Houses inspired by American architecture making a splash in the Qld market

By definition, a Hamptons-styled home should be effortlessly causal and relaxed but in a timeless and very sophisticated way. 

Bright white interiors flooded with natural light, hushed elegant furnishings offset with high ceilings and grounded by timber floors; these are the basis for the beautiful US-style abode that, according to real estate agents, has taken Queensland’s property scene by storm.

Local agents say US-inspired architecture is booming, particularly throughout the south-east region, and they can’t find enough Hampton and Cape Cod-style homes to keep up with buyer demand.

Haven Interior Style Design owner Rachel Meyers just sold, for an impressive $1.5 million, her own Hampton-inspired house in Camp Hill that she built with her husband.

She says the style has become a hot seller in the south-east Queensland property market and beyond.

“It’s in every suburb in Brisbane and on the coast as well,” Mrs Meyers says. “You see a lot of these beautiful homes and they get big dollars.”

The US style’s popularity is on the rise and may one day rival the state’s love for the traditional Queenslander, she says. “Definitely, and I can’t see it passing any time soon … The Hampton style suits our climate.”

Cape Cod, another prestigious area in the north eastern US, is also inspiring architecture in Queensland, Mrs Meyers says.

“Some people call it Hampton, some people call it Cape Cod. It’s often a bit of a mishmash and you can do that so it all ties in nicely.”

On the Gold Coast, a Cape Cod-inspired home in Namatjira Court has been listed for auction in April. A high, pointed Dormer roof and simple light and dark colour scheme drew inspiration from houses in Massachusetts’ premium suburbs.

Harcourt Coastal agent Grant Stephens says he is struggling to keep up with demand for US-style properties.

“What’s old is new again. People are trying to go back to the past to find what they love,” he says. “People coming out of Sydney are chasing it.

“They usually say they want a Hamptons or Cape Cod sort of style and [the problem is] they are very rare.”

Mr Stephens says he recently sold another property in the area that the new owner plans to convert into a US style. “It’s a dream to have something like it,” he says. “I’ve noticed people do a lot of renovations to turn houses into these.”

Just south of the NSW-Queensland border in Kingscliff, a luxurious Hampton beach side home is for sale for with a price of $3.3 million to $3.5 million.

Positioned on North Point Avenue overlooking the ocean, it’s a spectacular example of beach shack meets the Hamptons, which Queensland Sotheby’s International agent Geraldine Keogh says sets the home apart from the pack.

“It’s a very different property and it works very well with where it’s situated,” she said. “It’s typical of the Hamptons.”

Designed by renowned architect Paul Uhlmann, it’s been built to make the most of the light, the views and the location, featuring stunning double height ceilings, white washed interiors and luxurious fittings and fixtures.