Just a stone’s throw from the Macedon Ranges, our new Akuna 29 (previously the Agnes 29) has officially opened its doors and New Home Specialist, Aneeqa Raza, is taking you through the standout features of this country haven.

Contemporary country living with Melbourne right on your doorstep

Built in the heart of old Gisborne, surrounded by open green spaces and winding valleys, our newly-opened, single-storey Akuna 29 (previously the Agnes 29) shows you the endless possibilities of modern country living.

Since the pandemic, more and more home owners around Australia have lent into the idea of a tree-change or sea-change. The Akuna 29 (previously the Agnes 29) in the Willow Estate gives you the best of both worlds; a slower change of pace and stronger connection to nature, but still with an easy commute to work and everyday amenities.

To discover more about why home owners are trading in the city for the rolling hills of Gisborne, we paid Simonds New Home Specialist, Aneeqa Raza a visit to take a tour around the home.

The best of the Akuna 29 featuring the Collie facade

Every aspect of the 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom Akuna 29 has been designed to enhance family connection.

“The wide hallway leads through to the welcoming, open plan kitchen and dining which is perfect for families to gather in. But my favourite part of the home is definitely the family area which leads out to the alfresco. The high raked ceilings give a real ‘wow’ factor to the space, while the fireplace, wall panelling and sheer curtains keep it nice and cosy,” Aneeqa says.

The best part being, the Akuna 29 will be beside you throughout every season, from curling up by the fire in winter to entertaining out on the alfresco during summer. The placement of both the rear and side alfresco gives the illusion of a wrap-around verandah found in traditional homesteads, blurring the lines between the inside and out.

The thoughtful interiors found in the Akuna 29 blend the old with new, giving a refined take on rustic country design.

In the kitchen, features like shaker style cabinetry, shelving with glass doors and a farmhouse sink give a nod to classic country design, while the waterfall Caesarstone benchtop in Cloudburst Concrete and matte brass tapware from Alder keep the space modern and on-trend.

The muted grey colour palette instils a harmonious feel throughout the home, leaning away from the high-contrast interiors often found in contemporary trends. Throughout the home, natural tones are elevated with the use of feature pendants, back lighting and decorative wall sconces.

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The new Willow Estate is calling. Explore everything it's got to offer

With only a handful of blocks left, land is selling fast in the Willow Estate and it’s not hard to see why. Nestled within an established community, you get the strong neighbourhood feel characteristic of small country towns, but with the convenience of being only 45-mins from Melbourne’s CBD.

Aneeqa notes that one of the biggest benefits of the area is that bigger blocks of land are more readily available. Ranging from 12.5x36m up to 32mx47m, you’ve got more room to move, and more room to include everything you’ve wanted in your dream home - a pool, an entertainer’s alfresco and deck, more space for pets to play, as well as extended garages.

Aside from the Akuna 29, Aneeqa’s go-to home design is the Kalbarri 25 (previously the Hudson 25) from our affordable Elevate range. The greater width of this floor plan means they feel in proportion when placed on the wider and larger blocks found in the estate.

For those who decide to call Willow home, your neighbours will be locals from the surrounding area who wanted to downsize from their sprawling acreage into a home that’s lower maintenance and closer to lifestyle drawcards, like Gisborne’s 18 hole golf course. While just down the road, the newly-opened Willowbank Primary School appeals to growing families looking to set down roots long-term.

And if these lifestyle factors haven’t convinced you just yet, Aneeqa says another big bonus of building in the Willow Estate is that the only covenants relate to NBN and rainwater tank requirements, which means you’re not bound by limitations when it comes to your facade and colour choices.

See the beauty of the Akuna 29 (previously the Agnes 29) for yourself at 5-7 Cotton Circuit, Gisborne. New Home Specialist Aneeqa will be ready to answers any questions you have about the building process and help you find your dream home. Who knows, it might just be the Akuna!