House profile - taya calder-mason
In a previous life, Taya lived in Los Angeles where she had a career as a singer and actress.
Ultimately, she craved the sense of community and connection that the City of Angels failed to provide.
Now settled back in Newcastle, Taya and soon-to-be husband Rich are calling the inner-city suburb of Cooks Hill home.
She now runs Goldie’s – a successful designer dress hire business with a ‘shop front’ in Wickham, allowing people the chance to try on and borrow the perfect dress for any occasion.
As well as learning all about Goldie’s in issue 17, we also had the chance to take a look inside her renovated Cooks Hill home and get an insight into the renovations so far.
What do you love about Cooks Hill?
I can’t believe how close we are to everything. Having previously lived in Newcastle East, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about moving away… but we feel more connected to the layout of Newcastle than ever. We feel incredibly lucky to call it home.
In terms of the renovation, what have you done so far and what do you plan on doing next?
We’ve completely gutted and renovated the kitchen, moved the back door so now the kitchen features a 2500mm long bifold bar window. We ripped up all the carpet and put floorboards downstairs and carpet upstairs. The bathroom was renovated by adding cosmetic features like a new toilet, vanity and sprayed the old shower screen black and added a clawfoot bathtub. We’ve also painted the second bedroom green and turned it into a funky office. We’ve added storage and wardrobes in both the office and master bedroom. Next is landscaping, finishing off the kitchen and finally getting a couch!
What is your favourite room in the house and why?
My favourite room is the kitchen. It was easily the worst space in the house… but it’s now the best room in the house. It’s perfect for our lifestyle of entertaining and Rich whipping up cocktails for our guests on a Friday night.
Favourite piece of furniture and why?
Probably our dining room table and chairs. It’s the centrepiece of a house and really sets the tone. We went with an oval-shaped black dining table which complements our darker floorboards. The black and rattan dining chairs have a very bold shape. I adore them!
What’s your no. 1 tip for renovating?
Have a plan and start preparing earlier than when you get the keys. Keep a Pinterest board with the style you are going for which will keep everything consistent. Don’t be afraid to add colour and make bold choices, it’s easy to change. Don’t overspend and add 10% to your total budget for wastage.
As seen in Swell Issue 17. Grab your copy here
