2 Storey

Pastures View

admin 2 Storey, Media, Whiteley 2 Storey
An individual spin on the Whiteley 180

An individual spin on the Whiteley 180

This first-time builder put her individual spin on Sarah Homes' Whiteley 2 Storey 180 design and has an ocean outlook to die for.

A two-storey by Sarah Homes designed to maximise enjoyment of the surrounding scenery including the ocean, was the obvious choice for Yvette Clark. That said, when the firsttime builder decided to build on a block in a seaside suburb, she did her homework. After researching what others had to offer over a couple of years, she decided to build with Sarah Homes, who had stood out from the start. "I had seen a couple of their houses when I was looking at beach areas" Yvette says.

The first-time builder chose the Whiteley 2 Storey 180, albeit with modifications to suit her allotment which, while not on a beachfront, is positioned in such a way as to enjoy uninterrupted views. "I am one house back from the esplanade - my street is on a 90 degree angle" Yvette says, adding it therefore affords her sea views "through the streetscape". For that reason, Yvette asked Sarah Homes to build the Whiteley 2 Storey 180 - which is a popular choice for long, narrower blocks - "sideways".

"They were really happy to change and accommodate what I wanted" Yvette says. Those modifications included making windows bigger, re-positioning one in the bedroom which was facing east to face north to make the most of the winter sun, and extending the balconies. "We also moved the front door from western to northern so that it is on the streetscape" Yvette says. She loves the home's upper level, which includes the master suite, ensuite, a separate powder room next to the stairs and a huge openplan living space which includes the kitchen.

"As soon as I walk out of my bedroom I look across the lounge and dining area straight to the outdoor patio which overlooks the beach. I've got ocean views" Yvette says. "When I come home at night I don't have to go downstairs again, I live upstairs. "With three minor bedrooms, the laundry, three-way bathroom and a family room, the lower level has been set up for guests to enjoy.

"I wanted a place where my family and friends could feel like they were having a beach holiday" she says. For that reason, and to make her home a place where she can also relax, Yvette chose polished concrete flooring for downstairs, in contrast to the floorboards upstairs, and a sky blue feature wall for the stairwell, both of which guests love.

"I wanted a floor (downstairs) that would look similar to sand which was durable - I didn't want sand from the beach in the carpet or scratching the floorboards" she says. With its six-star energy rating, achieved through extra insulation and double glazing, Yvette is thrilled with her new home and doesn't hesitate when asked to name a favourite spot - the patio. "I can go out there and have meals, sit and watch the sunset with a glass of wine and relax" she says.

"I would recommend Sarah Homes to my friends.

 

13-Apr-2014 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

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

 

Stay a While

admin 2 Storey, Media, Whiteley 2 Storey
Whiteley 175 makes the most of ocean views

Whiteley 175 makes the most of ocean views

This couple made the most of ocean views and
built a holiday home with Sarah Homes

FOCUS on creating a relaxed ambience for people looking to escape the daily grind led to holiday rental homeowners Ian and Kathy Russell choosing to build with Sarah Homes. The couple bought a block at Victor Harbor and, after discovering the sea glimpses available from the ground level, they opted for a two storey design. With its expansive decked balconies front and back and picture windows throughout, Sarah Homes' Whiteley 2 Storey design was the answer.

"We wanted something practical that took advantage of the views, "Kathy says. "We're really happy with the result and our clients love it, we always get good feedback and often have families coming back year after year." Kathy says while the design in its original state offered what they were looking for, they made slight alterations to complement the beachside holiday feel and expanded the areas for entertaining.

"We made a concerted effort to make the balcony big enough to have dinner parties and get togethers, and we wanted the home to have little nooks and crannies where people could sit and read, so we made the upstairs bedroom smaller, "she says. "We also made the ceilings higher on the ground floor to elevate the top floor and maximise the sea views." Ideal for holidaying with other families, the design comprises four well-sized bedrooms with ample space for either double beds or sets of bunk beds.

