It might be bizzario but it works!

By Angela Bensemann

The thing about style is you’ve either got it or you haven’t.  I’m the first to put my hand up and confess that I haven’t – but – I do know someone who does. 

We first introduced you to Rebecca Hardie last year as a closet crochet queen and craft party organiser.  What I didn’t realise back then was that her sense of style extended to both her house and garden too.

Rebecca and fiancé Craig have transformed their ordinary three bedroom weatherboard house into an extraordinary oasis of eclectic-ness in their suburban street.

Rebecca and Craig in their 'Bizzario' garden.

Craig calls it bizzario. It’s a style that is uniquely their own and is based on what they can repurpose and breathe new life into.

It’a bit of an old meets new theme.  Rebecca says they both probably should've been born centuries ago.

"We don’t follow a design rule book, we just make things up as we go along, things we like, and so far it's working. And we're on a budget, so by using our own creativity we're taking out half the cost. We don’t see ourselves as designers we're just building our home.”

So step inside and and feast your eyes.  What to look at first?  As you enter there’s the bush and bird decals in the hall way. A majestic faded pink lamp commands its spot alongside the driftwood framed artwork (paintings by Craig) on the lounge wall. Retro lounge suites (pre-loved by Craig’s Nana are adorned by a crocheted blanket made by Rebecca’s father.

Puppets are nestled into an alcove shelf; vintage plates jostle for position on the kitchen wall.  An easel stands to attention in the family room with Craig’s latest abstract painting underway – leaning against it is a screen print that Rebecca is working on.



Well-loved suitcases offer some additional storage.  Wool blankets are transformed into curtains in the bedroom – “it was a practical solution – the room had blinds and was very cold”. 

Rebecca says when they realised they had similar (and also very different) tastes they started to decorate their house room by room.  They wanted it to be a bit different, not sterile. 

 
 

“Basically we look out for old treasures; we spruce them up and make them new again."

 

 

Outside is Craig’s domain – he’s a landscape gardener by day and it shows. He has transformed the garden into a wonderland of hidden pathways, unusual objects, bountiful produce and terraced slopes.

A gnome peaks out from beneath some native ferns nestled next to kina and paua shells, a deer skull guards the entrance to the vegetable garden which sports an elegant bird bath. The pathway along the terraced back slope features logs and branches as handrails interspersed with old bannisters and other bits and pieces.  It is quite frankly a work of art.

So how can you stamp your own mark on your house and garden?  Here are some top tips from Rebecca for making your house your own:

• Stick with your own taste
• Go with your gut – just try it, what’s the worst that could happen?
• It doesn’t have to be new – try your hand at repurposing
• It’s an on-going process – by the time you finish the house you’ll want to start over again.

Check out these websites for inspiration:  etsy.com,  designsponge.com and psimadethis.com