Hillside Harmony at Sabre by Wilco Homes

Recessed into a steep block in Paddington, Brisbane, the award-winning Sabre is the latest project from Wilco Homes, a residence seamlessly built into its hillside setting.
 

"So, originally, this house was designed on the top block, but council didn’t approve it, so [the] house on the top block got brought down here, but the top street is Tooth Avenue," says Jack Williams, Founder of Wilco Homes. 

What began as a setback ultimately became the defining move of the build. Set into the slope, Sabre uses each level to draw in the surrounding greenery, turning a planning constraint into one of the home's strongest features.

"The design brief from the client was that he wanted a warm, welcoming home, and every design element has been based around that," continues Jack. 

From the open-plan living areas to the kitchen, which flows through to the courtyard and pool beyond, each space builds on the same sense of warmth and connection. A restrained material palette of travertine, oak cabinetry, and aluminium doors and windows runs throughout the home, complemented by ABI Interiors' brushed copper tapware.

"The brushed copper finish was one of the products that didn't really change through the build, as it complemented all our travertine and all our oak cabinetry colours really nicely and had a great connection to all our aluminium doors and windows. So every product tied back to the feeling of calm and openness as you enter the home," says Jack.

Jack's favourite space is the master suite, where a walk-in robe and ensuite create a hotel-like retreat beneath a five-and-a-half-metre skylight that floods the space with natural light.

"We had a very talented architect who came through. A big focus was put on materiality, and he added his own flair of structural curves and a resort-style feeling to the home," continues Jack.

"Houses like this aren't built by accident; there's a lot of work that goes in, and we've got an amazing crew of subcontractors and trades that work for us, and the way that they work together as a team has created incredible outcomes."

That level of collaboration extended to ABI Interiors, with Jack noting the value of responsive support for products and technical components throughout the build.

“The process of ordering ABI is quite smooth. I find the team in the office quite helpful; if the technical in-wall systems are needed, they can be turned around really quickly.”