Interiors

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Australia is the <a href="https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/municipal-waste/indicator/english_89d5679a-en" target="_blank">sixth-largest</a> contributor of household waste per capita in the world. We spend more than <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.tai.org.au/node/940" target="_blank">$A10.5 billion</a> annually on goods and services that are never or rarely used.
One-quarter of Australians admit to throwing away clothing <a href="https://au.yougov.com/news/2017/12/06/fast-fashion/" target="_blank">after just one use</a>, while at the other end of the extreme, 5% of the population save unused items with such tenacity that their homes become <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181962/">dangerously cluttered</a>.
If unnecessary purchases come at such a profound cost, why do we make them?
Why do we buy so much stuff?
We acquire some possessions because of their perceived usefulness. We might buy a computer to complete work tasks, or a pressure cooker to make meal preparation easier.
But consumer goods often have a psychological value that outweighs their functional value. This can drive us to acquire and keep things we could do without.
Possessions can act as an <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article/15/2/139/1841428" target="_blank">extension of ourselves</a>. They may remind us of our personal history, our connection to other people, and who we are or want to be. Wearing a uniform may convince us we are a different person. Keeping family photos may remind us that we are loved. A home library may reveal our appreciation for knowledge and enjoyment of reading.
Acquiring and holding onto possessions can bring us comfort and emotional security. But these feelings cloud our judgement about how useful the objects are and prompt us to hang onto things we haven’t used in years.
When this behaviour crosses over into hoarding disorder, we may notice:
<ol>
<li>a persistent difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their actual value 
</li>
<li>that this difficulty arises because we feel we need to save the items and/or avoid the distress associated with discarding them 
</li>
<li>that our home has become so cluttered we cannot use it as intended. We might not be able to sit on our sofa, cook in our kitchen, sleep in our bed, or park our car in the garage 
</li>
<li>the saving behaviour is impacting our quality of life. We might experience significant family strain or be embarrassed to invite others into our home. Our safety might be at risk, or we may have financial problems. These problems can contribute to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/bjc.12212" target="_blank">workplace difficulties</a>.</li>
</ol>
Will the KonMari method help?
According to Japanese tidying consultant <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-marie-kondo/prod9781607747307?zsrc=d-stocked&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAm5viBRD4ARIsADGUT25gYCqaxUUKyvskmVS_R-fO4F0c9K59vPwZsaLgO6fgwK57pQEWZpcaAkFVEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Marie Kondo</a>, “everyone who completes the KonMari Method has successfully kept their house in order”.
But while some aspects of the KonMari method are consistent with existing evidence, others may be inadvisable, particularly for those with clinical hoarding problems.
Kondo suggests that before starting her process, people should visualise what they want their home to look like after decluttering. A similar clinical technique is used when <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796711001872?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">treating</a> hoarding disorder. Images of one’s ideal home can act as a powerful amplifier for positive emotions, thereby increasing motivation to discard and organise.
Next, the KonMari Method involves organising by category rather than by location. Tidying should be done in a specific order. People should tackle clothing, books, paper, komono (kitchen, bathroom, garage, and miscellaneous), and then sentimental items.
Organising begins with placing every item within a category on the floor. This suggestion has an evidence base. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032717327167?via%3Dihub">Our research</a> has shown people tend to discard more possessions when surrounded by clutter as opposed to being in a tidy environment.
However, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796710001075?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">organising</a> and categorising possessions in any context is challenging for people with hoarding disorder.
Marie Kondo gives sage advice about whether to keep possessions we think we’ll use in the future. A focus on future utility is a common thinking trap, as many saved items are never used. She encourages us to think about the true purpose of possessions: wearing the shirt or reading the book. If we aren’t doing those things, we should give the item to someone who will.
Another Kondo suggestion is to thank our possessions before we discard them. This is to recognise that an item has served its purpose. She believes this process will facilitate letting go.
However, by thanking our items we might inadvertently increase their perceived humanness. <a href="https://akademiai.com/doi/abs/10.1556/2006.7.2018.98" target="_blank">Anthropomorphising</a> inanimate objects increases the sentimental value and perceived utility of items, which increases object attachment.
People who are dissatisfied with their interpersonal relationships are more prone to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886918300461" target="_blank">anthropomorphism</a> and have more difficulty <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178118318122" target="_blank">making decisions</a>. This strategy may be particularly unhelpful for them.
One of Kondo’s key messages is to discard any item that does not “spark joy”.
