Rooms with views

Not only is the kitchen everything they hoped it would be, it’s also unique as it sits on the top floor, rather than on the ground floor as in most traditional village houses. Lisa says it’s their favourite thing about their home.

“I’m so happy that we decided to have the kitchen on the top floor. This way, we’re only one floor below the rooftop, which means we cook and hang out on the roof all the time! The mountain views surrounding the house are amazing and I love coming up to the kitchen in the mornings and taking that view in. This also created more of a proper entrance downstairs to take off shoes and hang your coat or umbrella.”

As experienced renovators, Ben and Lisa have learnt from past mistakes, and were able to create a space that was more in keeping with how they spend their time when they’re at home. Lisa says, “We were determined not to have too many rooms and bathrooms in the house for potential guests. We’d made that mistake before, and in reality we usually only have one other couple staying at a time. So, having two extra bedrooms felt unnecessary.

She continues: “We also didn’t plan for an office in this house as both Ben and I mostly sit at the kitchen island when we have to do admin or study. We decided instead to use the extra space for a TV room, which leaves the upstairs lounge room television-free, for socialising, listening to music and reading.”

Well-placed lamps and soft furnishings add to the cosy feel of the home, and invite you to sit and stay a while, something Lisa has worked hard to achieve. “I love blankets and throws and I have them all over the house to make our home feel inviting and a place where you want to hang out. I also opted for more lamps rather than lights, except for where it’s absolutely necessary, like in the kitchen and bathrooms. I wanted to create a cosy and warm ambience with no harsh lighting.”