1 Storey

Light and substance

admin 1 Storey, McCubbin, Media
McCubbin 130 keeps its design strategy simple to deliver space and liveability in a smaller family home

McCubbin 130 keeps its design strategy simple to deliver space and liveability in a smaller family home

Sarah Homes' McCubbin 130 keeps its design strategy simple to deliver space and liveability in a smaller family home, suitable for narrow allotments but always connected to the outdoors

Stylish, effective simplicity reigns in the Sarah Homes McCubbin 130 display home , from the unique entry way to the easy flow-through planning making the most of its relatively modest 128sqm floor area. Approaching the front door across the dark hard wood decking, I am struck by the unusual geometry at play here, with the entire panel of sliding doors recessed at a gentle angle to provide a covered porch and unrestricted access to the living areas of the house.

The quirk adds to the overall feeling of modern uncomplicated design exuded by the McCubbin 130, with its textured Windspray Colorbond cladding and gently arched roofline. Julie Durand, business development manager for Longridge Group, says Sarah Homes uses specialist composite materials for construction , which gives their homes a distinct style. "The ... unique angled access to external decking adds interest and appeal to both the interior and exterior," she says

Inside, the welcoming simplicity continues, with the floorplan divided almost in half between the open -plan living area and the bathrooms and three bedrooms. "The McCubbin 130 works well as a holiday home, and equally as well as a more compact home for smaller families or downsizers," Julie says. "Good separation of living and sleeping areas means entertaining can be carried out at the front of the home while those who would like some quiet bedroom time can be at the rear of the home in their own quiet area.

"Open living, clever use of window detailing - the sliding doors to the side and front of the home, plus the decking features - create a real sense of space that makes the home feel much larger than it is." The space is evident as I walk in through the front doors, with a dining area sufficient for at least six people straight ahead.

Wood-style floors open out into the kitchen/ lounge area with its island bench and small breakfast bar set up at the far end with Laminex Basalttops. On-trend cement -look light fittings hang over the island bench and I can't resist reaching out to inspect their unique texture. The kitchen is equipped with a stainless steel combination oven and six-burner cooktop with different size drawers set under benchtops and overhead. The finishes fall into an affordable mix of inclusions based on the standard specifications

Sarah Homes clients typically incorporate. "We like to call it the 'shack spec'," Julie says. There are few decorating tricks used here, just clean, bright surfaces based on a neutral palettewith plenty of honest wood tones in the floor and cabinetry. "The interior of the McCubbin 130 is open and spacious, with generous sizing to the all important kitchen/meals/family hub," Julie says. "Our living rooms are larger than those built with traditional methods, which means making the most of available space, even on smaller lots.

"As a hallmark of Sarah Homes, the design and styling works to create a light-filled and open environment. " Framing this area is a set of four large windows (two of them sliding doors) leading out on to a separate hard wood veranda. Even on an overcast day like this one, the light flows through, as does the sense of space added by the outdoor area under a generous roof.

Julie says decking is a great addition to the home, maximising the usable space and making it an entertainer's delight. Beyond the living spaces, down a central hallway, lie the laundry and sleeping areas, all sequestered from the noisier living areas. The laundry features storage and a large metal sink for heavy-duty tasks with underbench storage, and access to outdoor areas.

The family bathroom features clever arrangement of lobby/ vanity area, with a separate toilet to one side and shower/ bath tub room to the other, providing access for multiple users. The main bedroom ensuite offers a generous vanity, shower and toilet area with plenty of light.

The bedrooms, carpeted in smart chocolate brown, all offer space for a double bed and feature built-in robes. They can be configured as rooms for children, guests or a study. Louvred windows can be found in several rooms, adding to the holiday feel of the home. The main bedroom opens on to a private deck area.

Walking back down the hallway into the living area, the sun has burst through the clouds and is beaming off the floors, and I very much wantto sit down in the lounge area and just take it in. The effect is the result of clever orientation of the home to make the most of sun and light, with plenty of solar access during winter but shade offered during summer, potentially reducing power bills.

Julie says the decking can be configured around a client's allotment and family needs, and the McCubbin 130 - at just 6.9m wide - caters for all types of allotment. Sarah Homes also has other floorplans in the McCubbin range, which include a four -bedroom version and a plan with two storeys. As affordable homes for smaller families go, the 130 is a clever design that makes the most of its attributes to create a bright , spacious living area with plenty of access to the outdoors.

