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Extend Your stay In Grace

admin 2 Storey, Grace 2 Storey, Media
Grace 240 a coastal feel and relaxed style

Grace 240 a coastal feel and relaxed style

A coastal feel and relaxed style makes Sarah Homes' Grace 2 Storey a keeper

Sarah Homes is a go-to for holiday homes but this design is worthy of more than an occasional stay. The Grace 2-Storey is one to consider for your permanent residence. This two storey, five bedroom home has a coastal Cape Cod vibe clad in a mix of composite materials and makes a pleasant variation to the standard brick and render housing landscape. Spacious open-plan style, large windows for good light and a communal feel are what you'll find with this design.

With five bedrooms there's a room each for four children,  which are grouped on the ground level and open to the central lounge  room which also features a kitchenette. Uniform in design means everyone gets an equal space with built-in wardrobes and large picture windows for good light.

Upstairs, the master bedroom runs the full depth of the home and comes with a separate balcony, long ensuite and two-sided walk-in wardrobe. It provides mum and dad with a sense of privacy and space to call their own. Central on both levels are living  areas: the rumpus downstairs and the lounge upstairs  which opens to a large balcony creating a decent space to entertain in. To one end there's room for the dining table, while the galley-style kitchen sits behind it. A walk-in pantry and wall of  storage, a long island bench with double sink and two points of entry to the kitchen allow good flow through this space.

A bench seat recessed nearby adds a point of difference and two sets of sliding doors provide easy access to the wide balcony. A bathroom on each level means there's a nearby amenity wherever you are, and with a separate toilet, vanity and bath/shower room downstairs, children will have no trouble getting ready at the same time.

 

19-Jun-2016 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

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

 

Design for Life

admin 1 Storey, Hayborough, Media
Hayborough 160 is exactly what this buyer had in mind

Hayborough 160 is exactly what this buyer had in mind

The Hayborough 3e by Sarah Homes is exactly what this buyer had in mind

It's not often people find a home design which suits exactly what they'd envisaged even before deciding to build.

For Pam Clezy, however, the dream became a reality the day she found Sarah Homes' Hayborough 3e design, which was almost identical to a floorplan she'd sketched herself months earlier.

"Before I thought about moving to Middleton, I sat down in my house in Adelaide and thought to myself 'If I was able to design a house, what would I do?'," recalls Pam. "So I scribbled down a bit of a plan then came down here and had lunch with a friend who had the Hayborough design, and I said to her I just love this house, this is virtually what I drew."

Fast-forward three years and Pam has her ideal home in the three-bedroom beachside design. "It was a perfect size, but  still big enough for the grandchildren and their parents to come and stay," she says.

"It's easy-maintenance as it's single storey and it just has such an appealing layout, the bedroom is at the back which I love, and the kitchen is set back a bit from the open-plan area so you can't see the mess I might make in the kitchen from the living area," laughs

Pam. "It's just perfect for me." An avid gardener, Pam meticulously designed the home's surrounds to complement the navy coloured weatherboard facade and provide a pleasant outlook from the sea of picture windows throughout.

"I designed the garden myself," she says. "I'd done a certificate of horticulture many years ago, so I got out my pencils and drew it all up to measurement, and had someone do the edging."

Set amid the vibrant cottage-style gardens, which are an attraction for the local wildlife, the home's expansive deck is an ideal space in which to host alfresco dinner parties.

Inside, Pam says while choosing a favourite feature of the home's "perfect" layout is a challenge, the abundance of glass and central kitchen/living/ dining area make the lifestyle a delight.

"With all these lovely windows at the front I've got winter sun which is just gorgeous, I harvest that so I hardly need any heating. And I have the window looking out to the east so I get the morning sun if I want it," she says.

Somewhat inspired by the beach setting, Pam opted for an interior finish with a fresh Hamptons feel, combining creams and whites with subtle splashes of muted colour via upholstered furniture.

"It's a combination of being at the beach and making it homey," she says. In the kitchen, Pam chose a classic white-and-cream provincial style, with white appliances and glass cabinets to display crockery.

''I'm too practical. I will not clean finger marks off stainless steel now that I'm no longer working! Then you become a slave to housework and I don't want that," she says.

