Heritage elegance meets modern comfort

Aged care specialist Thompson Health Care acquired a unique property in the upmarket Sydney suburb of Beecroft. The existing aged care property, now known as Cheltenham House, is a blend of a heritage home once owned by the Arnott family, famous for their biscuits, and a 20-year-old modern building.

The heritage home has long been used as a healthcare facility, so most of its original heritage features have been removed. The large Federation home on the site, known as ‘Brunoy’, was originally built in 1916 for Herbert Arnott, manager of the Arnott’s biscuit factory. It features sandstone columns and a slate roof.

“The design of facilities like aged care homes has begun to change in the last five to ten years in a positive way. Companies like Thompson Health Care recognise that creating a homelike environment benefits everyone,” said designer Chenelle King of TSD Studio.

A calming but functional and durable space

The 76-bed facility was refurbished to mirror the Classic Contemporary style of the surrounding homes, with the help of Northside Construction and TSD Studio, which specialise in aged care facilities. Intrim’s timber mouldings were used throughout the buildings to create a warm and homely feel.

Cheltenham House was designed with the needs of its elderly residents in mind. The facility, which caters to individuals who use walking aids and wheelchairs, was crafted to be both functional and durable. Features such as handrails and panelling supplied by Intrim were incorporated to withstand potential impacts without compromising on aesthetics.

Designer Chenelle King of TSD Studio says her brief was to make the interiors feel homelike, calm, and comfortable while also being functional and durable.

“Our goal was to create a homely atmosphere while maintaining a heritage look that reflected the old Arnott family home and other older homes in the area. Given that most of the heritage features had been removed from the original home, we turned to Intrim. Their range of timber moulding products allowed us to reintroduce some of those elements, and we unified the old and the new by using elements like similar architraves and skirts throughout.

“We also used trims to enhance the common areas of Cheltenham House. The hairdresser and café are designed to feel like typical upmarket suburban venues, so residents feel like they are visiting somewhere special rather than just walking down a corridor.”, Chenelle said.

Intrim’s Commercial Manager Rohan Quinsey and his team have worked with Northside Constructions and TSD Studio on many projects, including Thompson Health Care’s Dural House, which incorporates a similar style.

“One of the things I appreciate when working with Intrim is the team’s adaptability. We can easily change colours, like staining the timber handrails to match other elements, and use fixtures that seamlessly blend with the whole look. This versatility allows us to include necessary features like handrails without compromising on the overall aesthetic. It’s a testament to Intrim’s innovative approach,” Chenelle added.

Intrim’s approach

Intrim’s team began the job with an onsite visit to understand the project’s overall requirements. “In a custom job like this one, visiting the site and fully understanding the desired style is important. From there, we made recommendations and presented samples. We’ve worked with TSD and Northside on many projects, so we’ve developed an excellent working relationship,” said Rohan.

After the on-site visit and the initial brief, Intrim’s team got to work measuring up using the plans supplied by the building team. From the ‘take-off,’ where measurements are taken from the digital plans, a recommendation and quote were provided for sign-off.

More like a home than a hospital

Using timber mouldings is a cost-effective way to make an interior more attractive and more like a home or luxury hotel than a traditional clinical aged care home.

“For this project, we went with a Classic Contemporary style, so it won’t date quickly, but it is refined and homely. Features like the wainscoting walls topped with dado rails in all the corridors reflect the classic look but also protect the walls from the bumping of beds, walking frames, wheelchairs and others, and offset the timber handrails,’ Chenelle concluded.

Intrim timber mouldings used

Corridors & Common Areas:

• Skirting = SK1474 90x18mm (FJ Pine Primed)
• Connecta Rail Handrail System = 40mm Antique Grey prefinished with HB03S brackets and SS40 Stainless Steel Dome Caps
• VJ Board Pro 2400x905mm random sheets

Heritage House:

• Skirting = SK354 185x18mm (FJ Pine Primed)
• Architrave = SK354 135x18mm (FJ Pine Primed)
• Skirting Block = SB03 200x140x27mm (FJ Pine Raw)
• Inlay Mould = IN30 
• Chair Rail = CR22
• Connecta Rail Handrail System = 40mm Antique Grey prefinished with HB03S brackets and brushed brass dome caps

Bedroom & BOH Skirting:

• Intrim Essentials Pencil Round 90x18mm (FJ Pine Primed)

Architect: Gartner Trovato Architects

Builder: Northside Constructions

Design: TSD Studio

Photography: Cole Bennetts