This beautiful home in Channel Street, Mornington was one of the fastest projects KWD has worked on. We were engaged by the owner/builders with the knowledge that the development was going to be a spec home with a very tight turnaround. We had to specify, source and supply the materials in around 16 weeks and even though we knew it would stretch our team, the project was too exciting not to take on.

With the sheer size of the project, the KWD team really had to be on point in terms of specifying materials that would be available to meet the installation dates. The joinery designs had to be nailed on the first round to ensure we could get it manufactured on time as well.

The owners were incredibly supportive of our vision – they really did trust us and let us run with what we knew would suit the property in terms of the interior design – and what was achievable in the tight time frame. They accepted the range of textures and specialty finishes we presented without question even though some of the materials were a bit out of their comfort zone. They followed our design brief and we are thrilled with the results.

The exterior of the home is definitely a crowd pleaser with heaps of curb appeal particularly with the pitch of the roof, the landscape design and the colour palette. And whilst the exterior of the home is classic Hamptons-style, we really felt that the interior lent towards a more Coastal Luxe feel.

With the large open spaces, and with the bayside location, a coastal vibe seemed like the right choice. The expansive home was designed by Little Brick Studio and was built by Headline Builders and we worked collaboratively with Headline Builders on the interiors.

Whilst we were handed a classic Hamptons-style aesthetic, we wanted to make the interior design more gutsy than the traditional Hamptons look. The Coastal Luxe feel we went with is all about casual finishes – but very high end. And because the property was designed for sale we wanted to appeal to a mass market.

We did take some risks – like using navy blue in the bathrooms – however most of the interior is very neutral in colour, with pale European Oak timber flooring and beautiful sisal carpet from KWD & Co, and some incredible Super White Dolomite marble that we imported specially for the project.

We used very high end finishes to attract a high buy price. Being in such a fantastic location in one of Mornington’s more prestigious areas we wanted to ensure we took the property to the next tier.

The house oozes natural light – it streams in through the plantation shutters upstairs and through the expansive floor to ceiling windows downstairs. The floor plan featured enormous open spaces so it was important to make each space feel intimate, warm and inviting. We had to design joinery that didn’t look diminutive in the space and that was proportionally right. And it was key to ensure that the hard finishes specified not only suited the aesthetic but also suited the scale of the house.

In the kitchen we specified timeless high quality Perrin & Rowe pewter tapware from The English Tapware Company, Armac & Martin door hardware and stunning Super White marble for the benchtops and splashback. The joinery features beautiful Farmer’s doors with a Shaker profile and there is so much storage. We grounded the design by taking the joinery to full height, and in the entrance the oversize staircase with feature lighting helps to bring the ceiling height down.

We were very excited because the aesthetics really allowed us to explore some of our favourite materials. We wanted to use a lot of natural products and for the design to be light and breezy but very well considered. And it needed to function beyond aesthetics. Storage solutions were addressed. And because the external façade was a design that wasn’t going to date,  the interiors had to match that timelessness.

The interior of the home has all the bells and whistles and everything that opens and shuts. Downstairs there are three bedrooms, two of them with ensuite bathrooms, plus a powder room. The kitchen features beautiful integrated fridges and a butler’s pantry, with a day study attached to the laundry/mud room. There is also a study, a cinema room, a formal living room and a casual kitchen/living/dining area that opens onto the expansive outdoor entertaining area.

The day-study, built alongside the kitchen, serves as an administrative space for a family – with pin up boards for school notices, to do lists and timetables and charging points for electronic devices.

The mudroom that comes off the garage and enters straight into the laundry was also designed with an active family in mind.

The accommodation downstairs is beautifully designed, with a walk-through bathroom shared between two bedrooms. The vibe for the bathrooms had to be very fresh and crisp, so we went for Carrara on the floor in a very interesting 50 x 50 mosaic with very elegant Subway wall tiles laid in a modern vertical pattern.

Linking the expansive downstairs to the upstairs master suite is a sweeping staircase in the entrance, it links the Hamptons-style exterior with the Coastal Luxe interior and adds a casual elegance and formality.

Upstairs, the master suite designed for parents gives a real sense of luxury, and features a master bedroom and sitting area (with lining board ceilings and a lovely view), a deluxe walk-in-robe/dressing room (all with sisal carpet) and a luxurious ensuite bathroom. 

The walk-in robe is so beautifully designed, showcasing an excellent sense of space planning and stunning natural materials. A room unto itself, the island bench acts as a layout table and the thoughtfully designed joinery includes spaces for watches, handbags, scarves and jewellery. The gorgeous pendant light is so elegant and works perfectly with the layout of the room.

We used a lot of beautiful natural stone courtesy of Mother Nature with floor-to-ceiling Tundra limestone in the master suite ensuite. This, along with the Articolo lights and the enormous round bath, is the piece-de-resistance of the space.

Considering the home’s coastal location and the white exterior, it was very important to create a relaxed, carefree feel for united family living. The colour white was integral to the design which was all about openness and space and creating an airiness throughout the home. We used layers of white, and added texture. The KWD & Co timber flooring throughout is natural Oak (in colour Bridgeport) – the light finish is perfect for the white coastal palette. And the white linen sheer curtains flow in the breeze when the doors are wide open. 

The exterior provides the perfect alfresco entertaining area, with an outdoor BBQ and open fireplace. The landscape design captures the sunlight and frames the house so that relaxing areas can be seen from every window. The pool design (and outdoor shower area) is a triumph – all perfectly executed by Nathan Burkett Design who captured the essence of the home and the coastal location.

We adored collaborating on this project with all involved, and we were thrilled to have the property featured earlier this year in the September issue of Inside Out magazine.

http://www.katewalkerdesign.com.au

Interior Design: KWD

Hard finishes: Specified, sourced and supplied by KWD

Build: Headline Builders

Building Design: Little Brick Studio

Landscape Design: Nathan Burkett Design

Photography: Armelle Habib

Styling: Coastal Styling