Small can still be grand, and this build proves the point. Every room of the 163sqm home on a lifestyle block defies expectations. Such are its joys, quirks and origin story, it was featured in last year’s Grand Designs TV series. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling is about as far away from a mass-produced home as you could get. Everything in the owner’s self-crafted design is tailored to their long-term requirements, and they aren’t standard. Take the form. It was inspired by a stealth bomber — an oversized pointed cockpit with wings on either side. The shapes and angles of the house, are also practical, giving rise to three outdoor living spaces.

Recycled timber takes centre stage, with exterior cladding and interior linings sourced from Loburn Sawmill — including freshly sawn 105-year-old cedar outside and Oregon throughout the interior. Extra interest comes from corrugated-steel trim and daubs of colour: deep red barn-style sliding doors and feature walls, sage kitchen cabinets and a wood burner in hot orange, for example. The owner, who worked alongside the building team, also sourced and repurposed materials, such as Singer sewing machines for bathroom vanities, to be used throughout the home. Polishedconcrete floors work to provide continuity. For all its highlights, whimsy, fun, colour and contrasts, this unusual rustic home is cohesive and, despite its lack of scale, represents a grand adventure for its owners and their builder.