Houzz Tour: A White-on-White Home Radiates Scandinavian Charm
In a renovated brick terrace, white is right for this Australian-Swedish couple and their young family
Janet Dunn
1 January 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid interior design enthusiast. Ex-restaurateur and caterer, with a Professional Certificate in Gastronomy, University of Adelaide.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid... More
When this young family decided to update their historic Victorian terrace, their brief to architect Clare Cousins was to take inspiration from Scandinavian design – most particularly the pared-back, clutter-free style, well-designed furniture made from natural textural materials, and superior light reflection through the use of white as a backdrop. All of these features contributed to a dramatic about-face for their now beautifully renovated home in Melbourne’s inner-city suburb of Albert Park.
Small single-fronted one-storey terraces typically present as a series of rooms opening off a narrow hallway leading to the rear of the property. Within these spatial confines and traditional Victorian layout, Cousins created a straightforward practical home with streamlined Scandinavian interiors. The purity of the pale interiors and modest materials, as well as the restrained insertion of classic black touches and bright accent colours, suggest a true appreciation of the classic Scandinavian approach to design. Not surprising, given that the owners have close family ties with Sweden.
Small single-fronted one-storey terraces typically present as a series of rooms opening off a narrow hallway leading to the rear of the property. Within these spatial confines and traditional Victorian layout, Cousins created a straightforward practical home with streamlined Scandinavian interiors. The purity of the pale interiors and modest materials, as well as the restrained insertion of classic black touches and bright accent colours, suggest a true appreciation of the classic Scandinavian approach to design. Not surprising, given that the owners have close family ties with Sweden.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A Swedish-Australian family with children aged 3 and 6
Location: Albert Park, Victoria
Size: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Project duration: April-October 2015
Project management: Fido Projects
Architect and Interiors: Clare Cousins, Clare Cousins Architects
There was a meeting of minds between Cousins and the owners, and the project was completed in just seven months from go to whoa. At slightly under five metres wide and around 23 metres long, the basic layout was retained and room functions were adjusted to suit the family’s needs. “The owners wanted the internal spaces reconfigured to suit their lifestyle, a bedroom suitable for two children to share, and materials in a soft Scandinavian palette,” Cousins says.
Aussie meets Scandi at the entrance to the house. The owners retained the ornate leadlight glazing with its stylised florals.
Moller bench #63 in papercord and timber: Great Dane Furniture; Dots hangers: Muuto
Who lives here: A Swedish-Australian family with children aged 3 and 6
Location: Albert Park, Victoria
Size: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Project duration: April-October 2015
Project management: Fido Projects
Architect and Interiors: Clare Cousins, Clare Cousins Architects
There was a meeting of minds between Cousins and the owners, and the project was completed in just seven months from go to whoa. At slightly under five metres wide and around 23 metres long, the basic layout was retained and room functions were adjusted to suit the family’s needs. “The owners wanted the internal spaces reconfigured to suit their lifestyle, a bedroom suitable for two children to share, and materials in a soft Scandinavian palette,” Cousins says.
Aussie meets Scandi at the entrance to the house. The owners retained the ornate leadlight glazing with its stylised florals.
Moller bench #63 in papercord and timber: Great Dane Furniture; Dots hangers: Muuto
Entering the hallway from the front verandah, the first room off the hallway – originally a third bedroom – has been repurposed as a study and doubles as a guest bedroom for the owners’ international visitors.
Despite the compact size of the rooms, first impressions are of light, spacious and uncluttered simplicity. The study houses built-in joinery that runs the width of the room and provides double work stations. Ample drawers with practical finger cutouts instead of knobs maximise the space and emphasise the simple lines of the white cabinetry.
The next room opening off the hallway is a delightful bedroom for the couple’s children. White-painted vertical timber panelling encases two bunks with a hoop pine plywood wall, with moveable toy-hanging pegs beside each. Not a centimetre of space has been wasted, with deep under-bunk drawers running the length of the wall.
The cabinetry throughout the house, from the study and bedrooms, to the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry is sleek and fuss-free. Floating the children’s set of deep storage drawers off the floor keeps the feel of this room light and allows more of the pale timber floors to be revealed.
Hoop pine joinery stained in ‘Weiss’: Lobadur Procolor Stains
Hoop pine joinery stained in ‘Weiss’: Lobadur Procolor Stains
A small suspended desk is tucked into the corner beside the original fireplace that backs onto a similar fireplace in the adjacent study. Both fireplaces are still in working order and have been painted in ‘Pot Belly Black’ from White Knight. Playful artwork and painted stools add colourful accents.
All panelling and cabinetry has been colour-matched to the matt-finish whitewashed timber floors. An Ikea Stockhom rug in black and white offsets the blonde timber and walls painted in Dulux’s ‘White on White’.
