This 130 year classic Victorian terrace on Darby Street was love at first sight for owner Julie Kosy.

Brunswick Mews, the three-bedroom luxury terrace that sits on the edge of the Darby Street buzz, is best described as a luxurious home away from home that's got a whole lot of quirky stuff going on inside.

Taking a tour through the Cooks Hill property Julie said, “Essentially I was looking for a property that had those classic bones, that I could then furnish in the way I wanted to, and this was just perfect. I just love it. I have nicer furniture in here than in my own home [laughs]."

Purchasing the property in early 2018, Julie quickly went about transforming the empty shell into a sophisticated accommodation property ideal location for out-of-towners wanting to get comfy whilst visiting Newcastle.

“I wanted to turn the property into accommodation rather than move into it myself and I wanted to do it quickly, there were seven weeks between buying it and the first guests. Whilst the structure of the building was complete it was a blank canvas so I went about adding a fun element throughout, adding a bit of sense of humour whilst still maintaining that luxury and classic feel.

“There were some items that came with the home, like the chandelier in the dining room and the flamingo and elephant prints. When I first inspected the property they were on the walls and I knew they had to stay so I negotiated them into the sale price.

“You may notice there is a bit of an animal theme going on, and I like to name all of the animals. There is Garry the giraffe in the lounge room, and Barry the rhino in the toilet. Troy the horse is in the cupboard and Stafford the stag in the barbeque area outside. In the downstairs room there is Tina (Turner), Elton (John) and David (Bowie) - I could tell you the name of all of the animals but you’ll think I am slightly mad so we’ll just leave it at that [laughs]."

Aside from the animals and the art there are some other standouts that make it difficult to focus on anything else, like the 'Verite' chair (see first pic) which was sourced through Castle Hill interior designer 'Home Valet'.

"This chair is amazing and I knew it was the chair I wanted for the space and Jodi was able to source it for me. The chair has some incredible features like the seat which is supported by a floating platform, similiar to a Rolls Royce, and it's upholstered in 2.5mm full-grain leather from Italy. I am also told that other owners of the Verite chair include Jean Paul Gaultier, Matthew McConaughey, Pierce Brosnan and Clint Eastwood."

We also fell just a little bit in love with the master bedroom bedhead and fireplace which added some grandeur to the already beautifully styled spaces.

So how does one pull together something as spectacular as this in just seven weeks? Luck we think not.

“In 2013 I studied my Certificate IV in Design at Hunter Design School and then I spent a year studying colour, I’ve done a little bit of colour consulting but it’s not something I pursued. Main reason being is that I didn’t like the idea of working by myself.

“Having a business such as this is what I absolutely love, the skills I’ve built up over the years from previous roles in advertising, marketing and interior design have all helped to make it happen so quickly.” 

Julie has spared no expense when it comes to the details, including hair straighteners, robes, Nespresso coffee machine, board games and of course Netflix.

For guests checking into Brunswick Mews, on arrival you’ll receive a bottle of wine and welcome cheese board from Darby Street's Pork Ewe Deli, along with a discount card should you require some topping up.  

Julie in front of Mitch Revs' mural

Perhaps the most loved feature of all is the wall art on the exterior of the building. Local artist Mitch Revs was commissioned by the previous owners to create the tree mural, a departure from the brightly coloured local scenes that Mitch is most well known for, the striking image sets the tone for what is a truly stunning property.