Set on a secluded site in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, this project embodies the essence of Australias most calming nature home. Designed by Fearon Hay in collaboration with interior designer Michela Curetti and landscape designer Myles Baldwin, the residence – named Paloma – responds intimately to its rich, ever-changing surroundings. Conceived as a vessel for landscape, interior and art, the architecture is shaped by collaboration and a deep respect for context, creating a home that is both refined and grounded.
Anchored into the hillside and framed by rainforest and paddocks, the home is accessed via a winding country road. Its approach is quiet and measured, revealing layers slowly – from a stable and orchard at the foot of the site to a dramatic brass entry concealed within a water garden. The layout plays with ideas of discovery and contrast. While the exterior reads as minimal and monolithic, inside is a rich layering of texture, tone and narrative.
A key example of this is the kitchen, conceived with Italian heritage in mind. Open shelving, exposed brass detailing and handcrafted tiles express the farmhouse typology in a new light – deeply tactile and expressive yet composed. These gestures continue throughout, reinforcing the sense of rhythm and ritual that defines Australias most calming nature home. The architectural language isn’t static; it breathes and shifts with the environment.
Subterranean and immersive, the library offers another moment of contrast. Entered discreetly, it unfolds into a series of spaces curated to house an extraordinary private collection. Here, Curetti’s vision introduces theatre, colour and material richness, while the placement allows a rare interplay between light, sound and view. Water plays an essential role too, snaking through the building and adding subtle movement and reflection that anchors the spaces in their natural setting.
Beyond the formal qualities, the home’s ethos is rooted in sustainability and self-sufficiency. Completely off-grid and surrounded by food-producing gardens, it enables a lifestyle tied to the land. Horses, wildlife and seasonal shifts all find their way into the experience of living here. Every detail reinforces a sense of calm and connectedness. It’s these layers – spatial, sensory and emotional – that solidify Paloma as Australias most calming nature home, allowing it to resonate on levels beyond the visual.
As the project continues to settle into its surrounds, its core values remain resolute: clarity, connection and considered living. These ideals are embedded in the design, supporting a life that prioritises presence and place. For those in search of a more attuned architectural experience, Australias most calming nature home offers a compelling model – one that is deeply immersive, environmentally conscious and emotionally rich.
Ultimately, Paloma does more than respond to its site – it elevates it. Through architecture, landscape and interior, it captures a rare synthesis of design and daily life. In doing so, it strengthens its identity as Australias most calming nature home, establishing a benchmark for rural living that’s both poetic and practical.
00:00 – Introduction to Paloma
00:54 – The Brief: A Home for Interiors, Art, and Gardens
01:54 – Arrival and First Impressions
03:44 – Kitchen and Library
05:43 – Water, Landscape, and Layered Living
06:35 – Final Thoughts and Favourite Moments
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Photography by Rory Gardiner.
Architecture by Fearon Hay.
Interior design by Michela Curetti.
Build by August Constructions.
Landscape design by Myles Baldwin Design.
Filmed by The Local Production.
Edited by HN Media.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Southern Highlands, New South Wales, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
#Home #Calming #Nature
