An award-winning Queenslander, ‘Small House’ exudes heritage charm and boasts breathtaking views
For those looking for a home with classic style and charm, it’s hard to go resist the timeless appeal of a traditional Queenslander. And it’s especially difficult to go past Small House, which received not one but three 2014 Queensland Master Builders Association Awards — the Downs & Western House of the Year (the top award), Best Heritage-Style Home and Best Kitchen.
Built by S&S Timmer Constructions, Small House is a Garth Chapman traditional Queenslander. While the home is “small” in name, it’s definitely not small in nature and its name, derived from the owners’ surname, does not reflect its open, grand and opulent layout.
Built on vacant land in Upper Flagstone, the 408m² Queenslander was designed around the block of land and its amazing views. “Small House was designed to suit the environment it’s located in,” says Shane Timmer, director of S&S Timmer Constructions. “It catches the views, breezes and northern sun.”
The home, clad in James Hardie PrimeLine Heritage weatherboard, sits unobtrusively in its surroundings. It doesn’t affect the natural lay of the land but was designed specifically for this environment, so fits perfectly. “The home was cut into the side of the hill and designed for its landscape,” says Shane. “It is pleasing to the eye and has great street appeal with its decorative portico entrance and fretwork.”
Designed to be unique and embrace a heritage design aesthetic, Small House is generously proportioned with large verandahs, two bathrooms and four impressive bedrooms, two of which are generous in size while the remaining two, including the master bedroom, are described by Shane as “huge”.
Breathtaking views are at the heart of the kitchen and living room design and with the formal living and dining room, the whole area is open and spacious to allow for a relaxed atmosphere and entertaining.
“My favourite part of the design is the glorious views from the master bedroom, kitchen, lounge and rotunda, which features heritage lattice work and offers 180-degree views,” says Shane.
The build took place from August 2013 to February 2014 and was challenged by the bushfire zone rating, soil classification and cold winds that battered the site. Despite this, the owners were very involved in and committed to the build of their home. They lived on site in a shed, inspected work every day, chose all fittings and fixtures, and worked closely with the cabinetmaker, tiler and painter.
While it’s obvious that the judges in the Queensland Master Builders Association Awards were extremely impressed with the home, so too were the homeowners, and for Shane and Garth Chapman Queenslanders, there’s simply no better result than this.
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