The vintage Tessa chairs were recovered by Aussie Bush Leather.
PHOTOGRAPHY PABLO VEIGA
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Amanda and Adam Spicer have built their dream home just outside of Lucknow, New South Wales.
WORDS PENNY CARROLL PHOTOGRAPHY PABLO VEIGA STYLING KERRIE-ANN JONES
“When we moved in it was like a weight off our shoulders,” says Amanda. “It was peaceful and everyone was calmer.”
Pendants from Ruby Star Traders add a contemporary edge to the master bedroom.
The alfresco space has pull-down blinds to protect the family and guests from mozzies and flies.
The vintage Tessa chairs were recovered by Aussie Bush Leather.
Molly, Amanda, Matilda and Heidi Spicer.
The kitchen benchtop is Corian and the pendant light is from Zaffero; the stools are from Eureka Street Furniture in Orange.
Keeping the interiors soft and simple was key to successfully mixing contemporary and country styles, notes Louise.
All in the details.
Perched on a hill offering beautiful views, the Spicers’ farmhouse sits quietly in the landscape.
The shower.
Louise says sticking to a neutral palette allows the views to shine.
A hand-carved stone bathtub with a view makes for a luxurious ensuite.
The vintage Tessa chairs were recovered by Aussie Bush Leather.
PHOTOGRAPHY PABLO VEIGA
Adam’s sister, Louise Spicer, is an interior designer and creative director of Onefour Interiors in Orange and Sydney.
PHOTOGRAPHY PABLO VEIGA
“That’s why Adam chose to put the house in this spot,” Amanda explains. “It made me cry when he told me!”
The 50 hectare property at Lucknow, near Orange in Central West New South Wales, is full of meaning for the couple and their daughters, Matilda, 11, Molly, 10, and Heidi, seven, although they came across it by chance. In 2017, the pair were hunting for a block to build their dream home but hadn’t had much luck finding a property that met all their needs. Adam, who owns an earthmoving business, mentioned their search to a client, who said he had a parcel of land they might like. When they visited, they realised it was next door to Adam’s maternal grandparents’ former dairy farm, Trevanson, and had also hosted many fox-shooting and camping adventures for Adam, his father Garry and paternal grandfather, Reg. “To me that was pretty special. It felt like we were connected,” says Amanda.
Just 10 minutes’ drive from Orange, the property ticked all their boxes: it was conveniently close to town while feeling secluded, with plenty of space for their girls to run around. “I wanted to live on a farm — I love the quiet. The kids can go outside and play. I love seeing them use their imaginations and be creative,” says Amanda, who grew up in Orange. Adam, also an Orange local, craved a country life too. He spent his teenage years riding motorbikes and bobcats on the family farm, and worked as a jackaroo in the Northern Territory after finishing school. They now run around 70 head of cattle on the property. “We bought a stud bull so Adam’s started to get into breeding higher-calibre cattle. I’m just along for the ride!” says Amanda, who laughs about keeping an eye on the paddock during calving time while in online meetings for her job with the Natural Resources Access Regulator.
PHOTOGRAPHY PABLO VEIGA
When it came time to build their dream home, their vision was for a contemporary farmhouse that blended with its surroundings. Although they were experienced renovators — having transformed three previous properties — building came with a whole new set of challenges. “It took us a long time to be happy with the plan,” Amanda admits. “I wanted a simple country look, but I didn’t want it to be too modern. Maybe you do overthink it a little bit when you build for the first time, but when everyone’s coming to you for the answer, you want to make sure you’re giving the right answer for you.”
Luckily, they had professional help: Adam’s sister, Louise Spicer, is an interior designer and creative director of Onefour Interiors in Orange and Sydney (their sister-in-law, artist Whitney Spicer, was featured in Graziher’s Winter 2021 issue). “To have Louise there was absolutely amazing. She would give me her honest opinion,” Amanda says.
Jumbled’s Pip Brett talks to Graziher’s Life on the Land about her love of colour. Article continues below.
“To have Louise there was absolutely amazing. She would give me her honest opinion,” Amanda says.
PHOTOGRAPHY PABLO VEIGA
The alfresco space has pull-down blinds to protect the family and guests from mozzies and flies.
PHOTOGRAPHY PABLO VEIGA
Louise translated Amanda and Adam’s ideas into a practical design. She helped them plan the floorspace to maximise the beautiful outlook; guided them through joinery decisions; designed the bathrooms with their custom-made basalt baths and vanities; and incorporated a gentle country feel with tongue-and-groove panelling in the kitchen, outdoor area and bathrooms.
Keeping the interiors soft and simple was key to successfully mixing contemporary and country styles, notes Louise. “What’s happening outside in the paddock is what’s on show, so inside we were quite sensitive in keeping the palette neutral and earthy,” she explains. “It’s got a little bit of rustic charm in a contemporary way.”
After a few pandemic-induced delays, the house was finally ready to welcome the Spicers home in July 2020 and now serves as a serene backdrop to the chaos of family life. “When we moved in it was like a weight off our shoulders,” says Amanda. “It was peaceful and everybody was calmer.” They tend to congregate around the huge island bench in the kitchen, where budding chef Molly cooks most nights, or in the alfresco space where Adam and Amanda can relax and keep watch while the girls run wild, rollerskating, hand-feeding their goats or jumping on the trampoline.
There’s a lot to love about the new house, but it’s another tree in the garden that’s become the family’s favourite place to be. The sweeping apple gum, dubbed ‘Pop’s tree’ after Adam’s late grandfather Reg, holds precious memories for them all. “It was the last place Reg sat on the farm before he passed away,” explains Amanda. “We miss him every day: he was Adam’s best mate and a real character. We’ve got a little swing chair under the tree and the girls go out there and say they’re talking to Pop. It’s just really special.”
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