Three of the bedrooms are downstairs while the master is on the upper level with easy access to the open-plan main living zone. Kathy says the bedroom layout, as well as the inclusion of separate living spaces, allows holiday-makers to escape the action to enjoy a moment of privacy when necessary, and come together at meal times. "It can accommodate four couples (or two families) with room downstairs and upstairs so the families aren't on top of each other, "she says. "We wanted it to be spacious and practical for family holidays."

A ground floor laundry and two bathrooms, one of each level, offer easy convenience for guests. Of the home's many standout features, Kathy says the statement square windows in the upstairs living area are her favourite. "Those small square windows sort of frame the views, it makes it a nice spot to sit and enjoy the surrounds," she says. "The long windows also bring in a lot of light and brighten up the space, while keeping it quite private.

"The kitchen, located upstairs, is designed for communal use, meaning the kids can help prepare meals without getting in the way, says Kathy. "The way the whole house is designed is to make it comfortable for several people to be in at once, so everything had to be quite open." As well as the upstairs balconies, Kathy and Ian placed seating areas in the simple landscaped garden to ensure all outdoor spaces were taken advantage of. A carport was also added for guests.

"We wanted to offer people an opportunity to really enjoy life outside," Kathy says. "We have areas underneath the veranda with a garden seat where people enjoy private time and take in the garden if they need peace and quiet. "When decorating the home, Kathy kept it simple with crisp whites/beachy neutrals and floating floorboards both to appeal to a range of clients and allow the views to shine.

"We wanted something that was overall quite basic with similar colours throughout, something fairly constant all over apart from the feature wall upstairs, which we might do downstairs in the future – it just brightens things up a bit, "she says.

 

10-Jan-2016 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Whiteley 175.

 

Space to Party

admin 2 Storey, Media, Streeton 2 Storey
Never be short on room with the Streeton 225

Never be short on room with the Streeton 225

When friends come to visit, this family will never be short
on room with the Streeton design from Sarah Homes

WORDS John Merriman PHOTOGRAPHY Nick Clayton the Sunday Mail Home Magazine

Everyone is guaranteed of their own space to party when the holidays come around for the Hamam family. With two levels of living space and five bedrooms, John and Jane Hamam found a weekender they will never outgrow. "We have three boys, 25, 23, 17, so when we come up to stay as a family everyone has their own bedroom, and quite often the boys will bring along a friend or the grandparents may come up as well," John says.

"Eventually the boys will have children of their own so when they visit with their families there will still be ample room for everyone. That was one of the main aspects in choosing the design, a home that will be able to cope with an ever-growing family." This is the third home John and Jane have built together, but their first holiday home. "I think we have just always liked the idea of making our own choices when it comes to materials, which you can't do when you buy an established home," he says.

"Experience helped us get everything right with this home, such as having extra windows facing north to let in as much winter sun as possible, keeping the hot summer sun out and having a great outdoor entertaining area that is big enough to be comfortable as well as providing beautiful views." The ground floor of the home houses the four minor bedrooms, two small corner porches, a laundry and bathroom. A large rumpus room provides the living space.

Upstairs includes the main bedroom with walk-in wardrobe, dining and living areas and kitchen with walk-in pantry, ample cupboards and bench space for preparing meals. "Quite often the ground floor rumpus is covered in quilts, beanbags and computer games. The kids are able to stretch out and do pretty much what they like," John says.  "Upstairs adults can sit down and relax." Large windows look out over the veranda to provide views of the sea while sliding glass doors provide easy access to the decked area. "We extended the balcony to sit outside and enjoy the view," he says.

 

13-Jul-2011 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Streeton 220.

