Photography and styling: Nat Spada
A regular visitor to Berry in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales, Natalie Hazel had always admired a certain home in the historic town centre. The classic weatherboard cottage with shingles and a scalloped trim epitomised the old-fashioned character and charm that drew Natalie and her husband, Damian Reichel, back to Berry time and time again. “My husband and I met as lawyers working for the same law firm and our first weekend away was to Berry,” Natalie says. “So it’s always been very special to us.”
The couple loved the South Coast region so much they bought land in nearby Gerroa and built a weekender, which they visited frequently with their three children – Amelia, 18, Sebastian, 16, and Louis, 14 – over the years. But in 2022 they decided to find a new holiday home in Berry, close to the cafes, restaurants and cute stores they love.
A heritage home in the old part of town was the goal, but they struggled to find the right fit. Then, after 12 months of searching, a real estate agent tip-off led Natalie straight to her favourite house. “The agent told me there might be another heritage home coming onto the market,” Natalie recalls. “She gave me the directions and when I pulled up, I called the agent from outside the house and said, ‘That’s my dream home!’”
Although it wasn’t officially on the market, they agreed to a long settlement that allowed the owners to find a new home and Natalie to start planning the renovation. By the time Natalie and Damian took ownership, they were ready to press play on a sympathetic makeover.
“The agent told me there might be another heritage home coming onto the market…when I pulled up, I called the agent and said, ‘That’s my dream home!'”
The house, set on a large block on the traditional lands of the Wodi Wodi people, has a rich history in Berry. Built in 1896, it served as barracks for the Berry Half Squadron of Lancers during the Second Boer War and the 1st Light Horse Regiment in World War I. Recognising its significance to the town, the council recently included the home on a proposed heritage list for Berry. “That history is important to us, it’s important to the street and it’s important to the town,” Natalie says, “so we were delighted that the council added it to the proposal.”
To preserve the home’s character, Natalie took care to focus on internal, cosmetic changes. “We did very minimal structural work because in changing the structure, you lose so much of the original features,” Natalie explains. “There’s a lot of wood panelling on the walls and roof, original windows and doors, you can see the faults in the glass from all those years ago, the original handles are all rusty, and we wanted to keep all of that – we didn’t want it to be all sparkly and new.”
Natalie engaged an architect to draw up plans for the renovation but in the end they pared it back, preserving the home’s original footprint and adding just one ensuite to ensure each bedroom had a bathroom. “We wanted to do justice to that rich and important history while honouring our design vision,” Natalie explains. “We feel like we got that balance right.”
It took their builder, Luke Moffatt from Zen Building and Pools, four months to give the house a cosmetic lift, and he took care to reuse as many original details, such as doors and ceiling roses, as possible. “The only thing we couldn’t save was the original flooring,” says Natalie. “There were just too many issues with it.”
For the interiors, Natalie embraced traditional details and a gentle colour palette. “Our home in Sydney is Art Deco and very monochrome,” she says. “We knew we wanted something softer and evocative of a weekend in the country.” She was inspired by Osborn House in the Southern Highlands of NSW, and Halcyon House in Cabarita on the North Coast. “They’re two of my favourite places to stay,” Natalie says. “Halcyon House was the inspiration for using Anna Spiro fabrics and wallpaper, and the colour was inspired by Osborn House.”
With its soft green kitchen and cosy breakfast nook, gold accents and pretty floral prints, the house “does feel very feminine now,” Natalie admits. “It did have a bit of a masculine feel to it and I think I’ve reversed that with the furnishings that I gravitate to.”
The new kitchen looks perfectly old-fashioned with its Falcon oven, English Tapware Company hardware and original open fireplace, but it has some modern touches, including a Liebherr wine cabinet – an essential in Natalie’s line of work. After taking a break from intellectual property law in 2019, Natalie developed a passion for wine and champagne – she’s now a champagne journalist and hosts events and tours focused on the craft of sparkling wine.
While Natalie’s work often takes her overseas, the family still make time for getaways to Berry. The previous owners had converted the barn on the property into a double-storey bed and breakfast; now, it’s a chic pool house that Natalie’s teenage children love sharing with friends. The new eight-metre magnesium pool is the family’s favourite retreat after a morning at the beach. “We love to come back and have lunch by the pool and spend the afternoon there. Then we usually play a couple of board games and head out for dinner to one of the many Berry restaurants,” Natalie says.
Their love of Berry and its close-knit, welcoming community has only grown since moving into town – Natalie and Damian are even considering making it their main base in the future. Until then, they’re sharing their dream home with guests, who are encouraged to enjoy all Berry has to offer – and a bottle of bubbly on the house.
Visit hazelhouseberry.com.au or @hazelhouseberry on Instagram.
Shop the look
Rivie Market Umbrella
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