Australia has been obsessed with Hamptons style, and Perth is no exception. However, while it’s not likely to be a passing trend, there is another on the horizon. With hallmarks of Hamptons style, plus the classic Queenslander and hallmarks of the Raffles Hotel, Plantation style is here to stay. It’s a timeless genre of architecture and interior design inspired by Raj-period homes in India and the Asian-European fusion found in Asian – think Raffles in Singapore and Cambodia and the Metropole in Hanoi.
Classic elements are white weatherboards, wide balconies with carved balustrades, high ceilings and a classic mix of black flooring and white walls. The feel is relaxed, sophisticated and very much about a laidback indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
We also love the design integrity of the Hamptons home. This style of home is inspired by the traditional buildings found in East Hampton and South Hampton on Long Island (the New Yorker’s weekend escape). Before embarking on your Hamptons or Plantation build, it’s important to know that while the style looks simple, it has great attention to detail and a high level of craftsmanship. Proper Hamptons design is about what we call ‘honest architecture’, which is nothing on show for show’s sake. It is not about building a box and adorning the box with stick-on mouldings, then decorating it to look ‘Hamptons’, which is unfortunately a common theme in Australia. Honest architecture means if an aspect of the building is designed to appear to do something, it actually does it! Cut any corners in this build and you will be disappointed. So, it is important to engage a builder who understands the design, philosophy and history of this style of architecture to ensure you are happy with your Hamptons, or Plantation, home.
View our authentic plantation style weatherboard home recently completed in Mosman Park.