A unique addition to the kitchen is the benchtop which is hi-levelled for preparation purposes. "I added that as I don't like people seeing me prepare food," laughs Pam.

She describes the overall feel of the home as peaceful, light and airy.

 

27-Mar-2016 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

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

 

Bring the Family

admin 2 Storey, Emily 2 Storey, Media
Emily 240 for a long, narrow block really well to take advantage of the views

Emily 240 for a long, narrow block really well to take advantage of the views

A modification to the Emily two-storey design by
Sarah Homes was exactly what this family needed

Stunning ocean views were the top priority for Kerrie Cooper and her husband Tony, when searching for the perfect home for Kerrie's elderly parents. The Emily 2-Storey design by Sarah Homes was the answer - with modifications made to suit their needs. "We found that it fitted on our long, narrow block really well and took advantage of the views, which is what we wanted," Kerrie says.

She says building with Sarah Homes was a smooth process and the company made it easy to make changes to the original design. "We modified the two front rooms to move the main entrance to the front of the house, instead of the side, and made one room slightly bigger and one slightly smaller to accommodate the change. "We also modified the top level slightly and made the deck a bit larger.

"The builders were really good about the changes we made along the way. We found everyone at Sarah Homes really helpful." The home has four bedrooms, three on the ground floor serviced by a bathroom with a shower, bath tub and separate powder room with a toilet, and one on the upper level with a large ensuite comprising a shower and toilet.

"The ensuite bathroom has a lot of space to move around, and the way it's situated brings in a lot of light," Kerrie says. There is also an open-plan kitchen upstairs adjoining a dining and living area with sliding door access to a massive deck overlooking the ocean. Kerrie's parents live in the lower level of the home due to her mother's mobility issues after hip replacement surgery, and she says "they're more than happy." "It works really well for them.

The living area downstairs has been fantastic because they have the big outdoor area with a flat surface, and mum loves her garden, so she still gets that downstairs. "We also made some modifications to the laundry to include a kitchenette so they can cook down there as well." Kerrie says the layout of the home, with upstairs and downstairs living areas, lends well to entertaining and having guests to stay. "We live close by, so we often go over there and have dinner or cook for them, and they have their friends over as well," she says. "The times I've stayed there it has been really easy to live in, and I've enjoyed spending time upstairs because it's so spacious and airy with lots of natural light and a great view."

She says the home offers "the best of both worlds" with the view and decked area upstairs and the garden downstairs. The home is decorated in a mix of both Kerrie and her mother's tastes, as they divided the decorating duties between floors. "I left it to mum to decorate downstairs, so she went for more of a cosy, woodsy-type look with darker colours, whereas upstairs I went for more of a beach style with lots of light colours and pops of colour with cushions," Kerrie says.

The home is fitted with light-coloured bamboo floorboards from Planet Timber. "We decided on bamboo floorboards in a strand-woven type, which makes it really strong and hardy," Kerrie says. "They're also more sustainable and hard-wearing and easier to clean which is why we went for it in the end." Kerrie chose the lightcoloured floorboards to "make the most of the natural light" and complement the paint used on the walls.

Carpet features in each of the bedrooms to give a "warm and cosy" feel. "It was always on my mind to have carpet. I've always been one of those people who loves carpet in the bedroom," Kerrie says. "It was actually a free addition as part of a promotion Sarah Homes was running at the time we built, so it made it really easy for us – all we had to do was pick a colour."


22-Feb-2015 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

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

 

Get Away From it All

admin 1 Storey, Media, Pavilion
Pavilion 140 offers a holiday home with a resort feel

Pavilion 140 offers a holiday home with a resort feel

The Pavilion 140 by Sarah Homes offers a holiday home with a resort feel that's completely different

As kids we loved going to our friends' beach shack during the summer holidays, it was a basic rectangle with sliding doors facing out to the view. Ever since then I've always wanted a beach house, and in my mind it was always going to be something simple, where we could chill out and it didn't matter if sand came inside.

Well, I think I have found a design that fits that simplicity but at the same time impresses with its cool vibe and unusual concept. Sarah Homes' four bedroom two-bathroom Pavilion 140 is just one of the brand's many holiday home designs, but this one is a bit different and it takes "zoning" to a new level.

