The Design Files: Inside a 1920s Vaucluse mansion filled with antique treasures

Who: Sascha Callaghan, her husband Jono and their two children Harry, 11, and Sam, 9

Where: Vaucluse, Sydney

What: 1920s mansion

No matter how much research you do, more often than not buying a new home comes down to intuition. In the end, it’s about finding a space that simply “feels right”.

This was the experience of the Callaghan family, who spent a long time looking for a new home before they finally stumbled upon this grand old 1920s house in Sydney’s Vaucluse. At the first inspection, Callaghan knew she’d found the one.

“I don’t know what it is with houses,” she says. “It’s such an emotional decision. We saw it and even though it wasn’t exactly perfect in a lot of ways, I was in love with the exposed beams and that was that.”

The house was built in 1920 and combines an unexpected mix of styles. There’s a strong arts and crafts feel, particularly seen in the internal timber work, but an art deco aesthetic also features prominently.

After moving in, they were keen to freshen up the house, and create a neutral base for their treasured collection of art, objects and furniture. This was achieved with a fresh coat of white paint throughout, and staining the various timber floors with a dramatic, nearly black gloss finish.

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The family moved here from a much smaller house, and Callaghan recalls their furniture looked “like dolls house furniture” in this new context. She has enthusiastically taken on the task of sourcing mainly secondhand and antique furniture to complement the space – with a few key rules. “I try not to spend money on things that I’ll probably need to replace,” she says.

“My rule is that whatever I buy, I really have to love it.”

In the meantime, there are still empty rooms and some structural things she would like to change, all in good time.

Callaghan is a thoughtful and considered decorator, with a “slowly, slowly” approach. Her art and furniture selections are eclectic, and each piece tells a story.

One particularly treasured piece is a large oil painting of Captain Arthur Phillips’ landing by Australian artist George Raftopoulos, which makes a grand statement in the dining room.

“It was a gift from my husband, and I always feel deeply moved both by the colours and the mixed experience it represents,” Callaghan says. “I like that it gels with the colonial style of a lot of the furniture, but it forces you to think about the complexities of colonialism as well.”

Large scale photographs of South African model Senele Xaba, by artist and photographer Justin Dingwall, are similarly thought-provoking.

How to buy antiques online

The global online marketplace makes it easy to source furniture and antiques from anywhere in the world, but there’s a lot to consider before you invest.

• Seek out trusted sellers. Look for respected auction houses (try Leonard Joel), or established “marketplace” sites such as 1stDibs, to ensure a positive experience.
• Callaghan says to check that shipping includes delivery to your door, not just to your local port.
• Better still, buy furniture that is in Australia. Great local retailers include The Vault in Sydney and Nicholas and Alistair in Melbourne.