The Peach House
A modernised Australian barnhouse in the Yarra Valley
Awards:
- Australian Interior Design Awards, Shortlisted, Residential Design 2025
At a glance, The Peach House pays homage to the traditional Barnhouse vernacular, with its bold triple-gabled roofline and rural silhouette. But step closer, and it quickly becomes evident that this is no conventional farmhouse. The exterior is a tactile composition of folded copper panels and charred Shou Sugi Ban timber cladding, with matt black steel and aluminium detailing. Custom brass pivot doors at both the front and rear create a sense of arrival and continuation, portals that speak to the home’s openness and carefully choreographed spatial journey.
The heart of the home, a lofty open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area is anchored by a palette of natural and refined materials. Honed Artedomus Tiberio natural stone benchtops elevate the kitchen, where brass detailing and light timber cabinetry with mesh inlays offer a rich tactile experience.
Utilising architectural geometries, the open-plan areas create comfortable breakout spaces, expansive sightlines and intimate moments. A feature steel-framed arch window, over five metres in height, becomes the room’s crown jewel, drawing the eye outward to views of Mount Dandenong.
In the living area, architectural elements are transformed into sculptural forms, with a central brick fireplace and a brass-clad, scalloped floating staircase providing access to the mezzanine. Positioned against a wall of glazing, the bespoke staircase transforms function into sculpture.
Terrazzo, in its many iterations, plays a starring role throughout the home. From colourful Polarity terrazzo in the master ensuite, and warm Ghosted Hone tones in secondary bathrooms, the material becomes a unifying yet expressive element, celebrating texture, colour and pattern with bold confidence. In the bathrooms, these finishes are paired with soft peach grout, geometric feature walls, and peach-toned floors to create moments that feel equal parts spa and art installation.
The spine of the home, an expansive hallway paved with cobblestones, connects the central atrium to the bedroom pavilion, rumpus and alfresco. Vertical timber beams flank the space, creating a striking visual rhythm while tying interior finishes to the external environment. Expansive glazing adds depth and light, transforming the corridor into a generous, sunlit walkway.
This approach to integrating design and utility is echoed in every corner of the home. The alfresco area continues this dialogue, with the main roofline extending overhead to form a sculptural cover that provides shelter without compromising sunlight, thanks to a glazed gable end that welcomes light deep into the home.
In the bedrooms and upstairs sitting rooms, materials shift toward a quieter luxury. A 70s-inspired palette of mustard floors, white walls, and timber-lined ceilings lend a calm, retro warmth, while arched transitions and textured cabinetry preserve the home’s sculptural DNA.
What ties it all together is the consistency of craftsmanship and the clarity of vision. Every construction decision, from the structural forms to the tiniest joinery detail, is intentional. The Peach House isn’t just a home, it’s a sculptural statement grounded in functionality, family, and fun. The result is a rural residence that feels wholly contemporary, deeply personal, and delightfully unexpected.