Essentially what you have are two very simple, separate rectangles, both with single pitch rooflines and skillion ceilings. One is the living zone and one is the sleeping quarters and utility rooms, including the laundry and bathrooms. On display at Pooraka, the Pavilion 140 has one building (or pavilion) positioned across the block, while the other building sits in front lengthwise.

In between, connecting the two pavilions, is a big timber deck with an arbour painted in crisp white. What's great about this design is the two separate buildings can be configured to suit your allotment and to maximise any views. Sarah Homes' Helen Lowrie says the Pavilion 140's unique design is rarely changed by clients. What does vary is the deck.

"The main thing that people change are the decking areas," she says. "The size of these depends on their land size and entertaining needs. "The home is quite different as both the sleeping and living module can be placed anywhere and in any direction on a block, so it offers a lot of flexibility. "Quite often clients add car accommodation." I love the look of this design: the huge deck, the roof pitch, the mix of corrugate and cladding in dark grey, and the arbour you can grow a vine up.

It has a real beachy look and feel. I also love the idea of separate zones, so the kids can head off to bed when it's getting late, and you and your friends can still be at the other end of the deck, going back and forth through the living area without any concern about disturbing the little ones' sleep. You're still not far away if a child calls out, either.

The Pavilion 140 display aligns sliding doors in each building, so there's an outdoor walkway only a few steps from one to the other. This could be enclosed if you prefer or covered with a vine or pergola if you want protection from the weather. "The Pavilion 140 brings a new dimension to the weekend getaway," Helen says. "The inspiration for the design was to really enjoy an entertaining area without it impeding on anyone who wants some quiet time or sleep, as they are completely separated from the living area."

While the exterior shape is simple, inside a neutral palette of whites and light tones throughout keeps the interior clean and relaxed and acts as an ideal base to add your personality. The high ceiling pitch allows light to flood in, while large format gloss floor tiles reflect the light, adding shine to the living area.

In the display, the home has been treated to a stonetop island bench with a waterfall edge and a breakfast bar overhang for casual meals. Retro-style pendants zone the well-equipped kitchen, which offers plenty of storage, Blum soft-closing drawers and a walk-in pantry. The kitchen is positioned adjacent the doors that lead to the next pavilion, so it is also within easy reach of hungry occupants.

The rest of the open-plan living comprises a good space for the dining table and on the other side of the room is the lounge area. With four sets of sliding doors off this pavilion (on three sides), each space opens straight on to the deck for seamless summer living, and for thermal efficiency and cross ventilation.

In the second pavilion, the ensuite and main bathroom have been streamlined with wall-hanging gloss-finish vanities, stone tops and above-counter basins. The ensuite offers a generous shower, while in the main three-way bathroom, there's a bath and a second shower. Bedrooms are kept simple with soft carpet, wardrobes and tall windows for light and privacy.

"This home is often built with a very large entertaining deck," Helen says. And as this is a holiday home design, Sarah Homes will build it anywhere in SA.

 

18-Oct-15 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

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

 

Aye, aye captain

admin 1 Storey, McCubbin, Media
Warren Tredrea's river shack McCubbin 120

Warren Tredrea's river shack McCubbin 120

A boat and shack by the river is all this football star needs to unwind

Port Adelaide football club captain Warren Tredrea only spent 24 hours holidaying with friends in a river shack before he became addicted to the lifestyle. Along with wife Rachael, the couple spent a day with friends at Walker's Flat in their holiday shack. "We went up there for a day and it felt like a three week holiday," Warren said. "It was after pre-season training and just before the season began and it felt just great." Within two years he had purchased a block of land on the Murray, successfully sat for his boat licence, bought a boat, found a builder, chose his design and built his home.

"After that time in Walker's Flat I just thought that's what I want to do," he said. "Looking towards the future when we have children, it will be a better lifestyle for them. "I'm lucky enough to be playing football which pays reasonably well for a short time. So it was a matter of do it now or don't do it at all." Rachael had previously built a house with Sarah Homes so they went to the company for design ideas. "Basically we chose a two storey design which needed a few modifications to fit the narrow block we have," Warren said.

