Respect for tradition was fundamental to the renovation of this humble Tasmanian dwelling. “Originally built in the 1960s to house Bruny Island’s first nurse, the shack holds a meaningful place in the island’s history,” say The Songbird’s owners. “Much of the timber used in the original construction was milled locally on Bruny, and we were deeply conscious of honouring that heritage throughout the renovation.” 

They achieved this by balancing old, beautiful things with new, traditionally-designed ones. “Nearly all of the furniture, artwork, and collectables were found second-hand, through vintage stores, auction houses, and hidden corners in between,” state the owners. “Each piece carries its own story, and together they lend the space an eclectic, soulful charm.” A working, wood-fired stove enriches the living room, while its sofas are laden with cushions and throws, to heighten the homely ambience. Objects of miscellany pepper the room – decanters and a silver tea service, candles, shells and a globe. A vintage dresser has been modified to encase a working basin, and a standing lamp isn’t in the now ubiquitous, Japanese paper-style, but is wooden, bevelled and with a stitched bell shade encasing the bulb. 

When it came to selecting the hardware, TradCo offered practicality alongside heritage: an ideal marriage for a project such as The Songbird. TradCo door fittings feature throughout, like the solid brass Henley Lever on Long Backplate, with its noble, 19th century sensibility, and the Victorian Lever on Round Rose, resplendent with its gentle curvature. Even elements hidden behind doorways were considered, with TradCo’s Magnetic Door Stop in solid brass preventing the vintage doors from thwacking on walls and interrupting the redolent calm.