HIA member Steve Bright is adamant his latest family home – a stunning contemporary four-bedroom build with commanding views of the Victorian countryside – will be his last.
He and wife Donna, through his company Excelcon, have built and moved in and out of 13 homes in 17 years. ‘I won’t build again, I’m done. I love it,’ he says of Ashford House, which rules over a horse agistment property at Upper Beaconsfield, south-east of Melbourne.
Designed by Graham Jones, the barn-shaped single-level home reflects its rural location and features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a gym, butler’s pantry, and a spacious kitchen, dining and living room – forming part of the entertaining and alfresco area. There is also a triple garage.
‘We wanted a house that was going to fit in that environment, take in the view and suit us. It’s a horse farm so we wanted something that’s going to suit that type of lifestyle,’ Steve says. ‘You can see over the whole property. We can see people coming in and out, but it’s far enough away to be dead private.’
The home is luxurious but minimalist, with clean lines and a spacious open plan. For Steve, it simply flows well, and the surrounding picturesque landscape can be appreciated out of every room without losing privacy.
The views come courtesy of floor-to-ceiling glass windows on two sides, which provided some engineering challenges during the $1 million-plus, 10-month build.