"They were really great with accommodating what we wanted and we are delighted with the final result. We needed an elevated two storey so we could accommodate a boat." A feature of the home is a large 9m x 5m wooden slat decking on the second storey. It overlooks their small front yard and the Murray which laps at their property any time a boat passes. Two sliding glass doors lead into the single storey living area which houses the lounge. The modern kitchen has stainless steel appliances, corner pantry and laminate benchtops which double as the meals area.

Guest bedrooms with a double bed and another bunk bed lead off this area. A small hallway leads past the bathroom and toilet to the main bedroom at the back of the second storey. A stairway leads downstairs to another bedroom, laundry and bathroom. "I think it's important to have somewhere to slow down and relax - do nothing if you want," he said. The house was completed the day before Christmas - Warren's birthday - just in time to have friends over. "Every time I'm up here it's like a holiday. It takes me about 10 minutes to sit down and relax. It's great to have friends over and the barbecue seems to operate non-stop since we have moved in."

Words: John Merriman

Snapshot:
Time Looking? One day
Alterations? Added double garage, elevated second level
Did you meet budget? Yes
Experience out of 10? 9

 

25-Feb-2007 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

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

 

Beachside Retreat

admin 1 Storey, Lindsay, Media
Lindsay 132 a casual beachside style

Lindsay 132 a casual beachside style

Creating a casual beachside style for their home was the key factor for David Hayes and his son, Jake. "What I liked about the design and why I chose it was because it was designed to look like a casual beachside shack," says David. "I chose it for its straight lines, its open-plan areas and because it would be easy to maintain. "I decided to buy off the plan because I couldn't find anything I liked in the location that I wanted. I liked the simplicity of this design, so found land near the beach and built exactly the style I wanted."

Featuring polished floorboards, white walls and dark tiles for the bathroom and laundry, the home's decor is minimalist. "I chose the polished floorboards because I thought it would be a great contrast between the floor and the white walls," says David. "I chose white for the walls so I would be able to display my own art on the walls, and the contrast works very well."

Turning left on entering the home, you immediately step into the main living and entertaining areas. The spacious kitchen boasts a long breakfast bar with dual sink, gas stove top and oven. "I love to cook and entertain at the same time so it fits perfectly with my style," says David.

The kitchen, meals preparation area, casual dining and living are all open-plan, with plenty of windows capturing ample natural light. "This is my favourite part of the house as it's an enjoyable place to gather with friends and family," says David. Access to the alfresco decking is via glass sliding doors from the main bedroom and living area. A casual dining room to the right of the entry has access to a separate, larger decked alfresco area, providing an ideal indoor outdoor entertaining space.

The main bedroom features floor-to-ceiling windows, glass sliding door access to the rear alfresco area, built-in wardrobes and ensuite. The minor bedrooms have built-in wardrobes and share a central bathroom.

 

19-Apr-2009 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Lindsay 132.

 

Boxing Clever

admin 1 Storey, Lindsay, Media
The Lindsay Ideal for a square or wide allotment

The Lindsay Ideal for a square or wide allotment

Ideal for a square or wide allotment, Sarah Homes' Lindsay 4e  will make you feel like you're on holiday all the time

For a square, the Lindsay 4e by Sarah Homes is cutting edge. "The home is quite different, as it has a square footprint," Helen Lowrie of Sarah Homes says. "Most homes are designed for traditional land allotments that are rectangular." For this reason it is appealing as a holiday getaway for anyone looking for something far removed from their home, particularly if it's a more traditional design.

But Helen says a number of clients have also built the Lindsay 4e's "simple open design with a large voluminous feel" as their main residence. For many, no doubt, it's because they want to feel like they're on holiday every day. "This home has a very relaxed informal feel, there is no formal entry and no formal rooms," Helen says. "The Lindsay 4e was designed with a large central open living area to appeal to those who want a relaxed, modern lifestyle."

