Inside A Former Bank, Turned Stately Family Home!

Interior designer Sheila Smith’s home in Hay, New South Wales, has a loaded heritage. 

The 1891 creating was at first commissioned by The London Chartered Financial institution, but also held residency for the London Financial institution of Australia and the English-Scottish Financial institution Organization ahead of remaining offered to Australian agricultural organization Goldsborough Mort in 1942.

In 1973 the constructing was ordered by Sheila’s grandmother Noreen Smith and her sister Marjorie Houston. The sisters renovated the outdated bank to make it their household and in 1990 offered it to Sheila’s moms and dads Kyle and Sally Smith, who continued to rejuvenate the historic building, adding a conservatory and open up-strategy living spot. 

In 2020 the creating grew to become Sheila and partner Grant Volz’s property, who, with the arrival of their son Oscar, mark the third and fourth generation of Smiths to contact the outdated financial institution house.

‘I enjoy the background of this setting up,’ states Sheila. ‘The integrity of the household nevertheless stands robust, but we have purchased her into the 21st century.’

Sheila and Grant have a three phase renovation planned for the considerable 15 space residence. Phase a person is complete, and noticed them change the first balcony ground correct the roof, fascia, scotia and gutters paint the exterior restore the entrance doorways and update the interior with new window furnishings, new carpet, paint and wallpaper. 

Phase two, which is now underway, will see the loos updated and the yard extended. Then, in 5 or so years, phase a few will see a finish overhaul of the laundry and kitchen area. 

‘We had been adamant we did not want to transform any of the historic attributes of the creating,’ describes Sheila. ‘But we preferred the household to mirror us.’ 

Locating a equilibrium of old and new inside of the 131-outdated building was a obstacle, but a person that Sheila – who owns an inside design and style business identified as Miss out on Smith Interiors – was perfectly equipped to deal with. 

‘The ceiling heights in this making variety from 13 toes to 19 toes, so scale and proportion ended up extremely critical,’ she suggests. ‘The dining place is possibly my favourite as it is very surprising and not far too serious.’ 

The home in question capabilities superior drama with Porter’s Evergreen gloss paneling underneath a typical Grisaille wallpaper mural. ‘We love that we can have meal in the forest, in the middle of the Hay Plains!’, she suggests.

Gradually but definitely, Sheila has remodeled the five bedrooms, three bathrooms, powder space, drawing area, dining place, conservatory and open up system kitchen area, residing and eating into areas swathed in colour and texture.

Components of the building’s earlier keep on being, yet have been adapted for modern use the previous banking chamber has turn into Sheila’s inside design and style studio and the initial potent place/lender safe and sound is now the wine cellar.

‘Our house embraces the thoughts and information of a common interior, although maintaining items fresh and joyous,’ suggests Sheila. ‘Every home has character and demonstrates a very little personality.’