This stunning new build in Blue Mountain Heights, just north of Toowoomba, combines mid-century Palm Springs vibes with innovative design features.
Photography Coastpark Creative / Words Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer
When you’re a real estate photographer who’s shot iconic houses across the country, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to inspiration for your own home. This was the case for Ben Walker, who sketched out thousands of possibilities before designing his home, ‘Saguaro’, which he shares with his partner Adriana and their two dogs.
“I’ve photographed over 15,000 homes over the last decade, and I’ve probably drawn 10,000 floorplans,” he says. “I’d been writing notes in my phone of all the cool ideas I’ve seen and layouts I liked. Then one day we found the right block, with the right view, and designed Saguaro from scratch.”
The low-profile house, built by Paragon Homes, is filled with clever design elements that enhance the beauty of the space and make it a joy to inhabit. “One of my favourite things is the microcement in the bathroom,” Ben says. “I also love the skylight in the shower, our brushed brass ABI Interiors tapware, and the pool and daybed area looking out over that incredible view.”
The home was named after the Saguaro cactus. Aptly, the gardens are filled with cacti and an assortment of sun-loving plants, most of which were sourced from Beautiful Gardens Exotic Nursery & Design.
Saguaro’s open-plan interior feels epic and expansive, but the addition of sliding doors means the home can easily be partitioned for privacy or leisure, creating smaller, more intimate spaces. “The bedroom wing is to the left of the front door and the living area is to the right, so when we have guests, we can close off half the house,” explains Ben. “We also have a floor-to-ceiling cavity door that divides the media room in half. You can watch a movie in complete darkness or open the door to play a game of pool while watching football on the big screen.”
Ben also designed the outdoor spaces, spending months meticulously planning the layout and the vegetation, and building a 3D model to perfect his vision. “I had help from a landscaping team for the hardscaping — the retaining walls, irrigation and fencing — but I planted 90 percent of the plants myself,” he says.
Named after the classic three-pronged cactus, Saguaro (pronounced with a silent ‘g’) is an apt moniker for an abode where the spiky plants reign supreme; landscaping was a key element in the home’s design rather than an afterthought.
The front garden – affectionately named the Zen Garden – is filled with drought-loving, low-maintenance cacti, creating a showstopping space that’s as peaceful as it is stylish. “On a hectic windy day, it’s all so still, which is very relaxing,” says Ben.
Out the back of the home, the entertaining area leans into modernist desert style, with circular stepping stones, an infinity pool and a fire pit, punctuated by views of the Australian bush.
Every window was made as large as possible, bringing the outside in and helping the home’s inhabitants feel close to nature. “Instead of a splashback in the kitchen, we installed a big panel of glass, which brings the Zen Garden inside,” says Ben.
“We absolutely love it here; the whole house is such a vibe.”
