It is rare to find a property of such grand proportions, yet with an understated, casual style that showcases the best of Australian country living. Nestled off Silver Lake Road just outside the tightly-held Adelaide Hills town of Mylor is a stunning country-style homestead presented in such a tasteful and relaxed way you walk in the door and feel ready to loosen tie, kick off shoes and let the rigors of the day slide away.

With nothing to do to this five bedroom, three-bathroom Federation-style home, the summer ahead will beckon new owners to the deep verandahs and courtyard gardens from where they can admire the postcard-perfect views of distant hills and bushland that surround this 17-acre lifestyle Hills property.

Built in the early 2000s, the double brick rendered home is reminiscent of early Australian country homesteads with its pitched roofline, spacious formal rooms and living areas, country kitchen, tall ceilings, decorative cornices, timber sash windows, deep all-round verandahs and sweeping lawns.

Yet while the property has its own history – owned by the Vogt family who built a modest house and originally farmed turnips by the river that still runs through it – the current owners built with a modern lifestyle in mind and the home includes clever storage ideas, ducted vacuuming, television points in bedrooms, a dedicated large office and underfloor heating.

One of the real qualities of this home is the feeling of casual, understated living that comes through the choice of building materials, such as flooded gum timber floors and Dubai limestone tiles. Despite its luxurious look and feel, it is a home that can stand the real rigors of day to day living. For example, a pet can have the run of the place without its owners worrying about damage to the floors.

Everything about the property is spacious. The central hall is of such proportion two people can pass comfortably and even those rooms that are usually tacked into a spare few metres – such as the laundry, cloakroom or pantry – here they are generous in the extreme.

Each of the five bedrooms has French doors providing direct outdoor verandah access and the guest bedroom opens to its own courtyard garden. The master bedroom has a superb ensuite bathroom with a double shower, double vanity and a claw-foot bath from which you can lie back with a glass of bubbles and toast the view.

Passive solar principles are at play in the north-facing design, with the sun’s angle prevented from reaching the bedrooms by verandahs during the heat of summer and the long central hall letting the breeze move through to keep the house cool.

In winter, 100% wool carpets in the formal living area and bedrooms, plus under-floor heating in the hall, master bathroom and main bathroom creates a beautiful radiant warmth beneath tiles that welcome bare feet on the coldest day.

It is a difficult task to choose just which of the 360 degree views might be considered ‘best’. Every room has a view of the hills stretching to the distance, or overlooks one of the four paddocks, currently stocked with horses. Indeed the owners say that every room has its own charm at any given time of day, and “each room has its own perfect spot for sitting with a cup of tea or coffee.”

The property, which has pumping rights from the river, plus rainwater storage, has farmed cattle previously and a cattle ramp and crush remains. There is a 60×20 dressage arena and in addition to the four fenced paddocks, there are three holding yards and three horse shelters. Adding to the attraction for horse lovers, Mylor is graced with several trails suitable for riding, including a designated stock route through the conservation park and a circuit along Kangaroo Reef road.

Mylor is situated less than 20 minutes from the Adelaide tollgate via the South Eastern Freeway and seven minutes from Stirling. It has its own restaurant, post office and primary school. Heathfield senior high school is just a short drive away. It is a town with a strong sense of community, and many artistic and creative people call the area home.

This is a stunning property, one that opens up from bushland seclusion as you drive through the front gate. It is a home that can be dressed up for a cocktail party, or dressed down for a barbecue. Like the proverbial classic little black dress, it is a perfect entertainer for any occasion.