(Executive Retreats editor note - This article describes the meticulous construction process of the executive Retreats property "Door To Eden" - located at Newell Beach)
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Story from Queensland Homes Spring 2006

North Queensland - the place where glittering green merges into blue; the only place on earth where two world Heritage listed sites exist alongside each other - the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest of the Daintree and Cape Tribulation.  This is a magic place; life moves to a different rhythm.  Here, the air is different, more humid; the sky open and vast; and the water as much a part of the personality and identity of the North, as a nose is to a face.

Such is the understanding of Neater Constructions, the North Queensland designer builder behind this pellucid home.  A showpiece of contemporary, subtropical living - and home to owners John and Sally - the design of this home incorporates a number of environmental factors that make the most of Australia's northern climate.

"I have always been inspired by the beautiful architecture of homes built in north Queensland before the world wars" says Col Neate, managing director of Neater Constructions.  These houses use steep 30° roof pitches, extended overhanging eaves and ventilated roof turrets to allow hot air to escape from the roof cavity.  His work is a contemporary revision of this inspiration; a mixture of home design that is pleasing to the eye, but also conducive to the unique lifestyle of the North.

Throughout the design and construction process, Col worked closely with John and Sally.  "We wanted our home to be evocative of a beautiful, tropical resort" they say, having gathered inspiration from years of international travel. "We are inspired by the world's top hotels." 

When it comes to inspiration, striking design elements can be easily implemented within residential home design - but it is more than mere design elements that people want to incorporate into their personal space.  It's the memory of how a place makes you feel while you're there that makes you want to recreate that environment in your home; feelings of being simultaneously relaxed, comfortable, creatively inspired, fundamentally cheered up, and (if you're lucky) enlightened by a new take on life.  Such is the result of John and Sally's new home.  "Our home is very modern and contemporary, with all the latest features.  At the same time it's still very welcoming and warm.  "The design of the home flows, which is what makes it homely" comments John.

To achieve this open flowing design Col suggested a series of sprawling villas with bi-fold doors and banks of louvre windows, to act as a linked "open plan living areas to accommodate subtropical living, and also take in the stunning views".  In this home and water is as much a part of the overall design as the kitchen or sitting room.  On the back of the home one gazes out across beautiful absolute beachfront framed by coconut trees, whilst the entrance is offset by an elongated pool - complete with illusion edge, cascading water feature and verdant, tropical landscaping. 

It's this wonderful pool area that can be seen from most rooms, adding to the relaxed ambience of the home, and gaining a place has the owner's favourite feature.  "We love the entrance and pool area of our home.  It is impressive but inviting at the same time."  Like cogs in a wheel, the disparate elements of the home - landscaping, pool, interior, and overall home design-work well with each other. 

This is no accident.  "Neater Constructions took on a project management role" say John and Sally.  "They recommended contractors for us to use for things like our kitchen, landscaping and interior design.  We are delighted with the service we received.  And the results!".  It was this team approach that the owners say "cause the end result to be more beautiful than we imagined.  The more people that were involved, the higher the standard of design became because everyone contributed their knowledge and collective experience."  As anyone who's built a house would know, hiccups inevitably arise.  But any potential bumps in the road were quickly smoothed over, by what John refers to as Col's "tremendous ability to fix things.  He took immediate responsibility for issues as they arise and insured solutions were quickly implemented." 

With a proclivity for bon viveur homes with an upbeat Australian twist, Col and a team from Neater Constructions hoped the owners would experience peace and tranquility in their new home.  "We worked to create a home that works alongside the breathtaking natural beauty of the subtropical surroundings" he says.  Their chart appears to have been met, with Sally's affirmation, "the end result has surpassed our expectations."

Photography Doug Drummond

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