Ballerina’s Spanish House

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 15

Ballerina’s Spanish House

DIGNITY OF OLD FURNITURE. Tucked away on a slope of Bellevue Hill overlooking Sydney Harbour is a little cream Spanish house, with yellow shutters at the windows, and bright green cactus plants climbing up the walls. It is the new home of a-baller-ina, Helene Kirsoya, who five weeks ago gave up her dancing career to marry Dr. Erik Fischer, the ViceConsul for Denmark in Sydney. -Because- she loves the dignity of old furniture, but also feels that the simple designs of modern furniture are practical, she has blended the designs of different periods in her home. All the furnishings have been brought from Denmark, and the furniture was specially designed by a Danish architect. Many of the things are hand-male because she believes that individuality can be obtained only in furnishings created by hand.

A cream Venetian blind shelters the door of the reception-room, which opens on to the portico. A low divan of dark blue, scattered with bright hand-blocked linen cushions, gives graciousness to the room.

In the centre is a hand-made rug, graduating from the palest pink at one end to deep maroon at the other. Above

the rug is a coloured glass chandelier, which tones with the varying shades of the rug when the electric light, filters through. Deep blue leather covers the outside of the easy chairs, which are lined with smoke-grey hand-woven linen and striped cushions. In one corner stands a gleaming brass “junge,” which was once an old Danish milk can. Mrs Fischer's bedroom, which overlooks the harbour, is a room or many mirrors. The bedroom floor is covered with wine Bordeaux carpet to tone with a winecoloured and cream hand-woven bedspread. In one corner is a white sheepskin chair, and another chair is covered with maroon and cream hand-blocked linen, which is also used for the curtains framing the arch of the dressingroom.