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Whitebridge: A home which simply makes you smile

Prue Miller

Prue Miller

The Daily Telegraph
21 Burwood Rd, Newcastle. Dream home. NSW real est

Just such a happy place.

NEVER heard of Whitebridge?

It’s around 150km from Sydney and a 10-minute drive to Newcastle. Best part though is the beach, a stretch of uncrowded, aquamarine bliss that can be reached on foot through the bush, or driven to in a would-you-believe-it three minutes.

Now that we have the geography lesson completed let’s talk about the style, luxury, fun and oodles of space on offer in “Somerford”.

This is the happiest home I’ve seen in ages. It just radiates wellbeing.

The architecture is a big reason, of course. Perfectly angled on its 1ha block, the two-storey home has a rear envelope made entirely of glass. It is a sunlight sponge.

21 Burwood Rd, Newcastle. Dream home. NSW real est

Happy place!

21 Burwood Rd, Newcastle. Dream home. NSW real est

Entertain, day or night.

The arc of the building curve works as an embrace of the huge grounds, as well as a device to allow everyone on the ground floor to feel connected.

Some might be thinking all that glass must make the home an oven in Summer, but owner James Carrington said it has perfect climate control, pointing out the proportion and position of the eaves.

“It’s pretty cold outside now, but in here it’s 25-26 degrees. On the coldest night we won’t put the heater on until 9pm,” Mr Carrington said.

The Carrington family bought the house in 2006, keen on the space inside and outside and the lifestyle the property would afford them.

21 Burwood Rd, Newcastle. Dream home. NSW real est

Pops of colour.

However, they were keen, and successful, at putting their style into the home. Enter the artistic concepts pioneered by Piet Mondrian.

The abstract modernist who died in 1944 is famous for his reduced palette of colours; yellow, blue, black, white, and the joy his geometric designs brought to the viewer.

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The Carringtons embraced the concept, and their home is all the more stunning for it.

First externally, where bold blocks of colour sit well against the surrounding greenery, and then inside.

The colourful Mondrian play on the cabinetry colours in the kitchen — fantastic.

21 Burwood Rd, Newcastle. Dream home. NSW real est

Welcome.

In fact, their open-plan kitchen (with everything from plate warmers to steam oven) won Housing Industry of Australia kitchen of the year.

In a stroke of luxury planning, there is another perfectly lovely kitchen found closer to the kids play area, or maybe it could be the grown-ups bar area?

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Climb up the glass enclosed staircase to the second level and here is the main sleeping zone.

Four bedrooms, three loos and two complete bathrooms seem to float in the massive void over the lower floor — and sunny? You just have to see it to believe it. And despite all the glass, it is still absolutely private, with wonderful views across the parklike rear garden and pool.

Here there’s room for soccer, or golf, or even a pony and lots and lots of family fun, safely found behind a high wall and swanky electric gates.

Inspect Somerford in Whitebridge. It’s worth putting into your satnav.

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