Striking lines and seamless integration of indoors and out make the Pavilion 140 by Sarah Homes a stand out for homebuyers looking for something outside the square
Whenever I bring up buying my first house, my parents always mention how affordable it is to build While I agree, there's still a part of me that wants my first home to be a one-off and appeal to my love for mid-century architecture - incorporating large windows, raked ceilings and a reserved street appeal.
In terms of building a first home, it's a lot to ask - especially given I'll need a large budget to bring that dream to reality. However, visiting Sarah Homes ' Pavilion 140 design made me realise it might not be such a far-fetched dream.
Located at the Pooraka display village, the four-bedroom, two-bathroom design offers an unusual yet striking layout. Split into two pods, the home effortlessly separates the living and sleeping areas and provides 236sqm total size. While the design itself isn't inherently midcentury, it does offer sharp lines, raked ceilings and a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces - features that make mid-century homes so outstanding.
Best suited to a traditional sized allotment, sitting at 19.6m wide and 11.9m deep, the Pavilion 140 would easily look at home in a coastal, rural or suburban setting. Sarah Homes' Helen Lowrie says while the design used to predominantly attract holiday home buyers, it has become a popular option as a permanent residence for many buyers as well.
"We are seeing more and more of our customers buying our designs as permanent homes," she says. "The relaxed, light-filled spaces of our designs help our customers feel like they are on holiday everyday." And this is how I felt the moment I stepped on to the decking and walked into the first pod, which contains the main living areas. As you open the sliding doors, the first thing you notice is how inviting and relaxing the space is. "Featuring warm wood floors and neutral tones, the Pavilion 140's interior style is designed to feel calm and uncluttered, "
Helen says. "The separation of living space from the sleeping pavilion makes this a great home for entertainers." Although I don't often entertain at home, it's hard to not imagine playing host in this design. The kitchen is nothing short of an entertainer's dream with ample bench space on the island and bench behind it, a wall of storage and a step-in pantry, pi us there's a handy breakfast bar that can seat four people.
The dining area and lounge effortlessly take up the rest of the large living pod space, flowing out through multiple sets of sliding doors to the spacious deck. While the wraparound deck offers endless entertaining potential and works to connect the two pods, it is great to see the Pooraka display showcase how it can be integrated with any allotment. The issue of an existing tree on site was no longer an issue, as the deck seamlessly works around it - creating a statement that immediately draws your gaze.
It's this attention to detail that makes the Pavilion 140 such a stand out. As a first homebuyer, I don't expect to have luxurious features and finishes at my fingertips and yet, I was genuinely impressed by what was on offer. As I walked through the dining and living area, I found myself leaning down to touch the floors to see whether they were hardwood - instead it's a clever cost-saving timber-look floating floor that feels and sounds like real timber.
Similarly, the kitchen benchtops have the appeal of solid stone but are a much more affordable Laminex option - a big tick of approval in my book. Heading into the second pod , which is the sleeping and utility quarters, a neat tiled foyer greets you before a lush chocolate brown carpet runs throughout the space. Although I used to overlook these kinds of features, the tiled foyer is another tick of approval - ensuring dirty shoes stay away from the luxurious-feel carpets.
The master suite is set towards the back of the pod and features a large built-in wardrobe and a contemporary ensuite, complete with a stylish subway-tiled feature wall in the double shower. Sliding doors open to a private deck, ideal for a morning coffee when the weather is warm.
The remaining three bedrooms are similar in size and have narrow, tall windows in each allowing natural light to flood in. The central bathroom can be found opposite, and it features a handy bath and shower room, a separate vanity and a separate toilet.
The fourth bedroom has been shown as a study in the Pooraka display, giving added flexibility that's always appreciated in a home. Although I considered this design as a potential option for first homebuyers, Helen says it often attracts families due to the flexibility on offer. "The two separate buildings allow our customers to configure the home to suit their allotment and to maximise any views and natural light," she says.
"You could also introduce additional pods in the future, depending on the available space of your block. Our new home consultants can work with you to custom design a solution to fit your needs." Priced from $103,700*, Helen says the Pavilion 140 display showcases "a mix of the standard specification with some feature upgrades" and has plenty of optional facade choices to suit your style and your block's location.
In terms of first home builds, Sarah Homes' Pavilion 140 doesn't just promise to provide an affordable design, it refreshingly challenges the norm for buyers looking for that defining edge.
08-Sep-19 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine
For more information about the house in this story please look at the Pavilion 140.
*Pricing accurate at time of printing
