The Lake House: A Timeless Family Home by The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary: A Masterclass in Subtle Elegance

Lovingly dubbed The Lake House, this new build sits perched on a hill above Lake Hume in North-East Victoria, where it makes a quiet yet confident statement. Designed for a young family seeking timelessness, warmth and functionality, it’s a home defined not by grandeur, but by grace.

And at the heart of it all? Caesarstone^® Porcelain Marbannova™.

A Surface That Grounds the Home

Used throughout the kitchen, pantry, splashbacks, and even the longline unit in the living room, Marbannova brings both cohesion and calm. Its soft veining, warm undertone, and tactile finish strike the perfect balance between refinement and resilience.

In a space flooded with natural light, a cooler white might have felt too stark. Marbannova’s gentle warmth softens the light and echoes the terrain outside, an intentional move to make the kitchen feel grounded rather than gallery-like.

Rather than dominate, the surface anchors the space. It mirrors the gentle colours of the Australian countryside and speaks to the wider palette of soft whites, pale oak flooring, and blush-toned Spanish tiles. The result is a space that doesn’t shout for attention but rewards it.

“I believe custom joinery, when designed fit-for-purpose, is one of the most powerful ways to ground a space. It removes clutter and allows practical storage to become an integrated, beautiful part of the home.”
 — Brooke Kilo, Interior Designer, The Sanctuary Interiors

The same surface seen in the kitchen reappears in the living room’s longline unit, quietly tying the spaces together. It’s a subtle move, but one that brings a rhythm and flow to the interiors; a design decision that transcends trend.

The same surface seen in the kitchen reappears in the living room’s longline unit, quietly tying the spaces together. It’s a subtle move, but one that brings a rhythm and flow to the interiors; a design decision that transcends trend.

Crafted for both beauty and performance, Caesarstone^® Porcelain surfaces offer exceptional durability, heat resistance, and UV stability. Their ultra-compact format allows for refined detailing, making them perfect for seamless splashbacks, sculptural islands, and high-traffic family kitchens.

The Details That Define It

Stretching over three metres, the kitchen island was always going to be a statement, but it also came with structural and visual challenges. The goal was to keep the stone uninterrupted, avoiding joins across both the island and the full-height splashback.

Through close collaboration between designer, joiner and stonemason, the solution was both technical and poetic: a seamless slab of Marbannova, perfectly aligned from bench to wall, and featuring custom leg supports.

A Collaboration Worth Celebrating

This project was more than a design vision, it was a masterful collaboration between some of the region’s finest makers and creatives.

Together, the material palette tells a deeply intentional story. The custom 2-pac slim shaker joinery, the natural rhythm of pale oak flooring, and the subtle texture of handmade Spanish tiles all work in quiet harmony. Every surface, colour and finish selected to evoke calm, warmth and belonging. The result is a home that feels both considered and completely natural.

Where Form Follows Feeling

This home doesn’t just look beautiful, it feels beautiful. And that’s the legacy of thoughtful design. From the uninterrupted benchtop to the bespoke storage to the blush tile details, every decision tells a story of balance, calm, and continuity.

With Caesarstone^® Porcelain Marbannova as the common thread, the home achieves something rare: it becomes a sanctuary.

Interior Design, Material Selection, Styling – The Sanctuary Interiors / @thesanctuary_interiordesign

Builder – Lakeside Builders

Joinery – Murray River Cabinets / @murrayrivercabinets

Photography – Bec Haycraft / @bechaycraft

Stonemason – AMU Stone / @amustone_

Tiles – Aspire Ceramics / @aspireceramics

Fixtures & Fittings – Jones Plumbing Plus / @jones.plumbingplus

Curious how it might look in your own space? Order a free sample or explore our inspiration gallery. Better yet, visit your nearest showroom to experience the texture and tone of the entire collection in person.