Sarah McDonald’s home packed to the rafters with nostalgia, and a touch of The Beatles

The Beatles once played under timber featured in this family home.

Sarah McDonald at her home with the dog, Raph. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Hefty rafters salvaged from Adelaide’s Centennial Hall where The Beatles played in 1964 are just some of the nostalgic materials that feature in the Adelaide home of talented artist Sarah McDonald and husband Alex Sawers.

“I often look up at the rafters and think about what they have witnessed over the years, such as The Beatles performing,” says McDonald, who has been a professional artist for 20 years.

She describes their family home they share with children Remy, 14 and Zee Zee, 12, plus dogs Raph and Pablo (named after Picasso) as eclectic with loads of character and plenty of soul.

The 1950s post-war house where they have lived since they married 17 years ago has an extension designed by Sawers, a former architect who is now a project manager. “We lived in the house for five years before we did the first extension that was inspired by a Malay village as Alex’s late mother was Malay — it’s a bit East meets West and has a village feel to it, which we love,” McDonald says.

Recycled material including jarrah and oregon beams have been used extensively. The only new materials are the western red cedar doors and the windows.

“Alex’s family lived on a sheep station, so we have lots of Australiana memorabilia,” McDonald says.

“Alex incorporated these features in the plan. He designed a wall to make an old meat safe that we love fit into the wall.”

The living room under the former Adelaide Centennial Hall rafters. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

A mix of the old and new blends seamlessly throughout the three-bedroom house, which is deceiving in size. “People are surprised when they enter through the gates made out of rusted steel and walk into a garden oasis and the house. It gives us so much pleasure to see their reactions,” McDonald says.

Artwork features include Jolly Koh’s After the Fires and a Samantha Dennison still life teacup painting.

McDonald loves collections of keepsakes and curating visual vig­nettes such as an old record player and Sawers’ many vinyls, which get a regular workout.

Her love of textures is reflected in rugs, throws and cushions.

The family spends lots of time in the renovated kitchen and love entertaining using heritage Malay recipes from McDonald’s late mother-in-law.

McDonald, who has won many awards, is known for her rich textured oil works done with palette knives. Her tactile landscapes are inspired by her love of hiking and the natural and urban environment.

Some of the many artworks featured in the house. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

For the past decade she has also run a successful art school at Fullarton, 10 minutes from her home. She loves seeing people find their creative side. McDonald is at her happiest when she is in her studio designed by Sawers that sits at the rear of the property, with fabulous garden views. Made from recycled timber cladding, it has turned a soft silver colour in contrast to the garden.

“Painting is my passion, and I am inspired by my garden and surrounds and love sitting in my vintage cane chair, listening to music and thinking about my next work,” McDonald says. “Here I can look up to the hills behind me and down to the ocean.”

McDonald is disciplined and paints daily. Her next exhibitions are at Adelaide’s Art Images Gallery on April 16 and Moree Gallery, Moree, on September 10.

She is also a keen gardener.

“We have some very large mature trees that are like our natural umbrellas and lots of the plants are green all year round, as well as a lovely flowering cottage-type garden,” she says.

“Our garden has many different elements and layers to it that create beautiful spaces to sit and entertain — I am a real home body and just love being here.”

East meets West at the rear of the house. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt