Former Wallabies Captain Stephen Moore and his wife Courtney have built their forever home for their growing family.
Working with award-winning architect Tim Stewart, renowned construction company Graya, and PGH Bricks and Pavers, the couple have created a truly elegant and sophisticated home in Brisbane's inner suburb of Paddington.
Making the most of a view
Situated on a hill in Paddington, only 15 minutes from Brisbane's CBD, the home's view of the city's skyline is breathtaking. Taking advantage of their unique position, Stephen and Courtney wanted to be able to admire the view no matter where they were standing in the home.
"We wanted to be able to look through the middle of the house from the very back boundary and be able to enjoy the Brisbane skyline," explained Stephen. "For a three-storey build on sloped land, stairs were inevitable. But according to Tim Stewart, they need not be a hindrance. Instead, they were designed as a structural statement that demands your attention immediately as you enter the home."
With the entrance on the lower level, the timber staircase runs along the right wall of the house and the second floor can be seen from the ground. The result is a completely open living area extending from the front to the back of the home, allowing Brisbane's skyline to be admired completely uninterrupted.
Minimalist Family Home Gallery
Lifestyle layout
The flow between spaces was paramount to make the most of every area ensuring it is possible to adapt to their family's changing lifestyle needs without compromising on style. While the floor-to-ceiling glass doors allow the couple to supervise their children with ease, they also maximise living areas by blending indoor and outdoor entertaining areas, giving the impression of endless space.
"We wanted to have all the bedrooms upstairs so that we could leave the middle level open for living and spending time as a family," Stephen explains. "Stephen and Courtney chose brick as one of the primary materials for their home for its ability to withstand the inevitable accidents of a young family."
Tim points out that the couple, chose bricks for the inside of the stairwells, where the kids are going to rub their hands up the walls, a robust yet stylish material, brick is perfect for a young family designing their dream home with an emphasis on aesthetics.
Natural and raw
As you proceed up the staircase and into the living area, the home wraps you in warmth as sunlight rushes in through the floor to ceiling windows and bounces off the timber floorboards and feature walls. With a polished concrete kitchen bench, brick feature wall, and spotted gum accents, the home has a sense of earthiness without feeling dated.
Courtney's interior styling focuses on raw, locally made furniture with pops of blue textiles and fresh greenery, reminiscent of nature, while still allowing the materials and structures to speak for themselves.
"There's something to be said about designing a home with and for the people you love most," Stephen explains. "After all this time, we've got a place we can call home. And that's a really good feeling."
Are you considering creating your dream home in the near future? Brick is a fantastic building product that offers timeless beauty, desirable thermal benefits, and long-lasting durability.
Photographer: Mindi Cooke
Builder: Graya Constructions
Architect: Tim Stewart
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