 

Holiday at Home

admin 2 Storey, McCubbin 2 Storey, Media
McCubbin 230 turns an escape into a family paradise

McCubbin 230 turns an escape into a family paradise

The new McCubbin 2 Storey design by Sarah Homes turns an escape into a family paradise

With four bedrooms and a balcony alfresco, the latest incarnation of the two-storey McCubbin appeals to large families and those who love to entertain. At 7.7m wide, it was originally designed for beach and riverside hot spots but has become popular for modern in-fill blocks. "More people are building these homes to live in permanently because it is so well suited for narrower blocks that are now common with urban development and land subdivisions," says Leanne Goddard, of Sarah Homes.

"It has evolved out of the popular three bedroom design. The display is just over six metres wide and yet it is so spacious when you're inside, and is easy to customise to land orientation and lifestyle." Spaciousness is achieved with an open plan living scheme, complemented by light timber floorboards and 2.7m ceilings on the upper level. The lower level of the design has two minor bedrooms, one with a built-in-wardrobe. There is also a bathroom, laundry and living room.

"If there are teenagers living in the house, they can almost have a floor to themselves and give mum and dad some peace," Leanne says. "The floorplan is functional in that it is zoned with different bedroom areas". Stairs lead to an open kitchen, dining and living area on the upper level. The kitchen includes overhead cupboards and a breakfast bar, providing another casual eating place. Large sliding glass doors at the side and rear fill the floor with light and extend the living area to a corner balcony deck, which is large enough for an outdoor lounge and table setting, ideal for entertaining guests.

"It's just the most amazing home to take advantage of views, " Leanne says. "You can have balconies or decks on more than one aspect." "Here it's off the main living area and side but you can have the deck on the other side if that's where your view is." Off a small central hallway is a walk-in pantry providing ample storage space, while adjacent is the main, three-way bathroom. "The separation of the vanity, toilet and bathing area is very convenient if you've got guests in the house," Leanne says. Opposite this is another minor bedroom with built-in-wardrobe.

The main bedroom is at the front of the design, and includes a double built-in wardrobe and an open ensuite, again enhancing a feeling of space. "Something that is becoming more popular is the need for car parking and this design allows for parking under the second storey in the form of a carport."

 

06-May-2012 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the McCubbin 230 (Front Carport).

 

Expansive Mood

admin 2 Storey, Grace 2 Storey, Media
Grace 240 with five bedrooms everyone will find their own place to relax and unwind

Grace 240 with five bedrooms everyone will find their own place to relax and unwind

With five bedrooms, everyone will find their own place to relax and unwind in the Grace 2 from Sarah Homes

Homeowners who build the Grace 2 will never have to worry about turning friends and family away for a weekend getaway or holiday due to a lack of space. The two-storey design includes five bedrooms, two separate living areas and even the option of a second kitchenette. "We opened the Grace 2 to the public for the first time last Christmas," Helen Lowrie of Sarah Homes says.

"It has quickly become a big hit with clients and is our second-most popular two-storey design in a very short time. It is a home that allows everyone to come together for a great holiday, and a great memory." The ground floor houses four bedrooms, including three with built-in wardrobes. Central to the sleeping areas is a large casual living-space ideal for children to be boisterous and entertain themselves without disrupting the entire house.

For a second family that may be sharing the home, it provides privacy when needed as well as a kitchenette which includes a benchtop with double sink, provision for a refrigerator and space for a microwave and other appliances. A three-way bathroom is also on this level, creating a second, self-contained living unit. Louvre windows allow excellent cross-ventilation, which is great when you want the house to cool quickly on a hot summer evening. While kids are having fun downstairs, the adults can relax in space and light upstairs.

A galley kitchen includes an island bench with breakfast bar, overhead cupboards, stainless-steel appliances and a generous walk-in pantry. Extra design elements include a large wall niche in the meals area, big enough to allow a bench for casual seating. Adjacent to the staircase is a powder room, ideal for people being entertained in the large, open-plan meals and living area without having to traipse downstairs to the bathroom or use the ensuite in the main bedroom.