In fact, the Lindsay 4e was designed as a 'push me, pull me' home. "The elevation works equally well from the front or the back," Helen says. "Quite often, the question is which is the front. It has been described as similar to a palindrome word." In line with the home's laidback feel, the four bedrooms are in each corner of the home, giving everyone their own quiet place to retreat to. "The bedrooms quite often get zoned as two distinct areas, the adult zone on the side of the home with the main bedroom, and either a kids' zone or guest zone on the other side," Helen says.

The main bedroom has a built-in robe and ensuite with a double shower for a touch of luxury. The main bathroom on the opposite side has been cleverly designed so it can be used by more than one person at a time, which will be appreciated if the home is a primary place of residence. The bathroom is three-way, meaning one child can be having a shower while another brushes his or her teeth in the separate vanity.

Next to that is a handy good-sized laundry which opens to the outdoors for convenience. While the bedrooms and bathrooms are positioned to give everyone their space, the large central open plan, with the kitchen, meals and family areas, is designed to bring them together. "For the days when weather allows outdoor entertaining, the large double sliding doors open directly from the kitchen and dining area to outside," Helen says. "Due to the large double sliding doors on both sides of the home, it has excellent thermal efficiency and cross ventilation. "The interplay and transfer of light through the central living area provides little need for cooling or heating."

Helen says visitors to the Pooraka display home often pick the Lindsay 4e's open plan as their favourite feature. "The living area captures their imagination with its ability to enjoy views from both sides of the home - it could be sea views from one direction and hill views from the other." Suited to those who want a relaxed lifestyle, the Linsday 4e design also offers flexibility. "The floorplan can be changed or adapted to anyone's needs," Helen says, noting carport and garages can easily be added if desired. "However, due to the unique nature of this design, it rarely gets changed." If anything, people alter the decking areas, she says. "The size of these depends on their land size and entertaining needs."

 

20-Jul-2014 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Lindsay 155.

 

Let’s Get Away

admin 1 Storey, Grace, Media
Head to a weekend retreat such as the delightful Grace 160

Head to a weekend retreat such as the delightful Grace 160

When you need some time out, head to a weekend retreat such as the delightful Grace 3e by Sarah Homes

Relaxing is one of home's pleasures. There's often little time to do it elsewhere, certainly not at work if you have a job like mine, and many of us don't have time to organise regular spa treatments. Sometimes you need to get away to relax, and being able to sink into a comfy couch with your latest book is the perfect option. Owning your own shack or a second home away from the city, where you can leave your work life behind and relax with family or friends, is a great lifestyle choice.

The Grace 3e by Sarah Homes is one such design that you'll find is bright and breezy, and comes in at an affordable price point starting at $97,300. Lifestyle is key in this open plan single-storey design that's not about multiple living spaces or state-of-the art inclusions. Rather it revels in simplicity and pared back living. It's a comfortable, relaxing and chilled out home focused on restful times and shared experiences.

One large L-shape space encompasses the living/dining and kitchen for daytime living, and thanks to its wide, floor-to-ceiling windows and three sets of aluminium sliding doors which open to two large decks and create good cross ventilation and thermal efficiency it's a light, bright area where the family can come together but still feel like they have enough room to spread out.

Higher 2.7m ceilings as standard in the Grace 3e design also add to the feeling of spaciousness. Sarah Homes' Helen Lowrie says the Grace 3e was designed as a holiday or weekend home where you can regularly visit and without it breaking the bank. "This home has no formal entry and no formal rooms. It was designed as lifestyle home for those who want to live in their home and enjoy every space," Helen says. "It provides people with something different and is a home to enjoy that offers a change from their main home in Adelaide."

In the display at Victor Harbor, the middle wall, which separates living areas from sleeping quarters, has been painted in Colorbond's Monument as a striking feature, and its impact is impressive against the home's otherwise off-white tones. A dark bank of cupboards in the kitchen complements the wall and breaks up the space, where a long island bench with waterfall edge dominates and acts as a great workbench and casual meals area. Blum soft close drawers, a double sink and underbench oven are also included as standard.

"The living area is quite a large space and while it is flooded with light, we wanted to bring some strong colours into the room," Helen says. "The dark wall was chosen to complement the large amount of light and give the room a backdrop of colour." From the living/dining and kitchen area you can look out in four directions, and if positioned well in a coastal or country location, you're bound to be rewarded with remarkable views. Helen says it's the home's bright feel that visitors are usually attracted to. "The living area is so filled with light that it is quite an uplifting space to walk into. Visitors say they left feeling light and happy.

