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Shinrin-yoku is the Japanese practice of ‘forest-bathing’. Much like immersing yourself in water, forest-bathing is the act of submerging yourself deeply and mindfully into the natural surrounds.
Interior designer and owner of Cloud Parade accommodation, Josie Simpson of Altus Design Studio cites this concept as a potential reason for travelling to the Blue Mountains – but there is something to be said for its impact on her design for this unique property.
The top floor of the two storey home is cantilevered out over the downstairs floor, and wrapped in glazing, creating the illusion of a house floating above the clouds. The most spectacular of these hilltop views are gained from the living and dining room, which faces the national park beyond. The windows of this main zone frame the valley, Mount Solitary and the Three Sisters rock formation, and encourage guests to drink in the uninterrupted natural vista.
It was essential that the interior scheme didn’t detract from these sublime escarpment views, so Josie settled on a cosy, contemporary look inside, inspired by the home’s 1970s timestamp.
‘My vision was a modern take on mid-century style with simple, clean lines and graphic artworks,’ she says. While snug, low-lying furniture populate the lounge room, she opted for a dark kitchen featuring Laminex AbsoluteMatte Black joinery and Essastone Lava Black benchtop to emphasise the excellent parquetry floors.
These darker tones continue throughout the five bedrooms, downstairs living room and upstairs TV room, setting an understated contrast to the spectacular scenery surrounding the home.
‘You don’t need to leave the house to appreciate the Blue Mountains,’ says Josie of the house’s incredible location. That may be the case… but in an area replete with endless walking opportunities, Gordon Falls lookout just down the road, and charming local villages that are ripe for exploration, Cloud Parade offers a holiday spot too tempting to resist!
Book a stay at Cloud Parade here.
