This tranquil Hallmark Homes design is a lesson in elegance – and the beauty of natural materials such as cedar and marble. It began with the siting of the house, ensuring it made best use of the sun from morning to evening for heating and daylight. The exterior design stuck to classic materials for claddings, opting for cedar, plaster, metal and glass, and the architectural forms were kept simple, informal and distinctive. A sense of earthiness has been achieved by sticking to a palette based on neutral colours, a design move which helped to integrate with and enliven the landscape. Outdoor flow and outlook to the surrounding environment has been maximised by creating suntrap decking onto flat lawn, as well as from the entry where visitors can see through to substantial planting and a bold water feature.

Attractive external features of the house are intended to be viewed from within, such as the view from the open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, which impresses with parquet flooring, a marble-inlay benchtop and a stylish brick feature wall. Likewise, the bathrooms are stunning in their simplicity, using nothing but the best materials. Along with the windows, external louvres provide cross ventilation to help moderate and control solar gain. Best of all, this aesthetically beautiful home is also great to live in.