Kia Ora
Set in the picturesque, rolling hills of the Southern Highlands, Kia Ora by Studio Whiting and Studio ERA is a reimagined country home that prioritises light and landscape.
Tucked away in Kangaloon, the home is surrounded by native bushland and open skies. “We’re really in the heart of Australia here in the country… There are cockatoos and bird noises and the odd kangaroo,” notes Carole Whiting, founder of Studio Whiting and interior designer for this project. The home has a deep sense of peace and stillness, which Whiting sought to capture from the moment you set foot on the property.
The initial condition of the home was “fairly unloved”, according to Whiting. “It was a bit of a rabbit warren of small rooms. It didn’t really address the landscape as much as we wanted it to.” She reshaped the layout to create a more cohesive and flowing plan, allowing the home to interact more fully with its environment. “We were determined to give our client – who’s an author and has just published a book – some great inspiring spaces and some views and calm areas to work from.”
The material palette was also a key component. As the client’s brief called for a lot of lightness, she began with a spectrum of white and layered in more earthy tones to bring depth to the design. For the palette, she began with beautiful flooring from Royal Oak Floors, which she paired with a stunning sandstone. “We chose this sandstone to anchor the house. It sits right in the centre of the home. It’s a gentle tone and it just sits beautifully as a foundation for the palette.”
For the architects, the brief was simple. Ed Rosier, co-founder of Studio ERA, notes that they aimed to bring more light and volume to the home, while also creating a clearer sense of arrival. “What we wanted to do was put in a simple entry portico,’” he says. To bring in more natural light, the glazing was expanded and skylights introduced, working with the existing structure to capture both a sense of the horizon and the canopy. Dappled light now shifts through the home throughout the day, offering different moments, experiences and places to inhabit. One of the most unique features is the window above the bathtub that opens completely, giving a sense of being immersed in the outdoors.
For Studio ERA, their aim is to deliver the “ahh” moment – a sense of relaxation, peace and homecoming – and with Kia Ora, this has undoubtedly been achieved.