 

23-Jun-19 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the McCubbin 130.

*Pricing accurate at time of printing 

 

 

Bring on the holidays

admin 1 Storey, Grace, Media
Grace 160 a holiday home to chill out in

Grace 160 a holiday home to chill out in

Take time out this weekend and look for a holiday home to chill out in.
Sarah Homes' Grace 3e design is one we've got our eye on

WORDS TRUDY ORAM

I love it when I find a house with good storage. By that I mean a bank of tall cupboards all in a row - it's a clean, streamlined look and when they're dressed in a dark tone such as Laminex's Fossil, they look even better. And that's what you'll find in Sarah Homes' single -storey Grace 3e design.

This three-bedroom design will predominantly suit the holiday home/ weekender market, but it could also be your permanent forever home it's got such a good vibe - and good storage. The display at Victor Harbor is case in point and it's a delight to find the essentials have not been forgotten just because this may be a casual home as this is most likely to be an entertainer as well.

There's three bedrooms, with enough room for bunk beds to sleep a crowd, there's two modern bathrooms, a decent size laundry and wardrobes in all bedrooms. There's also a huge combined living zone with the lounge to one side, dining in the middle and a very stylish kitchen with that bank of tall cupboards I'm loving. In the display home, the Grace 3e's kitchen is finished with a long island bench (Laminex 's Pure Mineralstone) with a waterfall edge, a seating niche for stools, Blum soft close drawers, a double sink and underbench oven .

But, of course, you'll need some outdoor space too and this one comes with up to three decks so you can enjoy some vitamin D in the midst of winter. You can configure these any which way to cater to your block's individual shape and style. For good measure the living zones look out in two directions to these decks, so when entertaining at the weekend, you 'll be in the midst of things no matter where you are, be it the kitchen, deck or dining.

Another bonus of this design is the ceiling height, reaching a lofty 2.7m as standard which makes such a difference to your internal space. Floor-to-ceiling windows and three sets of aluminium sliding doors which open to the decks create good cross ventilation and thermal efficiency. And affordability can't be ignored with this design starting from $105,700. So you better start looking for that holiday block this weekend.

Features you'll love

More space for living: There's no wasted space in the Grace 3e and only a hallway between the living and sleeping quarters divides the spaces.

Sleek spaces: The modern bathrooms have spacious dimensions, making easy provision for multiple people to use. Both the ensuite and main bathroom, set out in a three-way style of separate vanity area, shower room and toilet are presented in neutral tones with luxurious vanities and wide showers.

Coastal vibes: We love the mix of materials used in the display which gives a relaxed beach feel. This is True Oak corrugated wall cladding, weatherboard, louvre windows and decking.

 

10-Jun-2018 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Grace 160.

 

Life off the grid

admin 1 Storey, Hayborough, Media
Hayborough 140 an off-the-grid lifestyle

Hayborough 140 an off-the-grid lifestyle

A couple who were after an off-the-grid lifestyle realised their dream when they found Sarah Homes Hayborough 3 design

When you think of building an "off-the -grid" and "energy efficient" home, the word "affordable" probably does not spring to mind. Yet that's what Hills couple Sarah and Jamie Adams set out to achieve: an affordable build and an ongoing sustainable lifestyle in a rural setting. And now after building their own home they are living off grid - and loving it.

"We were looking for a property with small acreage near a Hills town and within an hour's drive to work," Sarah says. After a walk through Sarah Homes ' Hayborough 3 display, the couple knew they had found the right builder for their needs, having been pleased by the level of finishes they saw and Sarah Homes' aesthetics.

"We wanted something that would suit the landscape and sitting on the hill as it does it is very visible, but we did not want anything too obtrusive ," Sarah says. "We chose Sarah Homes as we preferred the finish and the service we received on inquiry."

The couple based their home on the single-storey Hayborough 3 design, a three-bedroom, one -bathroom home. The design - which starts in price from $89,000 - has one main living zone combining the kitchen, dining and lounge. They chose to modify it slightly to suit  their lifestyle living on a rural property and the landscape.

