House of the Year: McLachlan Homes’ Northbry Lodge

The perfect canvas for another McLachlan Homes creation

The tranquil site offered McLachlan Homes the perfect canvas to create the award-winning Northbry Lodge.

Working with the natural curves and colours of the site, this stunning home offers first-class finishes and an earthy opulence. The breathtaking design fits seamlessly within its surroundings embracing a true collaboration of design ideas that have been painstakingly brought to life by incredible craftsmanship and impeccable fittings. The Grand Porte-cochère offers an immense sense of arrival taking advantage of the hip scissor trusses and four metre raked ceilings beautifully finished with feature timber and soft shadow lines. Rich timber posts flow onto Bluesteel Stackstone over the brick pillars. The extra wide roof eaves are elegantly finished in Tahira White and Woodland Grey, while exposed rafters are featured throughout the design’s exterior. The long, covered walkway offers more stunning detail, including the ceiling and stained timber decking underfoot that leads onto the rotunda. With continuity in mind, this space mirrors the Portecochère with the addition of water features, fish, turtles and waterlilies. Guided by the lush tropical landscaping, merbau feature timber and the convict recycled brickwork completes the journey onto the porch. Stepping through the custom pivot door, the grand foyer features a vaulted timber clad ceiling, large, fixed glass windows, timber battens and luxurious stackstone which set the mood for the unique design elements within. The expansive 4.5 metre ceiling comprises of detailed VJ panelling and houses the sumptuous living, dining, and kitchen. The inclusion of external feature elements such as stone, brick and timber have been cleverly showcased within. The remarkable stone flows from the entry into the living room and offers a certain ambiance when paired with the stained timber battens artistically placed behind the wall mounted television to ceiling height. The cabinetry and shelving give a subtle nod to the custom entry door with the selection of smoked mirror glass and stone tops to complement its beauty. An internal brick feature wall houses a generous gas fireplace and recycled timber mantel and invites you on into the dining and sitting areas which flow on into the kitchen. The expansive kitchen has a showstopping five-metre-long stone island bench top, with elegant pendant lighting centrally located above. This customised space

with its butler’s pantry offers a sumptuous pairing of contrasting colours to its cabinetry that run seamlessly into the ceiling. The inclusion of top-of-the-range appliances such as integrated fridges and freezers (to both kitchen and butler’s pantry), wine fridges, coffee machine, warming drawer, steam oven, pyrolytic oven, dishwashers and induction cooktop add a touch of luxury. Continuity to the spaces is in abundance with a large, fixed glass window to the BBQ area opening onto the servery. Designed to maximise Queensland’s indoor/ outdoor lifestyle, expansive stacker doors open to the centrally located alfresco which functions as a fully closed internal room or an open outdoor space. Boasting a built-in BBQ, numerous fridges and an entertainment system including a large wall mounted TV, this functional space really is a gateway to entertaining guests in style. Stepping down a level, there is a generous sized entertainment area where the picturesque scenery and views to Moreton Island can be enjoyed. The poolside deck surrounds the luxurious L-shaped pool with jets, LED lighting and a large horizon pool window with a swim-up poolside bar. This area also boasts a twenty-person under roof heated spa. This home offers plenty of private spaces for guest including something special for the winter months with the inclusion of curved seating and fire pit, and a sun deck which intelligently conceals the underground 160,000 litre water tank. The home encompasses five bedrooms each housing their own private walk-in robe with custom fitout, four bathrooms with ceiling height tiling and two additional powder rooms. The master suite, being a true parents’ retreat, opens to stunning views and features a concealed TV. Relax on the decked balcony and enjoy the lavish ensuite featuring a curved wall into the walk-in shower, custom cabinetry, stone tops, freestanding bathtub, and a built-in makeup desk. The customised walk-in robe is straight out of a Hollywood movie, offering elegant seating and feature lighting. The addition of a large home office with a built-in desk is located adjacent to the master suite. Northbry Lodge offers a modern plantation style home with state-of-the-art smart home systems to control lighting, door locks, blinds and so much more. The home also includes a large movie cinema room. A truly memorable project designed to stand the test of time and cater to the evolving needs of the modern family, this project is about lifestyle and achieving that great sense of escape from the stress of daily life. McLachlan Homes were thrilled to have been a part of such a tremendous project, which has exceeded the clients’ expectations.