Sometimes I just want to run away and be somewhere else, like the French countryside for instance. But running off to France on a whim is hardly practical or possible and dealing with the hassle of a long haul flight usually doesn’t appeal. Luckily for me though I don’t have to go too far to feel like I’m somewhere quite different and somewhere quite special. I’m talking about Chewton, a largely unknown little stretched-out town that’s very easy to miss and sits just on the outskirts of Castlemaine, in Victoria’s beautiful historic gold rush region.
One day Mr Fritz and I decided to book this oh-so-charming and totally romantic barn which happens to be in one of our favourite parts of Victoria - a place where I still dream of buying a little cottage one day.
This is the view from the living room complete with antique rocking horse. I love sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee staring out at the little garden and the paddock beyond where two resident donkeys live.
Little did we know that we would meet a fabulously creative and talented couple who invested a lot of themselves into this gorgeous little building. Daniel Burgermeister and his wife Glenny Eastwood are the creatives who designed, built and decorated Red Brick Barn.
Daniel built the barn from locally sourced recycled red bricks and a variety of reclaimed materials that gives it instant appeal. It’s a visual feast of textures and it oozes character and charm – it actually feels like it’s been standing there for at least a hundred years and I imagened how perfectly it would blend into the French countryside.
The textured bricks, old doors and rustic planters beautifully compliment the interior with its pedestal basins, Parisian flea market finds and Australian antiques and collectibles that Daniel and Glenny bring back from their travels. You’ll also find Turkish rugs and industrial lamps and chairs sitting comfortably around a farmhouse table. Here you won’t see anything matchy-matchy or highly contrived - but rather a confident style that reflects personality, character and warmth.
A farmhouse table, industrial chairs, Turkish rugs and rustic timber cupboards all come together in perfect harmony.
Mixing textures and different styles is always a winner.
Details like the old oil painting and the industrial lamp add character, texture and beauty.
Inside, the red painted stairs, which I love, leads to a spacious and enchanting loft with high timber ceilings and sash windows. There is a gorgeous cast iron bed and lovely little pieces of rustic folk-style furniture dotted around, as well as old oil paintings and a stunning mirror I’d love to take home.
The stunning loft bedroom is a beautiful blend of textures, objects and furniture.
This barn-stay is luxurious and very comfortable. Red Brick Barn is a place of quality where attention to detail is taken very seriously. It’s also the perfect antidote to a hectic city life; here Mr Fritz and I rejuvenate in the peaceful surrounds, stretch out on the sofa with a book, watch a movie or walk along the Goldfields Heritage Park tracks, which we often have to ourselves. But by far our favourite relaxing activity is a long soak in the divine red claw-foot bath that’s perched on the back deck partially screened off by olive trees - it’s sheer bliss!
Hands down our favourite feature at Red Brick Barn!
