Grand entrance

By Mari Sciarappa, Photography Nic Baleta

This lavish northern suburban home was built from the ground up by a Portuguese family that places great value and emphasis on open-plan living as well as entertainment. Since they appreciate the outdoors so greatly, the very foundation of the home was created to enhance the time that this family spends outside.

The house was styled using a colonial theme. The home had to be functional as an entertainment area, while also ensuring the outdoor section is spacious and easily accessible.

Therefore most applications in the home had to suit this theme. These included the oval-shaped lounge, affectionately referred to as the “oval office” by the home owners. To that end the furniture, like the couch and coffee table, had to have an oval bend to accommodate the shape of the room. This resulted in a very appealing and unique aesthetic.

The home also has a very grand entrance, different from most on the market. Other impressive aspects include the high ceilings, built-in cellars in the dining room and the indoor and outdoor showers. Interior designer Helder de Lima, of de Lima Interiors, notes: “Even though it is an opulent house, it is also homey. It’s not a showpiece; you can really live in it.”