"There is little wasted space with only one passageway. This has resulted in a very cost-effective home that is efficient in space, but feels like it has an abundance of it." A large timber deck out to the front of the home and another off the side from the kitchen create outdoor relaxation areas where you can add a pergola or sit under an umbrella in good weather. And Helen says it doesn't really matter what shape block you have to work with, as the decking can be modified to suit the client and the block, so it takes in the best aspect.

When it's time to rest, retire to the back wing of the home where there are three good size bedrooms. "The dropped ceiling in the passage between bedrooms delineates the space between the living and sleeping zones," Helen says. "By painting the wall black that leads to the sleeping zones, this gives it a real gateway or framed entrance to the bedrooms."

The sleeping quarters are separated from one another, with the ensuite bathroom between bedrooms one and two, and the main bathroom and laundry between bedrooms two and three. Each room has a good amount of storage with built-in wardrobes, and the master has the privacy of its own ensuite and also has sliding doors opening to the front deck. Both the ensuite and main bathroom share the same neutral tones and feature tiling, luxurious vanities and spacious showers. Throughout the living areas floorboards offer a fresh, coastal feel and are low-maintenance.

 

22-Mar-2015 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

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

 

A Nice Outlook

admin 1 Storey, Fairweather, Media
The Fairweather an ideal holiday home or a rural getaway

The Fairweather an ideal holiday home or a rural getaway

If it's a holiday home or a rural getaway you're after, the Fairweather 3e by Sarah Homes might just be the answer

Extra house space can come back to haunt you, when you realise all those extra rooms and space can lie idle for up to 90 per cent of the time. So builder Sarah Homes sensibly scales the middle ground in offering flexible entertaining and living space - inside and out - with its traditional three-bedroom design, the Fairweather 3e. "This home suits a variety of people," says Helen Lowrie of the Longridge Group. "It can suit either a family where the parents can be zoned away from the kids, or it can suit people who often have guests to stay but don't want an overly large home."

It will also be a good fit naturally for people downsizing their living arrangements. The 11.2m wide design suits a standard block shape, so it will appeal to the home buyer who also prefers a more traditionally designed home or who is after a holiday home. And Helen says that has been underlined by positioning the formal lounge at the front of the Fairweather's layout, adjacent to the main bedroom.

With 136sqm of living space alone, the Fairweather 3e lets you breathe comfortably whether relaxing or hosting a gathering in its open, central living/dining hub. "The kitchen is located centrally, which suits our relaxed Australian lifestyle where the kitchen is the hub of the home," Helen says. "It offers direct access to the dining area, which is positioned to the side, as well as the family room which it overlooks."

The dining and family living zones open directly out to the entertaining decks, arguably one of the Fairweather's crowning glories. "The deck area features an alcove that can house a barbecue, which can either be built in or be freestanding," Helen says. "The deck has a large section under the main roof, which is good for those hot summer days." So it's easy to picture having breakfast or a quiet drink alfresco style there most of the year. The open plan, central living and dining hub covers about 44sqm and will encourage fluid drift between the three.

The space is accentuated by 2.7m high ceilings in the display version at Pooraka. Dressed in neutral tones with fresh warm whites, the home feels both airy, light and calming. And the kitchen zone is made even more inviting for casual meals and conversations with its island bench/bar enabling you to sit and enjoy your down time. The main bedroom offers a generous environment, covering 15.4sqm plus walk-in robe and ensuite bathroom, to make it a true haven.

The second bathroom is set closer to the two secondary bedrooms, one decorated as a little girl's dream room, and underlines the flexibility of this layout. The Fairweather's thoroughly modern image is enhanced by its cladded exterior, featuring a weatherboard profile known as James Hardie's Linea and a modern, low sheen, Solver paint finish. It's a design you can easily imagine as a holiday home at the beach or as a rural retreat - and is one to enjoy.

