Farmhouse Fields reflects the clients’ vision of a bright family home inside a modern farmhouse, with high ceilings and framed natural views. Taking inspiration from American designs, Studio Hallihan balances shared and private spaces, creating a calm living environment.
Located on the Victorian surf coast, just 15 minutes from Torquay, Farmhouse Fields overlooks a grassy landscape rolling towards Zeally Bay. Prior to construction, the hilltop site lay vacant, presenting the option of a new home bespoke to the clients’ lifestyle. The design brief called for a robust and accommodating house. “The project is something we can grow with and grow into,” says Rhys Stanely, one of the homeowners. Oriented to maximise views, the home provides a place to retreat from the coastal wind and embrace northern sunlight from inside a modern farmhouse.
Inside, an open living and kitchen area forms the primary social space, complete with oversized windows and 6.4-metre-high ceilings. The kitchen features large pieces of European stone on the island benchtop and splashback, complemented by limestone-clad walls, which echo the rich tones of the clay soil on the site. “When we were designing the kitchen, [Tanya] from Studio Hallihan brought the idea to the table of more of an American-style kitchen, where it was open but still felt like a separate space with that lower ceiling and the bulkhead,” says Rhys. The added butler’s kitchen, inside a modern farmhouse, allows clutter to be moved away from the main social space.
From the kitchen, a long hallway leads to the parents’ retreat. Specially requested by homeowner Kirsten Stanley, the space includes a picture window that offers a charming view. While Oregon beams visually lower the ceiling height, wire-brushed oak floors ensure consistency with other parts of the home. In the parents’ bedroom, soft furnishings evoke the gentle contours of the terrain inside a modern farmhouse. The adjacent bathroom heroes a custom sink base cabinet. “Blum has done such a good job of fitting that [space] out with some beautiful hardware,” says Rhys. “It functions so well for the way we live.”
In contrast to the parents’ retreat to the east, the western side of the house is crafted for the children’s use. The garage opens to a mudroom and laundry space where they can drop their bags before continuing inside a modern farmhouse. “For our eldest son’s bedroom, we designed these beautiful shelves around his window,” says Kirsten. Nearby, a storage-filled rumpus room is crafted with sliding doors, allowing the children to easily incorporate outdoor space into their play.
With high ceilings and clear zones, Farmhouse Fields offers airy and open spaces inside a modern farmhouse. Crafting both the architecture and the interiors, Studio Hallihan shifts focus outward, deepening the residents’ connection to the surroundings.
00:00 – Introduction to the Modern Farmhouse
00:53 – First Impressions of The Original Site
01:22 – A Walkthrough of the Home
03:27 – The Kids Zone
04:33 – Growing with the Home
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Photography by Lillie Thompson.
Architecture, interior design and styling by Studio Hallihan.
Build by Galloway Building Group.
Joinery by Hammer & Stone Creative Workroom and Windsor Kitchens.
Storage systems and hardware by Blum.
Cladding by James Hardie and RMS Traders.
Rugs by GlobeWest.
Stone and tiles by Artedomus, GatherCo and Aeria Country Floors.
Appliances by Fisher & Paykel.
Artwork by Emma Itzstein.
Filmed and edited by Dan Preston.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Victoria, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners 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.
#Modern #Farmhouse #Nature
32 Comments
We hope you enjoyed the charming Farmhouse Fields by Studio Hallihan. Farmhouse Fields beautifully balances modern farmhouse charm with a thoughtful family-focused design. The high ceilings, natural materials, and seamless indoor-outdoor connection make this home truly special. For more of the latest and greatest in architecture and design, be sure to order your copy of Issue No. 17 of The Local Project now: https://thelocalproject.com.au/product/issue-17/
Where can i buy this?
I love the high quality of the structure and interior essentials, without the need to embellish with visual distractions, such as belongings or decorations. I find open clear spaces in neutral color harmony to be welcoming, airy, easier to maintain and calm. Thanks for sharing.
Dream
it's also colourless lacks life 😮 n they hate kids toys abd durty yet kids are nessy n ditrty😢😮
6 month later, this is the best tour on Local Project, my all time favorite was The Boat House but this one surpassed it. The amount of repeats I have had on this one is unhealthy.😊
Is the accent British
Good job — enjoyed the breakdown.
What is the total sq ft area of this beautiful home. Could you send me the plan sketch
Man the cinematography and shots are so amazing. So beautiful!!
Charming!
"I want to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land….and now here's the multimillion dollar middle finger I built on that land."
Very interesting Pepe about the moorings. All the extra duties and costs of running a business. Nice to know you are so responsible about the environment. Wish everyone was
A genuine couple with beautiful house. Gob bless their wealth
Life is beautiful 😍
Quick math: The 'designer' sofa I wanted was $5,500. Similar one from Woometron was $1,400. I bought the Woometron AND a matching coffee table AND two accent chairs for less than that one sofa.
My Article sofa started sagging after 18 months. My Woometron sectional still looks new after 2 years of daily use with kids and pets.
West Elm: $4,000, 1-year warranty. Woometron: $1,200, 10-year warranty, European factory. Choose your fighter.
Thank you for acknowledging the traditional owners of our land… Gorgeous family and Home
Beautiful home with great views
Nice house
Looks more like a church
Stunning
Watched right up until the acknowledgement. Does everything have to be White guilt?
Truly fascinating. The high ceilings, natural light and open views create a beautiful balance between contemporary architecture and family living. 💫
Does anyone know if the architect or builder sells the plans of this house design. Square footage?
this guy looks like the biggest tool ever
❤❤
Looks So Peaceful
You Sound Like Australian
Beautiful Countryside
You Look a Couple in a Movie
About Wolves in Australia