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| Edith Ferns House |
| They said it couldn’t be done. |
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Real estate agents said there just weren’t any “Martha’s Vineyard-style” white clapboard cottages overlooking Sydney’s Pittwater. But they were wrong. After a failed two-year search for an old timber house by the water, cook and author Edith Ferns and husband Tom decided to renovate and build their own.
Since moving in, the Ferns have given their 1940’s house a major overhaul. A mixture of extensions was removed, and open-plan, spacious indoor and outdoor living areas took their place. Involved in the year-long project were architect David Phillips and local builder Warwick Pilcher.
“It was falling apart when we bought it,” Edith says of Tide Bells, their three-storey home on the water’s edge with a view of Scotland Island. “But I loved the proximity to the peaceful bay, the pelicans and the private beach on our doorstep.” (The name Tide Bells originates from England, where a tide bell was rung to warn people gathering shellfish at low tide that it was about to turn).
The former corporate executive turned cookbook author and publisher had big plans for her new spot. And so began a year of living in chaos. They imported 60 tonnes of fill to create a seawall and garden and rebuilt most of the house.
The red, green, yellow and blue roof tiles were replaced with shingles, carpets ripped up and floors lime washed. Their aim was to restore the old house while opening up the inside for spacious, modern living and to maximise the spectacular view.
The open-plan kitchen, living, dining and breakfast rooms adjoin the deck, their favourite spot to read, enjoy a drink and relax with guests. The décor reflects her South African childhood and many overseas travels, with furniture and relics gathered from around the world. A Japanese shoe cupboard and tansu chest are positioned near a Zimbabwean stone owl that seems to guard the doorway.
Edith has gathered a collection of antique French tables over the years, from an oak dining table and a wine tasting table, to an uneven cricket table and a cherrywood side table topped with the antique French pewter she also collects. A herm - a Roman column that would have supported a seat or a statue, (usually of the god Hermes) - from about AD200, is illuminated by a spotlight next to the rendered fireplace.
The small kitchen with a nautical theme resembles a ship’s galley. But the compact and streamlined design, placing everything within reach, reflects Edith’s motto that order and simplicity creates calm. Food and appliances are kept in modern mesh wire compartments and there’s a porthole in the pantry door that a friend salvaged from a shipwreck. The main living area is located in the middle with a self-contained guest retreat downstairs.
Edith Ferns Background
For the past 30 years Edith Ferns has juggled the roles of mother, corporate executive and gourmet entertainer. After years of producing instant feasts after hectic workdays she has been hailed by some as “the world’s best short order cook”. Friends urged her to share her secrets and now she has - in her bench-top guide to quick cuisine called “Let’s Cook and Kiss - Keep it Short and Simple”.
Edith’s stylish cookbook contains tried and tested tasty traditional recipes, from fruit cake to bran muffins. She says it is her contribution to the world of preparing quick, nourishing, interesting meals with a wide variety of recipes being presented in a simple manner.
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More Info
The architect:
David Phillips & Associates,
Rose Bay, Sydney NSW.
Ph: (02) 9371 9455.
The builder:
Warwick Pilcher,
Ph: (02) 9973 1344 Mob: 0412 265 401.
Book Details:
Edith Ferns’ book “Let’s Cook & Kiss-Keep it Short & Simple”
is published by Tide Bells Editions. Priced at $29.95, it is
available throughout Australia. For stockist details call the
publisher, Ph: (02) 9979 9448 or Fax (02) 9979 9139.
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Disclaimer
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