Out.Haus

The house has a front door, but it’s actually not the main entrance: That’s found around the side, via a soothing, wood-lined courtyard. It’s a natural space for outdoor entertaining, too, thanks to the built-in fireplace and bench.

Solar panels line the roof to soak up the Australian sun. The home doesn’t use any gas—the cooktop is induction, and heating and hot water come from a heat pump.

Operable floor-to-ceiling glass doors slide into pockets to open the entire great room—including living and dining areas—to the outdoors. “This allows the line between indoor and out to blur, inviting in summer breezes and fresh air,” says architect Meelena Oleksiuk Turkel.

The home enjoys a connection with the surrounding landscape with views from every room that invite the 100-acre site into the interior. “The framed views from each room are a source of pride for us,” says architect Meelena Oleksiuk Turkel. “They illustrate the way in which we design for a specific site, bringing the outdoors into the home and making the most of what the homeowners love about their land.”

The loft get lots of natural daylight through three rows of windows. The stairway to the mezzanine originally had open treads, but Sims and Hanna closed them off and utilized the area underneath for storage. A new wooden dowel handrail complements the original pine floors.

House and sleepout

Peka Peka House II

Staircase with rift-sawn white oak handrails and pour-in-place terrazzo in green.

A snug bedroom with a sense of comfort that's shielded from the elements: It has a custom dresser, a shelved headboard, a walk-in closet, and a private balcony that opens to the inner atrium.

Pour-in-place terrazzo in green, being ground and polished by local craftsmen from Tainan with decades of experience

Owners Leah and Dan Curry and their son enjoy the semi-enclosed porch that looks out onto the hillside. The floor-to-ceiling windows are by Ozark Mountain Glass and Razorback Ironworks. The fireplace surround is also by Razorback Ironworks.

The windows in the living area provide views out to the treetops. A rattan loveseat from Golden & Pine softens one corner of the space.

A custom ash table by Urban Lumber Company sits behind the living area inside. “It’s a south-facing slope, so there’s exposure to sun. The nifty part of the porch design is that it provides shade without obstructing the view out to the lake,” says resident Dan Curry.

Another sleeping area features double bunk beds.