A place in the sun A dream becomes a reality for this couple

IT TOOK ALMOST TWO DECADES, BUT A COUPLE OF FORMER CITY SLICKERS HAVE FINALLY REALISED THEIR DREAM OF LIVING IN A LIGHT, BRIGHT QUEENSLANDER

Olivera and her husband, Bob, are hardly the first Sydneysiders to be lured to Queensland by the promise of a warmer climate and lower house prices. But back in the early 2000s, Bob also had his heart set on leaving the corporate world to pursue a career in the building industry. Today, he is co-partner of an award-winning construction company and, after 17 years of building for others, he’s just completed the couple’s long-awaited dream home in a riverside suburb of Brisbane. “Though I grew up in Sydney, I’ve always loved traditional Queenslanders,” says Oli, as she’s usually known. “Our first home together was a tiny terrace, one room wide and very dark. A sun-drenched timber house really appealed to me.”

Step one was finding the right location. “One of the first blocks we viewed had these amazing vistas of the city, as well as the surrounding suburbs,” she recalls. “All the tin roofs in the undulating greenery reminded me of a painting. There were around 30 other families at the viewing though, and I didn’t think we stood a chance.” Fortunately, the pair secured the block and the 12-month build started almost immediately. “With Bob being the builder, the process itself ran very smoothly,” says Oli. Council regulations dictated that the home blend in with surrounding character homes, which suited the couple perfectly. “In fact, I wanted people – even visiting tradies – to mistake it for a renovated Queenslander, not a new build,” adds Bob.

The classic exterior beautifully fulfills his wish, but beyond the generously proportioned front door, visitors are greeted with a sight that’s uncommon in a traditional Queenslander; an eye-catching six-metre high, stone-clad fireplace that soars up into the living room’s double height, light-filled void. “We had this cute little pot-belly stove in our first Sydney terrace and Bob, to this day, does fireplaces in most of his homes,” says Oli. “People think you don’t need one in Brisbane, but in winter we much prefer watching the fire to watching the television.” Natural materials were also non-negotiable for the couple. Alongside the exquisite ‘Apollo’ natural stone walling selected for the fireplace, American Oak graces the floors and Bianco Venato marble makes a gleaming feature of the benchtops. “Natural finishes are like a work of art, you never tire of looking at them,” muses Oli. “The marble is a little precious though,” she concedes with a smile, “but if you’re happy to mop up spills quickly, it’s well worth it.”

When they were ready to decorate the interiors, the owners called upon Marion Taylor of Tailored Home Styling to help them achieve a relaxed resort vibe. “We wanted a light-filled space that made you feel not only at home, but on holidays as soon as you stepped through the door,” sums up Oli. “This is our dream Queenslander and I can’t imagine we’ll be moving for a very long time.”

“WE WANTED A HOME natural THAT OVERFLOWED WITH LIGHT AND PROVIDED TRUE ALFRESCO LIVING” ~ BOB

“THE UPPER LEVEL OF THE HOUSE WAS sanctuary, DESIGNED AS A A QUIET RETREAT FOR OURSELVES AND OUR GUESTS” ~ OLIVERA

SITTING PRETTY In Olivera and Bob’s sun-kissed Brisbane home, architectural details such as the deep verandah, James Hardie Linea weatherboard cladding (opposite) and casement-style windows helped Bob achieve his vision of a new build that sits comfortably amid surrounding character homes. An extra wide front door painted in an inky Dulux Ebony high gloss is a stylish surprise against the serene exterior palette (Dulux Tranquil Retreat Half, with trims in Dulux Lexicon Half). Beyond the threshold, the interiors are just as welcoming. “We’re big readers, so having a library was important to us,” explains Oli of this colourful corner (below), where the false balcony frames the treetop setting and enhances the city views, and the ‘Chippendale’ lounge chairs from Xavier Furniture make a stunning statement. >

ENTRY Puppies Piper and Harley relax in the expansive entrance hall (top left), styled sparely with a wicker ‘Kubu’ bench and a ‘Martinique’ mirror, both from Provincial Home Living. Unusually, the ceilings were lowered. “We wanted to make an even greater impact once you step from the entry into the double-height living area,” explains Bob.

KITCHEN Avid entertainer Oli (pictured) really loves to cook – “It might be my Serbian heritage,” she laughs– so an ergonomically designed kitchen (left) was an essential. Bob barracked for the cabinetry by Garsden & Clarke Kitchens to be painted in Dulux Black. “I wanted white, but now can’t imagine it any other way,” she says. The island, in Dulux Vivid White, creates a stark contrast, while the counters, topped with Bianco Venato marble sourced by SNB Stone, and a glass and antique-brass ‘Garrison’ hurricane (used as a vase) from Boyd Blue, add a glamorous touch.

LIVING & KITCHEN Double-height ceilings, full-width glazed doors and the window splashback make this open-plan zone a light-filled wonder (below). “It’s the copious light that lets the black kitchen sing,” says Oli, whose combination steamer, pyrolytic oven and induction cooktop by Asko is another sophisticated inclusion. ‘London Black’ bar stools from Rice Furniture and Beacon Lighting ‘Alfred’ pendants amplify the chic monochrome combination. Just steps away, a ‘Camden’ Chesterfield sofa from Brosa, dressed with cushions in Andrew Martin ‘Sketch’ fabric from Boyd Blue and a custom throw in a Mokum fabric by Tahn Interiors, softens the scene. >

LIVING & DINING Oli (pictured) steps down into the living-and-dining space, where walls painted in Dulux Lexicon Quarter work in harmony with the textural grey stone of the fireplace and golden warmth of American Oak floors by Awesome Timber Floors. In the dining space (opposite), full-width windows offer an uninterrupted view of the pool and the city beyond. ‘Millicent’ bowls from Boyd Blue adorn the Freedom dining table, teamed with ‘French Tufted’ chairs from European Design. A replica Marcel Wanders ‘Skygarden Luminaire’ pendant from Matt Blatt features an in-built diffuser, protecting diners’ eyes from glare. Striking occasional chairs (get the look with the ‘Miami’ in Petrol Blue from Adairs) are a regal touch atop a ‘Gild Faded Motif’ Oriental rug in Grey from Deco Rug. >

GUEST ROOM “Visitors wake up to the sound of rainbow lorikeets feeding on the melaleuca blossoms and say it’s like staying at a bird sanctuary,” she enthuses. The guest room (top right), provides a view of the treetops and features a Brosa bedhead and linen from Pillow Talk.

ENSUITE “Stepping into a deep bath and looking out at the night sky is one of the most relaxing ways to end the day,” says Oli, of the Gareth Ashton ‘Batello’ stone bath (top left), teamed with a Gareth Ashton ‘Lucia’ tap, both from Abey.

MAIN BATHROOM Keen to create resort-style ambience in this wash-zone that’s generally used by guests (above right), the couple chose Essastone’s benchtop in White Concrete, ‘Greystone’ wall tiles from Uptiles and ‘Daniela Noce’ timber-look cabinetry from Polytec. Teamed with Caroma’s ‘Contura’ basin and Gareth Ashton ‘Lucia’ wall taps from Abey, their brief for a warm, natural palette is fulfilled. The mirror was an Ikea bargain buy. >