Interiors

A 1915 Horse Stables Turned Family Home In The Adelaide Hills

20 years ago, a couple married in a grand manor in the Adelaide Hills, where they vowed to one day live.

The manor sold to other buyers in 2021, who proceeded to subdivide the block and place the former horse stables on site for sale. Now experienced renovators, the couple didn’t hesitate to purchase the circa 1915 structure and finally make it their own. 

Working with SpaceCraft, the stable was transformed over six months into an elevated version of a traditional farmhouse to suit a family of four. 

Written
by
Amelia Barnes

SpaceCraft converted this 1915 horse stable in Stirling, South Australia into a family home. Windows from Adelaide Steel Frame Windows. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

Unused for many years, the stables were previously blank canvas beneath a gabled roof and with original brick floors. Windows from Adelaide Steel Frame Windows. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

What you see today is the completed first stage of the project, with a rear extension to follow in future. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

The material palette is an uplifting, not-too-stark range of earthy neutrals encompassing Porter’s Paints French Green, and Washed Linen surfaces; with arabescato vagli marble; timber elements; and brass details. Windows from Adelaide Steel Frame Windows. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

The cabinetry was entirely customised to suit the structure and clients. Windows from Adelaide Steel Frame Windows. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

Builder Craig van Diemen laid a concrete slab throughout to resolve the uneven floors, with new herringbone flooring installed above. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

The pantry/laundry off the kitchen. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

The laundry is almost a complete extension of the kitchen design, except with Lo & Co black Ascot knobs to echo the MadeMeasure ones next door. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

20-millimetre arabescato vagli marble benchtops from CDK Stone feature white, grey, and light brown tones. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

The main bathroom and laundry are located either side of the kitchen. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

The bathrooms feature wall-hung vanities with Tasmania oak timber veneer fronts, arabescato vagli marble tops, and brass tapware. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

Vanity drawers were carefully shaped around the undermounted sinks and their plumbing. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

The en suite is tiled from wall to wall. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

To introduce natural light, the barn doors in the original arched entryway were replaced for large steel-framed windows from Adelaide Steel Frame Windows. Photo – Jonathan van der Knaap

Writer
Amelia Barnes
28th of November 2022

Years after marrying in the circa 1915 manor on site, the clients of this project returned to the Adelaide Hills property, this time as owners of the adjacent former stables. 

Unused for many years, the stables were a blank canvas beneath a gabled roof and with original brick floors. The vision; to transform the space into a family home.

What you see today is the completed first stage of the project, with a rear extension to follow in future. 

SpaceCraft reconfigured the existing structure, creating a downstairs en suite shower from the former outhouse, and adding a loft bedroom upstairs. 

To introduce natural light, the barn doors in the original arched entryway were replaced for large steel-framed windows. SpaceCraft’s Bre Tarca picked up on this arch to inspire the home’s signature use of curves throughout the kitchen, bathrooms, and pantry/laundry joinery. 

‘What I drew from the most was a traditional and classic farmhouse kitchen that would typically feature large 60mm profile doors, open shelving, and mixed materials including timber, metal and leather elements,’ she says. ‘The clients were after this style in a modern, refined and sophisticated way.’

The resulting palette is an uplifting, not-too-stark range of earthy neutrals encompassing Porter’s Paints French Green, and Washed Linen surfaces; with arabescato vagli marble; timber elements; and brass details. 

The cabinetry was entirely customised to suit the structure and the clients’ needs, from the shelving installed to fit underneath a support beam and line up with the overhead doors; and laundry cupboard designed especially for the iron board, requiring the plumbing to be reconfigured. 

Builder Craig van Diemen laid a concrete slab throughout to resolve the uneven floors, with new herringbone flooring installed above. 

Within six months, the building was turned from an empty shell into the inviting family you see today. The result is classic, yet modern and refined, and totally one of a kind!

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