A PLACE OF calm

Words & Images: Judy McAuliffe

Homes near the water don’t come much more serene than this delightful Lake Hood home. It has been built to make the most of the water views and was based on a home design that the owners saw elsewhere, and held on to, until recently.

Planning their second home-build, the couple approached John Gibbs from Blueprint Architectural Services to design their family home, using the picture they had in mind. From that point, they say, everything “just came together.”

Having previously built to a building company’s pre-designed plan, they felt they wanted more flexibility. Danny Naish, of Naish Builders was recommended to them. “We talked to a few others, but Danny came highly recommended – he seemed to have that flexibility we wanted, and he was happy to make suggestions that we hadn’t thought of. That appealed to us.”

Built in a combination of Rockcote with schist and Axon cladding features, this 220sq metre home took just seven months to completion.

Despite the wet, blustery day, I step inside to a wonderful, enveloping warmth. While the walls throughout are predominantly neutral, strong features make every room a delightful discovery. The stark black and white of the kitchen is a feature in itself, and there’s a surprisingly roomy butler’s pantry to one side; skylights above the dining table encourage even more light into the space; ceiling heights are varied in the dining and living areas, creating a feeling of spaciousness.

The exterior schist and timber-look also feature inside with timber batoning above the kitchen island and a sturdy stone chimney fireplace standing tall in the living area. “The first home we built had a separate lounge, but we hardly used it. This time we’ve opted for one, generous space where we can all come together, and it’s great. It works for us.”

With three bedrooms (two with ensuites), a separate laundry, two-and-a-half bay garage, tons of storage space and a fabulous timber deck, this is a cleverly designed home that uses every inch of space to feel much larger than it is.

The couple are delighted with their new home, but struggle to choose a favourite room or feature: they love the mirror at the end of the dining, but there’s something they particularly love in every room. “It’s exactly what we wanted, and more. Would we change anything? – “Maybe the light over the table in the lounge,” they laugh, “or make the garage bigger”, he says. “Not a thing. We just love the whole house.”

Six months on from moving in, the family could not be happier with their new home. Not only does it fulfil their original brief, it came in on time, and on budget, and they enjoyed a great relationship with their builder. “He was prepared to listen, suggest, and give anything a go. We loved the process from start to finish. We did have one delay with the windows, but he kept us informed, we knew what was happening at every step – the communication was really good.”