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Southern Highlands Grand Design

This stunning architectural home embraces a contemporary style highlighting clean lines, simplicity, and a focus on natural materials. With an open and light-filled atmosphere, a seamless indoor-outdoor living space that truly connects with the surrounding landscape.

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Project by Daniel Baker Design
Photography Bolt Media
Place Southern Highlands
Project Type Residential
Architect Martin McGrane Architects
Category Residential
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Southern Highlands Grand Design

This stunning architectural home embraces a contemporary style highlighting clean lines, simplicity, and a focus on natural materials. With an open and light-filled atmosphere, featuring a seamless indoor-outdoor living space that truly connects with the surrounding landscape.

Inspired by a property in LA, our Lavarosa Anticato Limestone is featured in the outdoor areas surrounding the property. With a blend of light-coloured earthy tones, a lightly textured finish, and distressed edge, it looks and feels right at home as part of this contemporary design.

Timber adds warmth and richness to the space, while the use of glass provides an open and light-filled atmosphere.  Sandstone wall cladding and limestone both being natural materials add texture, visual interest, and a sense of sophistication to the design.

Overall, the combination of these elements suggests a contemporary design that merges modern and natural elements, creating a visually appealing and harmonious space.

Our Silver Ash Premium Tumbled Travertine was chosen on the floors for the powder room, ensuite, main bathrooms, and laundry.

Interview with the Client/Homeowner

Whilst we were photographing this incredible project, Ali from Sareen Stone caught up with the client Kate. 

Ali: ‘WOW! Your home is simply stunning Kate!  This project has blown us away!’

Kate: ‘We could easily have been a Grand Design; we were way over budget and over time!’

Tell us all about the beginning of this Project. Why did you choose the Southern Highlands?

We purchased the property as a blank canvas.  Loving the location in the Southern Highlands, with its beautiful position, gorgeous Pine trees, so much open space, gardens, and privacy.  What else could you want!

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.

LA inspiration for a Southern Highlands 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.

Building through delays and material challenges

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!

From Cathedral Limestone to Lavarosa Anticato

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!

The change from Cathedral Limestone to Lavarosa Anticato became an important part of the project’s material story. Developed as an alternative with the same size, finish, and tones as the original selection, Lavarosa Anticato provided the limestone required for the outdoor areas while working with the warm, natural palette planned for the residence.

 

 

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

Project Highlights

Lavarosa Anticato Limestone in the Southern Highlands

Lavarosa Anticato Limestone forms a key part of the material palette at this contemporary Southern Highlands residence by Martin McGrane Architects and Daniel Baker Design. Used throughout the outdoor areas surrounding the property, the limestone features light-coloured, earthy tones, a lightly textured finish, and distressed edges that complement the home’s wider use of timber, glass, and sandstone wall cladding.

The stone also has a distinctive connection to the project’s construction story. Cathedral Limestone in an Alfresco finish was originally selected, but quarry delays meant supply could not be guaranteed within the required timeframe. Sareen Stone worked with another quarry to create Lavarosa Anticato specifically for the project, providing an alternative of the same size and finish with similar tones. Inside the residence, Silver Ash Premium Tumbled Travertine was selected for the powder room, ensuite, main bathrooms and laundry.

Sareen Stone supplies limestone, travertine and other natural stone products for residential and architectural projects across the Southern Highlands, Sydney and Australia.

Products Used

Inspired by nature, the blend of light-coloured earthy tones, a softly textured finish and distressed edges, Lavarosa Anticato, was created for this project, and works harmoniously with the surrounding landscape of the Southern Highlands.

Lavarosa Anticato Limestone tiles and pool coping for outdoor and residential projects

Lavarosa Anticato Limestone

Silver Ash Premium Travertine tiles showcasing elegant grey tones and natural texture

Silver Ash Premium Travertine

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Rebecca Vallance Store, The Strand Arcade Sydney

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FAQs

What natural stone was used at the Southern Highlands Grand Design?

Lavarosa Anticato Limestone was used throughout the property’s outdoor areas. Silver Ash Premium Tumbled Travertine was also selected for flooring in the powder room, ensuite, main bathrooms and laundry.

Was Lavarosa Anticato Limestone created for this project?

Yes. Cathedral Limestone in an Alfresco finish was originally selected for the outdoor areas, but quarry delays affected its availability. Sareen Stone worked with another quarry to create Lavarosa Anticato as an alternative for the project.

Why was Lavarosa Anticato chosen instead of Cathedral Limestone?

The originally selected Cathedral Limestone could not be supplied within the required timeframe. Lavarosa Anticato was developed as an alternative with the same size, finish, and similar tones, allowing the project to continue towards its completion deadline.

Where was Lavarosa Anticato Limestone used?

Lavarosa Anticato Limestone features throughout the outdoor areas surrounding the property. Its light-coloured earthy tones, lightly textured finish and distressed edges form part of the home’s wider natural material palette.

Where was Silver Ash Premium Travertine used?

Silver Ash Premium Tumbled Travertine was selected for the floors of the powder room, ensuite, main bathrooms and laundry.

What influenced the design of the Southern Highlands residence?

The homeowners were inspired by a contemporary property in Los Angeles. They incorporated ideas from that residence into their own design, including details around the approach to the house and the transition between the alfresco and living/dining spaces.

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