Luxury Bed & Breakfast, Yarramunda

One of our favourite and most ambitious ventures from last year was building the luxury Gruyere Bed and Breakfast; Yarramunda.

A prime example of our ability to custom build beautiful, high quality modern homes, the Yarramunda b&b’s are a cut above when it comes to quality and class. Each cottage has been designed and built with an intentional and clearly defined character that not only exudes opulence, but also reflects the rural setting of the area. Set in one of the loveliest parts of the Yarra Valley region, these cottages have been built to capture the stunning panoramic views. Rolling hills, lush green pastures and a breath-taking view of the distant mountains await the guests of the new Yarramunda cottages.

While the star of the show is most definitely the stunning views, the aesthetic of these buildings, both inside and out is one of refined beauty. The rich, dark, natural tones of the exterior complement the surrounding landscape. The interior of each of these B&B’s has its’ own individual theme, but one thing they all have in common is a classically neutral colour theme, with lots of textural elements and touches of rich, luxurious tones to bring points of interest and warmth into each room. The use of natural light has been given a strong focus and works with breathtaking effect, highlighting and enhancing the beautifully designed interiors.

Our company Director Chris Anderson worked closely with the owners/clients, from the design process, all the way through to hand-over day. I sat down with Chris to get an in-depth view of the process behind creating these stunning buildings. Read on to find out more.

This was a custom build, how lengthy was the design process?
Not long. The client came in with a very clear idea in mind. It was more a case of working through the details and fine tuning a few things, rather than starting from the ground up, so to speak.

Being closely involved in this project, what has been your favourite feature of this build?
We are really pleased with the views achieved. The buildings face east to capture the sunrise and each cottage has a fantastic view of the paddocks and the mountains.

Were there any challenges with this build?
Achieving the height of the roof was a bit challenging. We had to invest in a new scissor lift to get the job done.

The architectural design is clearly meant to capitalise on the surroundings, with those huge windows framing the views. Can you tell us what went into achieving this, while still maintaining a 6 Star Energy Rating?
Yes, the windows were a big part of the design, so we knew they had to be practical, as well as visually striking. All the windows in these cottages are Argon-filled, double glazed windows. They are energy saving as well as sound-insulating. It’s great how they really showcase the amazing views.

Let’s talk more about the energy efficiency of the cottages. What other steps were taken to optimize the way they run?
Well, obviously the windows do play a big role in the energy efficiency and interior climate control. We also used double insulation in the roof and the Weathertex Woodsman cladding is both environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

Can you talk us through the creative process and how that translated into practical parts of these cottages?
Sure. As I mentioned, the client came to us with a detailed plan and a clear understanding of what they wanted the end result to be. We worked hard to ensure that the integrity of those designs was maintained throughout the building process. We actually had to change very few details from the clients’ original designs. The things we did change, such as the veranda posts going from timber to steel, and the “window-wall” in the bathroom, which was originally intended to be clear, were changes that we believe enhanced the aesthetic quality of the over-all design. We wanted to make sure that each design component served the dual purpose of being practical and functional, as well as tying in with the spirit and character of the individual building.

Any last tidbits or comments you would like to add?
Actually, there’s this really cool little piece of metal work we had made to fit into an awkward gap created by a handrail on one of the staircases. It was just this area of dead-space and I had this idea to get a cows head laser-cut into a metal sheet to fill the gap. I thought it would tie in really well with the rural setting and the industrial-meets-country design of the cottages. I think it turned out really well and the client loved it too. It’s just this cool little nod to Yarramunda farm and their cattle.