Built on a plot of expansive garden, the original structure was a relatively new, pitched roof barn. Decidedly not starting from scratch, Adam Kane Architects reimagined the cheap-finished existing structure to cater to the client’s dream home desires. The exterior and interior required substantial renovation, but as designers after our own heart, Adam Kane Architects believed it was unnecessary and unsustainable to demolish the building. Instead, the design process recognised an environmental and economic concern while proving the building was still both malleable and usable. To meet the needs of the client’s love of the ever-green outdoors, the home was to welcome the abounding natural beauty without obstructing it.

Taking a step inside, handcrafted features dress each space. It is all about the handy work; the mint and sea blue hand-glazed tiles, brush-painted cabinetry, v-groove cabinetry doors and scraped timber flooring. With this attention to detail, the home has a personal, lived in feeling, fitting with the rural location and a slowed down lifestyle. Muted, grey hues fuse living and private areas, while rich accents of red and black provide striking depth. Texturally, the home is smooth and polished, drawn from the traditional materials of marble and timber to create rooms that appear out of a heritage home. Soft linen furnishings and window dressings are a warm comfort amid the sleekness; a perfect match for the enduring aesthetic of the interior.

Outside, the black barn is a welcome addition to the established grounds. Its moody palette of charcoal and concrete-coloured rendered brickwork fits tactfully with the native fauna and the overall lushness of garden. To better enjoy the garden from the outside, timber pergolas were built on each side of the structure, to be used all day and all year round. From unlikely foundations, Adam Kane Architects have achieved a rural retreat that honours and accommodates the natural grandeur of its garden grounds.