6 Monkittee Street, Braidwood

Nestled in the peaceful northern corner of Monkittee Street and designed to blend into the street, this family home is full of hidden surprises. Behind its heritage-look façade, the house opens up into a light and airy sanctuary, with unfussy finishes and thoughtful details that make it a joy to live in. Natural and recycled materials are integrated into the house's design, with a recycled brick dividing wall and cob window seats providing significant thermal mass. The Durra Panel envelope and Solomit ceiling panels dampen street noise, while double doors open onto recycled timber decks. Large north-facing windows and Solatube skylights bathe the house in light, with deep eaves providing summer shade and winter sun. Up-down honeycomb blinds, double-glazing, and tilt-and-turn window mechanisms allow for a balance between privacy and ventilation, and lockable screen doors let the house breathe on even the warmest nights. The great room is warmed by a low-emission Pyroclassic IV wood-burning stove, with an interior ceramic chamber providing radiant heat after the fire has burned down. The kitchen, overlooking the dining area, includes a 900mm induction stove and high wooden countertops, with a separate walk-in pantry housing the fridge. The primary bathroom includes a water-saving Japanese-style soaking tub, with both bathrooms having walk-in showers and slip-proof terracotta tiles underfoot. Water is heated by a Sanden Eco-Plus heat pump, with the laundry-mudroom plumbed for an energy-efficient heat pump dryer, and toilets and washing machine connected to the backyard tank. An elevated steel platform keeps the house well above the level of the creek, and substantial irrigation deals with any run-off. The block is coming into its own after a hard few years, and has plenty of scope for a keen gardener, with a mix of native and cottage plants surrounding the salvaged wooden decks. Designed by Making Space Design Studio (formerly Barraminnow) and built by Green Homes Australia SENSW, the house is built for Braidwood's particular climate, and stands firm against heat, cold, winds and flooding rains. The focus is squarely on living, with room for paintings, dogs, and children, and for bringing in the personal touch that makes a house a home. To book a private walk through this beautiful sustainable home PHONE Kelly Allen or Suzanne Carter.