'We loved the open -plan living area and unobstructed views, so we included a deck extension, we added an extra toilet , changed the orientation of the roof for solar power collection and removed the two-way bathroom ," Jamie says. Despite the rocky nature of their allotment, Sarah Homes were able to work with their block of land, raising the home to meet their build requirements and to reduce the impact on the land.

"Our consultant listened to all our input regarding orientation and positioning on our block ," Sarah says. "As well as adding extra energy -efficient elements, we also found we needed extra bracing in the roof structure to accommodate the solar system, which proved no problem for the builder." Sarah and Jamie say the design's 16.3m width appealed to them as didn't take away from the raw beauty of their property.

Inside, the aesthetic also works in harmony with the surrounding landscape. "The colours are slates for the rock, creams for the grasses in summer and browns for the wood," Sarah says. "The flooring was completed by Jamie and we chose a colour to match the merbau of the deck so that it flowed nicely."

The building process took less than 20 weeks to complete and the couple say the communication level with Sarah Homes was fantastic. Their affordable home marries modern living with environmental sustainability, and the couple are now enjoying the benefits of reduced costs of living.

"We love that this home is completely off the grid - we have solar with battery storage, bottled gas and rainwater ," Sarah says. "It's a dream come true to be living with my horse and have so many options for hiking, mountain biking and horse riding so close at hand - we're living the lifestyle we always wanted."

 

08-Apr-2018 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Hayborough 140.

 

Pavilions of connected living

admin 1 Storey, Media, Pavilion
Pavilion 145 a series of interconnected pods

Pavilion 145 a series of interconnected pods

When planning their new home. this family opted to take Sarah Homes' Pavilion 145 design and get creative by adding a series of interconnected pods

If you're struggling to find a design that meets your needs, take a page out of Shane and Sherri Grimwade's book and get creative. The north eastern suburbs couple wanted a cost-efficient home that reflected their lifestyle and didn't compromise on their needs. "We wanted our master bedroom to be big enough to have a lounge, the ensuite to be big, the kids' rooms to be large and we wanted a decent size gym, office and entertaining room," Shane says.

Deciding to build with Sarah Homes, the couple settled on the Pavilion 145 design but instead of enlarging it to suit their family, they chose to build an extra pavilion, resulting in a triple frontage home linked by glass breezeways. "We chose Sarah Homes after seeing their sister company Atlas Living's displays where they had extensions for homes that connected with a glass walkway," Shane says. "My idea was to take three of these extensions, remove and reconfigure the internal rooms and have them connected with the walkways."

Attracted by the affordability of the linked extensions, the couple worked with Sarah Homes to merge the designs and create their ultimate three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom family home. The family designed a large games room/ second lounge, a gym and a home office in one pod, a main living zone in the middle and three bedrooms and bathrooms in another pod. "The Sarah Homes ' rep Katina was very helpful, she worked with our design to establish if it could be done and then set about costing,"

Shane says. "My idea was to use each pod, as we have called them , to have room sizes and a layout that we wanted." While the approval process took 18 months to get through the local council, it only took nine months for the build to be finished. "Our site was difficult and sloping, but it was still finished within the expected timeframe," Shane says. "The country views are great and it's very peaceful, and still only minutes from Golden Grove."

Reflecting the modern nature of the home, the interior is bright with a warm french provincial style. Floor -to-ceiling windows and the glass links fill the home with light throughout. "I think the kitchen/dining and lounge area is the nicest, working out in the gym is great too due to the views, especially on a foggy morning, " Shane says. "The only thing I might have done differently would be to make better use of the views to the north."

With 393.59sqm of total size, 12m by 40.9m dimensions, this design makes the most of the family's wide allotment, views and provides plenty of indoor and outdoor space for years to come. "The home allows us as a family to have quiet spaces for ourselves, the kids' rooms are plenty big enough for when they get to the teenage years and beyond," Shane says. "We would consider building again in the future, perhaps somewhere warmer."

 

04-Feb-18 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Pavilion 145.

 

Relax, the holidays are almost here

admin 1 Storey, McCubbin, Media
Affordable stylish and relaxed the McCubbin 120

Affordable stylish and relaxed the McCubbin 120

Affordable, stylish and relaxed, the McCubbin 120 by Sarah Homes offers three bedrooms and open-plan living, so you can entertain indoors and outdoors

After an escape during the holiday season? Wish you had somewhere for a Christmas getaway or a home ideal for hosting the festivities? Whether you're looking for a sometimes -home to enjoy weekends by the sea or relaxed indooroutdoor permanent living with space to entertain, the compact McCubbin 120 by Sarah Homes fits the bill for both.

