NEW LIVING
DECOR & DESIGN B y FE LICIT Y MARSHALL
J
apanese design philosophy meets traditional farmhouse style at this country retreat built from local granite. The cottage, near the historic goldmining town of Beechworth in north-east Victoria, serves as a weekender for a Melbourne-based couple – both of whom grew up in the area – and their children. The pair, who spent many years living and working in Japan, originally commissioned a draftsman to draw up the plan for the dwelling, then engaged Melbourne-based design practice Doherty Design Studio to fine-tune the layout, make the final decision on the windows and external finishes, and undertake the complete interior design and decoration.
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DOM A IN
The studio founder, Mardi Doherty, says the client sought a dwelling that reflected its country setting and expressed a Japanese sensibility. “Integral to the brief was that the house should have a good connection to the outdoors and a feeling of intimacy,” she explains. “The owners are of the view that their getaway doesn’t need to be big to be beautiful. This sits neatly with their respect for the particularly Japanese philosophy of simple, efficient living and the clever use of small, well-ordered spaces.” The two-level, three-bedroom building, constructed from locallysourced granite, features a rustic, pitched roof and exposed rafters
DEREK SWALWELL
Farmhouse fusion