But for someone with excessive emotional attachment to objects, focusing on one’s emotional reaction may not be helpful. People who hoard things experience intense positive emotions in response to many of their possessions, so this may not help them declutter.
Think about how you get rid of things
<a href="https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/About-us/Latest-news/2019/01/10/23/21/Urgent-advisory-for-Netflix-inspired-declutterers" target="_blank">Sustainability Victoria</a> recently urged Netflix-inspired declutterers to reduce, reuse, and recycle rather than just tossing unwanted items into landfill.
Dumping everything into the op-shop or local charity bin is also problematic. Aussie charities are paying <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-04/charities-spending-millions-cleaning-up-fast-fashion-graveyard/10328758" target="_blank">A$13 million a year</a> to send unusable donations to landfill.
Ultimately, we need to make more thoughtful decisions about both acquiring and discarding possessions. We need to buy less, buy used, and pass our possessions on to someone else when we have stopped using them for their intended purpose.
Melissa Norberg, Associate Professor in Psychology, Macquarie University 
Jessica Grisham, Professor in Psychology, UNSW
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/my-possessions-spark-joy-will-the-konmari-decluttering-method-work-for-me-110357" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Will the KonMari decluttering method work for me?

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Management consultant Geraldine Paton has taken steps towards a tree-change to the Southern Highlands, buying Hayley, the Burradoo trophy home.
Paton has paid $1.38 million for the 1975 square metre parcel, which estate agents Knight Bailey sold in 15 days.
Paton secured $1.8 million through Simeon Manners for her two bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-milsons+point-127457566" target="_blank">Milsons Point apartment</a> in the 1999 Grandview block.
It was among the many luxury blocks created by visionary developer Sid Londish, the 94-year-old giant of the property ­industry, who died last week.
The Grandview lobby (pictured above) still highlights his extravagant ­finishes.
Londish had a policy of living in his own buildings, proclaiming he was not frightened to be in daily contact with occupants.
“That’s how confident I am of presenting a quality product,” he once advised.
This article was first published in The Sunday Telegraph.
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Management consultant swaps Milsons Point for Burradoo

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GUEST OBSERVATION
A decomposed, mummified body of a man was recently found by forensic cleaners in a Sydney apartment. The apartment’s owner is thought to have suffered from hoarding disorder, and police believe the decomposed body had been there for more than ten years.
We occasionally read stories involving people with hoarding disorder - people whose possessions pose a serious burden. Clutter might prevent them from sitting on their sofa, taking a shower, cooking a meal, or sleeping in their bed.
Despite the lack of space, they find it impossible to part with items they don’t need. Why is it so hard for them to let go of their possessions?
Loving things
As children, we use possessions to comfort ourselves when our parents are unavailable. By the time we reach adulthood, most of us have abandoned our security blankets and teddy bears. We might occasionally buy something unnecessary or hang on to a few items we no longer need.
In most cases, these few extra possessions don’t pose a problem. We store them in the closet or display them proudly on a shelf. But our stuff never creeps beyond that point. We have a few treasured objects, but we don’t rely on them to make us feel good – at least not on a regular basis.
It’s a different story for the 1.2 million Australians who meet the DSM-5 criteria for hoarding disorder. These include:
<ul>
<li>difficulty discarding items regardless of their actual value</li>
<li>a perceived need to save the items and associated distress at the idea of losing them</li>
<li>clutter that prevents using the home being used for its intended purpose.</li>
</ul>
Hoarding disorder leads to a quality of life as poor as that of people with schizophrenia. Clutter increases the risks of injury, medical conditions, and death.
A quarter to a third of Australian residential fire-related deaths are associated with hoarding disorder.
For those with hoarding disorder, possessions remind them of the past and foreshadow a potential future. They can remember their child wearing that outfit or playing with that toy. They are certain that jug will be useful some day, despite having many other jugs they have never used. They are extremely attached to their possessions for one reason or another.
Just thinking about disposing of their items makes people with hoarding disorder feel highly anxious. Their anxiety is similar to what others may feel about giving a speech or finding a spider in their shoe. Believing they can’t cope with the distress of losing their possessions, they hang on tightly. Doing so unfortunately strengthens their beliefs that their possessions are needed.
Objects as human substitutes
If children regularly use objects for comfort during times of need, why doesn’t everyone have a hoarding problem? We think it is because some people are more prone to anthropomorphism. Anthropomorphism is when an object is perceived to have human-like qualities.
