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POKOLBIN HOUSE

Dining Room at Pokolbin House featuring bespoke travertine countertop and indoor outdoor connection.

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POKOLBIN HOUSE

POKOLBIN HOUSE

For this home in rural Pokolbin in the Hunter Region of NSW, the client wanted a place where they could come and reconnect — with themselves, with friends, family and with nature. In practical terms, they also wanted a serene backdrop to frame the 360º vistas and an extensive art collection. Having worked on three homes with us previously, there was a clear and intuitive understanding of the personality, values and way of life the home should embody.
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The Mid Century-inspired pavilion architecture evoked a theme of Form and Connection, which was carried through to the interior concept and translated through individual pieces and down to intricate details. First, we looked at how to create standalone forms within a space and what elements could feature as strong focal points. Then we looked closer at the finer details of those solid forms, including junction points, and explored options of how they could and should meet.
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Special attention was given to the layered tactility of materials and how they connect with one another — the feeling underhand of oak panelling, unfilled travertine, stone, plaster, bronzed brass and linen that invites touch, connection and sensory pleasure. Whilst creating a sense of calm — ultimately the soft, light interior palette invites the eye to wander without distraction, enhancing the ease of visual movement from inside to outside.

Kitchen at Pokolbin House featuring custom cabinetry and travertine island benchtop.
Kitchen at Pokolbin House featuring custom white joinery and leather bench seating.
White timber joinery and natural ston selected for Pokolbin House.

Custom bronzed brass handles sit flush, moulding perfectly within the painted oak joinery. These will patina overtime becoming even stronger in presence as they build character with consistent use.

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Timber shelving and natral stone selected for Pokolbin House.
Kitchen at Pokolbin House featuring bespoke travertine island bench and custom joinery.
Custom travertine benchtop at Pokolbin House.

The kitchen island is made up of individual pieces of travertine, chosen for its neutral colouring, layered aesthetic and pitted texture. The visual weight of the elements are softened by curved edges, which create distinct, sculpted forms that maintain an individual presence, yet are also in dynamic relationship with each other – embodying Form & Connection. In the design phase, we consider the stone’s dimensions, thickness, porosity, colour and structure to ensure the end result is achievable.

Natural planting and bespoke joinery in Pokolbin House kitchen.
Kitchen at Pokolbin House featuring custom travertine bench and timber battens.
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Sauna at Pokolbin House featuring timber panelled door.
Natural stone and European oak selected for bathroom vanities at Pokolbin House.
Herringbone tile floor at Pokolbin House.

Bathroom vanities were custom designed in
natural stone and solid European oak, with
unique junctions exploring the relationship
between individual finishes and the overall vanities.

Living Room at Pokolbin House featuring blue statement chair and indoor outdoor connection.
Blue statement chair selected for Pokolbin House.
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Hallway at Pokolbin House featuring timber flooring and curved walls.
360 degree bushland views at Pokolbin House.
Bathroom at Pokolbin House featuring herringbone tile flooring and black framing.

Rectilinear limestone tiles were selected for two of the bathrooms for both the walls and floors. The interplay of vertical and horizontal elements outside—trees, landscape and pavilions—inspired a complementary tile layout. Careful detailing and a custom side-in order ensured perfect alignment when moving from the vertical to horizontal plane. We took time to establish clear and precise visuals so that the tradespeople could execute what was designed.

Master Bedroom at Pokolbin House featuring linen curtains and statement art piece.

Shower niches within the bathrooms elegantly
taper back to form a shelf in a delicate exploration of depth and materiality.

Tapered shower niches in Pokolbin House bathroom.
Timber decking at Pokolbin House entrance.
Bedroom at Pokolbin House featuring vineyard views and linen curtains.
Natural timber and hanging lighting selected for bathroom vanities at Pokolbin House.
Statement lamp in Pokolbin House Bedroom.
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Hallway at Pokolbin House featuring linen curtains and timber flooring.
Backyard at Pokolbin House featuring grand tree and children playing.
Bathroom at Pokolbin House featuring earthy shower tiles and timber towel rack.

To avoid mounting any hooks or towel rails on the marble walls,
a standalone piece was designed to hold both oversized bath towels and hand towels. A solid piece of travertine grounds a pair of fine timber quadrants which meet one another as a freestanding drying rail. Pieces like these were approached as miniature, mobile joinery items, which were first translated into 3D imagery to communicate the proposed vision to both clients and trades.

Courtyard at Pokolbin House featuring neutral outdoor furniture and gravel floor.
Natural timber flooring and linen curtains selected at Pokolbin House.

Excess travertine and natural stone from the build were used for custom pieces of furniture such as a bathroom towel rack and a bedroom side table, with the intention of avoiding waste and continuing the material language throughout the home.

Bathroom at Pokolbin House featuring linen curtains and natural stone benches.
Bathroom at Pokolbin House featuring natural stone sink.

The Master Ensuite vanity is a custom stand-alone piece layered in marble with bronzed brass drawer fronts below.

Walk In Wardrobe at Pokolbin House featuring custom timber cabinetry and flooring.
Custom timber cabinetry and black hardware selected for Pokolbin House Walk In Wardrobe.

Custom joinery handles were designed as solid oak blocks with a semi-rebated bronzed brass rod — again, exploring the theme of Form & Connection between materials.

Cobbled stone wall and hilly vineyard views at Pokolbin House.
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Pokolbin House exterior featuring cobbled stone base and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Courtyard at Pokolbin House featuring cobbled stone walls and timber posts.
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PHOTOGRAPHY

Prue Ruscoe & Brett Boardman

FILM PRODUCTION

Tommy Devy

ARCHITECT

Woodward Architects

BUILD

PCM Projects

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