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TAUBMANS paint by PPG collaborates with James Treble on historic home renovation

June 3, 2020

MELBOURNE, Australia, June 3, 2020 – TAUBMANS® paint by PPG today announced the brand’s collaboration with interior designer James Treble on a unique project to restore and renovate the historic Taubman’s House that was built around 1908 by the paint brand’s founder, George Henry Taubman.

In 2015, Gero and Joanne Farruggio purchased the Federation, four-bedroom home that boasts bold views of Sydney’s Manly Beach and the ocean. The home is formally named Yuggawai, which means “sleeping place” in the Aboriginal Wiradjuri language, but is better known to locals as the Taubman’s House.

Taubman (1862-1938) purchased the land in 1907 for 100 pounds, took a year to build the home and lived there with his family until 1926. A professional sign writer at the time, he became frustrated with the quality of paint available in Australia and embarked on making his own. He did much of his early experimentation with paint-making techniques and recipes in the back shed, which is still housed on the property.

“When we bought Yuggawai, we always planned to restore the home to its former glory and extend,” explains Gero Farruggio. “Soon after we moved in, it was quickly apparent that the home had been seriously neglected for many years. Although the scope of work was far greater than first expected, we knew that whatever we did, at its heart, we would respect the home’s history and honour the pioneering spirit of George Henry Taubman. To achieve this, we knew that only Taubmans paint products would do.”

Treble, who led all aspects of the design direction, described the project as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore a home with historic ties to the Australian building industry.

“Gero and Joanne didn’t want just another rendered box with an uninspiring colour scheme,” said Treble. “To bring back the life and integrity of the Taubman’s House, they spared no expense, including engaging a heritage consultant and ensuring the major renovation remained sympathetic to the character of the original home.”

He adds, “In terms of the colour palette, a neutral scheme with shades of grey complement the considered use of heritage colours on timber facades, doors, cladding, ornate skirtings and the magnificent staircase. This Taubmans paint palette resolutely links and pays tribute to the home’s historic past.”

Rachel Lacy, chief coloursmith, Taubmans paint, Australia, said that performance is also a key feature of the paints and finishes specified for the project.

“Taubmans paint by PPG is renowned for hard-wearing technology and beautiful, robust finishes in both classic and on-trend colours,” said Lacy. “The Taubman’s House sits on a hill and faces the ocean, with all of the associated weather elements to endure. Durability is a hallmark not only of our Taubmans paints by PPG, but also our JOHNSTONE’S® PROFESSIONAL deck stains that are featured on the verandah and deck.”

She adds, “Our collaboration on this magnificent restoration and renovation project is due in large part to the dedication of the Farruggios to honour the home’s historic past. Our team worked closely with James throughout the project to respect George Henry Taubman’s legacy in every way possible. We think he would be proud of what we’ve achieved.”

George Taubman’s legacy of technical superiority lives on in every tin of Taubmans paint by PPG, which has been produced in Australia for more than 100 years. The Taubmans brand is one of the oldest and most widely respected architectural paint brands in Australia, with products formulated specifically for the country’s unique, diverse and harsh climates.

EDITOR’S NOTE: High-resolution photographs can be downloaded here. Interviews can be arranged with Rachel Lacy, chief coloursmith, Taubmans Australia, James Treble, designer, Samantha Polkinghorne, heritage consultant, and Gero Farruggio, homeowner.

 

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™

At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.1 billion in 2019. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and the PPG Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
Taubmans is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Australia Pty Ltd.
Johnstone’s is a registered trademark of PPG Architectural Coatings UK Limited.

PPG Media Contact:
Bianca Nelson Vatnsdal
Architectural Coatings Australia
+61 436 809 560
bnelsonvatnsdal@ppg.com
www.ppg.com


Multimedia Files:

The historic Taubman’s House is shown after restoration and major renovations were completed in April 2020. The house has been transformed into a contemporary residence while retaining the distinct characteristics and integrity of the heritage home built around 1908 by TAUBMANS® paint brand founder George Henry Taubman. 1000 x 667 jpg 663 KB