TAKING SHELPER

A weatherboard facade shields a mid-centuryinspired house designed to protect and nurture its inhabitants

- Rachel White

Creating a safe haven for their young family was the guiding light for Leah and Samuel O'Connor, owners of this mid-century marvel. "As the founder of a luxury homecare brand, I've spent a lot of time thinking about the concept of 'home'," says Leah. "My philosophy is this: your home is your space, your refuge, your sanctuary." When the busy working couple - then with just one child under two started looking for a long-term family home in 2022, they knew it had to be fuss-free.

"Neither my husband [who works as a private equity investor] nor I have a handy bone in our bodies," jokes Leah. "We were previously living in a heritage home, which was really beautiful, but it needed more love and care than we had the time or skills for." After searching unsuccessfully for months, the couple met a builder in the early stages of construction on a home they quickly realised was "the one".