A wall of windows and sliding glass doors allows light to flood in, as well as maximising all available views. A large decked area provides extra space for alfresco evenings while soaking in beautiful vistas. The main bedroom is on this level and includes a walk-in wardrobe and good sized ensuite. A sliding glass door gives access to a private decked area, ideal for mum and dad to unwind in the evenings.

"It is quite a versatile design," Helen says. "The kitchenette downstairs can be expanded and enlarged or left out completely if desired. There is also the option of reversing the home, to take advantage of views which may be to the rear of the block, because the home can be accessed front or back." Neutral-toned floorboards were used for both upstairs and downstairs living areas providing a quick-clean option, especially handy when sandy feet return from an afternoon at the beach.

 

12-Aug-2012 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Grace 240.

 

Comfort Levels

admin 2 Storey, Cullen 2 Storey, Media
Cullen 195 provides the ideal retreat for friends and family and maximises your views

Cullen 195 provides the ideal retreat for friends and family and maximises your views

The two-storey Cullen from Sarah Homes provides the ideal retreat for friends and family and maximises your views

Families holidaying together will love the living options in the Cullen design, which offers two separate levels of almost self-contained living. With bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas on both levels, there is space for everyone. "Back when I was growing up, when you went away for a holiday it was just you, your parents and your siblings," Helen says. "However, we are seeing a very strong trend that has emerged, which is families holidaying together, even if it is just children and grandchildren.

"To cope with this we have the Cullen, a little larger than some holiday homes and it has two distinct and separate living options, downstairs and upstairs. There is also the option of 'flipping' the plan, having everything on the top level on the ground level and vice versa." Like most holiday homes, the Cullen is designed to take advantage of all available views. Large expanses of glass allow vistas to be welcomed into the home, no matter where you are in the house.

The Cullen has been designed to cope with two families holidaying together, allowing children to entertain themselves in one level of the home and adults on another. The ground level houses all three minor bedrooms and a laundry with outdoor access. A central, three-way bathroom enables maximum use of facilities, while a cupboard set in front of the staircase provides valuable storage.

A large, casual living space provides ample room for a group of children or second family to entertain themselves. There is also secure entry into the home from the garage on this level. On the second level is a second casual living space, with glass sliding doors leading to the decking, dining area and modern kitchen. The galley kitchen has Cessarstone benchtops, overhead kitchen cupboards, stainless-steel appliances, glass splashback, island bench with breakfast bar and corner pantry. A second, larger pantry is placed directly opposite the kitchen.

"We wanted to create a very open and entertaining friendly space on this level," Helen says. "Large numbers of people are able to easily interact in this space, whether they are in the kitchen preparing meals or relaxing in the dining or living area. "There are two decking areas on the top level, allowing people to chase the sun, or avoid it, during the day. It also allows people to take advantage of views all around the home, not just those in front of the house."

A powder room allows guests the space to wash up for dinner instead of having to travel downstairs. The main bedroom includes an ensuite, built-in wardrobe and access to the second, larger balcony. "Not only do the sliding glass doors allow plenty of natural light in as well as maximising views, they also provide excellent ventilation for the home," Helen says. "We have seen a number of our clients extending the balcony to create more entertaining space. It is a very popular aspect of the home's design."

 

08-Jan-2012 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Cullen 195.

 

Holiday Everyday

admin 2 Storey, Emily 2 Storey, Media
Emily 210 a holiday retreat just six metres wide that had to cater for a family of five

Emily 210 a holiday retreat just six metres wide that had to cater for a family of five

Words by John Merriman. Photography by Nick Clayton

A holiday retreat, just six metres wide that had to cater for a family of five, needed specialised treatment. The Gibbs family found their choices were quite limited. "We looked around at a couple of designs but there wasn't a huge range," Phil says. "But once we found this design from Sarah Homes it was perfect for what we wanted and needed.

"We always liked the ideal for having a family home. We had one at Carrickalinga but we found it hard to find the time to get there. My wife Cathy and I run a business that is open seven days a week and, with three children, there is often sport on weekends or other commitments. So we decided to look for something much closer to us. In the end we found a block at Moana, which was ideal because it is just over a 30-minute drive for us, using the expressway. Now if feels worthwhile making the trip, even if it's just for a Friday night and we have to go back for Saturday morning sport."

