Author: Sonja Meyer

A new house designed to evoke memories of a family home which had sat on the site previously – borrowing aesthetic linguistics, building massing and forms. This home is designed to suit the individual requirements of the owners – matching sizing and spacial arrangements to their personal preferences for cooking, family living, gardening, and pursuit of artistic endeavors. Light filled and warm, with detailing referencing traditional elements of the original home.

The Clients dreamed of creating a home that mixed the Australian farm house vernacular with elements of French country homes experienced in their travels abroad. The living area features a timber lined wagon ceiling, with a visual link to the Upper attic style rooms above. The home has areas of large volume, light and views; and more intimate and quieter spaces nestled into the roof form. All have visual connection with the garden, developed with outdoor garden ‘rooms’, vistas and restful destinations in mind.

A substantial home built early in the 20th Century has undergone a major refurbishment to allow for easy living for a growing family. Whilst retained detailing of the building is restored with care, the new service areas have been created with a nod to the past but with a funky edge. The alterations have allowed warming north light to penetrate into previously dark spaces. A garage built to the rear sets a departure in style, and can function as a play space from the small garden.

With remnant dense bush to the north and distant water views to the south, efforts were made to draw upper light from the warming northern sun via high level glazing. The sun’s warmth is stored in the high thermal mass elements within the home, including the fireplace walls. Stone walls of ‘Hillview’ rock spalls feature against radial sawn weatherboards, reclaimed timber doors, exposed rafters and lining boards. Plaster board walls and trims feature a palette of soft, dirty paint colours.

The existing areas of this period home were renovated and remodelled with a nod to the past, with detailing of the era, but with luxurious surface treatments and an added funky edge to suit the family. A major addition to the rear of the home re-orientated the living zones to face north, with direct access to the northern garden and pool area. The link between old and new is set around a large light court.

Interior Design by Camilla Molders Design.