Romantic French farmhouse exterior – but step inside!

Designed by David Reid Homes

From the designers:

The design brief was for a quality home that was flexible to accommodate a family through their life ensuring a future-proof solution.

Located in Karaka, the design is based around the look of a gathering of rural French farm buildings, with a modern-sophisticated twist. The group of three isolated gable forms are linked in sympathetic scale and proportion, while addressing views to the easterly lake, maximising the northerly sun and achieving protection from the westerly wind.

Much of the exterior of the home is comprised of precast concrete panels in dark tones that give a sense of permanence and solidity. The balance of cladding, however, is standing seam Euro-tray style metal to both roof and walls, as in the modern European style.

The design pushes the building forms to the side boundaries, achieving a generous driveway forecourt that leads to an informal central courtyard space, which in turn leads to the sheltered entrance to the home.

The design separates the service areas – including garage and laundry – into one form and places this near the street, complete with an upper level bedroom loft with two bedrooms, a bathroom and study, where two teenage family members can retire to and escape from the everyday.

The middle form comprises entry space and designer kitchen. This form brings the visitor into the house via a wide glazed entrance hall, approached by a raised walkway. The dramatic entry space accommodates a feature suspended stairway, displayed in front of a large blade wall.

The kitchen and living areas are accessed around the side of the blade wall which also forms the rear of the central kitchen directly on the other side. The nucleus of the home, the kitchen is presented as an elegant and sophisticated arrangement. Its design incorporates a large sit-up island and built in cabinets with hideaway doors that conceal the rear bench and appliances. There is also a separate built-in scullery.

Taking pride of place in the kitchen design, the island overlooks an external terrace court and out to lake views.

Direct access to the terrace court is achieved via floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that can be pulled back to create a pleasing, seamless indoor–outdoor flow.

The main living spaces and two further bedrooms comprise the home's third connected form. The dining or media room is directly across from the kitchen and can be closed off from that area.

Next to the dining room, but separate, is the home’s corner lounge, complete with cathedral ceilings, that also overlooks the lake. This space also enjoys direct access through floor-to-ceiling glazed sliding doors to the external terrace court.

The other two bedrooms and a guest bathroom in this third gabled form are entered through a small passage from the glazed entrance hall.

The upper level, under the home's central gable, is reached by the suspended stair and is solely for the masters of the home. Raised above family life, while still being close at hand, the master bedroom suite with walk-in wardrobe and ensuite achieves elevated framed views over the lake while also benefitting from the morning sun.

Overall, the home’s design is elegant in its simplicity of both form and arrangement of spaces. A family or entertainer's dream, it also reflects a sophisticated pallet of finishes and claddings.

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Kallan Macleod