Humans need to be connected physically, socially, and psychologically to other humans. This need is just as important as the need for air, water, food, and shelter. Loneliness negatively affects our health and is a risk factor for early death. Understandably, when we feel devalued or unloved, we seek out closeness. When our need isn’t met by humans, objects may serve as a substitute.
Individuals who hoard items tend to experience interpersonal difficulties, feel insecure in relationships, and believe themselves to be a burden to others. To compensate for unmet social needs, they anthropomorphise objects to feel connected.
Anthropomorphism doesn’t fully meet people’s needs, so they collect more and more objects. Stronger anthropomorphic tendencies are associated with more compulsive buying and greater acquisition of free stuff.
The current treatment approach teaches individuals how to challenge their beliefs about possessions. It also teaches them how to resist acquiring urges and how to sort, organise, and discard possessions. This approach helps only about a quarter of people who receive it.
We used to think social disconnection was a consequence of hoarding. Now, we think it may be part of the cause. At Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury, Macquarie University, and UNSW, we are piloting an enhanced hoarding treatment. This treatment addresses core hoarding problems as well as helping to improve impaired social connections.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/97784/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">The consequences of hoarding escalate as people get older. Without treatment, the consequences (such as fire) of hoarding disorder costs Australia an estimated A$36,880 per person, per occurrence. If we can help people feel valued and loved, they may benefit more from treatment. In turn, they may experience a desperately needed improvement in their quality of life.
Melissa Norberg, Associate Professor in Psychology, Macquarie University
Jessica Grisham, Associate Professor in Psychology, UNSW
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-possessions-are-poor-substitutes-for-people-hoarding-disorder-and-loneliness-97784" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Photo: Clutter that sufficiently prevents the use of the living room for its original purpose. Source: A/Prof Melissa Norberg.
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When possessions are poor substitutes for people: hoarding disorder and loneliness

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Plummeting temperatures and fluctuating Spring weather across southern Australia, bringing wild storms to Sydney and snowfalls to the Australian Alps and Blue Mountains, has left our property contrarians Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok yearning to be huddled by an open indoor fire. 
When the mercury plummets, there’s nothing like a cosy fireplace – wood, slow combustion or gas – to warm the body and soul.
Fireplaces have been a familiar feature for hundreds of years, however until very recently, they have undergone very little change from the traditional hearth.
Now fireplaces are again becoming the design focus for many rooms - even the bathroom - with technological advances making it possible to do more with the fireplace than ever before. At the press of a remote in many offerings.
This week Jonathan and Margie discuss fireplaces and options available.  
HE SAID <img src="/images/2014/03/28/jc-silhouette-7.jpg" style="line-height: 1.3em; float: right;"> 
I think there is always something very welcoming when approaching a house with smoke coming out of the chimney. For me, the perfect indoor fireplace is wood burning with a raised hearth, bench seating and adjacent storage for logs. Ideally, the ledge seat and bottom of the fireplace should be about 50 centimetres above the floor so it sends out its heat effectively. An excellent example of this type is in the family room of a large <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-turramurra-117510655" target="_blank">residence at Turramurra</a>, on Sydney’s upper north shore, sold in August through Chadwick Real Estate (pictured below).
An attractive focal point of the room, this fireplace has sandstone surrounds, two wood storage niches and a long bench seat – just the spot to perch while chatting to family and friends or watching the 7pm ABC news. 
<img src="/images/2014/10/17/Turramurra%20140%20Pentecost%20Ave%20-%20Chadwick%20.jpg" alt="">
But flat screen televisions fixed to the wall above or next to a fireplace are a definite no-no. Not just a safety issues as it always looks odd and confuses the focal point of the room. This style is evident in the living room of “Jessica”, a pretty circa 1910 Edwardian residence listed for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-st+kilda+west-118064171" target="_blank">October 25 auction</a> through Marshall White Albert Park agents, Oliver Bruce and Kayne Layton (pictured below). While the raised fireplace works, the television screen jammed up next to it doesn’t suit for mine.
<img src="/images/2014/10/17/St%20Kilda%20West%2035%20Mary%20St%20-%20fireplace%20%20tv.jpg" alt="">
Simplicity is essential with fireplace design. The antithesis of this is a confusing brick chimney in a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-sassafras-115851903" target="_blank">cottage located on the outskirts of Sassafra</a>s, a rural hamlet about 40 kilometres east of Melbourne. Positioned at the centre of this home, it services a wood burning stove, a combustion oven as well as an open fireplace – while practical, it’s not very pretty  (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2014/10/17/Sassafras%2010%20Lennox%20Grove%20VIC-1.jpg" alt="">
For me a very simple sandstone or bluestone works. Though contestant couple, the chimneysweep, Steve and partner Chantelle on the Block Albert Park won their lounge room with a more colourful Russet stone tiling from <a href="https://www.beaumont-tiles.com.au/TileDIYInfo/Blog/tabid/87/ID/166/Steve-and-Chantelle-The-Block-Living-and-Dining-room-reveal.aspx" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Beaumont Tiles</a>. 