Faced with building on an extremely narrow block of just over six metres, the family found the ideal design with Sarah Homes. The design has two bedrooms on the ground floor, with a large bathroom and staircase separating them from the large rumpus room. Upstairs houses the main bedroom at one end, with living and entertaining areas covering the remaining space. The main bedroom has a spacious walk in wardrobe and an adjacent bathroom, with corner shower, is close enough to double as an ensuite.

The galley kitchen includes an island bench with double sink, dishwasher and underbench storage. Behind is a stainless steel oven with electric cooktop, while a large walk-in pantry is located at one end. "We had to make some changes to the design as the council wouldn't allow us to have parking for three cars at the front of the home," Phil says.

"So we extended the rumpus room by three metres and paved the remaining area for an outdoor space. "The extra space in the rumpus allowed us to include a table tennis table and it has just become a much more liveable area. On the top level we added large glass windows either side of the sliding glass door, to make the most of the great sea views we have." he says. "We spend a lot of our time sitting on the veranda watching the world go by. There is always something interesting happening."

 

18-Jan-2009 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Emily 210.

 

Long-term View

admin 2 Storey, Emily 2 Storey, Media
Emily 240 a home with sea views

Emily 240 a home with sea views

Timing was everything for this young family making a sea change with Sarah Homes

A home with sea views was always on the horizon for Matt Wadewitz and Sarah Moore. The married couple bought a block of land near the sea a number of years ago and the plan was eventually to knock down the existing building and rebuild at some stage. "The block we bought had an old run-down transportable home on it," Matt says. "We had been renting it out for most of the time we owned the home when, eventually, it got to a stage when it was going to cost a fair bit of money to keep it up to scratch. That's when we decided the time was right to bulldoze it and build the family home."

The couple, along with their two children, Harry 4, and Eve, 3, chose the two-storey Emily by Sarah Homes. "With lovely sea views, we recently wanted to exploit that aspect," Matt says. "A large deck on the second level is a great place to look over the water and this has lots of space to entertain people out there as well. We spend most of our time on the deck in the warmer months. "A skillion roof also opened up the available views for us. From inside the home you can also enjoy the views through the large glass windows and sliding doors."

A galley kitchen, overlooking this open space, includes overhead cupboards for extra storage, breakfast bar, Essa Stone benchtops, stainless-steel oven, cooktop and rangehood and a large frosted-glass window to allow in natural light while still providing privacy. The main bedroom, which has a built-in wardrobe and ensuite, is behind the kitchen. A powder room with a separate vanity is nearby, allowing visitors to wash up for dinner. The ground floor includes three bedrooms which open on to the central living area.

"I think as the children get older they will be spending more of their time downstairs while the adults live and entertain upstairs," Matt says. "That's a few years off but is something we thought about when we chose the design." A three-way bathroom is also downstairs, near a staircase that includes handy understair storage. The laundry, which has outdoor access, is on the other side of the staircase.

 

06-Mar-2011 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Emily 240.

 

Party Time

admin 2 Storey, Emily 2 Storey, Media
The Emily two-storey an ideal weekend getaway

The Emily two-storey an ideal weekend getaway

Needing an escape from the daily grind, this couple chose the Emily two-storey from Sarah Homes for their ideal weekend getaway

With an extended balcony for alfresco entertaining and two kitchens, this home was designed to party. For Christina and Gavin Repetti relaxing on weekends and holidays with friends has always been appealing. "We wanted a holiday home so we could find a place to get away from hectic life for a while and enjoy the company of friends," Christina says. "Building on a block that was slightly raised, we wanted to make the most of the sea views to one side and hills views to the other so the two-storey design was ideal for us."

