The Hamptons Hits The Highlands
This stylish abode in the Southern Highlands oozes classic charm.
2 min
Few properties epitomise classic Hamptons style and grandeur as elegantly as this superb Bowral estate.
Dubbed ‘Bathampton’, the 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom, 2-car garage home is located on a 5.6-acre plot that combines the traditional codes of luxury with bespoke contemporary finishes.
These codes are displayed through the combination of custom window furnishings, imported wallpaper and light fixtures, herringbone parquetry, bamboo wool carpets and marble mosaic tiles underfoot. Wainscoting, wallpaper, deep-stacked cornices and skirtings further add to the home’s character.
The end result is a magnificent pile that delivers an overwhelming sense of refinement while retaining the essence of family living.
Entering through the stately entrance hall, a sweeping staircase ascends into a double storey landing. The lower-level plays host to an elegant home office and study and a sitting room adjacent.
Elsewhere the lower floor sees the gourmet kitchen and adjoining butler’s pantry — the former fitted with Carrara marble benchtops, Nicolazzi tapware, Ilve gas cooker and Smeg combi oven.
The kitchen is pointed towards a large dining space, sunroom and, via French doors, the alfresco entertaining space set on a silver granite paved area that overlooking the manicured English style gardens and indulgent 12×8-metre in-ground saltwater pool.
The master bedroom, also found here, sees a deluxe walk-in robe and lavish ensuite with a clawfoot bath, separate shower and toilet plus a generous ‘his’ and ‘hers’ stone-topped vanities, heated floors and towel rails.
Each bathroom and the mudroom boast underfloor heating, a guest powder room, adorned with a porcelain pedestal basin and mosaic marble tiles.
On the second floor comes a further four bedrooms, a craft room or nursery and a gallery space.
Outside, the aforementioned English style gardens are supported by a substantial shedding, a bore and irrigation system, a dam and invisible dog fencing alongside arguably the largest display of hydrangeas in the highlands.
The listing is with First National Real Estate’s Reece Woods (+61 423 851 197); POA. firstnationalrealestate.com.au
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
Ever wondered what it takes to create a car like the Maserati? Meet the German designer taking on an Italian icon.
3 min
Klaus Busse would like you to close your eyes and imagine yourself behind the wheel of a Maserati. Picture the GranTurismo, which launched in Australia in 2024. Where do you see yourself? Chances are, Busse suggests, it’s not during the school pick-up or commuting to the office.
“You’re probably on a wonderful road in Tuscany, or Highway 1, or you’re going to a red carpet event,” says Busse, who holds the enviable title of Head of Design at Maserati, the iconic Italian car manufacturer. “Basically, it’s about emotion.”
At the luxury end of the market, the GranTurismo Coupe—priced between $375,000 and $450,000—is designed to transform the driving experience into something extraordinary. For Busse and his team, these “sculptures on wheels” are not just status symbols or exhilarating machines but expressions of pure joy. Their mission is to encapsulate that feeling and translate it into their cars.
“I really feel the responsibility to create emotion,” he says. “We have a wonderful word in Italy: allegria, which is best translated as ‘joyful.’ Our job as a brand is to lift you into this area of joy, perfectly positioned just short of ecstasy. It’s that tingling sensation you feel in your body when you drive the car.”
Even as 60 percent of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, Maserati’s design ethos captures the essence of “everyday exceptional.” Whether navigating city streets or open roads, a Maserati turns heads without being ostentatious or aggressive. “I’ve driven these cars all over the world, and no matter where I go, people smile at me and give a thumbs-up,” says Busse.
Since joining Maserati in 2015, Busse has reimagined and redefined the brand, steering his team through the reinvention of classic models and the transition to electric vehicles. Iconic designs like the Fiat 500, which entered the EV market in 2020, serve as a testament to Maserati’s ability to blend tradition with innovation.
Unlike other luxury car brands, Maserati embraces radical change with new designs every 10 to 15 years. Busse loves connecting with fans who follow the brand closely. He explains that each Maserati model reflects a specific era, from the elegant 35GT of the 1950s to the wedge-shaped designs of the 1970s and the bold aesthetics of the 1980s.
“I often ask fans, ‘What is Maserati for you?’ because their responses tell me so much about how they connect with the brand,” he shares.
Inspired by legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, Busse balances tradition with modernity in his designs. As Giugiaro once told him, “We always do the best in the moment.” This philosophy resonates deeply with Busse, who believes in honouring the past while embracing future possibilities.
Through advances in technology, techniques, and societal trends, Busse ensures Maserati remains at the forefront of automotive design. For him, the creative process is more than just a job—it’s a way to create joy, connection, and timeless elegance.
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
