Through the GRAPEVINE
The word is out about food writer Loukie Werle’s latest book and her rustic Italian-style new build on the Central Coast of NSW.
Life in the country is very different to terrace-house living in Sydney’s Paddington. And yet the house that Loukie Werle, celebrated food writer and former Australian House & Garden food editor, has built in a lush valley of NSW’s Central Coast is familiar territory. Loukie and husband Philip Gore, a former journalist and publisher, originally hail from the Netherlands and Scotland, respectively. Together they have travelled widely and share a great fondness for Italy, the country that inspired their new home. “We both love cosiness and comfort in a house, rather than endless expanses of glass,” says Loukie. Inside, they’ve also replicated some of the features of their urban digs: the kitchen is a grander version of the space where Loukie used to hold classes; their much-loved furniture and collectables have been freshly configured; and more than 2000 of their precious books have found a second home on the handmade shelves.
While it has only two bedrooms, the new place feels much bigger. There are two large office spaces, a huge kitchen with generous pantry, ample storage and a three-car garage under the house. The halls are wide and the light is abundant, thanks to french doors that flank the building and lead out onto an L-shaped verandah. “Generous outdoor terraces appeal to us,
and the orientation meant that we could plan for north- and east-facing outlooks,” says Loukie. “We always intended to have a vine-covered pergola to provide shade in summer and dappled sunlight in winter.”
The couple had long admired the area, having holidayed there many times over the years. Today, Loukie’s daughter and her own family live nearby. “We’ve always loved the lifestyle on the Central Coast,” says Loukie. “It’s a beautiful area with semi-rural properties and helpful, friendly neighbours, yet surprisingly close to Sydney.”
Keen to create their own slice of paradise in the region, Loukie and Phil found the gently sloping 1.6ha block in 2011. The land was half bushland and half grassy paddock in a wetland area, which added to the appeal. “We had no preconceptions but loved the land the moment we set foot on it,” says Loukie. After securing the plot in a private sale, they found local building >
designer Bruce Webb of B&S Webb, who drew up the plans, saw them through council and supervised the 11-month build in 2013. Meanwhile, Loukie and Philip rented a house in nearby Gosford so they could be on site frequently, finetuning the results.
“Neither of us had done this before, but we really welcomed the challenge,” says Loukie. “It did have its ups and downs, but in retrospect we’re extremely happy with the house and the quality of the work.” Key to the success of the project was incorporating traditional finishes and high-end fittings. And the couple did get a beautiful vine-covered pergola, now their go-to location for outdoor dining and entertaining.
Loukie and Philip love the sense of space throughout their country home, especially its wide corridors, high ceilings and generous kitchen, where Loukie brought her latest title, The Valley: A Cookbook, into being. It’s a sturdy hardback compilation of the recipes Loukie loves best of all: easy-toprepare dishes that reflect the way they live now – “with doors wide open to family and friends”. > B&S Webb, St Huberts Island, NSW; 0427 535 555.