The Range | Byron Bay

Design

19 Sep

The Range is not your usual luxury retreat, in part, because it’s a working farm that has sustainability at the heart of its ethos.

Words: Emma-Kate Wilson

The terracotta tiles were sourced from a 300-year-old European casa, by Bryon brand, *Jatana Tiles*. Photo - Alicia Taylor Photography.

The Spanish-inspired finca has been designed by the certified BCorp owners of The Farm — Emma and Tom Lane, who live on the property. As with the Bryon Bay, paddock to plate philosophy-driven, restaurant and café, The Range encourages consciousness around everyday choices, something Emma shares is based on the family ethos and commitment to give back to the environment.

Located on 130 acres, on one of the highest points in the Bryon Bay hinterland, The Range honours its original homestead feel — restoring the simple brick farmhouse and the expansive macadamia orchard. Reworking the previous structure helped to prevent against unnecessary land fill; however, Emma adds, “the house was not really recognisable once we had finished the process but the bones were still there!”

The couple incorporated timber from the former homestead on the 130-acre property for shelving in the new house. Photo - Alicia Taylor Photography.

The Range reflects on Spanish architecture throughout the build, while drawing on a natural Australian colour palette. Photo - Alicia Taylor Photography.

The Range features textured, soft internal and external walls inspired by summers in Spain. Photo - Alicia Taylor Photography.

It was Emma’s childhood visits to the family holiday home in the Canary Islands, a Spanish island off the coast of Africa, that she first found her love of Spanish earthy terracotta and soft rendered walls. The couple also spent time living in Spain with their first son, where together they found a shared love of Spanish architecture. However, once they moved back to Sydney 12 years ago, finding The Range took ten years of searching for the perfect block.

Textural heaven with timber, concrete and linen dominating one of the bedroom spaces. Photo - Alicia Taylor Photography.

At The Range, the rustic timber outdoor bathtub takes pride of place on the outdoor deck. Photo - Alicia Taylor Photography.

In her childhood, Emma spent holidays in the Canary Islands where she discovered an appreciation of earthy Spanish terracotta and soft rendered walls. Photo - Lucy Laught.

“The Range is predominately off grid as we capture our own water, and generate solar energy. With all our projects, we’re working towards making more conscious choices around the environment so we can leave it that bit better than when we arrived.”

For the design, Emma and Tom drew from a natural palette of colours, like the linen soft furnishings inspired by the old basalt rock walls and fireplace in hues of warm greys, earthy rusts and muted yellows. Or the rust red-dirt, reclaimed terracotta tiles, sourced by Jatana Tiles from a 300-year-old Croatian casa — which ingenuously hides the dirt brought in by the four Lane children and pet dog, Ranger.

“The rock work was built by passionate stonemason Marty from SolidStone… [who] foraged in our old rainforests to find rocks that had been moved there many years ago. These rocks are basalt and are approximately 45 million years old from the Tweed Volcano.”

The couple can also credit themselves with the design of their new home — Tom provided input on the spacial elements, while Emma styled the interior feel and finishes. They also employed Dominic Finlay Jones, former The Farm architect, from DFJ Architects to add “his magic touch.” Emma shares, “the overall feel is an earthy warmth, that feels like a home.”

The couple's love of Spanish-style began together when they lived in Spain, 12 years ago. Photo - Alicia Taylor Photography.

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