Marketing and project management consultant Steve Pearce designed and built this Oakbank villa with his mother, Sue, and he tells SALIFE that although he is an experienced renovator, this was his first new build project.

Steve says they wanted to create a contemporary home with a country Hamptons twist.

This meant creating a light-coloured home with dark window framing, natural stones, oaks and timbers.

“It was a beautiful property. A very, very peaceful and tranquil spot, but very let go. So, we sort of had to look past that – have a bit of vision of what it could be,” Steve says.

“We were very excited about the prospect of tackling a new build, which really gave us the opportunity to design every detail of this home from the ground up and to build a home that would provide the ultimate Hills lifestyle – really capture the views and the tranquillity of this property and of the surrounds.”

Steve says that they aimed to create a liveable floor plan where the rooms are well-proportioned, without being over the top.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback on other homes that we’ve sold in the past and took that into account to design a home, ultimately, that I think offers what a lot of people are looking for when they are looking for a home that can give them that ultimate hills lifestyle,” he says.

“It really also designed around enjoying year-round with all the seasons. So, in summer, you’d be sipping a cocktail by the pool and enjoying all the beautiful lawns and gardens outside, and then in the winter, there are great walking trails.

“You can sit around the fire pit with a nice local red, or inside, there’s obviously two wood fireplaces inside to get the fire going.”

The location – near to cafes, wineries and walking trails – was also crucial when they built the house.

“It’s an absolutely beautiful, tucked away, peaceful spot,” Steve says.

This property at 99 Peacock Road South, Oakbank features four bedrooms, including the master suite with an ensuite, a walk-in wardrobe and its own courtyard and private terrace across a single storey.

There are also two living areas, an open-planned kitchen, a spacious pantry, a cellar, a mudroom and an additional bathroom.

Stepping outside onto the al fresco terrace with its cathedral ceilings, which Steve says is his favourite part of the house, you will find the pool with views of the 5.75-hectare property.

“On a nice day, you can open up the bifold doors in that space and it just makes one massive, big open plan space that’s great for entertaining,” he says.

“Sitting in the summer in the pool…it’s great when you’ve got friends around all sitting there having a cocktail.”

Although Steve has loved living at his Oakbank home, he is now looking to pursue new ventures and pass on the keys.

He says that he will cherish one memory in particular – when he married his wife on the property in March of this year.

“We had an amazing garden party style wedding; fairy lights out over the lawn and furniture scattered around,” he says.

“We had a beautiful ceremony in one of the paddocks, then all gathered around the house and had a cocktail-style wedding outside under the lights.”

The sale of 99 Peacock Road South, Oakbank, is being handled by Dee-Anne Hunt from WILLIAMS Real Estate.