Acacia (Central Lounge): A home for Fairlie
- Kacey Sinclair
- Jan 26
- 2 min read
When Fairlie and her brother came to us with their plans to build Fairlie a home, their brief was refreshingly simple: single storey and on budget. Nothing else at all, Fairlie? Well… maybe a colour palette that would gently integrate her beloved SMEG appliances.
Fun!
From there, the design evolved into a calm, character-filled home that feels familiar and intentional. The exterior leans into our classic shed form of recycled corrugated iron, while soft detailing on the inside and thoughtful proportions flow into a warm and inviting home. The house opens up just where it needs to, at the heart of the house with a light-filled living zone, a practical kitchen designed for everyday cooking, and a comfortable sleeping space that feels tucked away without feeling small.
Unique to this home is the connection between the bedroom and the adjacent kitchen. Rather than a conventional doorway, an extended, rounded shelf gently transitions between the two spaces, creating a subtle threshold that optimises airflow and enhances the sense of openness. This effectively forms a “tiny hallway”, defining space without closing it off, and makes the home feel larger than its footprint suggests!
Material choices were key to striking the balance between charm and durability. Robust cladding, hardworking finishes, and low-maintenance materials were chosen to suit the Central Victorian climate and to age gracefully. We went with polished and sealed cement sheet benchtops and flooring (so cool underfoot and so easy to clean!), and painted plywood lining. These natural tones brought warmth, while their restrained colour scheme allowed Fairlie’s appliances and love of local goodies from Corner Store Merchants to shine without overwhelming the space.
Like all good tiny homes, this one works hard for every square metre. Clever storage, efficient layout planning, and a simplified footprint mean the house costs less to build, heat, and cool, and less to maintain.
But perhaps the most beautiful part of this project is where it sits, quite literally, within family. Fairlie’s tiny house now lives alongside her brother and sister-in-law’s home, forming a shared pocket of land, resources and daily life. There’s independence, but also closeness. Privacy, but also connection. A cup of tea is never far away! Fill up that beautiful blue SMEG, Fairlie!
For us, this Tiny House was a quiet reminder of something we see time and again with tiny houses: they don’t just change how people live, but have the potential to change how people live together. They make space for family, for generosity, for different generations to support one another, while treading lightly on the land and on a family's time, space, and financial resources.
*****
Thank you to the wonderful Fairlie for allowing us into her home to snap these gorgeous pics and to Willy Pleasance for capturing their splendour. Thank you also to Corner Store Merchants for bringing colour to so many local homes, big, small and Tiny, this one included!
Willy Pleasance Photography -
Corner Store Merchants -