<img src="/images/2014/03/28/mb-silhouette-6.jpg" style="float: left;">SHE SAID
I love wood burning fireplaces. But having lived in a cold climate for many years, I know the practical reality of slow combustion and wood burning open fireplaces involve a lot of work: collecting kindling, carting logs, sweeping out ashes and constantly cleaning fine dust. The idea of flipping a switch to make a roaring fire appeals to me, so when it comes to a favourite for everyday use, the gas fireplace gets my vote. 
On a recent visit to one of the best houses in Paddington, I noticed a beautiful example of a gas fireplace. With an elegant stone surround and heavy timber mantelpiece, it works well practically as well as aesthetically for it serves as a focal point but doesn’t take over the living area (pictured below).
Designed by architect Alex Roth with interior design by Nellie Tilley, the house is set for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-paddington-118119623" target="_blank">November 3 auction</a> through Ballard Property’s William Manning.
 
<img src="/images/2014/10/17/Paddington%20108a%20Paddington%20St%20-%20gas%20fireplace.jpg" alt="">
Another fine example of a home where gas fireplaces work exceptionally is <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-glen+osmond-117584471" target="_blank">Plane Tree House</a>, a modern residence at Glen Osmond, high on the hillside above the Adelaide Plains. Listed through Ouwens Casserley agent, Alexander Ouwens (and currently under contract), the house features Escea gas fireplaces integrated with beautiful bespoke joinery. Inspired by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the three-level house is designed by Architects Ink (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2014/10/17/Glen%20Osmond%20Plane%20Tree%20House.jpg" alt="">
While Jonathan’s no-no is placing a television screen next to a fireplace, mine is candles on display in the hearth. This looks so silly – especially in photos of a property listing. Take for instance the fireplace of a living room in a house for sale at Latrobe in Tasmania <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-latrobe-118113663" target="_blank">listed for sale</a> through Saunders Property Group Devonport. The room would seem much cosier and more appealing if the agent has ditched the candles and lit some logs at the time of the photo shoot. 
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Hot trends and traditions for fireplaces: He Said She Said

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Guest observation
Most people seeking to sell their house want to do so quickly and for the highest possible price.
But not everyone takes the steps required to make this a possibility. While buying a house is a major, long-term commitment for most, it is still a decision that is often ruled by the heart. By making a few additions, repairs and alterations to your home, you can make your property attractive to the widest range of prospective buyers possible.
Make first impressions count
It's unlikely that a prospective buyer is going to decide they want to buy based on the outside of the house, but they may make the decision not to after looking over the exterior.
Good impressions should start from the minute people pull up outside, yet too many sellers forget about ensuring the façade of their homes are presentable.
This means everything from the driveway to the garden to the front door should be ready to impress.
<ul>
<li>Keep your lawn mowed at all times</li>
<li>Schedule a regime of weed and leaf clearing</li>
<li>Plant some flowers or shrubs to complement the season</li>
<li>Remove any unnecessary items from your garden and pathways</li>
<li>Make sure your windows are clean and in a good state of repair</li>
<li>Check for missing roof tiles and slates</li>
<li>Walk up to your door and imagine yourself as the buyer. What's your first impression? Would you want to take a look inside?</li>
</ul>
Attend to repairs  
The last thing people, especially first home buyers, want to be worrying about is costly repairs right after moving in.
Unless you're targeting property developers, you'll need to make sure that the obvious, niggling repair jobs that you've been putting off are all attended to in a professional manner. They may seem like quick fix jobs, but a broken doorbell or loose floorboard just gives buyers another excuse to walk away.
If they're easy enough for a new buyer to fix, they should be easy enough for you to fix first.
<ul>
<li>Make sure all your internal doors close properly, and that all the door handles in your home work as they should.</li>
<li>Attend to cracks in the walls and ceilings before painting or papering over them. But be sure to seek professional help from a builder or a structural engineer if the cracks appear serious.</li>
<li>Fix dripping taps and leaks.</li>
<li>Replace broken fly-screens.</li>
<li>Check that all your light fittings are working and that they are fixed with the appropriate light bulb.</li>
</ul>
Modernise and minimise
Keep things simple. While you may have loved the bright colours and quirky items of furniture in your home, the truth is that buyers often respond more favourably to neutral tones and colour schemes.
