Not everyone who buys a rural block on which to build a dream home wants a classic country house.
That was the thinking behind the design Linda Sutton and Kieran Walsh of Linmar Homes came up with for the house they decided to build on 5.7 hectares at Kingseat.
“We’d built quite a few country homes – traditional styles with gables – but we thought there would be a market for a simple, modern home in the country.
“There had to be people who would prefer a modern house in a rural setting.”
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They built it to sell, so getting exactly the right style for the location at 160 Batty Road was important.
“This is a beautiful spot geographically because it’s elevated towards and hills and the sunrise,” Linda says.
It certainly wasn’t a rush job – she and Kieran took two years to decide exactly where to build, sitting in paddocks and watching the arc of the sun.
The house site had to be far enough down the block to be away from the road, and far enough up for the views and sun.
They expended similar effort on choosing the design elements for the house, which they gave to an architect to interpret their ideas.
The result is a smart house with clean lines, priced for sale at $3,500,000.
The ground floor level is concrete, while the upper level, clad in dark-stained timber weatherboards, sits across it like a box under a dark Coloursteel roof.
The innovative floor plan is well suited to country living.
On the ground floor is an open plan kitchen, dining and living area floored in Tasmanian oak.
Linda’s vision was that this space should be outward looking with views from every window.
Even the kitchen looks out to the rural views.
Linda describes it as “like being in a kitchen that’s actually in a garden.”
There’s also a formal lounge on this level, a bedroom, bathroom and combined laundry and mudroom.
As far as Linda is concerned, the mudroom is the piece de resistance.
A country girl, she is well aware of the needs of cold, damp, muddy people coming in from the outdoors, so there is direct access from outside into this warm, sunny room with underfloor heating and an adjoining bathroom.
On the upper level are the master suite with a big walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, two more bedrooms, a family bathroom with bath and shower, and a study/library.
Linda was also aware of the need for a good transitional area between the house and the land, and asked the architects to incorporate a massive deck and a matching timber boardwalk encircling the house.
In complete contrast to the contemporary house is the worker’s cottage which existed on the property and has been completely refurbished.
A traditional bungalow-style with weatherboard cladding, timber floors, timber joinery and some stained glass and leadlight windows, it’s been turned into a charming retreat where the character features blend perfectly with modern facilities.
A custom kitchen opens to dining and sitting areas, and there are two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a luxury outdoor bath on the deck.
160 Batty Road at Kingseat has an asking price of $3.5 million. The property is being marketed by Lisa and Steve Stone of Ray White.
