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Bedroom interior with an East-meets-West twist

Display Room

The house is Victorian, the influence is Asian and the heirlooms are European. Little wonder this bedroom's an original.

Although their double-fronted Victorian was in a "shocking condition" when Liza and David bought it, today it's all pared-back elegance, with its high ceilings and lovely airy rooms typical of the era. In particular, the main bedroom has a wonderful feel, in part due to the gentle Asian influence that Liza grew to appreciate while living in Hong Kong for a decade.

"I really enjoyed the experience in Hong Kong and although quite a few of the pieces were picked up in Australia, I just love the feel they bring to our bedroom," she says.

According to Liza, the house needed some major work before they could move in, beginning with re-stumping. "We then had to do a lot to get it back into liveable condition," she says, "but we were lucky that we were working with excellent bones."

With both Liza and David having backgrounds in design, they decided to save on the cost of an architect or interior designer and do it themselves.

After ripping up the sad old carpet, tearing out makeshift cupboards, and lots of plastering and painting, the main bedroom finally emerged. Fortunately, the original ceiling rose, cornices and pine floorboards, which are now stained black, were still in good condition, as was the fireplace.

"These days the fireplace is purely decorative - the ducted heating is much more reliable," says Liza. "We painted over a couple of the tiles that we didn't like, but the stone hearth and the marble mantlepiece are all original."

With a large and sumptuous print of a Chinese emperor and empress mounted on silver gilt and framed in gold gilt setting the tone for the room, other Asian pieces include a Japanese vase, several Indonesian Buddhas, a Japanese chest of drawers and other smaller pieces.

Other heirlooms found in the bedroom, but of a decidedly non-Asian provenance, include the Louis XIV chair and the French chandelier. "These both came from my grandmother and I love them," says Liza. "The chandelier is quite unusual, as the crystals are grape-shaped, which is apparently uncommon.

"Having these classic European items gives the room an eclectic touch, which works really well in what is actually a very Victorian room. You can't take any one style too seriously, as they can, and do, work well together, and it's a lot more fun."

Finished off with what would at first appear to be plantation shutters, but are in reality just plain white timber venetians, the windows are also furnished with sheer white curtains. "We were on a bit of a budget, so they're actually made of lining fabric and run on a steel wire," explains Liza. "We've been meaning to replace them, but they have such a lovely breezy feel, I'm in no hurry to change."