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A Characterful Family Home on a Hard Site... And How They Did It
Raw textures, minimal detailing and a clever layout are the key ingredients in this custom-built home on a narrow plot
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or redesign each week. Here, Mark Diedricks, builder and managing director at Arklen, shares the journey to creating this award-winning, four-bedroom, three-bathroom custom home on a narrow site for a large family.
Recycled bricks were used throughout to add character to the home
What is the site like?
It’s a skinny, sloping site with access limited to a rear laneway.
What is the site like?
It’s a skinny, sloping site with access limited to a rear laneway.
Cladding the living and dining room ceilings in brushbox veneer added warmth
Gained
A newly built, custom two-storey home with:
Gained
A newly built, custom two-storey home with:
- Four bedrooms.
- Three bathrooms.
- One powder room.
- Two living rooms.
- A dining room.
- A rumpus room.
- Two outdoor courtyards.
Dreaming of building your own forever home? Find a local builder on Houzz to make it happen
Handmade clay pavers were individually selected for the kitchen floor and laid in a herringbone pattern. All the floors are heated and were wire-brushed and sealed to create a beautiful smooth finish
Brief
Brief
- A sophisticated and low-maintenance industrial-style home to suit a narrow block.
- A homely feel for their growing family.
The builder made a feature of the air-conditioning ducting by leaving it exposed and powder coating it in matt black to match the window frames
What were the client’s must-haves?
What were the client’s must-haves?
- Low-maintenance finishes; no glass, tiles or grout in the bathrooms or kitchen.
- No skirting boards or cornices in other parts of the home.
- Keyless entry.
What was the budget?
Around $1 million.
Where did most of it go?
On all the building elements, but a large portion went on the kitchen.
Around $1 million.
Where did most of it go?
On all the building elements, but a large portion went on the kitchen.
Why did the clients not want any glass, tiles, grout, skirting boards or cornices?
It came down to practicality; I don’t think anybody enjoys cleaning grout, shower screens or cobwebs.
These clients really thought outside the box when it came to finishes and detailing, and were keen to explore alternatives.
How did you deliver to this brief?
We still used skirting boards but set them back so they are flush with the wall. We used polished plaster and burnished concrete in the wet areas. The ceilings were set square to create clean lines.
It came down to practicality; I don’t think anybody enjoys cleaning grout, shower screens or cobwebs.
These clients really thought outside the box when it came to finishes and detailing, and were keen to explore alternatives.
How did you deliver to this brief?
We still used skirting boards but set them back so they are flush with the wall. We used polished plaster and burnished concrete in the wet areas. The ceilings were set square to create clean lines.
What feel did they want to create?
A raw or hard-edged look that still felt warm and cosy.
A raw or hard-edged look that still felt warm and cosy.
Why do you think this house works so well?
Lots of thought and innovation went into the material choices and into the execution of the work.
We believe that less is more and consistency is very important to us. I believe that is exhibited clearly here; for example, the only exposed timber in the home is brushbox, which is used across the timber panelling, cabinetry and the ceiling’s veneer panels. The simple palette is rounded out with burnished concrete and handmade clay pavers.
Lots of thought and innovation went into the material choices and into the execution of the work.
We believe that less is more and consistency is very important to us. I believe that is exhibited clearly here; for example, the only exposed timber in the home is brushbox, which is used across the timber panelling, cabinetry and the ceiling’s veneer panels. The simple palette is rounded out with burnished concrete and handmade clay pavers.
A skylight was added to the ceiling above the staircase to boost natural light
Key features
Key features
- Innovative use of materials, such as Cemintel Barestone (a cladding material generally added to exteriors) used inside.
- A chic, industrial feel.
- Handmade clay pavers.
- A simple, robust timber, concrete and white palette.
- Flexible living spaces offering privacy when the grown ups need it.
In keeping with the raw, industrial feel of the home, polished plaster was used for the splashbacks and burnished concrete for the floors in the bathrooms instead of traditional tiles
Interior materials palette
Interior materials palette
- Burnished concrete to floors.
- Handmade clay pavers to kitchen floor.
- Brushbox veneer to living and dining room ceilings, joinery and wall cladding.
- Stainless steel and concrete benchtops.
- Polymer (polished) plaster splashbacks.
- Cemintel Barestone cladding to first floor and stairway walls.
- Recycled bricks.
- Matt-black aluminium joinery.
Your turn
Do you love this new build as much as we do? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more design ideas for constricted sites? Don’t miss Tight Squeeze: A Genius Solution for a Narrow, Hemmed-In Site
Do you love this new build as much as we do? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more design ideas for constricted sites? Don’t miss Tight Squeeze: A Genius Solution for a Narrow, Hemmed-In Site
Answers by Mark Diedricks, builder and managing director at Arklen
Who lives here: A couple with three young children
Location: Claremont, WA
Size of the site: The narrow, sloping site measures 446 square metres
Size of the house: 391 square metres
Interior designer: Deborah Smart
Builder: Arklen
Did you or the client use Houzz for this project?
Yes, we used Houzz for inspiration and ideas on the finishes.