 

02-Nov-2014 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

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

 

Take it Easy

admin 2 Storey, Media, Roberts 2 Storey
Roberts 225 a fancy a laid-back beach lifestyle

Roberts 225 a fancy a laid-back beach lifestyle

If you fancy a laid-back beach lifestyle, Sarah Homes'
Roberts 2 Storey could be just the holiday home you need

Picture weekend mornings on the sundrenched deck of Sarah Homes' Roberts 2 Storey design, coffee in hand with a view of the ocean. Or, better yet, balmy summer nights catching up with friends over a gin and tonic. It's this laid-back, quintessentially Australian beachside lifestyle which inspired the fresh and airy Roberts 2 Storey design, says Sarah Homes' Helen Lowrie.

"This home has a very relaxed, informal feel. It is a real entertainer's home with plenty of space for everyone in the family," Helen says of the design, which she calls a "delight" thanks to the generous decking. "Given our lovely temperate climate for most of the year, the ability to open up the home is a way to enjoy our environment," she adds of the 69sqm main openplan living area upstairs.

Designed with four bedrooms and ample living spaces on both levels, the home's floorplan was devised with holidays in mind - zoning the floors to ensure maximum comfort and seamless entertaining.

"Remarkably, the Roberts 2 Storey has a lot of space but sits comfortably on a narrow block. This is important as there is a growing trend to narrower lots," says Helen of the compact design that spans 7.9m wide and is 16m deep. On the ground level, three minor bedrooms are generous in size with large windows and easy access to an unusual bathroom setup, which sees the shower and a powder area on one side of the hallway, and a second powder area opposite, with access to a separate toilet and laundry.

This ensures all downstairs inhabitants will have access to the wet areas without getting in each other's way. A central hallway leads from the entry at the front to the downstairs living area at the rear. This space, which has sliding doors to the yard, could be used as a games room to create a teenage retreat-like zone and ensure the adults "have some time away from noisy kids", as Helen puts it. Halfway along the hall, another set of sliding doors opens to the outdoors where a shaded courtyard could be created.

"The bedrooms and a downstairs living room open on to the backyard, making it the ideal place for a large family or holiday/rental investors," she says.

Upstairs, designed as the home's main living hub, is a bright and breezy open-plan living space leading from the stylish yet conventional galley-style kitchen and out to two wide balconies.

In the display, the modern white kitchen gets a burst of colour with an orange splashback setting off the thick stone benchtop with two round sinks inset, while behind it a double bank of above-counter cupboards in a timber look laminate adds vital storage. The upstairs living area, according to Helen, is what impresses visitors to the Victor Harbor display the most.

Large windows on all sides maximise views from the kitchen, dining and lounge which sits adjacent the wider balcony at the front. At the back of the upper level behind the kitchen, is the master bedroom which is spaciously appointed, running the width of the home, and has walk-in storage and an ensuite with a shower, toilet and long vanity. Thanks to the zoning, the home appeals to a range of clients seeking easy family holiday living, Helen says.

"It is ideal for people with large families who want a lot of space to relax in a holiday home," she says. "It also appeals to older clients with grandchildren who like to holiday with family but want an extra living zone to keep the child/teenage noise away from the adults."

On-point with Scandi chic finishes, including whitewashed flooring, and clever window placement for welcome natural light, the Roberts 2 Storey design exudes a sense of serenity from each room, as well as being an environmentallyfriendly design. Design features, including the vaulted ceiling and porthole windows to the front, add a spacious feel to the home, Helen says.

In the display, a recess near the kitchen has been turned into extra storage as well as a feature bookshelf. White weatherboard-style cladding combined with timber decking adds to the beachhouse feel.

"Most Sarah Homes are built as holiday homes, so the styling was chosen to reflect these happy, relaxed times," Helen says. "The colours are bright and cheery, yet not overpowering." True Oak corrugated roofing/wall cladding by Revolution Roofing, a 25-year structural guarantee and Blum soft close drawers to the kitchen come as standard with the design, but Helen adds that "anything and everything can be upgraded". "The most common upgrades are ceiling heights, tiling heights and deck layouts - both size and location - as well as changes to kitchen and bathroom cabinets," she says.

 

07-Feb-2016 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Roberts 225

 

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