A New Chapter for an Historic Place: Sarah Shanahan’s Fairlie Courthouse Restoration
In the quiet rural township of Fairlie, New Zealand, a former Courthouse has been given a second life, one that honours its past while embracing the comforts of modern living. For homeowner Sarah Shanahan, this project wasn’t just about renovation; it was about storytelling. The inclusion of the Cromford collection in that story speaks to a design language that bridges eras effortlessly.
Sarah Shanahan and her husband weren’t searching for just another home. They wanted something with character and something that carried history within its walls. “We came here for a little life change,” Sarah explains. “We just wanted to do something different… and when we saw this online, I just fell in love.”
Drawn to Fairlie’s powerful sense of community and its rural familiarity, the couple embraced the challenge of restoring a heritage building and found the original Fairlie Courthouse building. Established in the early 1900s to serve the growing rural community of New Zealand’s Mackenzie District, it provided a local centre for legal proceedings and civic administration. The Courthouse remained in use for much of the 20th century before being decommissioned as services became centralised in larger towns.
Rather than reworking the structure of the Courthouse, Sarah made a conscious decision to preserve its original footprint by retaining the rooms and reimagining them for contemporary life. The judge’s quarters became a bedroom. The defendant’s room transformed into a guest space. Every decision was guided by respect for the building’s legacy.
“We came here for a little life change,” Sarah explains. “We just wanted to do something different… and when we saw this online, I just fell in love.”
Designing with Respect and Intent
Sarah’s approach to interiors was grounded in continuity. A brushed gold courthouse sign outside set the tone, flowing seamlessly into interior details in the door hardware, window fittings, and ultimately, the tapware. That’s where the Cromford collection came in.
“The Cromford collection just made sense to me. It just has that timeless feel… it just suited this building.”
Inspired by the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Cromford pays homage to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the past. Its pared-back forms and refined detailing echo heritage aesthetics, while its functionality is unmistakably modern, making it an ideal pairing for restoration projects like Sarah’s.
A brushed gold courthouse sign outside set the tone, flowing seamlessly into interior details.
The Kitchen: Heritage Meets Everyday Function
In the kitchen, the Cromford Sink Mixer becomes a quiet hero. Its elegant, arched silhouette and warm brushed finish complement the soft pink tiles and dark benchtop, striking a balance between old-world charm and contemporary design. This is where Cromford shines: it doesn’t compete with heritage. Rather, it enhances it.
In the kitchen, the Cromford Sink Mixer becomes a quiet hero.
The Bathroom: A Sanctuary Reimagined
After two years without a bathroom, the finished bathroom space is more than functional. It is deeply personal. Featuring the Cromford Twin Shower, Shower / Wall Mixer, and Heated Towel Ladder, the bathroom blends tactile luxury with visual warmth. Rich green tiles provide a dramatic backdrop, while the Brushed Gold fittings introduce softness and continuity with the rest of the home. “Getting in that shower every morning is just bliss.”
“Getting in that shower every morning is just bliss.” The Cromford Twin Shower with the Cromford Heated Towel Ladder.
The Vessel Mixer: Simplicity, Elevated
The Cromford Vessel Mixer completes the bathroom with understated elegance. Its clean lines and refined proportions echo the collection’s philosophy: simplicity with purpose, history with clarity. It’s proof that even the smallest details can carry the greatest impact in a heritage restoration.
The Cromford Vessel Mixer completes the bathroom with understated elegance.
Why Cromford Works for Heritage Projects
Sarah’s Fairlie Courthouse is a case study in thoughtful restoration and a clear demonstration of why Cromford is the perfect collection for heritage homes. It has a timeless design language, rooted in industrial-era inspiration and feels authentic in historic settings. However, behind its classic aesthetic lies contemporary engineering for everyday ease. The material warmth, in this instance, of the Brushed Gold finish, creates continuity across the old and new elements of a project. Add to all this that Cromford is recognised globally as an award-winning design, winning an iF Design Award in 2023, for innovation and industrial design excellence.
Sarah’s Fairlie Courthouse is a case study in thoughtful restoration and a clear demonstration of why Cromford is the perfect collection for heritage homes.
A Collection That Connects Eras
For Sarah, every choice in the courthouse restoration was about balance and honouring what came before while making space for modern life. “It’s important for me to choose pieces that honour the past but also make it so much easier for modern living, and the Cromford collection is just that.” In a project where history is preserved room by room, Cromford doesn’t just fit in, it belongs.
See more of Sarah’s picturesque New Zealand life here
Photography and video by Sampford Cathie