The couple wanted a modern beach house with open-plan living and a large decked balcony to enjoy balmy summer evenings. "After looking at a few different builders we were very happy to go with Sarah Homes," she says. "They were exceptional to deal with and super flexible when it came to making alterations to the design and reorientating the floor plan." Some of those changes included expanding the downstairs living area, adding a kitchenette and moving the double garage to the rear of the home.

"Having the home the way it is really lends itself to separate families sharing the house at the same time," she says. "Quite often we have people staying over and if they want to make themselves a cup of coffee in the morning or have some breakfast they can do that in their own privacy and without having to disturb anyone else. "It will also be appealing if we use the home as a rental property, allowing two families to co-exist in comfort. The ground floor also houses the three minor bedrooms, all with built-in wardrobes, laundry with overhead cupboards and extra storage under the staircase. "We moved the double garage to the back of the home which has an entry to the home via the laundry," Christina says.

"This is really handy when we come back from the beach because we can dump our sandy things and give ourselves a quick wash off before entering the home and dropping sand everywhere." The top level includes the main bedroom with built-in wardrobes and an ensuite with twin basins and a spa bath. "I think it's a bit of luxury for us to have the spa bath," Christina says. "While the two basins are just much more practical." Adjacent is a powder room for guests. A galley kitchen has overhead cupboards for extra storage, an island bench with breakfast bar, glass splashback and a quick-clean induction cook top. The kitchen looks over the dining room with the casual lounge to one side. Sliding glass doors afford excellent sea views and lead to the large, decked balcony.

 

20-Nov-2011 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Emily 190.

Escape to a Weekender

admin 2 Storey, Emily 2 Storey, Media
Emily 190 Emily 190 enjoy a relaxing weekend in style

Emily 190 enjoy a relaxing weekend in style

Enjoy a relaxing weekend in the Emily 2 Storey by Sarah Homes

A weekend away is all about spending time with family or friends, catching up, laughing, enjoying anecdotes and hopefully, drinking good wine or craft beers. If it's warmer weather, you'll want to relax around an outdoor table on the deck, but in mid winter as it is now, it will be the indoor comfort of a spacious lounge that you'll be seeking. The upstairs of the Emily 2 Storey design by Sarah Homes has the space and open-plan styling for these types of occasions, where you can all gather but still have room to stretch out as you relax into the evening festivities.

Friends will enjoy the combined kitchen zone, dining space and lounge which covers most of the upper level and opens out to a huge deck which wraps around the front, easily doubling the space on the first floor for entertaining. Being able to keep the conversation flowing as dinner is made or drinks are poured is just what you want when friends are over, while the opportunity to have a view over the landscape supremely adds to the feeling of getting away from it all and escaping the usual humdrum of life.

The second-storey living takes advantage of any potential views should you choose to buy a coastal block, riverside block or in a hillside area, with large windows opening up the views on three sides. The deck also can be customised to suit the owner's block, as well as personal taste and requirements. Four spacious bedrooms, each worthy of queen-size beds, or two lots of bunks each, means there's enough space for couples to share the house with several sets of friends, or two or three families can stay at once.

Three of the bedrooms are downstairs, where it will tend to be quieter, and the ground level also has a second lounge area, ideal for the children or teens wanting to watch a DVD while you are upstairs socialising. The ground level also houses the handy three-way bathroom, plus a laundry and the home's entry, which is off the lounge. A laundry may not be a high priority for a weekend stay, but it will always be valuable for those staying longer in school holidays or over holiday periods.

Upstairs, the Emily 2 Storey has two more conveniences: a powder room with a separate toilet, and the ensuite off the main bedroom. With the space inside, it's surprising when you learn this home is only 7.5m wide, so it suits a variety of blocks including slim ones. Its modern angular design with pitched roof, and timber and corrugated cladding, gives it that chilled-out holiday feel, suited to both rural and beachside locales but no matter where it's built, it's a design you'll be wanting to escape to at weekends.

29-Jun-2014 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Emily 190 product page.

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