Point of Difference
The Miro 280 by Gallery Living was designed with a fresh approach - and to make the most of natural light
From the street, the contemporary Miro 280 by Gallery Living is strikingly different from the standard South Australian home - it's almost more holiday home style than everyday living.
Built in CSR's Hebel PowerPanels, Mid Orb Colorbond and Hardies' Scyon Stria (the timber-look panels), it reminds me of the timberclad homes in Brisbane, a place I lived in my late teens and early 20s.
Even back then, the beautiful Queenslander-style homes made an impression on me, with their chilled out, relaxed living. And you know, that's exactly what I like about the Miro 280. Gallery Living Miro 280 isn't trying to be a Queenslander by any stretch, but the same elements are there, in a true modern single storey approach.
Once you go through the front door, the contemporary look takes on a thoroughly modern living feel, with a dropped ceiling over the entry to define the open-plan design and to avoid the need for walls to separate areas.
As Helen Lowrie from Gallery Living puts it, the idea was to design something that was "out of the box". "Generally, large family homes with four bedrooms are designed in a box or rectangular format," she says.
"We believe that home design needs fresh thinking. This was a result of a brief to design something different or ‘out of the box'. "All the passages have ceilings of different heights. This results in keeping the design open, but means each space feels different as you walk through the home.
"When the home is sited correctly on a block, it allows the lovely northern light to enter the home for natural heating and light in winter and natural light in summer." The light is something all families will appreciate and it comes from all directions, with glass, windows and wide sliding doors off the living area being a dominant feature of this home.
The design is built around two internal courtyards, with another undercover outdoor space at the rear for year-round entertaining. "With the inclusion of two internal courtyards, the home is flooded with natural light," Helen says.
"Each living area, the study and main bedroom have access to vast quantities of glass and light. The integrated undercover alfresco area really embraces everything that is great about living in our climate."
This aspect of the home has not been lost on visitors, most of whom say the abundant light is one of the home's most impressive features, as well as with a wide shower at one end, a long double vanity and toilet - all styled in smart tones and with plenty of room for dressing.
The spacious master bedroom also features an entire wall of wardrobes. The study is in a central location within the home, making it a multi-functional space - keep it as an extra bedroom for when guests stay, or as a home office. In the display home it features a wide door in a popping red colour, and because of its great position it could also be a children's playzone, where mum and dad can easily keep an eye on the kids from the kitchen and both living areas.
Sustainability factors and cost of living have also been considered in the Miro 280. "We use materials that avoid the retention of excess heat, which helps keep a more constant temperature in the home," Helen says.
"The alfresco area is contained under the main roof, giving a sheltered area that can be used in summer, away from the sun's harshness, or in winter under cover." The display at Bluestone Drive, Mt Barker shows visitors most of the standard inclusions in a Gallery Living home, however, the ceilings have been upgraded from the standard 2.4m to 2.7m.
The louvre windows are an upgraded finish, but work to demonstrate both the practical and aesthetic values of this type of window - and there are multiple options to personalise the home to suit each buyer. At 16.6m wide, the home is suited to a traditional block or bigger.
14-Sep-14 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine
Find out more about the Miro 280
