, whilst providing all the comforts of modern living.”