The next room opening from the hallway is the parents’ bedroom. Retaining the original high skirting boards and panelled doors adds period details to the understated room. Spacious drawers in pale painted timber under the king size bed carry the theme of the cabinetry throughout the house. A spacious walk-in dressing room replaces what was once a laundry.
The parents’ ensuite bathroom in smart black, grey and white tones is tiled in staggered bond layout with Vogue 100 x 100 centimetre tile in ‘Latte’ from Classic Ceramics. Grouting is ‘Silver Grey’ (discontinued) from Davco.
Comfort 1700 bath: Rogerseller; Astra Walker Icon shower set, mixers, towel rail, wall hooks in ‘Charcoal Bronze’: Mary Noall
Comfort 1700 bath: Rogerseller; Astra Walker Icon shower set, mixers, towel rail, wall hooks in ‘Charcoal Bronze’: Mary Noall
An all-in-one concrete vanity benchtop with washplane-style basin was custom made and poured in situ. The mirrored wall-hung bathroom cabinet has the sleek features that characterise all the home’s joinery.
A second bathroom is directly off the hallway. Adding textural interest to the clean spaces, terrazzo floor tiles in both bathrooms are in Carrara TRE/67 finish from Classic Ceramics. Wall tiles and tapware match that in the ensuite bathroom.
Tucked beside this bathroom behind white-painted bi-fold timber doors is a space-saving European laundry and shoe storage space.
Tucked beside this bathroom behind white-painted bi-fold timber doors is a space-saving European laundry and shoe storage space.
From the narrow hallway, the house opens out into a light-filled living area. Colours and materials continue the theme in the bedrooms and bathrooms, a feature which gives this home its clean uncluttered homogeneity.
Sky sofas in ‘Seafoam’: Jardan; wall lamp: Flos
Sky sofas in ‘Seafoam’: Jardan; wall lamp: Flos
A small floating study shelf with drawers was carved out from the living area to provide a landing zone.
Floors throughout the living space, hallway, bedrooms and study are white-washed timber. Construction management company Fido Projects’ Joel Carr says, “The clients wanted a hard-wearing light timber floor, which eliminated most native Australian hardwoods commonly used. We proposed and installed rock maple, a very hard light timber, in 180-millimetre-wide boards, white-washed and with a matt finish.”
Rock maple floors: JConcepts
Floors throughout the living space, hallway, bedrooms and study are white-washed timber. Construction management company Fido Projects’ Joel Carr says, “The clients wanted a hard-wearing light timber floor, which eliminated most native Australian hardwoods commonly used. We proposed and installed rock maple, a very hard light timber, in 180-millimetre-wide boards, white-washed and with a matt finish.”
Rock maple floors: JConcepts
The polished concrete benchtop was cantilevered to create an informal dining area at one end. It was poured in situ by Fido’s contractor, Concrete by Keenan. “It was somewhat of an engineering challenge,” says Carr. “The joinery underneath had to be reinforced to support its weight.” The island bench cladding is a standout feature, in vertical half-round Tasmanian oak dowel with a white-wash finish.
The splashback and a secondary preparation bench containing the Miele five-burner gas cooktop are in grey-white Bianco Carrara marble from CDK Stone. The double wall oven is from Miele.
The splashback and a secondary preparation bench containing the Miele five-burner gas cooktop are in grey-white Bianco Carrara marble from CDK Stone. The double wall oven is from Miele.
Floor-to-ceiling kitchen joinery is painted subtle grey – ‘Unforgettable’ from Dulux. A refrigerator and upright freezer are integrated behind the joinery, adjacent to a roomy pantry.
Icon A6908.V2 kitchen mixer in matt black: Astra Walker
Icon A6908.V2 kitchen mixer in matt black: Astra Walker
Sleek cabinetry with soft-close drawers hides a multitude of practical utensil inserts, compartments and slide-out racks, including this pull-out breadboard with crumb catcher.
Internal cabinetry fittings: Blum
Internal cabinetry fittings: Blum
Dining furniture is sturdy but stylish, with a Scandinavian simplicity throughout. Set sociably beside the open kitchen, it was custom-designed by Clare Cousins Architects and built by Fido Projects.
Wide sliding glass doors connect the space to an outdoor timber deck with bench seat, which was unchanged in the renovation. A slatted timber screen hides a garage and shed at the rear lane entrance to the house.
TELL US
What are your thoughts on this renovation and the use of the available space? Share with us in the Comments section.
Wide sliding glass doors connect the space to an outdoor timber deck with bench seat, which was unchanged in the renovation. A slatted timber screen hides a garage and shed at the rear lane entrance to the house.
TELL US
What are your thoughts on this renovation and the use of the available space? Share with us in the Comments section.
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Beautiful. However, with young kid paws, they’ll need a hausfrau, or two, constantly cleaning, all the white surfaces.