Main tea+scones

Scone Interior Hero

Merriwa Int 135

Main small bedroom

bathroom blind view

bangalay38 location

bangalay19 @dgerl

Int dining

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Bangalay DD 40

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bangalay10 @danielle cross

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bangalay24 @dgerl

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Bangalay Concept p5 Function Space

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Main dining room

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Gallipoli Finishes

Darling Terrace

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Fairlight Front

Main corner window

steel door

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Cammeray Rumpus Joinery

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in progress

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Bangalay Concept p1 Overall Concept

pedestal-basin

Griffiths St 1

A new main residence featuring four bedrooms and a study, accompanied by a two-bedroom secondary dwelling. The design responds to its prominent corner site with solid stone walls and curved facades, softened by green roofs, integrated planter boxes, and thoughtfully layered landscaping throughout. A landscaped roof over the secondary dwelling is accessed via a walkway from the first floor of the main house, extending usable outdoor space and offering a secluded setting for recreation and relaxation.

Complete - awaiting professional photography.

Collaroy Plateau House +

Merriwa Int 125

Merriwa Ext 119

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Gallipoli Side

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Merriwa Int 24

An ambitious country homestead, grounded in sustainability, sculpted for life on the land.

A vibrant yet gentle new addition to a historic rural homestead, Merriwa Farmhouse is a highly considered response to place, climate, and family life.This project comprises a new building, entirely separate from the original house, accessed via a glazed bridge over a new swimming pool. This daily journey marks the transition from sleeping quarters to the living heart of the home. Designed for a farming family in the Upper Hunter region of New South Wales, the addition provides a robust yet refined sanctuary within a landscape defined by harsh summers, drought cycles, and sweeping rural views. Even the red dust that occasionally moves through the area was considered in the tone of the render finish, grounding the new building in its environment and reducing the visual impact of weathering over time. The significance of the drought was extremely apparent during the design phase, inspiring the integration of a large glass downpipe that lets the family see and celebrate every precious drop of rain as it’s captured and collected for their daily needs.The new addition draws on vernacular traditions from arid climates and is organised around a protected courtyard. This transitional outdoor space is naturally cooled by the pool, which becomes a central visual and spatial focus. It can be accessed from both the old and new wings of the house, and the experience of swimming beneath the glazed bridge reinforces a playful connection between the built form, water and landscape, giving the bridge a sense of lightness and the architecture a feeling of gently hovering in place.The building is shaped by sustainability at every level for this essentially off-grid home. Passive solar principles informed the siting and orientation, with deep verandas providing shade in summer and large areas of north-facing glazing drawing in winter sunlight. A concrete slab delivers thermal mass, stabilising interior temperatures and reducing reliance on mechanical cooling. Operable windows and carefully positioned openings promote cross ventilation, while a double-sided fireplace and ceiling fans provide year-round thermal comfort with minimal energy use. The home is powered by solar photovoltaic panels, collects rainwater for all daily needs and utilises on-site waste processing facilities. Natural, low-embodied-energy materials form the core of the building. Exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls and ceilings are celebrated for both their structural integrity and natural warmth. The curved Colorbond roof references nearby sheds and barns, while the internal lining of woven bamboo introduces texture and a personal memory of the client’s childhood home. Other materials include timber flooring, lime-rendered walls, glulam and rolled steel rafters, and hand-finished concrete. Each was selected for its durability, expressive quality, and connection to the surrounding landscape.Set low and linearly on the site, the building reads as an extension of the existing homestead, sitting comfortably within the landscape. The mezzanine level offers a lifted perspective across the paddocks and hills, with views of livestock and the wide, open countryside. Large picture windows and dormers frame these views and create places of rest, quiet observation, and reconnection with the land. Designed to grow and adapt with the family, Merriwa Farmhouse presents a sustainable and enduring alternative to the generic rural home.Client Testimonial, Merriwa Farmhouse:<blockquote>“We chose Katherine as she was able to envisage our bespoke project and communicate it clearly… delivered the perfect project after listening to our needs and wants… she was calm, reliable and caring. Our mezzanine encompasses a view that we didn’t realise how amazing it was until we were in the space, even after living on site for 10 years already. Katherine’s design brought our property into focus with light and space… the new space has had a massive positive impact on how our family spends time together.Materials chosen were considered carefully and reflected our location beautifully. Katherine was always available to us with enormous amounts of empathy and skill. Concerns and challenges that popped up were dealt with smoothly and with great success.Katherine is extremely professional. She asked questions clearly, which enabled us to communicate our needs in a way that reflects the beautiful space we now have.Anyone who has entered the space cannot believe how beautiful it is… A lot of people comment they have never been in a space that works so well practically and looks and feels so lovely.Visitors love the originality of the design and are constantly amazed. Katherine’s design encompassed our brief perfectly. She is a calm presence in what can be an extremely stressful pursuit. She listens at all stages and offers sage advice.Katherine understands the difficulties of building bespoke - particularly in a setting such as ours (remote NSW) - and is able to manage all issues that arise whilst producing spaces that feel inviting and modern.Our building requires no air-conditioning due to the materials and airflow. In a hot environment, this is outstanding. The kitchen has easily worked for entertaining over 100 people multiple times. The space provided flows beautifully. We have multiple spaces available that are connected seamlessly.”</blockquote>Photography by <a href="https://www.photosbyjessieann.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jessie Ann Harris</a>

Merriwa Farmhouse Exterior

Timber, texture and light in a rural retreat built for family life.

