Hedger Constructions Project 29

THE POETRY OF PRACTICALITY

Perched above the pastoral beauty of the Yarra Valley, The Peach House is an immersive study in how construction detail and architectural storytelling can form a sculptural statement of functionality, family and fun. At a glance, the home pays homage to the traditional Barnhouse vernacular, with its triple-gabled roofline and rural silhouette. But step closer, and it quickly becomes evident that this is no conventional farmhouse.

The exterior is a tactile composition of folded copper panels and charred timber cladding, with matte black steel and aluminium detailing. Custom brass pivot doors at both the front and rear create a sense of arrival and continuation; portals that speak to the home’s openness and carefully choreographed spatial journey.

The heart of the home is an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area. Honed natural stone benchtops elevate the kitchen while brass detailing and light timber cabinetry with mesh inlays offer a textured experience. A steel framed arch window is the room’s crowning jewel, drawing the eye to views of Mount Dandenong. The open-plan areas create breakout spaces, sightlines and intimate moments. The dining area features a cantilevered banquette seat framed by the arch window which captures views of the family farm and draws in natural light.

Underfoot, a striking European Oak chevron floor is used throughout key living areas, its lighter tone purposefully selected to contrast against the dark, ink-hued kitchen cabinetry. This interplay between light and dark, soft and sculptural, continues across the home in the form of exposed beams, arched features and curved joinery, creating a deliberate softness to balance the bold architectural geometry.

Terrazzo, in its many iterations, plays a starring role. From Fibonacci terrazzo used in the fireplace and walk-in robe island, to colourful Polarity terrazzo in the master en suite and warm Ghosted Hone tones in secondary bathrooms, the material becomes a unifying yet expressive element, celebrating texture, colour and pattern. In the bathrooms, these finishes are paired with soft peach grout, geometric feature walls, and peach-toned floors to create moments that feel equal parts spa and art installation.

The spine of the home, an expansive hallway paved with cobblestones, connects the central atrium to the bedroom pavilion, rumpus and alfresco. Vertical timber beams flank the space, creating a striking visual rhythm while tying interior finishes to the external environment. Expansive glazing adds depth and light, transforming the corridor into a generous, sunlit walkway.

In the bedrooms and upstairs sitting rooms, materials shift toward a quieter luxury. A 70s-inspired palette of mustard floors, white walls and timber-lined ceilings lend a retro warmth. The master suite is a sanctuary of golden light, clad in patterned wallpaper and softened by warm-toned terrazzo and brass grilles that frame and elevate the space.

In the rumpus room, timber-lined ceilings and a custom linear slot vent crafted from matching timber offer both seamless airflow and a consistent material language. Ventilation throughout the home is both concealed and refined, maintaining aesthetics while enhancing comfort.

This beautifully articulated design, brought to life by Hedger Constructions, is a residence where craftsmanship, artistry and architecture are one. The Peach House redefines what it means to build with memory and materiality at the forefront. The result is a rural home that feels wholly contemporary, deeply personal and delightfully unexpected.