As picturesque as they come, this traditional country cottage is framed by a perfectly manicured garden on a rambling expanse of green. A large verandah wraps the single-storey home with a classic green, white and grey palette. Simple in its design but exquisite in its execution, the exterior of this cottage is a subtle indicator of the finer details that await inside.
Berry, New South Wales, is a regional town that enjoys proximity to both the countryside and the coast. A gateway to other towns but also a destination in its own right, Berry is less than two hours south of Sydney. It’s remote enough to offer a more peaceful life but still close enough to the action. This was one of the defining reasons for Neale Whitaker, an Australian television host and interior design expert, to make the tree change.
Moving from an inner-city terrace in Sydney’s Surry Hills, Neale now happily calls Berry home with his partner David, a former hair and make-up artist. In early 2024 it was announced that Neale was leaving The Block to spend more time with David who was dealing with some health issues. They share the country cottage with their dogs Teddy and Graham, and a much-loved senior horse named Bill, who lives on the property. The animals are as distinguished as their home, blending seamlessly into their romantic setting.
On the inside, this home delves into colour and texture. Each room is thoughtfully layered, with everything perfectly set in its place. Such attention to detail can sometimes feel forced, but the warmth of this interior is friendly and inviting – giving you permission to sit down, relax and even put your feet up. This is a testament to Neale’s experience in design as the former editor of magazines Belle and Vogue Living. Somewhat like a magazine article, this cottage is a series of vignettes that tell you a story as you move from room to room.
Neale and David’s character, history and travels are represented by unexpected moments where tradition meets contemporary, with an eclectic mixture of decor. Confident and unafraid to embrace a ‘more is more’ approach, the home is filled with memories that hint at a playful passion for life. Neale spends much of his time immersed in design and reviewing interiors, so it’s refreshing to see his own personal style flowing throughout the home. His design style is decisive, harmonious and fun – a unique brand of polished elegance with a laid-back undercurrent.
When renovating the home, the original features of the cottage were retained while its compact floorplan was improved. Neale and David started the work by opening up the living and dining area to facilitate better internal flow, and also renovated the kitchen. Over the years, they have added to the renovation with updated bathrooms and cosmetic changes to all three bedrooms and the verandah. Their most recent addition was building a freestanding guesthouse on the property, optimising their land to create a peaceful couple’s retreat. Now they’re able to offer guests a taste of their lifestyle – even if just for the weekend.
Living in the country might seem like a counter-intuitive choice for Neale given his demanding filming schedule and constant travel. However, it’s precisely the busy nature of his career that makes this home the perfect choice: it forces him to slow down and remove himself from distractions to better appreciate the calm.
Neale and David have created their own special safe haven – a place to be unapologetically slower. In doing so, they have proven that you can have both the career and lifestyle you desire. In this case, the pair have prioritised their way of living and made their careers work around it. It does require some sacrifice, but any inconvenience they face living away from the city is far outweighed by the benefit of enjoying a happy and peaceful life together in the country.
“Our home creates our lifestyle. It brings us peace and serenity and allows us to move at a slower pace (mostly, not always!) than we did when we were living in the city.’“
Neale Whitaker
Neale Whitaker home Q&A
How has your life changed since living here?
Life has changed in numerous ways for us in the time we have been here (not least of which were the changes brought about by Covid), but overall life feels more balanced and authentic. My work still requires me to travel regularly, so there is some planning involved in living here but it’s well worth the effort.
What drew you to the location?
We had been visiting this region of the New South Wales south coast regularly for many years before making the decision to move here permanently in 2018. It’s a beautiful area that offers the best of several worlds to us: rural location, proximity to the ocean and it’s less than a two-hour drive from Sydney.
What changes have you made to your home to make it your dream space?
Is there such a thing as a dream space? I’m not sure. But I guess our home would come pretty close. When we first moved in, we renovated the kitchen and opened up the main living/dining area. Over subsequent years we have renovated the bathrooms and made cosmetic changes to the bedrooms and the verandah area. We also built a guesthouse on our property in 2022.
Can you describe the community where you live?
Berry is a close-knit and inclusive community, comprising people who have lived in the region all their lives (or at least for many years), and people like us who have migrated from Sydney. The creation of a new suburb at nearby Huntingdale Park has introduced a younger demographic to the mix. It’s got a nice vibe.
What are some of the challenges of living where you do?
The biggest challenge, for me in particular, is the number of hours I spend weekly on the road between Berry and Sydney. Living in a rural or coastal area can require careful planning but any disadvantages are easily offset by the advantages.
This is an edited extract from Retreat by Lucy Glade-Wright, published by Hardie Grant Books and available to buy from Amazon.
This article originally appeared on Home Beautiful and is republished here with permission.