Buyers need to be given the freedom to imagine their lives in your home, and that can be difficult if it's adorned with patterned wall-coverings, too many personal photos and trinkets and ornaments from your last holiday.
<ul>
<li>Redecorate with neutral tones - magnolia, and shades of white are ideal.</li>
<li>Remove overly personal and niche item</li>
<li>Remove excess furniture and clutter, including newspapers, magazines, and children's toys</li>
<li>Avoid stuffing cupboards and drawers with clutter, as buyers may want to take a close look at the storage space available</li>
<li>If necessary, hire some storage space for items that aren't necessary to daily life. This will allow you to create the image of space, and allow your home to be the star of the show.</li>
</ul>
Get cleaning  
A quick flick of a vacuum cleaner and some light dusting won't cut it when you're showing your home to potential buyers. It's important to remember that your home is probably one of dozens in the area for sale, and even the slightest issue with cleanliness can be enough to scupper your chances of securing a quick scale.
When people are looking for a new home they want a fresh start -- so make sure the property reflects that.
<ul>
<li> Clear every room of furniture and perform a detailed clean on areas that would otherwise escape your attention.</li>
<li>Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bathroom where dirt and grime show up easily</li>
<li>Think about hiring a professional cleaning service just before you start inviting buyers into your home.</li>
<li>Remember that your home should be ready for those last-minute inspections that are an inevitable part of the selling process.</li>
</ul>
Consider hiring a 'home staging' service
 Sometimes, particularly for premium properties, even the most subtle of details can be enough to strike a chord with a prospective buyer. It might be an inviting smell, the way the light flows into a particular room, or the flow of your home's main reception room.
Although hiring an expert to 'stage' your property for viewing comes at a price, the premium it can deliver in the form of a higher sale price could be worth it.
There may be a lot of competition for the attention of buyers in your area. But with some careful planning, maintenance and staging, you can make sure it's your home that stands out on the market.
Zoe Pointon is the co-founder of real estate startup <a href="https://www.openagent.com.au/?tid=1003" target="_blank">OpenAgent</a>.
 
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Getting your property ready to go to the market

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Renowned Musk Farm has been listed for sale by May 31 onsite auction through the Pat Rice &amp; Hawkins agency.
Selling agent Matt Childs anticipates the Musk Farm cottage on 1.2 hectares will <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/11-school-road-musk/Property-Details-buy-residential-7025401" target="_blank">fetch $1 million plus</a>.
A 30 hectare farm lot in the acclaimed Daylesford, central Victoria district is also expected to fetch $550,000 plus.
Interior designer Stuart Rattle and cattle farmer Michael O'Neill, partners for 16 years, paid $93,000 in 1998 with a $76,000 mortgage, for what was to become their expanded renovated Musk Farm masterpiece.
The 32 hectare property started as a derelict garden overun with blackberries. 
But taking their inspiration from the English Arts and Crafts movement of Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll, the couple set about its restoration starting with the planting of hydrangeas outside the 1880s old school house.
It would end with the garden divided into 14 distinct garden rooms, joined by interconnecting walkways, and separated by large clipped hedges, English Box (Buxus sempervirens) and viburnum (Viburnum spp) and Ligustrum vulgare (Privet). It shone even in winter.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/04/17/musk-farm-april-17-eight.jpg" alt="">
Source: Facebook
Title Tattle gleans Stuart Rattle had been reluctant to buy the property when he and good mate, Paul Bangay undertook their first inspection drive-by.
It looked like a municipal park with too much asphalt, but returning at twlight Rattle sensed the opportunity and he was always of the later opinion that the home was best in late afternoons. 
It was a compact cottage after installing lower ceilings and its paintwork created the rich, moody and broody feel that he had once seen at florist Kevin O'Neill's Mount Macedon retreat.  
The English kitchen comes with oak cabinetry made by craftsman Kim Moir.
The cottage had the potential of the nearby pastures acquired for Michael O'Neill's passion, a herd of British White cattle he set about to save when the once common breed shrunk to only 400 breeding cows in Australia.
