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Melbourne Houzz: A New Kew Home With a Sense of Place
Marrying a sandstone facade and contemporary touches, this new family home gives a nod to the owners' country roots
The brick-and-render Arts and Crafts home that originally stood on this site was dark, high-maintenance and ridden with structural problems, so the owners decided it made more sense to knock it down and start from scratch. They called upon the expertise of architects Sarah Bryant and Stephanie Reed-Marshall of Bryant Alsop Architects to design a new home for their young family.
The brief involved balancing their shared love of classic-country and contemporary styling, while sitting sympathetically within the site’s heritage streetscape. “The owners were also very clear about not wanting an ostentatious home, and put a high value on privacy and understatement,” says Bryant. Read on to discover how the architects went about it.
The brief involved balancing their shared love of classic-country and contemporary styling, while sitting sympathetically within the site’s heritage streetscape. “The owners were also very clear about not wanting an ostentatious home, and put a high value on privacy and understatement,” says Bryant. Read on to discover how the architects went about it.
The original house that stood on this site.
“Our brief was to create a long-term family home that was contemporary in style, but maintained a sense of tradition,” says Bryant. “It needed to be a two-storey dwelling but appear to be single-storey from the street in order to create a modest presence. The owners also sought a strong connection to the garden.
“Other must-haves for the new design included a high level of sustainability and strong environmental credentials.
“The design needed to allow spaces to be zoned to suit the needs of the young family now, but be able to evolve to meet their changing requirements through the years,” she says.
“Our brief was to create a long-term family home that was contemporary in style, but maintained a sense of tradition,” says Bryant. “It needed to be a two-storey dwelling but appear to be single-storey from the street in order to create a modest presence. The owners also sought a strong connection to the garden.
“Other must-haves for the new design included a high level of sustainability and strong environmental credentials.
“The design needed to allow spaces to be zoned to suit the needs of the young family now, but be able to evolve to meet their changing requirements through the years,” she says.
Yorkshire Blend sandstone walling: Yarrabee & Castlemaine.
The architects spent a lot of time discussing what ‘traditional design’ meant to the client. “We established that for them it meant pitched roof forms, verandahs, stone or masonry walls and a connection to light and greenery.
“At the same time, they didn’t want the house to look like a replica period building,” says Bryant.
Planning on building your forever home? Find an architect near you on Houzz
The architects spent a lot of time discussing what ‘traditional design’ meant to the client. “We established that for them it meant pitched roof forms, verandahs, stone or masonry walls and a connection to light and greenery.
“At the same time, they didn’t want the house to look like a replica period building,” says Bryant.
Planning on building your forever home? Find an architect near you on Houzz
Ground-floor plan.
“We selected materials with a sense of solidity, honesty and timelessness, such as solid timber over veneer and sandstone that reflects the owners’ love of stone buildings, which they had seen on their travels and harked back to their Tasmanian heritage,” she says.
Sandstone is a key feature within this project, and is used both inside and out, as well as in the landscaping and on the pergola. Outside, it has been paired with grey render, black steel windows and a standing-seam roof in Colorbond Monument.
“We selected materials with a sense of solidity, honesty and timelessness, such as solid timber over veneer and sandstone that reflects the owners’ love of stone buildings, which they had seen on their travels and harked back to their Tasmanian heritage,” she says.
Sandstone is a key feature within this project, and is used both inside and out, as well as in the landscaping and on the pergola. Outside, it has been paired with grey render, black steel windows and a standing-seam roof in Colorbond Monument.
First-floor plan.
The brief for the ground floor included a parent’s suite with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, an open-plan kitchen/living/dining space that opens onto the garden, a butler’s pantry, laundry, powder room with a shower, and a utilities space where the kids can hang their school bags.
Upstairs, there are three generous bedrooms for the two children and a family bathroom.
The brief for the ground floor included a parent’s suite with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, an open-plan kitchen/living/dining space that opens onto the garden, a butler’s pantry, laundry, powder room with a shower, and a utilities space where the kids can hang their school bags.
Upstairs, there are three generous bedrooms for the two children and a family bathroom.
The outdoor area is beautifully appointed with an alfresco entertaining area and a swimming pool, plus a car port.