This flexible design with three bedrooms and one bathroom is suited to families after a holiday house, retirees downsizing from larger family homes, investors, or even people wanting to try their hand at owning a holiday rental or Airbnb. It also makes a great permanent home for anyone living in regional areas as Sarah Homes build throughout the state.

Underlying all of this is the value it offers. On display at Sarah Homes ' display village at Mile End, the crisp white Sycon Linea-clad McCubbin 120 has been inspired by the sea side and presents a nautical holiday feel. Sarah Homes' marketing manager, Juliet Haslam, says it offers open -plan living which is perfect for holidays.

"It's an entertainer's dream with dining, lounge and galley kitchen opening on to a decked alfresco, ideal for summer barbecues with family and friends," she says. "It's casual, relaxed and simple yet stylish".

The McCubbin's long shape, which is 6.9m wide and 16.4m deep, means it is suitable for narrow allotments and would be great on a block with a view. The three-bedroom display home showcases upgraded features including 2.7m vaulted ceilings raked to 3.2m - which in  high in any home, decorative internal and external wall cladding (a must-have for coastal styling) and a feature splashback kitchen window, all adding to the relaxed, light and airy atmosphere.

It has natural timber-look flooring for an authentic feel, a deep black feature wall in the living area and a contemporary, user-friendly kitchen. The kitchen has a large island bench, shown with waterfall ends, which is a great space to prepare meals or gather around with friends for drinks and nibbles. It also makes for a breakfast bar, with room for stools to enjoy causal meals.

There's also a large pantry and plenty of overhead storage as well as ample drawer space  with timber-look cabinetry adding a raw and coastal vibe to the kitchen. Facing the living and dining areas it seamlessly blends the zones to create one, flowing space.

The open -plan living area opens via wide sliding doors to a generous raised timber deck, an upgrade feature, but one you'll most likely want to include in some configuration. Decks can be customised to suit the block, Juliet says. "It extends the natural living area - there's no step down from inside to out," Juliet says.

"When the sliding doors are pushed back it brings out the whole indoor/outdoor entertaining experience." Entertaining areas are at the front of the house with sleeping quarters at the back, with the entry half way along the side of the home. "This has been designed for added  privacy from the living zones which can also be reversed with the entertaining space at the rear," Juliet says.

All three bedrooms have large windows which fills them with natural light. One is fitted with a bunk bed, showcasing the generous sizes and ceiling height that the bedrooms offer.  Nearby is the three-way bathroom, conveniently located for all bedrooms as well as guests. It has a walk-in powder room with vanity, a freestanding bathtub and shower, and a separate toilet, making for practical, simultaneous use.

"The best orientation for this home is to capture the views and for open -plan living spaces to face north," Juliet says. "We can make this flexible design work depending on the orientation and features of the block."

While the McCubbin 120 design is a compact home that will suit many, if you 're in need of a little more space, there are three other McCubbin versions to opt for. Either way an affordable, stylish and relaxing lifestyle awaits.

 

03-Dec-2017 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the McCubbin 120.

 

The way we want to live

admin 1 Storey, Emily, Media
Emily 150 a perfect home design with simplicity

Emily 150 a perfect home design with simplicity

For organic farmers Sonja and Plamen, their perfect home was a design with simplicity that represented how they like to live

Residing and working in the Adelaide Hills, Sonja Bognarova and Plamen Paraskevov wanted a home that would work with their block of land. Luckily they managed to find just that with a design from Sarah Homes. "We've always liked the Adelaide Hills for it's diversity, climate, culture and many other things," Sonja says, who runs Mobile Organic and has an organicfarm in the Hills.

"We spend most of our time during the strawberry season at our farm, so we were looking for a house of moderate size, generous open living plan and master bedroom, and space to enjoy the outdoors as well." The decision to build their first home with Sarah Homes was an easy one, with the couple falling in love with the simplicity of the single story three-bedroom, two-bathroom Emily 3e design.