With their white coats, black noses and long black eyelashes, the cows stood out on the green hill that dominates the expanding holding, which was bought in 2003. The beef was sold to top restaurants, such as the Lake House in Daylesford, and through farmers' markets. Michael came from a long line of vets in Ireland's County Cork. The farm lot comes with pine plantation, a character filled barn, hay shed, cattle yards, chicken coop, small orchid and a terraced vegetable garden. 
Visitors were very welcome at Musk's regular garden open days. Title Tattle recalls Pixie Skase was a devotee. There was the reminder of her in the pair of Hermes ashtrays with Islamic motifs. Susan Bittar, the Arthur Anderson accountant, had Rattle decorate her Georgian home among the many commissions by Melbourne's prominent families.
But before the hydrangeas were at their peak last year, Stuart Rattle was found dead in his burnt-out two storey Malvern Road, South Yarra apartment on December 9, 2013.
It was in his abode at the back of his shop, an infill concrete box with mansard roof which Nerida Piggin once described as a soothing spacious retreat. It had been built by his builder father, Ken with intricate coffered ceiling. Rattle often said he was following in the footsteps of other designers, like Nancy Lancaster from Colefax and Fowler and Coco Chanel who also lived above their shops.  
Within four days police charged his partner, Michael O'Neill, with his murder after a suspicious fire, alleging that he killed him through asphyxiation five days prior at the city apartment.
O'Neill remains remanded in custody due to return to court on June 5 for a committal mention hearing.
Stuart Rattle, who grew up on a farm at Wakool, saw himself as one of Australia’s leading interior designers, the sole designer within his company supported by skilled artisans who transformed inspiration into reality.
But he maintained he was not there to impart his own style – "my focus is always to bring out my clients."
"A home should represent who lives there," he believed. And at Musk the whole house certainly evolved around the Aga stove.
"Interiors are above all sophisticated and highly attuned to each client’s lifestyle and personality."
But for Rattle scale, proportion and elegance transcended the current trends as he endeavoured to construct timeless spaces with an emphasis on comfort and restraint. In July 2012, a custom-designed furniture range was launched by Rattle in collaboration with Mortice &amp; Tenon.
Before his death he'd just finished refurbishing the drawing room at Musk Farm, after the ornate plaster ceiling arrived in four large panels. Then there was the Watts of Westminister birds wallpaper. The antique fire mantel was sourced in London. The Mulberry Floral Bouquet fabric on the sofa and some antique Persian blanket cushions. Brunschwig &amp; Fils 'Argonne Lampas' fabric on the Gainsborough Chair.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/04/17/musk-farm-april-17-one.jpg" alt="">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/04/17/musk-farm-april-17-five.jpg" alt="">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/04/17/musk-farm-april-17-six.jpg" alt="">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/04/17/musk-farm-april-17-seven.jpg" alt="">
Source: Facebook
In May last year the Governor of Victoria, Alex Chernov, and Mrs Chernov, on an official visit to Hepburn Shire, popped in to see the farm. (pictured below) Only last November the late interior designer and his partner proudly opened Musk Farm to the public to raise money for further restoration of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens in nearby Daylesford. Stuart had been a very active supporter of the Botanic Gardens, repairing and restoring its rustic cascade, the Victorian Fernery and its irrigation works.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/04/17/chernov%20april%2017%20one.jpg" alt="">
 
Source: Facebook
But within three weeks he was dead. His partner Michael O'Neill awaiting trial for his alleged murder. Their assets were subsequently frozen, by Supreme Court of Victoria order, and only able to be sold with the court's approval. Katrina Lewin, one of Rattle's sisters, has been appointed interim administrator of his estimated $4.2 million estate.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/stories/2014/02/21/crop-feb-21.png" alt="crop-feb-21" width="470" height="291">
  School Road at Musk has just the six properties. All up Musk has around 130 properties, once described by The Age as a sleepy blip on the map.
Barcaldine House, at 238 Dairy Flat Road with 15 hectares and a 60-square-metre homestead, was perhaps the most known given its cellar door operations. 
The hamlet's last celebrity sale was in 2006 when the television personality and interior designer Tonia Todman sold the four hectare farm which she bought in 1998 to use as a weekender with partner Michael Dowding. They refurbished in a style that Todman described as "French provincial meets New Hampton via Daylesford". 
Todman's four-bedroom house with Castlemaine stone fireplace was surrounded by a stone-fruit orchard and a small olive grove plus nut trees, a vegetable garden and plantings of herbs, roses, lavender and bulbs on soil classed as chemical-free. The Todman property at 90 Currys Road was listed with Morley Real Estate who were quoting $730,000-plus, and secured $660,000.
 
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