INTERIORS I New South Wales
Just ninety minutes from the bustle of Sydney, nestled among the rolling hills of New South Wales, Winden Estate unfolds across nearly ten hectares of pristine countryside. Today, it is the country retreat of a renowned Sydney neurosurgeon and his family. Its remarkable transformation—from an abandoned farmhouse into an extraordinary private estate—is the work of Penman Brown Interior Design, led by Megan Brown.
The owners envisioned a peaceful sanctuary where they could escape the pace of city life and reconnect with nature on weekends. Built in the 1980s, the original farmhouse occupied a generous site but had gradually lost the French-inspired character that once defined it. Captivated by the beauty of the landscape, the family embarked on an ambitious transformation, reimagining the property as a home with a renewed sense of place—one that seamlessly combines European elegance with the authentic spirit of the Australian countryside.
Penman Brown Interior Design responded with a comprehensive reimagining of both the house and its narrative. The farmhouse was reinterpreted through a contemporary architectural language, creating an environment defined by calm, balance and emotional warmth.
Working with an existing building of this scale presented considerable challenges. Reconciling past and present while establishing a harmonious dialogue between architecture and landscape required a carefully measured approach. The design needed to feel robust yet refined, technologically sophisticated yet visually understated and natural. This complexity ultimately became an opportunity to create a richly layered home, where public and private spaces unfold effortlessly, inviting moments of quiet contemplation alongside the rituals of family life. Minimalist in expression, the interiors blend pan-European influences with locally sourced materials and abundant natural light.
The transformation began by stripping the interiors back to their essence. Walls and ceilings were finished in textured plaster, bringing depth, tactility and quiet character to every room.
Solid European oak flooring, doors and bespoke joinery introduce warmth and permanence, while French limestone and understated marble lend the interiors a timeless elegance. Natural materials were selected not for their perfection, but for their irregularities and the authenticity they convey. Patinated bronze, poetic wallcoverings and reclaimed French tiles establish a subtle dialogue between old and new, rustic and refined.
Light became one of the project's defining architectural materials. Expansive glazing floods the interiors with natural daylight, complemented by a carefully curated selection of lighting by internationally renowned designers and studios, including Apparatus Studio, Rose Uniacke, Louis Poulsen, Pinch, Allied Maker and Tobias Scarpa.
penmanbrown.com
Photography by Anson Smart
Words by Luminița Diculescu
Discover the full version of this story in Volume V.