This home has a heartbeat. From the moment I set eyes on it I could see what it could become. I had an immediate vision – it was almost electric. I am so excited to share with you a project that’s so close to my heart, my very own home. Welcome to Biscayne.
THE EXTERIOR:
I have a real passion for British Colonial design. It has an adventurous spirit reflective of its origins. I love the lightness and freshness highlighted with the layers and textures of special pieces that travellers collect on their journeys. Soft white walls, dark timber flooring, colonial furniture and an eclectic mix of accessories bask in the light of tall white windows.
With Biscayne, I wanted to blend a relaxed formality with an island flavour to create a private compound that was all about resort-style living. Coining the style Caribbean Colonial really cemented the look I wanted to achieve and gave my KWD design team the direction for the home. The Caribbean flavour would set the tone for the relaxed vibe of being on holidays, and British Colonial helped to develop a sense of history, collection and curation.
I wanted to create a real sense of transformation from the moment you arrive at Biscayne. Streetscape appeal is so important. It gives you an immediate glimpse into what you can expect from the home, and this anticipation starts at the front gates. When you arrive at a resort hotel, there is a feeling of delight about what lays ahead, and that is what I wanted to achieve at Biscayne. From the moment the gates slowly open, it’s all about the sight line that emerges and reveals the welcoming pink front door.
Designing the gates was such an important step in creating the street appeal required for the property. I really challenged Red Hill Country Gates, asking them to manufacture double gates that featured louvres on an angle. The design required such symmetry and precision, and they delivered exactly what I had envisioned – painted in the perfect shade of blue (Dulux ‘Cooks Beach’). I constantly catch people peering through to see what lies behind them!
Beyond the gates, designing the perfect Caribbean Colonial façade was one of the major challenges we faced. Because the home had essentially been designed backwards on the block, the front entrance to the home had to be reworked with articulation to create a sense of purpose. The entry to the home had to have the right impact. I worked closely with Rod Hannah Design to find the perfect solution, and the result was a beautiful portico that punched the front door out and gave the façade of the home a real moment. The structure was perfectly executed by Montique Construction whose team paid such attention to detail throughout the build.
A pivotal moment in the design of the façade, and key to the success of the redesign, was closing in the front veranda. Not only did it create an entrance for the home, it created the relaxed formality that was so important to the overall aesthetic. Installing the beautiful casement windows brought the Caribbean Colonial aesthetic to life and allowed the breeze to flow through the home.
These windows were so perfectly designed and installed by 3D Windows and Doors. Darran and his team also manufactured the custom arched front door that we painted in the most sublime shade of pink by Dulux called ‘Babe’, topped off with the perfect door handle by Domino Architectural Fittings.
Completing the front façade are the beautiful shutters by Lynch’s Window Fashions (also in Dulux ‘Cooks Beach’) which add such a playful elegance to the exterior. And the finishing touch is the Authentage Gracieuze hanging pendant from The Montauk Lighting Co.
The whole story was brought together by Heath Blair of Plume Studio who was charged with translating the Caribbean Colonial concept to the exterior of the property, thus providing synergy with the interior. The result is a stunning entrance to Biscayne, with considered planting from The Nursery Co carefully installed by Vogue Grange (with flower pots from Kellock Pots and Planters). Completing the story is exceptional paving that was expertly laid with an intricate pattern of Miami Marble and Atlantic Grey Granite from KWD & Co.
So many incredible design professionals, talented trades and amazing supply partners were involved in bringing my Caribbean Colonial concept to life. It was a true collaboration, with every single element playing such an important part in creating the story of Biscayne.
FIVE BRITISH COLONIAL HALLMARKS:
- Dark Timber flooring and furniture
- White-washed walls
- Indoor plants
- Campaign furniture
- Plantation shutters
CURB APPEAL SNAPSHOT:
When designing your home, think about your streetscape view. Your home’s appeal starts from the moment someone glimpses your property, and continues as they step onto your land, or walk through the front gates or in to your front garden and up to your front door. So consider the sightlines, the front verge, the driveway, the fencing, the gates, the lighting, the garden and importantly, the front door.
DESIGN TIP:
If embarking on a new build or renovating an existing home, set aside a budget for the landscaping. The outdoors is an extension of the indoors. Get the right advice on your outdoor areas so your home has street appeal and that your view from every window is pure delight.
A heartfelt thank you to our valued supply partners and trades who helped me bring the vision of Biscayne to life:
| Montique Constructions | montiqueconstruction.com |
| Rod Hannah Design | rodhannahandassociates.com.au |
| Reality 3D | reality3d.com.au |
| Plume Studio | plumestudio.com.au |
| Farmers Doors | farmersdoors.com |
| Winning Appliances | winningappliances.com.au |
| Lynch’s Window Fashions | lynchswindowfashions.com.au |
| 3D Windows | 3dwindows.com.au |
| DMA Kitchens | dmakitchens.com.au |
| The Montauk Lighting Co. | montauklightingco.com |
| The English Tapware Company | englishtapware.com.au |
| Domino Architectural Fittings | dominobrass.com.au |
| Laguna Pools | lagunapools.com.au |
| Vogue Grange | voguegrange.com.au |
| The Nursery Co. | thenurseryco.com.au |
| Court Construct | courtconstruct.com.au |
| Gladstones Granite & Marble | gladstonesgranite.com.au |
| Henry Tiler | mastertiling.com.au |
| National Tiles | nationaltiles.com.au |
| Klay Tiles | klaytiles.com.au |
| Fibonacci TBC | fibonaccistone.com.au |
| RMS Natural Stone TBC | rmsnaturalstone.com |
| Direct Stone | directstone.com.au |
| Marble Mosaics | marblemosaics.com.au |
| Hepburn Hardware | hepburnhardware.com.au |
| Lincoln Sentry | lincolnsentry.com.au |
| Bathe | bathe.net.au |
| Carpet World | carpetworld.com.au |
| Inspired Floors | inspiredfloors.com.au |
| Morgan’s Painters and Decorators | morganpd.com.au |
| Boyd Blue | boydblue.com |
| Classic with a Twist | classicwithatwist.com.au |
| Sorrento Furniture | sorrentofurniture.com.au |
| Elliot Clarke | elliotclarke.com.au |
| Cromwell | cromwellaustralia.com.au |
| The Lens Collective | thelenscollective.com.au |
| Edward Pope (artist) | edwardpope.design |
| Red Hill Country Gates | gates.net.au |
| CSR (Gyprock) | csrgyprock.com.au |
| Whelan Airconditioning | whelanair.com.au |
| Gregory Croxford Living | gregorycroxfordliving.com.au |
| Handleworks | handleworks.com.au |
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