The Design Files

Jun 07, 2023

Written by Pip Brett

The Design Files

Written by Lucy Feagins | Photography Louise Wellington | Editorial styling Jono Fleming

Find the full article at

https://thedesignfiles.net/2023/06/homes-pip-brett-orange

There isn’t another home in Australia like Pip Brett’s!

What looks like something out of the Mediterranean countryside or a Californian winery is actually the Jumbled founder’s family home, located in Orange, NSW.

Pip engaged her childhood friend Felicity Slattery of Studio Esteta to design the house, on 60 acres looking out to Spring Creek Dam.

The block form of the Moroccan-inspired rendered exterior is contrasted inside with curving textured lines, and of course, a healthy dose of colour, in keeping with Pip’s beloved brand, Jumbled!

Landscaping by Greenspace Design featuring an infinity pond designed to reflect the sky and sunset

The infinity pond is a shallow body of water that sits between the house and Spring Creek Dam, with Mount Canobolas beyond. Olive tree sourced from Exotic Nurseries & Landscaping

Internal courtyards provide protection from the elements to suit the seasons. Table and chairs from Eco Outdoor. Outdoor lighting by Gardens At Night

Pond made from a repurposed concrete sheep trough. Metal front entry door by Axolotl. Garden designed by Greenspace Design featuring palm trees, lavender, cacti and more

‘We wanted to build a home that we could grow old in: no steps, and spacious hallways.’

Artwork by Elle Campbell. Dining table and chairs from Jardan. Lights from Eccola. Wall lights by Anna Chandler. Rosie the dog lying on the floors with underfloor heating!

Artwork by Elle Campbell. Dining table and chairs from Jardan. Lights from Eccola. Wall lights by Anna Chandler

Concrete island bench by Steve Drain at Crete FX. Tiles on exhaust fan from Porcelain Bear. Artwork by Castle via Jumbled. Eco Brass tapware from Astra Walker. American oak stools from Didier

Artwork on left by Diana Miller. Artwork on right by Mia Oatley. Travertine floors throughout from Amber. Concrete island bench by Steve Drain at Crete FX. Tiles on exhaust fan from Porcelain Bear. Wall lights by Anna Chandler

Concrete island bench by Steve Drain at Crete FX. Dining table and chairs from Jardan. Tiles on exhaust fan from Porcelain Bear. Artwork on by Castle via Jumbled. Artwork on bench top by Annie Everingham. Eco Brass tapware from Astra Walker. American oak stools from Didier

Concrete island bench by Steve Drain at Crete FX. Dining table and chairs from Jardan. Tiles on exhaust fan from Porcelain Bear. Wall lights by Anna Chandler. Artwork on left by Nyangulya Katie Nalgood via Spinifex Hill Studio. Artwork on right by Castle via Jumbled. Artwork on bench top by Annie Everingham. Vase on back bench top by Jumbled x Bonnie and Neil (launching September 2023). Eco Brass tapware from Astra Walker. American oak stools from Didier

The second living space. Custom bench seat. Coffee table by denHolm. Cushions and vase by Jumbled x Bonnie and Neil(launching September 2023). Artwork on left by Nyangulya Katie Nalgood via Spinifex Hill Studio. Van Gogh portrait bought in the Medina of Marrakesh. Artwork on right by LRNCE. Carafe by Jumbled x Robert Gordon. Travertine tiles from Amber

Custom bench seat. Coffee table by denHolm. Cushions and vase by Jumbled x Bonnie and Neil (launching September 2023). Artwork on left by Nyangulya Katie Nalgood via Spinifex Hill Studio. Van Gogh portrait bought in the Medina of Marrakesh. Artwork on right by LRNCE. Carafe by Jumbled x Robert Gordon. Travertine tiles from Amber

‘We wanted the cattle to come right up to the house. The aim was that you couldn’t tell where the garden finished and the paddock started.’

Travertine floor tiles in Tuscany French Pattern from Amber Tiles. Cabinetry and mirror from Zylem. Marble bench top by Euro Marble. Eco Brass tapware from Astra Walker

Travertine floor tiles in Tuscany French Pattern from Amber Tiles. Cabinetry and mirror from Zylem. Marble bench top by Euro Marble. Eco Brass tapware from Astra Walker. Artwork by Studio Of The Sun via Jumbled. Glo-Ball wall lights from Euroluce. Plain 50 Tile in J13 from Artedomous. Flute Wall Light by Anchor. Marble bench top by Euro Marble. Eco Brass tapware from Astra Walker. Doors from Designer Doorware

Vase by Ben David via Jumbled

Born and raised in Orange NSW, Pip Brett and her partner Nick Luelf had always planned to build their dream family house in the Central Tablelands town.

They purchased a block of land in 2018 overlooking Spring Creek Dam, and worked with Studio Esteta to design the home, with Nick on the tools.

‘We knew the block of land was perfect for us, because it is so close to town but feels like a million miles away. We have the most spectacular views that change all day long,’ says Pip. ‘It allowed us to build not only our dream home, but also our forever home.’

Pip worked closely with Studio Esteta’s Felicity Slattery (her friend from high school) to design a home that would grow with the couple and their two sons Digby (11) and Barnaby (9) throughout every stage of their future lives.

‘We wanted to build a home that we could grow old in: no steps, and spacious hallways,’ Pip says. ‘[The boys] could be teenagers studying, or bringing their new families here.’

Aesthetically, the family wanted a home that would capture the landscape, with calming interiors within. Large windows frame views of the paddocks outside that evole throughout Orange’s defined seasons. ‘Every window is like an artwork,’ Pip says.

Landscaping by Greenspace Design blends the house into landscape as much as possible, while a series of courtyards offer relief from each season.

‘Landscaping was a massive undertaking as we had carved our home into the side of a hill,’ says Pip. ‘We wanted the cattle to come right up to the house. The aim was that you couldn’t tell where the garden finished and the paddock started.’

The house itself adopts a block form softened with a Moroccan-inspired earthy render inspired by Pip’s frequent travels to the country. ‘Sometimes it looks like a sandy beige and then the next minute it’s a dusty pink.’

These bold lines are contrasted indoors with plenty of curving forms in the joinery, ceiling detailing, internal walls, and sculptural furniture.

Colour is strategically introduced all throughout the home – from the salmon kitchen island bench (made from concrete poured on site), deep green bathroom, and the selection of art, cushions, ceramics. Of course, many of these pieces come from Pip’s hugely successful homewares and fashion business, Jumbled, which has its bricks and mortar shop in Orange.

‘I think that our home totally reflects our personality and the way that we live. It is our calm after the crazy of the day. It is a relaxing home, but through art and colour you can see our personality,’ says Pip.

The house was finished in 2020 (after two years living with Pip’s mum) following a COVID-impacted build.

The landscaping continues to develop around the infinity pond — a shallow body of water that sits between the house and Spring Creek Dam, with Mount Canobolas beyond.

Pip says she’s still pinching herself to be able to watch the sun rise and set each day from her dream home. ‘We will never move from here’ she says!

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Born and raised in Orange NSW, Pip Brett and her partner Nick Luelf had always planned to build their dream family house in the Central Tablelands town.