HEAD FOR THE HILLS

A salve for hectic pace of city life, this lodge-style home on the NSW Central Tablelands wraps its owners in comfort and beauty.

- Georgia Madde

From the moment you step through the front door of this luxury farmhouse near Bathurst, on the NSW Central Tablelands, you get the sense you’ve arrived somewhere special. With soaring ceilings, a two-metre-wide sandstone fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the rolling hills outside, you feel yourself instantly relax – which is exactly the vibe the owners set out to create when they designed and built the home.

The area holds wonderful memories for the owners. They have brought their five children to the property for some 20 years, giving themselves a much-needed break from the rush of Sydney and a chance to enjoy the many pleasures of country life. Now that the children are grown up and have five little ones of their own, the couple felt it was time to upgrade to a larger, more modern abode that better suited the needs of three generations.

“Design is in our DNA and we are passionate about craftsmanship,” says the homeowner. “The home needed to be warm and inviting, and we wanted to give it a handcrafted feel.”

They chose a secluded spot in a valley not too far from their original residence for the new four-bedroom, four-bathroom home. Peace and quiet aside, it was the views that swayed them – gently undulating hills that evoke fond memories of their North Lebanon homeland. Once the design was finalised, they turned to long-time friend and interior designer Linda Habak to give the interior the warm and luxurious feel they craved.

“The house is jaw-dropping in both its scale and setting,” says Linda. “The pitched ceiling in the living, dining and bar area reaches over six metres at its peak, the room itself is 12 metres wide … and then there is that incredible outlook.