The design is built around a large deck at the front, which the living, dining and kitchen areas come off, and with three bedrooms further back. "We saw our current house in one of the display villages and simply fell in love with it's simple design that totally represented our lifestyle," Sonja says. "Apart from moving one of the windows within a room we haven't changed a thing, this design simply suits us perfectly."

With a six-month build time, Sonja was particularly impressed with the level of communication from Sarah Homes throughout the process. "Before we started building we were just going through the specifications and any extras, we appreciated the advice from Sarah Homes," she says. "We kept in touch with our building supervisor, as you can imagine they are in general quite busy, but he always did his best to get back to us or fix issues as soon as possible."

The flexibility of the builder was a massive plus for the couple, especially when dealing with their slightly sloping allotment. "Our block wasn't extremely difficult, but still on a mild slope so it required a cut and fill by Sarah Homes and some retaining walls by us later," Sonja says. Working with the best aspect of their block has ensured the house remains cool in the summer, shielded from the westerly sun, yet is still warm in winter.

"Our house has huge windows along the whole northern side of the house and we enjoy the view as much as possible," Sonja says. "Some of those windows are shaded by the veranda which we truly appreciate in the hot summer." Inspired by home design magazines and neutral colours, the interior of the home provides a versatile space for the couple to enjoy with their two dogs, cat and free ranging chickens.

"I like neutral colours of basic structures in the house, but when it comes to things that you can change I like more colour, structure and variability," Sonja says. Adjacent the kitchen Sonja has creates a chalkboard wall as a feature, while the island bench simulates a concrete look. Having lived in their home for two years, the couple are happy with its cosy feel and have future alteration plans to better suit their growing needs.

"We get a lot of rain here in the hills and boots are the most common footwear for us, that means that a small extension of a mud room is on the plan," Sonja says. "Although during the strawberry season we get extremely busy, we still enjoy it as much as possible, we love spending time with our dogs and coming back home even the dogs sigh 'home sweet home' - we are very lucky."

Features you will love

Outdoor decking: Make the most of any views with a large deck. which is one of Sarah Homes' signature features. Fit it with an outdoor fan. and it's perfect for enjoying the evening sun during warmer months.

Hardwood floors: Having hardwood flooring in the main living area of your home is a great way to cut down cleaning and is low maintenance with a quick. regular sweep. And timber creates a warm environment that's easy to maintain.

Tiled entry: If you're living on a rural or large property, this is a great addition to ensure winter boots stay away from the main living area. A great makeshift mud room that's easy to keep muddy footwear under control.

Bright, modern interior: The use of bright neutrals attracts light. which is only amplified by the addition of large windows. The ultimate way to make your home feel spacious and bright

 

Oct-2017 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Emily 150.

 

Relax into holiday mode

admin 1 Storey, Hayborough, Media
Hayborough 180 design creates a calming and contemporary space

Hayborough 180 design creates a calming and contemporary space

Sarah Homes' Hayborough 180 design creates a calming and contemporary space, so families can get away and leave the stress of the city behind

The thought of waking to the sound of waves lapping at the beach is a charming one, especially if you are residing in Sarah Homes' Hayborough 180 home. As the school and summer holidays draw near, you might be tempted to entertain the idea of buying a holiday home or having a permanent sea change. Or perhaps you are looking to bring a beach vibe to the suburbs. The Hayborough 180 design, which is on display at Old Noarlunga, fits the bill for all of the above, with three bedrooms and a generous open-plan living.

Sarah Homes' marketing manager, Juliet Haslam, says the design is the newest member of the Hayborough family and has been one of Sarah Homes' best -selling square-shaped designs. "It's suited to square blocks, corner blocks or acreage allotments, offering a good frontage and both a rear and side veranda and decking," she says.

"It cleverly incorporates a high, raked ceiling and an abundance of full -length windows and sliding doors. Natural light swarms through the home, giving it that 'always on holidays' feel." The living areas line one side of the home, with the sleeping quarters on the other. Two minor bedrooms come off a short hallway near the entry and are good sizes, with built-in robes. They are serviced by a nearby three-way bathroom, which is also easily accessible from the living area for guests.