The covered sandstone-clad entrance nods to Australia’s classic front verandah design, and protects the family from the weather as they move from the car to their front door.
The covered sandstone-clad entrance nods to Australia’s classic front verandah design, and protects the family from the weather as they move from the car to their front door.
Lily pendant and Kai sideboard: Ajar; spotted-gum flooring: Tait Timber and Hardware.
To add warmth and enhance the sense of connection between inside and out, the architects included touches of sandstone throughout the house, including in the front hall.
“We looked to make this area bright, fresh and welcoming,” says Bryant. “Skylights were included to bring in natural light.”
To add warmth and enhance the sense of connection between inside and out, the architects included touches of sandstone throughout the house, including in the front hall.
“We looked to make this area bright, fresh and welcoming,” says Bryant. “Skylights were included to bring in natural light.”
Coffee table: King Living; floor lamp: Ajar.
Browse more beautiful images of Australian country-style living rooms on Houzz
Browse more beautiful images of Australian country-style living rooms on Houzz
With its cosy bench seat and minimal window furnishings, the focus of the family living room is firmly on the garden view, rather than on the television screen. The feature sandstone defines the fireplace wall.
Climbing roses creeping up the sandstone exterior give the house something of a classic country feel.
Indoor-outdoor connection was a priority for the homeowners, who requested that all the main living areas opened onto the sunny backyard. “The house hugs the southern boundary to face north and to retain the north-facing garden,” says Reed-Marshall. “From the pergola, you step down into the garden, which is a lovely spot to sit and enjoy the sun.”
Indoor-outdoor connection was a priority for the homeowners, who requested that all the main living areas opened onto the sunny backyard. “The house hugs the southern boundary to face north and to retain the north-facing garden,” says Reed-Marshall. “From the pergola, you step down into the garden, which is a lovely spot to sit and enjoy the sun.”
Virgo Grain benchtop: Stone Italiana; pendants: MUD Australia; bar stools and chairs: Design Nation; spotted-gum detailing; Curve wall hooks: Normann Copenhagen.
The kitchen is central to family life for the clients, who enjoy cooking with fruit, vegetables and herbs grown in the garden. The architect designed a highly functional cook’s kitchen, with space to display special items such as Cornishware.
A stepped-down timber section of the kitchen island creates space for everyday family meals.
The kitchen is central to family life for the clients, who enjoy cooking with fruit, vegetables and herbs grown in the garden. The architect designed a highly functional cook’s kitchen, with space to display special items such as Cornishware.
A stepped-down timber section of the kitchen island creates space for everyday family meals.
The timber dining table in the meals area is one of the homeowners’ treasured wedding presents.
A mix of wall sconces, pendants and downlights illuminate interior and exterior spaces.
Chandelier: West Elm.
The cosy study, which overlooks the garden, multitasks as a home office, library and sitting room. “We wanted to create a sophisticated ‘den’ style-study, with a moody, masculine feel,” says Bryant.
The cosy study, which overlooks the garden, multitasks as a home office, library and sitting room. “We wanted to create a sophisticated ‘den’ style-study, with a moody, masculine feel,” says Bryant.
Subway tiles: Signorino; Ravine Natural Oak joinery: Polytec; benchtop in Yukon: Silestone; pendant: Muuto.
Downstairs, a pretty powder room with blue subway tiles doubles as a full bathroom when guests or family come to stay.
Your turn
Are you as charmed by this new build as we are? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Would you like to see another beautiful new build? Check out No Cookie Cutter Here! A Unique Home in a New Subdivision
Downstairs, a pretty powder room with blue subway tiles doubles as a full bathroom when guests or family come to stay.
Your turn
Are you as charmed by this new build as we are? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Would you like to see another beautiful new build? Check out No Cookie Cutter Here! A Unique Home in a New Subdivision
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with two young children
Location: Kew, Victoria
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Size: 441 square metres, including the carport
Architect and interior designer: Bryant Alsop Architects
Furniture selection: Prue Gordon
Builder: Clancy Constructions
How did you use Houzz for this project?
We created a shared board of images for inspiration and used Houzz Ideabooks as a digital ‘scrapbook’ with our clients. We find this approach useful for many of our projects.