My Houzz: Countryside Charm in a 1940s Home

Freelance TV commercial art director Sal Boucher felt an instant connection when she turned into the driveway of this 1940s countryside home in New South Wales, Australia. She was thinking about making the move from Sydney, and the property’s lovingly maintained garden and dapper cottage seemed like the ideal place for her to settle down in and pursue her custom lamp making business, Yolk Interiors.

Fresh paint and updates to the flooring, kitchen and landscape transformed the dated interior and exterior into a charming, colorful refuge.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Sal Boucher, boyfriend Mark Williams and cats Min and Dot
Location: Bowral, New South Wales, Australia
Size: 1,938 square feet (180 square meters) on half an acre; 2 bedrooms; 3 bathrooms
Era built: Early 1940s

When Boucher first moved in, the interior was painted a pale pink and floral lace curtains graced the windows. With the help of her sister, Penelope Boucher, the color scheme was quickly updated to a refreshing warm white (Beige Royal by Dulux) with punches of bright white punctuating the windows, doors and moldings throughout.


The living room is a cozy sanctuary, where a woodstove burns continuously throughout the winter months.

Loose-fitting white covers adorn the sofas, giving the room a relaxed feel. Bright bursts of color add a touch of panache to the decor.


This is one of two paintings in the living room by good friend and artist Nina Davis.


It was Davis who came up with the idea of painting the desperately outdated yellow and green stained glass doors. By individually painting each glass square bright red, blue and white, Davis created a focal point that contrasts handsomely with the neutral interior and blue exterior.


Boucher uncovered the original wood floors beneath the old carpet and linoleum and had them lovingly restored to their former glory.

A row of linen drum pendant lights draw the eye from room to room.


Boucher’s cherished collection of vintage shell lights is carefully arranged in an old display cabinet. Boucher admits to a love affair of sorts with the various vignettes she has assembled throughout her home, relishing the way gorgeous objects come together and, in her words, talk to each other.


The homeowner worked with Chris Caddy of Highlands Traditional Furniture & Kitchens to renovate the kitchen, installing new wood cabinets that preserved the home’s cottage feel. She had them painted a warm gray and added white laminate countertops and a white subway tile backsplash.


Color personalizes each area, including the top of the kitchen cabinets. A rainbow of collected vases sits atop the upper cabinets, while a collection of colorful dishes makes an eye-catching corner arrangement.


A delicate display of natural ephemera dots a windowsill in the kitchen.


This guest bedroom showcases Boucher’s handmade lampshades. Citrus accents offer a refreshing contrast to the warm white walls while complementing the leafy green view through the windows.


In her own bedroom, Boucher surrounds herself with much-loved objects, paying particular homage to her lifelong love of horses and her career as a competitive rider.


The chance to be closer to her horses was a big draw for Boucher when she considered moving to the country from Sydney. A display of ribbons won at equestrian events hangs over the bedroom door.


Boucher’s collection of shell lights has found its way into her bedroom; a vintage shell anatomy poster hangs behind.


The windows were one of the main features that Boucher fell in love with when she first viewed the house. She intentionally left many of them undressed to make the most of the pretty views of the garden and the surrounding landscape.


The cottage is surrounded by half an acre of lush, landscaped gardens. The original owner was an avid gardener and created a lovely framework. Boucher has added nearly 300 plants — including many ferns and stag horns — since buying the house in 2008.


Boucher painted the exterior of the house Deep Ocean by Colorbond. The cottage is lovingly referred to as The Spinney — the term for a small grove of trees where animals might seek shelter.


Here’s one of those animals: one of Boucher’s cats, Dot. She loves to explore the garden when she isn’t curled up in front of the fire.


Boucher converted the home’s front room into a studio; she runs her business, Yolk Interiors, from there. Originally based in Sydney, she saw the move to the country as an opportunity to get creative and make lamps herself. She took a ceramics course and learned how to throw lamp bases and make shades.


Boucher has also been collecting lamp bases since she launched her business in 2004. Her collection primarily consists of one-off pieces from Italy. These, combined with her extensive range of vintage and botanical print fabrics, come together in her unique creations.


Boucher says she has always had a passion for lamps, seeing them as sculptural pieces rather than mere light sources.


The lamp-making business is a creative respite from her career as a freelance art director for TV commercials. Boucher, shown here, currently sells her custom pieces through her website and at Dirty Janes Emporium and Antique Market in Bowral.

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