| DREAM HOUSE |
INSPIRED BY THE COLOURS OF THE LOCAL COUNTRYSIDE, COLLETTE DINNIGAN AND BRADLEY COCKS FURNISHED THEIR ANCIENT ITALIAN FARMHOUSE WITH VINTAGE PIECES AND NATURAL FABRICS
Pool
‘The pool is a very dark, almost black-marine blue,’ says Collette. ‘We spend lots of time here playing backgammon or relaxing in the shade.’
HOME NOTES
Fashion and interior designer Collette Dinnigan, her husband Bradley, and their children Estella, 17 and Hunter, nine.
Casa Olivetta, a three-bedroom rural house in Puglia, Italy, dating back 500 years, with a one-bedroom guest apartment.
W henCollette Dinnigan decided to take a year’s sabbatical in Italy with her family, she didn’t expect to end up putting down roots.
After winding down her successful fashion business, the Australian designer and her husband Bradley embarked upon a tour of the ‘toe and heel’ of southern Italy with their children, Estella and Hunter.
Arriving in Puglia felt like a stroke of fate. ‘We loved the area’s wildness and found the old masserias enchanting,’ says Collette. While staying around Ostuni, famous for its whitewashed city perched high above the Adriatic Sea, they found this tumbledown rural building, which dated back over 500 years. It might not have been part of the plan but Collette, a dab hand at home renovations, wasn’t about to pass up such a magical opportunity.
‘It hadn’t been lived in for many years, except by farm animals, and was instead used as a work shed for the olive harvest. The walls were crumbling, and it would need a lot of work.
Courtyard
‘Just being near the olive trees feels magical,’ says Collette, so creating pockets of outside space for relaxing, lounging and dining was crucial. This is just the spot for long, lazy lunches.
WOW MOMENT
Outdoor areas are designed throughout with entertaining, relaxation and the beautiful surroundings in mind
Kitchen
Even though the kitchen has a rustic feel, the stainless-steel counters fit in and are very practical. An old oak table has been repurposed for the island.
WOW MOMENT
The display of copper pans that fills the back wall is a unique touch
Living room
Blue and white upholstery lends a casualness to this space. ‘This is the perfect nook for movie nights when it’s cooler,’ says Collette.
