For Sarah Nolen from Birdblack Design, 19 Bristol Parade has been much more than a home – it has been a sanctuary. As she and her family prepare to pass it on to its next owner, she reflects on the vision, memories and everyday moments that have made this property so special.
Nestled amongst the trees of Farmborough Heights, this thoughtfully reimagined residence was transformed with a clear vision: to create a home that feels deeply connected to nature while bringing people together. Inspired by the surrounding bushland, Sarah opened up the original 1970s floorplan to create light-filled, interconnected spaces designed for gathering, entertaining and everyday living.
Rich, earthy tones, custom design details and seamless indoor-outdoor flow give the home a distinctive personality, while expansive decks place you amongst the treetops, immersed in birdsong and natural beauty. From slow mornings in the kitchen and family dinners around the table to long evenings entertaining friends with the servery window open and music playing, the home has been the backdrop to countless treasured memories.
It’s a place where everyday moments feel special, offering the rare combination of peaceful retreat and practical family living. As Sarah shares, it’s the feeling of the home that makes it truly unforgettable.
What has living here meant to you?
Living here has felt like a true retreat from the pace of everyday life. We’re only a short
drive from the CBD, yet the home feels completely immersed in nature, surrounded by
bushland, birdsong and tree canopies. There’s something incredibly calming about
waking up amongst the trees and watching the birdlife from almost every room. It’s been
a home that has encouraged us to slow down, entertain often, and really enjoy the
simple rituals of daily life; cooking, sharing meals, opening the house up to the breeze,
and spending evenings out on the deck with friends and family.
What was your vision or inspiration when creating/designing this home?
The original home had great bones, but like many homes from the 1970s, it was very
compartmentalised. My vision was to completely transform the way the home
functioned without changing the original footprint. I wanted the home to feel open,
connected and centred around gathering.
The inspiration came from the surrounding landscape and the way we wanted to live;
relaxed, social and connected to nature. I leaned into rich, moody tones inspired by red
wine and earthy materials, balanced with natural light and greenery. The goal was to
create a home that felt sophisticated and dramatic, yet still warm and welcoming.
Which spaces in the home do you find yourself using or loving the most?
The kitchen and back deck are definitely the spaces we gravitate towards most. The
kitchen was designed to be both beautiful and practical, so it naturally becomes the
gathering point whenever people are over.
The back deck is where we spend so much of our time. It feels incredibly peaceful
sitting amongst the trees, whether it’s having coffee in the morning, entertaining friends,
reading a book with the kids, or simply listening to the birds and frogs in the afternoon.
The way the deck changes through the seasons and different times of day makes it feel
almost immersive in nature.
What do you think the new owner will love most about this home?
I think they’ll fall in love with the way the home feels. The connection between indoors
and outdoors is really special. Every entertaining space flows naturally into the next,
whether you’re cooking in the kitchen, sitting around the dining table with the kids,
relaxing in the lounge room or out on the back deck amongst the trees.
The functionality is another standout. Every detail was carefully considered to maximise
storage, ventilation and ease of living. At the same time, the home has a really strong
personality and aesthetic identity that makes it memorable. The back deck in particular
feels like you’re suspended in the treetops, it’s incredibly peaceful and unlike anything
else.
Were there any “must-haves” or design details that were especially important to you?
Keeping the original structure and working creatively within it was very important to me.
Rather than extending, I wanted to prove how transformative thoughtful design alone
could be. Opening up the floorplan completely was non-negotiable.
The kitchen was also a major focus. I wanted it to feel like the true heart of the home;
highly functional, generous in scale, and visually striking. The custom Grenache-toned
concrete benchtop and rangehood became defining features of the design and set the
tone for the rest of the house.
Connection to the outdoors was another priority, so things like the large stacker doors
and servery window- both with fully retractable flyscreens, skylights, louvred windows
and expansive decks were all intentionally designed to maximise light, airflow and views
into the trees.
What are some of your favourite moments or memories you’ve experienced in the
home?
Some of our favourite memories are the long evenings spent entertaining. The home
was designed to bring people together, and it really does that beautifully. There’s
something special about having the servery window open, music playing, food spread
across the island bench and everyone moving easily between indoors and outdoors.
Beyond that, this home holds a very personal significance for us. It was the very first
home we purchased as a family, and the place where we raised our babies. Some of our
most treasured memories are the everyday moments: watching the kids play on the
deck amongst the trees, slow mornings together in the kitchen, family dinners around
the table, and seeing the home evolve alongside our family over the years.
We’ve also loved the quieter moments, sitting out on the deck during summer storms,
watching the fog roll through the trees in winter, or relaxing in the bath and looking up at
the stars through the skylight. The home has a way of making everyday moments feel
memorable.
How do you feel the home connects to its surroundings – the landscape, views, or community?
The home feels deeply connected to its surroundings. The elevated decks place you
almost directly within the tree canopy, so the landscape becomes part of the
experience of living here. Cross-breezes, natural light and views were all carefully
considered so that the outdoors is constantly present within the home.
At the same time, there’s a real sense of privacy and retreat while still being close to
everything. It offers the feeling of living in a peaceful bush escape while remaining
connected to the wider community and convenience of the area.
19 Bristol Parade, Farmborough Heights is currently for sale. View here.