Celebrated Adelaide Hills florist Donna Stoddard and her husband Kane are selling their elegant Woodside home in a bid to achieve a better work-life balance.
The owners of Botanic Poetry, a floral retailer and supplier to high-end brands, including luxury hotels Eos by SkyCity and Sofitel Adelaide, admit living just 400 metres from their studio made it easy to spend too much time at work, each regularly clocking up to 90 hours a week on-the-job.
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The pair are buying a newly built home at Normanville, bringing forward their ten-year plan to live by the sea, and are farewelling the oasis they created at 94 Onkaparinga Valley Rd, conceding they’ve had little opportunity to enjoy the property they bought six years ago.
Part proceeds of the sale will go towards converting a space at the rear of their business into Airbnb accommodation, set to open by mid-year and which the couple will stay in themselves during periods of peak floristry demand, rather than make the 90-minute commute to their
new home on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
![Supplied Editorial Botanic Poetry's Donna Stoddard. Source: Supplied](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Botanic Poetry’s Donna Stoddard is selling her Woodside home.
The five-bedroom home offers plenty of space for a large family.
A double garage offers direct access into the home.
The expansive, covered alfresco area is ideal for hosting gatherings.
“Being this close to the studio has its advantages but it can be a bit much and there’s the expectation of staff that we will always be here to close up or to open,’’ Mrs Stoddard said.
“The 80-to-90-hour weeks are not good for us. We’re bringing our 10-year plan forward…to play golf and to slow down.
“Normy (Normanville) has always been very special to us. We always used to go down there and look at the real estate listings and dream that one day we would end up down there.
“We’re bringing on some extra staff members, which will make it easier for us. But when we have busy (work periods), like Mother’s Day week and Valentine’s week, we can block out that time and stay next door (in the Airbnb) when we need to be at the studio late at night so that we don’t need to drive back home.’’
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Inside, the home is equally impressive and features a versatile, open-plan layout.
The main bathroom has been given a stunning makeover.
The master bedroom offers a private retreat of unparalleled luxury.
Looking to work from home? No problem!
Mrs Stoddard said she regretted not making more of her time at the split-level, five-bedroom home, which has undergone several small-scale renovations since the couple purchased it, including the creation of separate front and rear outdoor entertaining spaces.
She said the gardens, which enjoy views over the vineyards at nearby Barristers Block Wines, had deliberately been planted to be in flower year-round, with a mix of roses, natives, fruit trees and hedges.
“It’s one of the best houses in Woodside,’’ Mrs Stoddard said.
“It’s disappointing we didn’t have the time to enjoy it but I’m excited to go down to the water and experience the sunsets and the views (at Normanville).
“I just hope that someone who buys it has the time to enjoy it – that’s what will make me happy.’’
The property has been listed with John Silvestri of Refined Real Estate, with offers closing on
Friday, January 10, unless sold prior.
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