L E UR A NSW HOME
The view from Sublime Point Lookout, about a four-minute drive from
SimSimon and Kasturi’s house. on and Kasturi’s house. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWFACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROMISE, FROM TOP TOP The The
fireplace is the centrepiece of the living roomfireplace is the centrepiece of the living room — — the hearth was m the hearth was made ade
wwith ‘Pietra’ mith ‘Pietra’ marble fromarble from Rosa Stone. The ‘Balance’ sofa by Cam Rosa Stone. The ‘Balance’ sofa by Camerich in erich in
WWaterloo is decorated waterloo is decorated with No Chintz cushions, with No Chintz cushions, while ceramhile ceramics fromics from
Little WLittle White Dish adorn the coffee table; Kasturi found this doorknocker hite Dish adorn the coffee table; Kasturi found this doorknocker
on Etsy; the couple initially wanted herringbone flooring, but felt it would on Etsy; the couple initially wanted herringbone flooring, but felt it would
have been too domhave been too dominating, so only used it in parts of the hominating, so only used it in parts of the home such as e such as
the entry; the exterior is painted wthe entry; the exterior is painted with With Wattyl Solarguard in Smattyl Solarguard in Smiley Wiley White, hite,
wwhile the roof is Colorbond Night Sky. “So mhile the roof is Colorbond Night Sky. “So many tradies tried to talk us any tradies tried to talk us
out of it, saying the wout of it, saying the white would be too blinding, or the roof too hot, but hite would be too blinding, or the roof too hot, but
we knew wwe knew what we were doing and it camhat we were doing and it came dowe down to getting the right n to getting the right
shade,” says Kasturi. shade,” says Kasturi. For stockist details, see page 142.For stockist details, see page 142.NOVEMBER 2017 COUNTRY STYLE 45THE NSW BLUE MOUNTAINS holds many precious
childhood memories for Kasturi and Simon Wren,
who, long before they met, both enjoyed spending their
free time rambling about in wild surrounds and delighting
in the natural settings. “For me, Leura was an escape from
the flat and featureless suburbia we lived in,” says
Kasturi of her visits to a friend’s weekender in the
area with her family. “Leura had this connection
to nature and held the possibilities of adventure.”
Kasturi’s husband Simon grew up in nearby Katoomba
and enjoyed a childhood bashing about in the bush.
However, he also remembered too many frostbitten
mornings for his liking. “He wasn’t ready to move back
when we first met and we loved being close to the city
with busy careers to occupy us,” says Kasturi of their
lives in Sydney’s inner west. She worked at a law firm
while Simon was in the tech industry.
A few years ago, however, they both had a yearning
for more space and a home that allowed them to indulge
in their beloved hobbies. “I love reading and painting,
Simon tinkers around with things and dreamed of
restoring a car,” says Kasturi. Before they knew it, the
couple started looking for a block of land that would
accommodate their dreams for a different pace of life.
“We were avid watchers of shows like Grand Designs,
and we saw the hard work and heartbreak of a dream
build but — yes, a bit foolishly — we believed ours would
be completely different,” says Kasturi with a laugh.
“As it turns out, it was almost the same.”
Missing out on the first block they wanted, the pair
were not going to let the next 1500 square-metre parcel
of land they found in south Leura — complete with
a tree-lined driveway — get away from them. “I walked
down that driveway and I knew this was the spot for us,”
says Kasturi. “But we did have to contend with the tangle
of overgrown scrub, clearing it all out.”
With the block ready, the couple turned their attention
to styling. “We wanted to draw on what we’d loved on our
travels; so Cape Cod-style was a starting point, but I also
wanted an earthiness and warmth.” Simon, on the other
hand, wanted rooms for his tech gear and a double garage.
Together the couple began sketching an outline of their
home and then contacted Storybook Designer Homes
to translate those pictures into a functional floorplan
and design. After refining the concept to make sure all
their wants were covered, including traditional window
panes, a New York-style master bedroom with ensuite
and a guest wing, the couple then got started with the
help of Simon’s brother, Thomas, and cousin, Andrew
Dufton, on the build team. Only some aspects of the build
were contracted out such as the kitchen and landscaping.
“It was a family project,” says Kasturi. “Which makes
this house even more special. It brought the family
together. Yes, there were ups and downs and challenges
but we really came together and we’re so grateful to all
our family who helped us make it happen.”
Of course, nothing went to plan. The build started in
earnest in September 2015, with Kasturi and Simon both
confident they would complete it by April 2016. “April came
and went,” says Kasturi. “Then we focused on getting it
done by August, which also came and went. So we thought
Christmas, which also came and went!” >