COUNTRY MANNER

LEAVING THE CITY BEHIND FOR LIFE IN THE COUNTRY HELD NO REGRETS FOR THIS FAMILY WHEN IT PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THEIR DREAM HOME

- STEPHANIE HOPE

GRAND ENTRY Walking in the front door of her home, owner Annelise instantly feels a sense of calm. A round rug from Mossy Store on top of wide engineered oak floorboards is a comfy spot to stop and shed her coat and keys. A console from Top 3 by Design and RJ Living mirror add to the area's practicality, while the grey door paint - Porter's Paints Shell Grey - continues in the kitchen, butler's pantry and living joinery.

EXTERIOR "I love the freshness and simplicity of an all-white facade," says Annelise, who opted for a Colorbond roof in Surfmist and matching weatherboard cladding (opposite). Landscaper Nick Wilkinson of Red Arrow Landscapes worked his magic. "The previous owners were avid gardeners and had lots of special trees in the back area - Nick expertly transplanted them to the front to create a stunning entry, saving us thousands in the process," says Annelise. Decorative iron balls were found at Hunter & Gatherer Collections, and the RustyRose Designs wood stacker came from Dirty Janes in Bowral.

Sitting on a sweeping half-hectare block, Annelise's brick bungalow home is surrounded by some majestic gardens. While working from her home office, the busy corporate executive enjoys an outlook of evergreen trees and Japanese maples that change colour with the seasons. "This constant view of nature is a great counterbalance to my busy work days," says Annelise, who also co-owns vintage and secondhand furniture marketplace Curated Spaces.