The interiors of Merriwa Farmhouse reflect the same values that shaped the architecture: sustainability, durability, material honesty and emotional resonance. Every decision inside was made with the daily rhythms of rural life in mind from early mornings and shared meals to quiet moments of retreat and long evenings watching the weather roll in.Designed for a farming family in rural NSW during the height of a drought, Merriwa Farmhouse is a robust yet refined new addition to a historic homestead. Drawing on arid-climate vernaculars such as the Mexican courtyard house, the new building centres around a protected outdoor space that encourages gathering, cooling and quiet retreat. The project celebrates an honest material palette and a spatial arrangement shaped by function, family life and climate.The existing homestead becomes the sleeping quarters—smaller, darker rooms carefully restored and detailed for rest and recovery. A glazed bridge over the pool connects to the bespoke modern addition, which houses the living, kitchen, dining and play areas. The central axis through the site defines this clear architectural transition between old and new. The curved roof form is lined internally with plywood and woven bamboo matting, integrating natural materials with a textured tactile warmth. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls and ceilings are left exposed for their warmth and structural clarity complemented by glulam and rolled steel rafters. A concrete floor provides thermal mass helping regulate temperature throughout.Strategically placed within the expansive new volume, the mezzanine captures sweeping views of the surrounding undulating landscape while creating a series of lower, more intimate spaces beneath. These include the kitchen, pantry and powder room. A sunken lounge deepens the sense of spatial layering and intimacy.Wide verandas offer shaded outdoor spaces for gathering and movement. Deep window reveals frame long views and foster a sense of intimacy embracing those standing or sitting within them and softly shaping light and shade throughout the home. Together, these elements ground the house in its setting offering a sanctuary thoughtfully shaped by climate, context and a deep commitment to considered design.Client Testimonial, Merriwa Farmhouse:<blockquote>“We chose Katherine as she was able to envisage our bespoke project and communicate it clearly… delivered the perfect project after listening to our needs and wants… she was calm, reliable and caring. Our mezzanine encompasses a view that we didn’t realise how amazing it was until we were in the space, even after living on site for 10 years already. Katherine’s design brought our property into focus with light and space… the new space has had a massive positive impact on how our family spends time together.Materials chosen were considered carefully and reflected our location beautifully. Katherine was always available to us with enormous amounts of empathy and skill. Concerns and challenges that popped up were dealt with smoothly and with great success.Katherine is extremely professional. She asked questions clearly, which enabled us to communicate our needs in a way that reflects the beautiful space we now have.Anyone who has entered the space cannot believe how beautiful it is… A lot of people comment they have never been in a space that works so well practically and looks and feels so lovely.Visitors love the originality of the design and are constantly amazed. Katherine’s design encompassed our brief perfectly. She is a calm presence in what can be an extremely stressful pursuit. She listens at all stages and offers sage advice.Katherine understands the difficulties of building bespoke - particularly in a setting such as ours (remote NSW) - and is able to manage all issues that arise whilst producing spaces that feel inviting and modern.Our building requires no air-conditioning due to the materials and airflow. In a hot environment, this is outstanding. The kitchen has easily worked for entertaining over 100 people multiple times. The space provided flows beautifully. We have multiple spaces available that are connected seamlessly.”</blockquote>Photography by <a href="https://www.photosbyjessieann.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jessie Ann Harris</a>

Merriwa Farmhouse Interior

Pittwater views are the focus for this dwelling on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

The interiors and rear façade of this dwelling are reimagined to celebrate the views across the water to the green hills of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and creates a modern living space for this young family.Extended verandas, new curves, glazing and balustrade. Celebrating the views. New internal spatial planning and interior design including a new entry, kitchen, dining area, staircase, laundry, shower room, rumpus room, study and cellar. Filtering light into the centre of the dwelling with skylights above the stairwell and lower ground bathroom. Behind the curve sits a deep custom designed spa bath surrounded by limestone rock walls, with light streaming delicately down through the decking above, creating a luxuriously intimate space with an embracing cave-like comfort. Atmospheric bliss.Re-landscaping to enhance the connection to the garden from the house. New outdoor areas are added for different purposes including a mid-level terrace for entertaining, with a fire pit and built-in BBQ. The pool fencing is upgraded to glass and the location of the fencing is modified to allow for a larger and more sculptural garden with new decking and planting inside and around the pool area.Completed - awaiting professional photography.

Bilgola Home

ARCHITECTURE

INTERIORS

LANDSCAPE

SUSTAINABLE

NATURAL

INSPIRED