The village of Burrawang, situated near Robertson in the Southern Highlands of NSW, attracts garden lovers from Sydney and further afield every spring. Street after street is lined with flourishing gardens and leafy trees, in a village of picturesque cottages and beautifully maintained 19th-century landmarks, all surrounded by lush green hills. The combination of picket-fence order and natural beauty makes this a heavenly little town. Little wonder, then, that some visitors end up staying. Today, many of those picture-postcard cottages are now occupied by a close-knit community of artists and designers.

Susie Arnott-Smith is one such visitor who has claimed her own little piece of the town. A noted antiques dealer turned architectural and garden designer, Susie lived in Sydney and Canberra for many years yet always maintained a strong affection for the charms of the Southern Highlands.

“This cottage, next door to a friend of mine’s, came up for sale in 2003 and I bought it,” says Susie. “It was a mouldy, dark little place, however, and renovating was the last thing I was in the mood for.”

Instead, Susie went off travelling for a year, visiting her adult children, who were both living overseas, and other relatives. The cottage, however, was never far from her mind.

“My thoughts of Burrawang and the cottage kept tapping me on the shoulder,” she says. “I knew that once I returned, I would take up the challenge to turn the house into something I really wanted to live in.”

Dating back to circa 1900, the house was not only dark and damp but also cramped. Drawing on her renovation experience, Susie worked with builder Ian Saurine to reinvent the home. A long wing was added and existing rooms reconfigured, with more usable space carved out from the attic and an adjoining garage. During the planning stage, they also incorporated eco-wise sustainability features, such as carefully considered orientation to the sun, effective insulation, a self-sufficient water supply and a sophisticated reticulation system that reduces hot water consumption.

At the end of a hedge-lined path, a panelled front door now opens to the addition. So skilful is the execution, it’s hard to tell the new part from the original. Inside, a hallway flows through the light-splashed new living room, dining room and kitchen. On the other side, in the older part of the house, there are two bedroom suites – each with bathroom, dressing and sitting spaces – and a study. Another guest suite takes up the new space upstairs.

The main bedroom is a clear demonstration of the improvement Susie has wrought. The space formerly accommodated an old kitchen with fuel stove, a cramped bedroom and a tiny bathroom. Now, the traditionally furnished suite is a light and lovely zone, painted an ethereal pale blue, with appliquéd organza curtains fluttering at the french doors. Like the rest of the home, it contains cherished antiques and artworks Susie has collected over the years. “I like to have things around me that are part of who I am and my life,” she says. These are artfully woven into a decor scheme that strikes a balance between spaciousness and cosiness. There are plenty of intimate and comfortable sitting areas, for example, both inside and out in the garden.

For an owner who’s passionate about gardens and gardening, the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces was critical. All windows and french doors offer a view to garden spaces and from north-facing rooms, you can see the town that Susie calls home. 

“What I enjoy about living here is the feeling that you belong to an active, friendly community, and there’s always something you can be involved with. Living here, and in this house, gives me energy.”

Susie Arnott-Smith Design, Burrawang, NSW; susieas@bigpond.com. Builder: Ian Saurine, Bundanoon, NSW; 0418 483 821.

Produced by Nerida Piggin

Photography Maree Homer