FANCY living in your very own castle or château?
This is a fantasy that many of us dream of bringing to life but unless you are prepared to move to Europe it is a dream that is hard to bring to reality and even harder to do with style.It is exactly the problem that Tim Mills and Diana Norman had when designing their home 15 years ago at 200 Ocean View Rd, Ocean View in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Ray White Rural Dayboro agent Nigel Statham and principal Vicki Pain said La Tour Tzani was a hilltop country home that enjoyed spectacular views of the Glasshouse Mountains and Sunshine Coast.
“With original tapestries, vaulted ceilings, Juliet balconies and handmade stained glass windows, the tower and gîte barn styled buildings exude a genuinely old French feel,” they said.“Special homes need a special custodian. This unique slice of old French architecture blends an authentic environment with convenient modern day comforts.”
Based on the Martello Towers of the Island of Jersey and blended with the architectural elegance of Breton and Normandy, La Tour Tzani was designed and built by the current owners in 2009 to reflect their own heritage and love of old French style.The result is a faithful interpretation both inside and out with authentic pieces such as the imposing tapestry brought back from Mont St Michel on the Normandy coast.Diana Norman was raised in Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands. The islands are just 14 miles from the coast of France but, being loyal to the English crown, the fear of French invasion was a constant concern to the islanders over the centuries during which England and France were at war.“To protect the islands a series of defensive structures known as Martello Towers were built. In more modern times, many of these towers have been adapted into homes. So I have always wanted to live in a tower,” Ms Norman said.The seed of a concept had clearly been planted many years ago. But it wasn’t until a three-month trip around France that the beginnings of an idea developed into a clearer proposal.“We found ourselves stopping constantly to take photographs of buildings along the Normandy and Breton coast. The coastal town of Dinard was a real favourite architecturally,” Ms Norman said.With the conversation veering off to stories of eating live oysters on the beach at Cancale followed by a walk to the Creperie it is clear that the philosophy behind their new home was far deeper than simple design.
Back in Australia, the purchase of 4ha in Ocean View, Queensland with magnificent views of the Glasshouse Mountains and Sunshine Coast coastline was the start of a journey that would take two years to complete.
The challenges of building an authentic representation of an old French country home on the other side of the world were immense. Sourcing the right materials, dealing with contractors unfamiliar with the ethos of the project and keeping it all to a budget were a constant struggle.“To keep with tradition, we wanted slate for the roof but cyclone ratings meant that an alternative needed to be sourced,” recalled Tim Mills.“In the end we found a terracotta tile that had to be shipped from Western Australia; it cost $82,000 but the cement alternative just didn’t provide the qualities we were looking for.”As you enter the main tower building the first thing that strikes you is the unquestionable success the couple had in not only meeting these challenges but exceeding them.It is a magnificent space both inside and out with authentic pieces such as the imposing tapestry brought back from Mont St Michel on the Normandy coast.The main living space features a 20-foot-high ceiling, travertine stone floor and imposing open fireplace. Your eyes will be drawn inevitably upwards however in admiration of the two beautiful handmade stained-glass Oeil-de-boeuf windows and huge tapestry depicting the city of Brussels in the 1400’s.The journey through the tower itself begins in the drawing room. Seven metres in diameter, with a slate floor and fireplace, the space includes a carefully disguised office area. This clever planning in the design is evident throughout making this not only a stunning property but a comfortable and practical home.Eighteen steps up a spiraling staircase leads you to the first floor containing the two main bedrooms. The Master bedroom is an impressive mezzanine space overlooking the main living area and providing another view of its spectacular features.The walk-in robe is huge, the ensuite is a triumph in period design blended with modern living and the private deck overlooking the valley completes the lavish feel.Across the hallway, the Blue Room is an equally gorgeous bedroom complete with its own Juliet balcony, another perfectly equipped ensuite and imposing tapestry.
Furnishing the space was a challenge in itself. “We happened to walk past a French décor shop in Tamworth; in the early stages of the build it was a case of finding pieces and then working out where we would put them, the light fittings and wardrobe in this room came from that shop,” Ms Norman said.
“It is the same with the sink in the ensuite; there were only two of its kind in Australia. We brought one but found it to be damaged; it was very hard to find the second!”