Also near the entry is a large study with a bright green sliding door, and it opens to a corner veranda. Filled with natural light, this room makes a nice getaway from the open-plan living and it offers good flexibility, as it could also be used as a fourth bedroom, guest room or second living area, depending on what you need most. The large master bedroom is in the back corner of the layout and is also off a short hallway (which also incorporates a European-style laundry behind a set of doors), which ensures extra privacy. It comes complete with two sets of built-in robes and a generous ensuite with a wall-to-wall shower.

Creating a space for the family to come together is the expansive open-plan living, dining and kitchen, which opens up to the large veranda and deck. Inside, the raked ceiling reaches 3.3m high and light streams through the windows and glass-sliding doors surrounding the area, all emphasising the sense of space.

"Natural light filters into the home, giving it an airy and open feel," Juliet says. The modern galley-style kitchen has white Laminex overhead and tall cupboards, a Laminex Essastone benchtop and underbench cupboards in Laminex's warm Rural Oak. There's enough space at the island bench to seat four people, and it is bound to be a popular part of the home at any time of the year, with light streaming in on two sides.

It's the attention to detail that make this home special. The feature fireplace showcases the design's adaptability throughout the seasons, taking it from summer beach house to cosy winter home with the lighting of a flame. Also, the use of louvre windows brings natural cooling and cross ventilation - a practical and money-saving addition.

A highlight of the Hayborough 180 has to be the location of the kitchen. Located at the rear, it faces two sliding doors which open to the large deck and pergola, which is perfect to grow a climber on. "It brings the outside in, with large windows and sliding doors overlooking the alfresco and decking areas," Juliet says. A living space of its own, the alfresco could potentially be your most-used "room" in the warmer months. You can read a book, enjoy a glass of wine, entertain, have meals or play games with children.

Meanwhile, the modern dark-toned facade uses contemporary products and is Australia's first display home to feature True Oak Mid Matt finished iron in Colorbond Matt Stealth, from Revolution Roofing. The design's square shape also means it offers orientation flexibility, taking full advantage of any potential views from three sides of the house.

Perfect as a casual weekender or a lifestyle home, the Hayborough 180 offers flexibility throughout. There is an alternative design available for the European laundry, and if you have little ones around - especially if you're planning to be down at the beach all the time you can add a bath.

 

Sep-2017 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Hayborough 180.

 

Top 5 downsizers – Drysdale 3e

admin 1 Storey, Drysdale, Media
on holiday all-year round, in an innovative, out-of-the box design

on holiday all-year round, in an innovative, out-of-the box design

Why We Love it

Want to feel like you are on holiday all-year round, in an innovative, out-of-the box design? Then this contemporary, angular home design is for you. A large deck running almost the width of the home is just the start, then there's the architectural single-pitch skyline roofline, which enhances the dimensions inside and looks strikingly good on the outside. This isn't a huge home but it will feel more than ample for couples or retirees. Want a large master bedroom with access to the deck? Check. Luxurious ensuite with an open hotel feel? Check. Huge island bench to line up the extended family? Check. Where do we sign?

Details 177sqm total size 1129 sqm living areas
7.7m width I 211m depth 13 bedrooms
2 bathrooms l11iving room plus outdoor living
spaces l2.7m-plus ceilings

 

09-Jul-2017 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Drysdale 150.

 

A holiday lifestyle

admin 1 Storey, McCubbin, Media
McCubbin 135 a peaceful life on the marina

McCubbin 135 a peaceful life on the marina

A peaceful life on the marina at Mannum makes the most of river views, and the
McCubbin 4e design by Sarah Homes was exactly what this couple wanted

Calm, relaxing and away from the bustle of city living, having a riverfront property certainly has its perks and nobody knows this more than Pamela and Gary Dillon. When the couple decided to build on the marina at Mannum Waters they wanted a welcoming space to share with family and friends.

After securing a waterfront property and searching for designs to suit it, they chose Sarah Homes to build their home. "We wanted a house that would be able to take in the view of the river, have a large balcony for a barbecue and for entertaining," Pamela says.

Attracted to the facade of the McCubbin 4e design with a skillion roofline, the couple wanted a home that would accommodate visitors with ease. Modifying the McCubbin design, they opted for three bedrooms, two bathrooms and one main living/dining/kitchen space which looks out to the  waterfront and the large deck at one end of the design.

"Big bedrooms were a must, because we are grandparents and the children now bring their children," Pamela says. Having a good balance between private spaces and a shared living area was also important for Pamela, especially when having the grandchildren visit. "Our bedroom and ensuite is at one end and can be very private and off-limits to the grandkids," she says.

