Whiteley 2 Storey

The next best thing to hitting the beach overseas is having your own permanent holiday home you can escape to over and over again, like Sarah Homes' impressive two-storey Whiteley 180 design

Like many people, the summer holidays are a prime motivator for wanting a weekender or shack, and like clockwork, each year we go and visit a new displays as we dream about having a permanent holiday retreat to escape to every other weekend. One year we will make it happen, that I can be sure of. And when you do have a holiday house you will want, and need space for it to accommodate to extended family, so that means multiple living spaces. Preferably a leisurely balcony deck where you can sit back and relax and admire the view, one slow moment at a time ... or just take a nap on a sun lounger.

However, finding the right coastal, or country, block in your chosen area is bound to be a priority as location is everything when holidaying. The design will have to fit around that and any views you may have. It sounds like an easy choice, but finding a design that caters to your views and has everything just where you need it to be, can narrow the options.

That's where a design such as Sarah Homes' Whiteley 180 Two-Storey comes in. The layout of this new double storey holiday home is cleverly positioned to take in three aspects, forward facing, to one side and to the rear, making it a good option for many blocks. Sarah Homes' marketing manager Jaye Smith says the Whiteley 180 Two-Storey design is perfect for a corner block with four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, two living areas and a huge balcony, as shown in the display at Mile End.

"Despite it's spacious feel, it has a small footprint, so can be accommodated on a 12m wide block, depending on the size of deck you wish to include," she says. "The Whiteley Two-Storey 180 can accommodate two families with ease, so it's a great choice for a holiday home. "The design allows for a relaxed lounge area downstairs, with the main living and entertaining areas elevated upstairs. "All bedrooms suit either a queen size bed or bunks for the kids, and the main downstairs bathroom is segmented, allowing several people to move through the space at the same time, perfect for cleaning up when you get back from the beach."

It's all very coastal too, clad in a mix of beachy off-white Hebel and corrugate (NextStar), dark charcoal weatherboard (Sycon Linea in Dulux's Domino), with a curved pitch roofline, 2.7m ceilings inside and a wraparound deck that connects two extended balconies. Of course, the deck will be customised to what your block needs, but the display gives you a good idea of how they can work around this holiday home. Inside the relaxed coastal feel continues in white and soft greys on walls, with accents of black and rich blues.

On our first look, this four-bedroom design makes a good first impression and that's in part due to the contemporary vibe as well as a tonne of glazing. Even the glass entry door and timber porch make you feel like you're stepping into holiday mode as you walk in. But this design has conventional inclusions too, such as a formal entry hall elegantly finished, a well-sized laundry, ultra modern bathrooms and a rumpus lounge downstairs that links the three minor bedrooms on the ground level. Each is stylishly dressed in bright tones and are good sizes, well painted, some with space-saving cavity doors and some with louvre windows that remind you this design will be highly functional for coastal settings, allowing for breezy days to give it good cross ventilation and natural airconditioning.

"The external articulation allows for flexibility in how the home is oriented on the block, looking its best from all angles," Jaye says. A set of wide, semi-commercial sliding doors with white frames to the rumpus is an attractive addition that streams in the sunlight and allows for super-easy access to the yard, and make the space feel far larger than it probably is. Square porthole windows on either side are a beachy touch while on the upper level you'll find louvre windows and more huge sliding doors seamlessly opening to the balcony zones.

"The Whiteley 180 is designed to capture 180- degree views along the coastline," Jaye says. "It has three sides that all integrate with large sliding doors and balconies to take in the views, and it has flexibility in its orientation on your block to capture views from different aspects throughout the home." Head upstairs and you'll find the kitchen is just as polished and packed with storage as you'll find in any main residence, in fact, the island bench is 1.2m wide and extra long. Cleverly, the double sink is inset in the island so the cook won't need to miss out on conversations, and there's heaps of space for stools to sit at for casual meals.

There's also a dining zone adjacent the front facing balcony in case you want to eat dinner as you watch the sun set. The lounge is further back, so the television doesn't impact your view, but it links to the side balcony and creates an extended zone you can open up when entertaining. A bench seat on this balcony is a smart inclusion that saves on space and the high screen means you won't have to look straight at neighbours while you're having afternoon drinks on the deck - and it protects for from the wind and sun.

"The zones in this home are all sized proportionally to handle a large family or host friends for a meal - or for a few days," Jaye says. "The kitchen/dining space in the Whiteley 180 Two-Storey is an entertainer's delight. The oversized 1.2m deep Essastone island bench is perfect for both prepping food and serving. "With the kitchen flowing directly outside to the teppanyaki grill barbecue and outdoor kitchen (reinforced with materials designed to withstand the elements), the two cooking zones are directly connected."

There's a relaxed air as we wander around, which I put down to the timber decking. The master bedroom, its ensuite and wardrobe, take up the remainder of the upper level and this is treated to its own private balcony, a coveted feature that is as resort-like as it comes. The spacious shower and large rainwater shower rose is another delightful find and adds to the holiday vibe. I think we better start working on finding the perfect block for this home.

17-Jan-2021 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

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

Why We Love It

Who doesn't want a coastal beach lifestyle? The wraparound deck and main living area on the upper level give you the best advantage over the landscape and will maximise any potential views. A relaxed, outdoorsy vibe is what you'll get in the Whiteley, but there is also plenty of space for bigger families and designated zones for everyone to appreciate. We love the mix of materials on the facade as well, which sets the coastal tone.

Details 223sqm total size l166sqm living areas
10.6m width l17.4m depth 14 bedrooms
2.5 bathrooms l21iving rooms I deck I
2.7m ceilings (lower) l 2.4m ceiling (upper)

09-Jul-2017 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

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

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.