Home On The Range Meet the dog that rules the roost at his serene Byron Bay hinterland home.
Meet Ranger the Hungarian vizsla, one of the stars of a new book by Nicole England celebrating four-legged friends and the homes they live in.
THE HOME WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT WITH SUSTAINABILITY IN MIND, USING AS MANY LOCAL AND UPCYCLED MATERIALS AS POSSIBLE.
AtaSpanish-stylefincainthehinterland of Byron Bay, NSW, lives a chestnut-coloured Hungarian vizsla called Ranger. Aptly named and suitably hued for the earthy Australian terrain, the two-year-old pup guards The Range, home to Emma and Tom Lane and their four children Charlie, 16, George, 13, Matilda, 11, and Lucinda, nine. The property covers 49 hectares and includes a 4500-strong macadamia orchard, 75 Saint Helena olive trees and a rainforest spring-fed river dam and, perhaps most importantly, a family home designed around sustainable principles.
Ranger’s humans built their abode upon the slab of an existing derelict house in order to minimise waste, while integrating as many local and upcycled materials as possible. The chimney is made from stones collected on site; the timber ceiling beams are crafted out of wood repurposed from a deconstructed bridge; electricity is generated through solar power.
Ranger doesn’t just protect this expansive property; he looks after everyone on it. When an injured baby wallaby was found, he helped nurse her until the Lanes could release her into the wild. When it’s time for bed, Ranger watches over the children until sunrise, then checks on the adults before heading out to survey the grounds. Perched on top of a hill, the house gives Ranger the perfect refuge to oversee the action. The use of natural materials – such as the pink-tinged walls meticulously rendered in a shade that complements the soil they sit on – allows it to quietly blend in with the environment. There’s a lot to monitor, but when he’s not on self-elected duty, Ranger happily transitions from caretaker to carefree pup and settles in for a well-deserved siesta.
DFJ Architects, Byron Bay, NSW; (02) 6687 1425 or dfj.com.au. Forty Four Constructions, Lennox Head, NSW; fortyfourconstructions.com.au.
HALL The cocooning spotted gum-clad hallway leads to the main bedroom. Painting by Dick Ward. Polished-concrete flooring. KITCHEN Traditional cement render, tinted a custom colour, is used inside and out. The kitchen island is made from polished concrete. Stools, Bisque Interiors. Pendant light, Lighting Collective. The wall-side bench is topped with copper. HydroTap Miniboil Classic boiling filtered water tap, Zip. Mixer tap, ACS Designer Bathrooms. Terracotta pavers from Jatana Interiors.
CASUAL LIVING ROOM Ranger is regal, statuesque and in perfect tonal harmony with his chic, earthy surroundings. Rug, Tigmi Trading. Terracotta pavers, Jatana Interiors. Small table, Jess Design ‘Earl’ armchair and matching footstool, all from Island Luxe. MAIN BEDROOM Where possible, furnishings, fittings and accessories were sourced locally. Bedside pendant light and stool, both Island Luxe. For similar bedlinen, try Hale Mercantile Co. Moroccan-style rug and jute rug, bothTigmi Trading.
PERCHED ON TOP OF A HILL, THE HOUSE GIVES RANGER THE PERFECT REFUGE TO OVERSEE ALL OF THE ACTION.