Home Tour: Inside Steve Cordony’s Rustic-Chic Makeover of Rosedale Farm
A luxury farm with a homely feel awaits in this newly revamped estate just outside of Orange.
Who lives here: Rosedale Farm is a farm stay owned by interior stylist Steve Cordony and his partner, Michael Booth.
Bookings: Exclusively via Airbnb over Easter 2023.
Location: Just outside of Orange, NSW.
Interior style: European, homey, and soulful.
Favourite room: “It shifts between the kitchen and the main bathroom. The kitchen is where I spend a lot of time cooking for family and friends and the bathroom is my sanctuary and makes me feel like I’m in a bespoke Parisian hotel," Steve says.
If the words Rosedale Farm and Steve Cordony sound familiar to you, there’s a good reason why.
After the interior designer and his partner Michael Booth got the keys to the sprawling property, which is located just outside of Orange in New South Wales, it fast became one of the most sought-after farm stays to book in the country.
THE VISION
But the seasoned interior stylist needed to add his signature style to the estate first.
“I wanted to contemporise the original homestead and workers' quarters with a European feel while staying true to the history of the property,” explains Steve.
Indeed the history of Rosedale Farm dates all the way back to 1846 when it was part of a 3000-acre pastoral enterprise. So, how do you pay homage to the roots of such a grandiose property, while giving it a modern glow-up? It was a challenge that Steve was happy to sink his teeth into.
“We kept the exact same layout for basically every room in the house, except for the kitchen. It made the home feel true to the heritage but also allowed us to update the main living space to make it more conducive to how we live,” Steve says.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
The first call to action was to maximise the natural light in every room of the eight-bedroom estate. Steve took advantage of the impressive 3.6-metre ceiling height and painted the walls a crisp white while adding chic accessories to draw the eye upward.
“It makes the space feel more open,” Steve admits of his simple yet effective approach.
Steve also ripped up the old carpets, refitted the kitchen, fixed the property’s plumbing, and transformed the exterior of the house from pink to a fresh Dulux White. Outside, the couple installed new fencing, built out the gardens, and planted an astonishing 27,000 trees.
The Sydney-based stylist’s impeccable taste punctuates every room throughout the estate, from the French oak chevron flooring in the kitchen, Simple Studio blinds in the bedroom to the Emerald bath by Apaiser — this is rural elegance at its finest.
STAYING AT ROSEDALE FARM
What originally started out as a passion project for the interior stylist, soon evolved into something much bigger. Steve recently transformed the former servant’s quarter into two luxury farm stays that are open to the public, and were available exclusively to book via Airbnb over Easter.
Guests can pick from two self-contained and luxurious rooms — the one-bedroom suite, which sleeps two, or the two-bedroom suite which sleeps four. Both embrace the Italian style of country living and come with all your creature comforts, plus a complimentary cheese board.
Steve admits that this wasn’t always the plan — but some things are too good not to share!
“We wanted a project and a place to go on the weekends. But two years into [the renovation], we saw the transformation forming and loved having family and friends stay, and being able to share this special part of the world with everyone."
Those who were luckily enough to snap up a booking via Airbnb for the luxury accommodation over Easter, got an exclusive taste of this slice of paradise. For those who missed out, there are plenty more rustic rural abodes in Orange available on Airbnb perfect for a weekend away.
A SOULFUL SANCTUARY
As for his favourite nooks and crannies of Rosedale, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one space.
“It shifts between the kitchen and the main bathroom. The kitchen is where I spend a lot of time cooking for family and friends and the bathroom is my sanctuary and makes me feel like I’m in a bespoke Parisian hotel.”
“My hope for any project is always to make the spaces feel homey and like the space has a soul. It’s the intangible elements like the scent, mood, lighting, and sound that are my favourite parts of the house,” he reflects.
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Drive just a few hours west of the Blue Mountains and you’ll find yourself surrounded by beautiful countryside, where rolling hills of rich greens and scattered grey gums sprout sporadically — these are telling signs that you’ve indeed arrived at Orange.
In Orange, the food is just as much of a drawcard as the beautiful scenery. Equally, the flourishing cosmopolitan lifestyle is also beyond question, attracting more and more boutique fashion and homeware stores to its stylish streets.
However, regardless of its burgeoning nature, Orange maintains its pace and authenticity as a rural region, where the word ‘community’ is not merely a buzzword, but instead, it’s the very heartbeat, and what makes this destination so appealing.
SITCHU'S TOP PICKS FOR ORANGE
For breakfast: For the best breakfast in town, Good Eddy has got it covered thanks to its delicious coffee and drool-worthy menu.
For lunch: Having opened in 2011, Byng Street Café has become one of the leaders in the local café scene.
For dinner: For fine dining without the pomp, the award-winning Charred Kitchen & Bar is a must-visit while you’re in town.
For drinks: Nashdale Lane is a welcoming and unapologetically laidback winery, surrounded by rows upon rows of vineyards.
Shopping: Take to either Byng Street, Summer Street, or Sale Street (or all three) for a boutique shop-crawl, where you’ll find classic and country-style homewares aplenty, but also a healthy dose of fresh, contemporary designs, tempting both locals and visitors.
For more accommodation: While Steve Cordony's gorgeous home is no longer available, plan your trip to Orange by booking a stay at one of these charming Airbnbs in Orange.
PROJECT CREDITS:
Interior Design & Styling: Steve Cordony @stevecordony
Photography: Rosedale Farm @rosedale_farm
Words: Bella Brennan @bellarosebrennan
Accommodation: Airbnb Australia
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