Dark oak, polished concrete and carpeted floors, natural oak balustrades, stack-bonded honed concrete blocks, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, glazed panels and white painted walls have come together in a home that is easy to live in and to maintain.
Even visitors are in for a treat. The downstairs guest bedroom with its own en suite opens to the spa pool in a private courtyard adjoining the pool.
The upstairs bedrooms overlook the pool and its resort-style surrounds. The master bedroom at the corner is cantilevered with a small glass balcony so the glass doors on both sides open up for the views. A double set of roller blinds either shades or completely blocks out natural light.
Downstairs, the 3m stud in the stepped-down TV lounge enhances the sense of volume and scale.
Harry and Sophie were just 7 and 5 years old respectively when they brought their newfound school friends in to see their gigantic TV lounge.
"They used to call this room 'the giants' room' because of its height," says Anna. When the kids aren't here, they're dashing upstairs through the discreet doorway into the hall that has a cavity slider to close it off for winter warmth.
Throughout the entire house, adjustable glass louvres and clerestory windows add lightness to the spirit of the home.
One of Anna's favourite features is the window high above the rear wall of the dark oak and stainless steel kitchen that allows morning light to flood in.
"Even on a grey day it is a really light house," she explains. "When the sun is shining it just bursts with light. It is a really nice mix of design and functionality."
Important storage considerations have ensured this home's functionality as the children have grown into teenagers. The downstairs storage/coat cupboard includes baskets, shelves and bag hooks. The upstairs linen/storage cupboard has a wall heater installed.
Designwise, the dark-stained oak landing that is an extension of the stairs has become known as "the bridge". The adjacent glass floor panel that enables anyone upstairs to check who is at the front door was another fascination.
"The kids used to think it was like the Sky Tower because you were walking on glass," says Anna.
The Hornabrook family are moving to suit their changing family needs and they're not discounting the possibility that they may some day build another home with the same sort of timeless surprises that have made this home so memorable.
