0 Get in Touch

Architectural Family Living

This architectural contemporary family home was designed to encompass lots of natural light and large open living spaces for family and entertaining. The contrast of light and dark materials integrated, creates a striking distinction drawing attention and adding sophistication.

Get In Touch
Project by Truman Building Solutions
Photography Josh Hill
Landscape Green Coast Landscapes
Place Kingsford
Project Type Residential
Category Residential

Products Used

Products used and where:

Luna Chiaro Alfresco Limestone – pool surrounds + pool coping
Hotham Wall Cladding – front and rear wall cladding + fireplace
Silhouette Grey Granite – outdoor living terrace, stairs leading to the front and rear of the home, and stepping stones
Terrazzo – featured in every Bathroom, sometimes pairing with the concrete look porcelain tile and white matt porcelain tile

Hotham Stone Wall Cladding

Silhouette Grey Granite

Luna Chiaro Limestone

Concrete Look Porcelain Tiles

Interview with Truman Building Solutions

The collaboration on this project between the homeowners, Sareen Stone, Truman Building, and Green Coast Landscapes provided a stunning result.

A critical part of this collaborative process was with the builder, Truman Building Solutions. Ali from Sareen Stone caught up with Joelle Sadek, Head of Commercial and Operations, to ask a few questions about the build process.

Project Type: New Build

What were the clients hoping to achieve in their home?

Our clients were after a modern contemporary family home with lots of natural light. They were hoping for a large solid structure comprising of large open living spaces for entertaining.

Were there any major challenges throughout the build? Such as rain delays or material shortages?

This was the most challenging build to date due to COVID restrictions, labour and material shortages, as well La Niña, to name a few.  From a building perspective, there is an approximate 6.5m height difference from the street level to the back of the property. The land topography made it difficult and time-consuming and meant that the build had to be completed in stages from rear to front.

Take us through the design process and decisions. What brought your clients to select products from Sareen Stone?

The homeowners wanted the stone wall cladding to look natural and also contrast against the black bricks, which led them to select your Hotham Wall Cladding. This was the same for Luna Chiaro Limestone around the pool. They wanted the pool to stand out against the dark contemporary structure of the home and the products to be hard-wearing and long-lasting that are slip resistant.

What is your favourite aspect of the project?

Our favourite aspect of this project is looking from the garden up to the back of the house and admiring the structure.

https://sareenstone.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/banner-mid-13.jpg

Other Projects

Cobbittee Street

Wanderlust, Vaucluse Residence

Mosman Project

Roseville Chase Residence

Narrabundah Home

TAKE US THROUGH THE INITIAL STAGES WHEN YOU WERE DESIGNING THE HOME.

We were very fortunate to work with the noted Southern Highlands Architect, Martin McGrane, on the creative design and layout of our home. Together with Martin, we created a beautiful, contemporary open plan home to enjoy with our family and friends.  This is our forever home.

Through a friend of ours, we came across an interior designer, and a beautiful outdoor material, the Cathedral Limestone, which we just fell in love with. We worked closely with Peta Daniel, Interior Designer from Daniel Baker Design, based in Sydney.  Which was wonderful, Peta just got us and what we were wanting to achieve in our home and helped us to make it a reality, in the selection of materials and finishes.

 

WERE THERE CERTAIN PEOPLE/PLACES THAT YOU TOOK INSPIRATION FROM WHEN DESIGNING/BUILDING THE HOME?

We were looking for a contemporary design, however, I didn’t want it to be too modern.  Inspired by a property in LA, that my husband came across, which we took some concepts from and added our ideas, and made it our own.

The LA contemporary look and detail leading into the house from the front door was something that we just loved.  Along with having one row of tiles that runs along the inside of the glass sliding doors leading into the living/dining room from the alfresco space was also a unique detail we wanted to include.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING PROCESS?

The build started in February 2020, and with all the delays throughout COVID, material delays, supplier issues, constant rain, mud pools, you name it, we had it!  Encountering all the possible elements, it felt like we were living in gumboots most of the time during the build.  It took 3 years to build the property, and 8 months just to get the roof on!

We had a deadline for our home to be finished by, which was our daughters’ wedding, being held in March 2023.

There were delays happening everywhere, including issues and delays with the quarry who were providing the Limestone that was to be used in all the outdoor areas surrounding the property.  We had chosen Cathedral Limestone in an alfresco finish with a lovely organic distressed finish on the edge, that we knew would complement the other natural materials we were using.  Time was of the essence, and it came to crunch time and the quarry could not provide a guaranteed time of delivery.  We thought what a disaster!

 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH SAREEN STONE.. AND HOW THE TEAM HELPED TO OVERCOME THE SUPPLY ISSUE WITH THE CATHEDRAL LIMESTONE.

Working closely with Michael Mastro, from Sareen Stone, he had been in constant contact updating me as best he could.  Then an alternative solution was presented, another Limestone of the same size and finish, with similar tones, which I hoped would work and arrive in time.  Sareen Stone had been behind the scenes working closely with another quarry, to create a new product ‘Lavarosa Anticato’, just for our project, so that we had a solution and were able to finish our home in time for our daughter’s wedding.

When the material arrived, we couldn’t have been happier.  We just loved the Lavarosa Anticato, and it worked so well with our colour palette, and love it even more than our previous selection.  We were over the moon!

 

DESIGNER COMMENTS:

Working with Kate and Eugene on this project was wonderful. They were passionate about the overall design but also the finer details and the interplay of the natural materials with the surrounding landscape.

It was very important that the natural material palette was harmonious, and that each element was both complementary and warm.

I’ve worked with Michael from Sareen Stone on a number of projects and have always been impressed with his professional advice and clear communication. The magnificent home warmly wrapped with the “Lavarosa Anticato” is simply stunning.   A beautiful project!

Peta Daniel, Daniel Baker Design

 

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

Interior Designer:  Daniel Baker Design, 0414 341 778
Architecture:  Martin McGrane Architects, 0412 242 253
Photography and short film:  Bolt Media, 0426 607 040