Minnies B&B, Sale review: Greener pastures

Beyond the farm gate, Michelle Potts finds a colourful Gippsland bed and breakfast.

We're off to Gippsland. But it's work, really. Writing for me, locum tenens for him. So after simmering soups and curries, we convert the boot to a pantry, toss in the bags and leave puss looking longingly on the landing.

Before long, traffic congestion eases and the M1 is a more relaxing ride through the Latrobe Valley. Minutes through Sale, we spot the Minnies sign, unhook the farm gate and follow the long gravel drive towards the main house, past a huddle of handsome Black Angus and poll Hereford steers. The bed and breakfast soon comes into view behind a row of tall pencil pines opposite the tennis court.

From the outside, corrugated metal and timber pay homage to the rural environs and simple lines give a sense of architect design about the two-bedroom self-contained retreat.

With dusk approaching, we unpack the perishables. Lights and heating are on. The full-size fridge is already well stocked with generous bowls of yoghurt swirled in berries and passionfruit, house-made cumquat and berry jams, organic orange juice, butter, milk and mineral water - but there's plenty of room for our meals on wheels. Macadamia muesli, fresh eggs, fruit and sourdough sit on the kitchen bench and leaf tea and coffee grounds hide behind a roller door. Lovely.

Looking around the mod L-shaped kitchen, it's smart and compact with high-end appliances. So if you're keen to play master chef, there's everything you'll need, including a single-drawer dishwasher. For a little extra, host Mandy Rowe will cook dinner for you.

While the boy empties the boot, I settle on the ottoman at the corner desk, take advantage of free internet and check emails.

Four Eames-like chairs and a round timber dining table share the floor with a club-style lounge suite clustered around a log gas fire, with the kitchen beyond. Bedrooms flank the lounge and dining area.

There's no clutter, no frills and no flounces. Instead, striking hand-painted fabrics and furnishings designed by Rowe define the unique character of Minnies. White walls, black velvet and bursts of lime and purple feature in the lounge. Each bedroom is a different colour palette.

Soon enough it's time to simmer some soup, flick on the news and unpack the leisure gear. Built-in robes are nicely sized for a weekend stay. The LCD TV/DVD is quite small but the advantage of that, and of having it in the bedroom, is that it won't dominate the day.