A Federation home on the fringes of Brisbane has been sensitively restored, weaving its architectural legacy into a refined contemporary narrative.
Once a dilapidated residence, the heritage-listed property sat neglected until its new custodians undertook an extensive four-year restoration. With a deep respect for the home’s fragmented past, archival photographs from the State Library of Queensland informed a restoration process guided by a heritage architect and Brisbane-based studio Samantha Leigh Interiors.
Known for her considered approach, Samantha Leigh describes her practice as one that “forges highly customised spaces that thoughtfully evolve the definition of beauty by bridging tradition and originality to create meaningful, modern expressions.”
Drawing inspiration from the home’s historic detailing, the interior speaks to a seamless interplay between old and new. A restrained palette of neutral white accentuates the scale of the soaring ceilings, allowing natural light to animate the interiors and enhance the sense of volume. Custom cabinetry, hand-painted to match the walls, integrates fluidly into the space, dissolving visual boundaries and offering a contemporary expression of continuity.
The kitchen and dining space feature Country Floors Tumbled Marble Botticino & Verde Aeria tiles paired with reclaimed Oregon floorboards, hand-painted joinery custom-designed by Samantha Leigh Interiors and made by Wyer + Craw, dressed in Bardiglio honed stone and Perrin & Rowe tapware. The space is accessorised with soft Roman blinds in Mokum Satori Stonewash Oyster, the client’s dining table paired with Bentwood Thonet No.18 dining chairs, a bench seat upholstered in Dedar Alexander fabric in Tobacco, a Stylecraft bar stool, a Transmitt Co custom pendant light, and an Astrid Salomon ceramic vase ‘River of Thought’ 2023.
The living room is furnished with a Tacchini Julep lounge, &Tradition Little Petra armchair and pouf, B&B Italia Alanda coffee table, Azucena Catilina armchair, &Tradition Lato side table, Artek A811 floor lamp, Armadillo Petra rug and a Transmitt & Co aged brass wall light with soft shade. The space is accessorised by a vintage Rostrato Murano vase and a Bitossi uncovered sculpture.
A contemporary interpretation of the home’s original detailing is gently woven throughout, honouring its heritage while adapting it for modern living. “The project artfully re-establishes and retains historically contextual features like pewter and antique brass hardware, arched interior compositions, and elegant transitions between checked marble and timber flooring, dictated by historic restrictions,” Leigh shares.
Material restraint underpins the interiors, cultivating a cohesive tonality that enables fluid movement between spatial sequences while evoking a sense of enduring calm. This tonal harmony is guided by the refined composition of rich green and creamy white tumbled marble tiles, complemented by crazy paving and warm timber flooring. A curated palette of grey, green and white marble defines the kitchen and bathroom surfaces, echoed in mosaic tiles that bring a subtle rhythm and continuity to the bathrooms.
The living room features curtains in Mokum Satori Stonewash Oyster, a Transmitt Co aged brass wall light, &Tradition Margas LC3 sofa, Eames Turned stool, GUBI Satellite outdoor floor lamp, Maxalto Kalos armchair and a Designer Rugs Chital rug.
The mudroom features Eco Outdoor’s Scala crazy paving, a hand-painted bench seat custom-designed by Samantha Leigh Interiors and crafted by Wyer & Craw, with upholstery by Zepel in All-Out Private Cream and cushions in Dedar’s Schwarzwald South Pacific fabric. Joseph Daws’ ‘Untitled (2110)’, 2021 artwork from Jan Manton Gallery is illuminated by the Transmitt Co 099 wall light, and paired with a vintage Italian cane stool and a Gubi Tropique dining chair.
In the powder room, the vanity is dressed in Marmorino Verde Antique marble with cabinetry custom designed by Samantha Leigh Interiors and made by Wyer & Craw, accessorised with Ribbed Murano wall sconces, an oval aged brass mirror, and Perrin & Rowe tapware.
Defined by a sense of lived-in warmth, a considered curation of furnishings elevates the home’s emotive expression. “The elegant blend of vintage finds and modern pieces creates a dialogue between eras, revealing a space that holds memory while making room for new ones,” Leigh reflects.
Restored with a deep reverence for its heritage and a finely tuned contemporary lens, Spring Hill Residence stands as a testament to timeless design — ready to carry its legacy forward into the next century.
The bathroom is dressed in mosaic Casa handmade Grey Chine tiles from Onsite, accessorised with an Artemide Dioscuri wall lamp, vintage Audoux Minet mirror, custom-made basin in Verde Antigue marble and Perrin & Rowe tapware in Pewter.
The bedroom features Country Floors Tumbled Marble Botticino & Verde Aeria tiles, Land Home bedhead, custom designed cushion in Dedar Schwarzwald fabric, Louis Poulsen PH 2/1 table lamp, Chiavari chair from 506070 Shop, E15 Backenzahn ST034 stool, CULTIVER linen in Ivory and client’s own artwork.
