Quintessential Hamptons home in the Hunter Valley

Home design is always evolving and it's interesting to see how the COVID 19 restrictions have transformed the way we live and use our homes. We are now prioritising spaces for connection and retreat, as well as functions such as home offices and a seamless indoor-outdoor transition for relaxation and getting away from the ‘office'.

The acreage design from MOJO Homes Carrington Grand One 31 is a quintessential Hamptons style home nestled in the gorgeous Hunter Valley. This home demonstrates the Australian adaptation of Hamptons Style perfectly. Offering four bedrooms, an office and a theatre room, the home balances life, style and affordability.

About this quintessential Hamptons Home in the Hunter Valley

“The spacious, open plan layouts of the Australian Hamptons look fits perfectly with the way people are choosing to live,” says Sandra Setian, MOJO Interior Designer, Display Homes. “From the moment you see the horizontal shadow lines of the façade’s Linea Weatherboard from James Hardie, you get a sense of breadth and expanse that you struggle to find at an affordable price in metro areas.”

Inspired by the surrounds and its properties, the exterior palette comprises of a range of soft greys and corrugated iron roof, reminiscent of vintage Australian country homes. These are blended with Hamptons hallmarks including Dutch gables with eave returns and decorative truss detail, multiple rooflines and an articulated façade created by the placement of the two-car garage.

“We wanted this home to feel calming by using a simple palette that would also reflect solar heat. This was enhanced by creating a dynamic, articulated façade, combined with a range of textures including the quintessential Australian look of Linea Weatherboard, which we used as they’re made using fibre cement, making them resistant to warping, flaking and damage from moisture and fire. They are also BAL rated, which is a must for any bushfire zone,” adds Sandra.

Inside, the light, bright colourway accentuates the open breezy feel of the home, which has been designed to create areas of connection and privacy, Sandra continues. “The lockdowns changed the way we use our homes and what we need from them. Before the focus was on creating connection for family members who had been out all day at school, work, social gatherings and so on. In 2020, a lot of people were consistently together, so the need to retreat became much greater.”

To create personal spaces, the layout incorporates a parents’ retreat on one side encompassing the master bedroom with ensuite and a home office, while on the opposite end there are three bedrooms and the main bathroom. Between these lies a central open plan kitchen, dining and living area for families to connect. The addition of a home theatre room creates a cosy space for evenings spent with a movie and snacks, or an escape for kids to enjoy TV and computer games without disturbing the rest of the family. Throughout the property, space is maximised through the use of James Hardie’s lightweight, fibre cement cladding, which requires less area than traditional masonry, allowing for more room to be enjoyed by the occupants.

This central hub of the home is an entertainer’s dream, allowing residents to live the Hamptons lifestyle with friends and family. The use of dark timber boards connects interior living space to the outdoor area with a sense of continuity, which is enhanced by a plethora of subtle greys and natural look materials used inside and out.

“One of the big design motifs of the home is the look of timber as it evokes the old-world charm of the vintage country and Hamptons looks, but can still remain clean and unfussy. This works particularly well in the kitchen countertops and connects to the wood grain profile of the Linea Weatherboard on the rear exterior wall,” says Sandra. “Weatherboard has a very familiar, Australian look, which has become more popular in the last five years, as it echoes a simpler time away from the fast-paced lives we live today,” she adds.

Related: Why I love a weatherboard home

Find out how to get the Australian Hamptons look and maximise your home’s space at jameshardie.com.au. For more information on MOJO Homes and the Carrington Grand visit www.mojohomes.com.au.