farm philosophy
A tree change to Byron Bay gave this family a chance to work with local artisans to create a relaxed, all-white home
For Emma and Tom Lane, founders of The Farm Byron Bay, work and home life are an ebb and flow of ideas and inspiration. As a working farm and hub for local businesses, including a bakery, restaurant, nursery and market garden, The Farm is an extension of their ethos – to leave the world a better place – and their home is a place to test concepts for the collective. The couple relocated to their holiday home in the Byron Bay hinterland five years ago, after deciding they wanted to give their four children a taste of the country life they had grown up with. However, not everything went according to plan. “We had been holidaying in the area for close to 10 years, but it’s one thing to holiday in a place and another to live there,” says Emma. “We soon realised we were spending longer in the car for the school run than when we lived in Sydney, which was not ideal!”
Armed with their new local knowledge, Emma and Tom decided to sell their holiday home and try living in town. After a fruitless search for a house to rent, they found one to buy – close to the beach and school, and within an easy commute to The Farm. “It was a hard decision, but we thought we should try town life, and renovating the home offered a chance to work with local artisans and tradespeople we admired,” says Emma.
The pair loved their new contemporary-style house, with its voluminous rooms, but felt the internal layout needed tweaking to suit their family of six. They turned to local architect Dominic Finlay Jones to help them reconfigure the ground floor for their specific needs. “There was an abundance of space, but it needed to be redistributed to suit a large family,” explains Dominic. “We removed an internal wall to create a larger laundry and bigger bathroom, as well as adding much more storage.”
Experienced renovators – this is Emma and Tom’s fourth house in 10 years – the couple wanted to trial an interiors concept Emma had long coveted. “For years I had admired the all-white look, but had wondered how it would feel to live in it,” she says. “I knew it could work with the proportions of the house, but felt we needed to put our own stamp on it, to stop it becoming stark and clinical. Houses should reflect your personality, so we needed to add warmth with natural materials.”
The result is an ode to casual living, where quality is more important than quantity, and sustainability is king. “The joy of pulling this house together was the collaborations with local artists and tradespeople who share our philosophy,” says Emma, who worked with Bernard Conroy of Bernie & Co on the upcycled timber features throughout the house. “Together we designed upcycled shelves and door handles. I’m very much about trying to use what we already have, rather than buying something new.”
Pops of colour have been added with artworks, but in the main, decoration comes from everyday life. A wall of weathered hats adds interest in the study, while the hallway coat rack and bench – strewn with life’s necessities – look stylishly practical.
Tom made his own contribution to the home’s revamp, with the addition of an outdoor fireplace and oven. “Tom has become famous for his Sunday night Spanish parrilla,” says Emma.
Life in the house has given the couple the serenity they need to care for their family and business, but a new sister project for The Farm has them looking forward. “It’s not our ever-after house, but I’m grateful for the stepping stone,” says Emma. “Some ideas we will take with us, others we won’t.” Watch this space. Visit Dominic Finlay Jones Architects at dominicfinlayjones.com.au.