Following our recent house tour of Ben Huon Manor, today we are excited to share an interview with James Salmond, the talented furniture designer, chef, stylist, and owner of Ben Huon Manor in Robertson, NSW.
As we mentioned during the house tour, this property is a true labor of love, built 26 years ago by James, his wife Sandie, and his parents.
In this interview, James shares his insights on creating a welcoming and memorable home. He talks about infusing a sense of atmosphere and theatre into everything he does, cultivating a spirit of generosity, sourcing storied pieces, and the journey behind Ben Huon Manor.
THE INTERVIEW
Suzie: How would you describe Ben Huon Manor in terms of its architectural essence or style?
James Salmond: Ben Huon Manor is a styling from 1790 through to around 1820. It's Georgian in its styling but also with a Gothic overlay. This type of building for Australia would be very rare to find anything like this.
Some parts like the Sydney Uni certainly have that Gothic styling, but here at Ben Huon Manor, what we want to create is a lovely opportunity for people to be able to step away from their busy lives and come down to the country, especially in the Southern Highlands and have a moment where they feel like they've almost crossed a timeline.
Suzie: How did the concept for Ben Huon Manor come about? What inspired or guided the process?
James Salmond: The concept was derived from a couple of 30-year-olds who had a dream and a passion, and perhaps didn't realize they shouldn't dream so big because it took a long time to create.
But my wife, Sandie, and I both loved this Georgian period. For us, it also came about by purchasing the land and seeing what style of architecture would fit beautifully onto this property. So that's where we went back through and looked at English homes, especially in the Cotswolds, and straightaway, we had that connection where we thought, yes, it's a Costwolds, Gothic, Georgian take on that style we want to do.
Suzie: What is the feeling you want people to have when they stay at Ben Huon Manor?
James Salmond: I want people to experience something that they wouldn't normally go out of their way to be able to do. I want them to feel as though they have just popped down a two-hour drive from Sydney and landed in the countryside of England and when they come into the place, they feel embraced by all those beautiful English details of oak paneling, a formal dinner, a beautiful candelabra, that kind of thing.
I'd love to have dinners here where we have one or two waiters in full livery serving the dinner. Again, it's increasing the theatrical side. It's just a tiny bit of effort on our part but it's a big impact on the experience.
Suzie: What parallels do you draw between your vocations of Chef, Furniture designer, and passion for interior design?
James Salmond: Interesting. As a chef I always focused on the presentation side of food. I believe that people experience the food emotionally when they look at it before they eat it. In interior and furniture design, you're first bringing elements together to create an emotional experience of beauty before using it as a functional piece of furniture.
I've often had people ask, what brings together the commonality between all of my clientele and it dawned on me, that my clientele are visually discerning people, to the point that it plays a large part of their contentment in life. So if they're sitting around a beautiful environment, that's what they're enjoying. If they're having a meal, and it looks beautiful, then that's part of their enjoyment. So these are my people.
So bringing these together for me, the cooking, interiors, and the design is just a natural connection.
Suzie: Is there a part of the house that you enjoyed working on the most or that brought you the greatest satisfaction?
James Salmond: It's more an experience I had during the crafting. My father and I put around 500 man-hours into building the staircase. And to have that as an experience that you keep for the rest of your life that you spent that time solely with your father was a really special moment. We actually did it from a tiny little joinery and carpentry book. It's probably from around 1910 or 1920, and we followed the details inside of exactly how they did it back then, and replicated that onto this staircase.
Suzie: Do you have a favourite space or a corner you’re most often drawn to in the house or garden?
James Salmond: I think it is the library, I just love the look and the feeling of it. I will often find myself here with a cup of tea, or maybe a little port, as it is almost the last part of the house to get the sun. It also makes me feel very much connected to my books. That sense of just again, having a quiet moment and treating myself. I like those smaller, more cosy areas and we've tried to create a few of those in the Manor.
Suzie: James, you mentioned that you like to create a sense of atmosphere and theater. Why do you feel that's such an important thing to create?
James Salmond: I love being able to give people an emotional response to their surroundings and you can gain a greater emotional response if you engage in the interior and create a sense of theatre. I want people to come around the corner and think 'Oh, my goodness, that is so beautiful'. For example, there is this beautiful handwritten piece of French script and just the style of the writing is theatrical. I've also got a beautiful indentureship, that, when someone actually was going to have an apprenticeship, this indenture was beautifully written out.
It gives me a sense of being entertained by the beauty around me and a feeling of contentment. I absolutely love feeling comfortable and entertained within a visually pleasing space. Time and time again here I am going back to if it's food, I want to eat it with my eyes first. If it's interiors, I want to experience the contentment and joy of beauty, before it becomes a practical space.
Suzie: What is your advice for those who wish to source more storied pieces?
James Salmond: I think the most important thing is that we tend to be of a generation where everything is just so done on mass. With interiors, and trying to create something that has more depth, interest, intrigue, and engages people, look for secondhand, vintage, and antique pieces.
Look for things that already have a uniqueness about them. For example, you could go and find something that's been imported from a more boutique manufacturer. It may be someone who does the most beautiful woven baskets, and when you purchase this basket, you learn about the village and the lives of the makers.
Another great place is your local auctions. Find out what a clearance sale is, and pick up something that may have been from two generations ago and you can walk out from that auction with something under your arm that literally cost you a 10th of what it would cost you to have it made today. You also get all the history that goes with the pre-loved character. So that would be my biggest secret is estate sales, auction rooms, antique shops, vintage shops. Go find yourself something different.
Takeaways:
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Visit local auctions, second-hand stores, and estate sales to find unique pre-loved pieces.
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Research boutique manufacturers that create handmade items and support artisans.
- Incorporate tribal artifacts or other culturally significant items from one region or culture into a dedicated room for visual interest.
Suzie: The manor has such a sense of generosity and beauty - you are left wanting nothing and appreciating everything. Who influenced that spirit of comfort and welcome that is so evident here?
James Salmond: My mother was definitely someone who entertained beautifully. My father was a very engaging host, he always made it a point of importance to make sure that everyone was involved in the conversation, and everyone was engaged in enjoying the meal. So from both of those, as a small child, I learned that sense of generosity of spirit.
Then I met Sandie, my wife. Sandie was a hairdresser and nobody went to that salon that didn't feel like they were the only person there. She definitely taught me that you are generous in what you give. Those things have carried over to here. If someone comes here, I want them to feel that you can burn wood all night if you want to. If we're doing the cheese board, some beautiful cheeses were purposely selected, giving people something to experience.
I want the first thing people think about when they leave here is coming back.
Want to experience Ben Huon Manor for yourself?
You can follow them on Instagram here: @benhuonmanor
Visit their website here.
Book your stay here.
