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FEATURE LISTING: Exquisite retreat-style home in Oakbank

Designed with wellbeing in mind, Parkwood Lodge is the much-loved passion project of Steve Pearce and his mother Sue.

The sprawling Parkwood Retreat in Oakbank offers a getaway lifestyle only 25 minutes from the bustle of the CBD.

When Steve Pearce and his mother Sue purchased the property just over a year ago, they envisioned transforming it into a business, as well as a beautiful place to live.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom luxury home boasts a refined harmony of old and new.

“We purchased it about a year and a half ago with the intention of turning it into an accommodation retreat, which we named Parkwood Retreat,” says Steve.

“Built in the late ’60s, it had a lot of promise and a lot of incredible features, such as high ceilings and beautiful stonework. Both the gardens and the home needed a lot of love inside and out.

We designed the property and project managed it because we’ve renovated a number of homes,” Steve says.

“We got in and did a lot of the landscaping ourselves. It was a big job, but it was a lot of fun and very rewarding.”

Stone, timber and glass are perfectly complemented by high-end finishes and huge picture windows that draw beautiful vistas of the property into each room.

The 2.9-metre-high ceilings create spacious living spaces full of light alongside a stone feature wall and oak flooring.

The open plan layout seamlessly connects the living and dining areas to the elegantly-appointed kitchen, which features Caesarstone benchtops, European appliances and a roomy butler’s pantry.

The four bedrooms boast large windows that allow an abundance of natural light to flood the rooms, as well as built-in robes with plenty of storage space.

There is also an outbuilding, which is a studio. We thought it would be great for somebody who works from home as they can use it as an office,” Steve says.

The property has two generous bathrooms featuring oversized showers, double vanities, underfloor heating and a free-standing bath in the main bathroom.

“Everything is very luxurious with quality finishes; we haven’t spared any expense in setting it up that way,” Steve says.

The outdoor entertaining and indoor living spaces are seamlessly combined to provide a melodious flow within the home.

The alfresco area is the big hero of the place, with the mineral plunge pool and the hydrotherapy spa,” Steve says.

“There is the outdoor lounge and firepit, which is all designed in a really nice interconnected layout that flows from the house and captures the view.”

Steve and Sue also built an outdoor cinema with a permanent screen and electricity requirements for a projector set up.

“It’s pretty cool, surrounded by trees that get lit up at night-time and you can sit there and watch a film under the stars,” Steve says.

The expansive property has approximately 6.9 hectares of rolling paddocks, perfect for creating a vegetable patch or orchard, or for keeping animals.

“There is brand new fencing all around [the property] with gates, meaning it is set up for somebody to come in and have a hobby farm,” Steve says.

“We had some alpacas and sheep up there.”

Located in the heart of the Adelaide Hills, Parkwood Retreat offers a slice of country living close to the city and is surrounded by local wineries.

At the end of the road is the Amy Gillett bike track, providing the perfect place for cycling, hiking and walking amongst nature.

“You go outside and you see thousands of birds and kangaroos hopping past,” Steve says.

The mother-son pair are selling the property because they could not get the permits required to complete their vision.

We had plans to build the wellness retreat with glamping and some luxury rooms and a pool at the top of the property,” Steve says.

“Our greater plans weren’t supported by the council, unfortunately. We were very sad because we bought the property with the intention of keeping it long term,” Steve says.

“We ultimately made the decision so we can pursue our vision of what we were going to do elsewhere.”

Steve and Sue are selling the property as a private residence, hoping the next custodians will love the place for a long time.

“It would make an amazing home for a family, the kids would love it, but then also a retired couple would enjoy spending their retirement there,” Steve says.

The sale is being handled by Dee-Anne Hunt of Williams Real Estate.

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