Southern Belle

Timeless colour schemes, aged timbers and antiques all imbue this new home in the NSW southern highlands with real character.

- Elizabeth Wilson

For Andrew and Brielle Economos, creating the perfect family home began with a classic case of being in the right place at the right time. It was 2016, they’d sold their house in Bowral, in the NSW Southern Highlands, and were waiting for “something special to pop up” in the area, says Brielle. They’d loved their renovated weatherboard cottage but had reached a point where they needed more space for their sons Jake, 16, Max, 12, and Joshua, 11. Little Audrey, now two, was soon to join them.

As a builder (Andrew) and interior designer (Brielle) with their own boutique construction company, the couple knew a great opportunity when they saw it. They happened to be driving along a familiar street in the neighbouring village of Burradoo just as a real-estate agent was hammering in a ‘For Sale’ sign. The property in question was on a newly formed battle-axe block, located at the end of a narrow driveway. “We couldn’t believe our luck,” says Brielle. “A vacant block nestled among beautiful established homes in a blue-ribbon street, completely private, leafy, with a tree-lined driveway.” Suddenly, they knew they’d found what they’d been looking for. They put in an offer straightaway, exchanged contracts within days and started drawing up ideas for their dream home.