Working alongside Sarah Homes proved a breeze with the build running on time and all their needs taken into account. "Sarah Homes were great and we had good communication along the way," Pamela says. The McCubbin's open-plan design and high ceilings are the couple's favourite feature of their home. "The raked ceilings in the living area make it feel roomy and the louvred windows cross flow the breeze  and keep the house cool in summer," Pamela says.

Complementing the relaxed nature of their location, Pamela wanted the home's interior and landscaping to be low maintenance but to still make a statement. "Our decorating style is still a work in progress, but essentially it's light with a holiday feel," she says. "We have made the garden very easy care with the use of native plants and cottage stone to reduce weeds and dust."

Building a 10.1m wide design also ensured the couple could make the most of their allotment, giving plenty of space to enjoy their water front jetty.'We are on the channel in the marina and any watercraft has to go 5km/h, which makes it very peaceful and safe for the kids," Pamela says. Proving that a waterfront location doesn't need to break the bank, the Dillons have created an idyllic, low maintenance sanctuary to enjoy with family and friends.

 

04-Jun-2017 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about a similar house in this story please look at the McCubbin 135

 

Dream rural escape

admin 1 Storey, Heysen, Media
Heysen 130 dream living on a rural block

Heysen 130 dream living on a rural block

The dream of living on a rural block and having sweeping views became reality
for the Wenzels and Sarah Homes' Heysen 4e was the ideal home for it.

Escaping to the country is a dream many of us have, but it's often something not many of us manage to fulfil. However, Brenton and Susan Wenzel were determined to make this dream their reality, moving from the Adelaide Hills to Mannum.

Securing a 3.5ha rural allotment at Mannum on the River Murray,just over an hour from Adelaide, the couple wanted to build a permanent home that would make the most of their land and extensive views. After much research they decided on the Heysen 4e design by Sarah Homes, wanting a low-maintenance easy-care home to cater for their working lifestyles. The design offers four bedrooms, two bathrooms and one large living zone incorporating the kitchen/ dining/living, with the couple choosing to have a wraparound veranda and deck surrounding the home.

'We chose Sarah Homes' Heysen 4e design for several reasons, although it was one of the least expensive of the options we looked at, it adapted easily to the changes we wanted to make in the layout," Susan says. 'We decided on four bedrooms as we were moving from the city and further away from family and friends, so it was important to have room for overnight visitors and open living space for entertaining."

Attracted to riverside Mannum for its simplistic charm and abundance of flat, open space, they wanted a home that mirrored this outlook and maximised their views. 'We both work full-time, so it is important that our home be low maintenance and easy living," Susan says. "The open-plan living space gives us room for guests and the veranda pretty much doubles the footprint of the house, and with the sliding glass doors front and back we can open the space up so easily."

Adding on the veranda (optional extra) not only doubled the size of the house, but also ensured it took into account the weather conditions and also helped reduce energy costs.  "We were quite careful in how we positioned the house, so the veranda gives us full shelter from the hot summer sun, while letting the afternoon sun warm the living area and bedroom through the winter months," Susan says.

"We also have a large solar array and there is so much more sun out here than back in the Adelaide Hills, it helps keep our power bills very low." Choosing to keep the interior minimal, the focus on zoning gives the design a homely feel , ensuring it has plenty of areas to relax in. "We didn't have a lot of money for decorating, so comfort was most important in the long run," Susan says.

"The guest bedrooms are at one end of the house with a bathroom and toilet, and laundry, while our bedroom is at the other end of the house, so having visitors is never an inconvenience and we still feel we have our privacy." Focusing on planting out their allotment came next and Susan had a strong focus on working with the land and taking the time to invest in their property.

"We have planted over a thousand native trees and shrubs, along with an orchard and vegetable garden," she says. "Once our boundary trees have grown a bit more we can start looking at some more exotic species, and when our plants have grown we'll be living in our very own park."

Proving that making dreams a reality doesn't have to break the bank, Brenton and Susan have managed to switch their busy city lifestyle for a laid-back country dream. "We just love it out here, away from the city bustle - this is our home."

 

14-May-2017 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Heysen 130.

 

Right Menu Icon