BOLD MOVE

FOR THEIR SIXTH HOUSE, THESE SEASONED BUILDERS HAVE CREATED A HOME THAT COMBINES DRAMATIC ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS WITH PRACTICAL, FAMILY-FRIENDLY LIVING

- KYLIE JACKES

A chicken coop isn't often a deciding factor in real estate purchases, but for Miki and Nihad's young son, Amar, it was the most compelling reason the family should buy a little 1940s cottage in Brisbane's eastern suburbs. "We were attracted to the location and flat block, but Amar was completely smitten with the three chickens that came with it," recalls Miki. The plan was to knock down the house and rebuild, using her husband Nihad's company, HNT Builders, but after buying the property in late 2021, the family lived in the original house for almost a year, while Amar enthusiastically tended to his mostly free-ranging trio of hens.

Having previously built five homes for themselves, Miki and Nihad wanted to create something unique. But with the arrival of baby Arian, the focus was also on family-friendly inclusions and robust finishes. "We've learnt something new every time we've built and, with kids, we've found the best designs are a seamless floor plan front to back and an open-plan layout overlooking the backyard," says Miki. Engaging long-term collaborators, Dane and Rebecca Power of Koda Design, the brief was to establish a distinct street presence with sophisticated form and functionality inside. Construction was completed in seven months.

"We opted for a bold, dark palette and architectural style, inspired by European farmhouses - a nod to our European heritage," says Miki. With its multi-gable roof line and striking exterior, featuring swathes of Dulux Domino tempered with Iron Ash timber, the house commands attention. "We had a lot of people comment that it was a risky colour scheme, but we were confident and loved that it was bold," adds Miki.