Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Located in the heart of Campbell, this courtyard garden was designed to transform an underutilised outdoor space into a serene and functional retreat. The client envisioned a resort-style sanctuary that would complement the refined architecture of their townhouse while providing an inviting setting for entertaining and relaxation. With a focus on balance between structure and nature, this courtyard seamlessly integrates strong architectural elements with soft, dynamic planting and the tranquil presence of water.

Flooring installation: 220x20mm Raw Solid French Oak finished with a lobar invisible protect

The newly designed timeless, contemporary bathroom was created providing much needed storage whilst maintaining functionality and flow. A light and airy skheme using grey large format tiles on the floor and matt white tiles on the walls. A two draw custom vanity in timber provided warmth to the room. The mirrored shaving cabinets reflected light and gave the illusion of depth. Strip lighting in niches, under the vanity and shaving cabinet on a sensor added that little extra touch.

Tempering light, heat, privacy and security by way of a dynamic facade, this Well Tempered House offers an energy efficient response to a narrow inner-Melbourne site. The renovation and extension has created a healthy, thermally comfortable home that takes advantage of its position on a north-facing laneway to enhance the lifestyles of our clients, a couple of young professionals. With the thoughtful combination of a naturally heated thermal mass slab, a high level of insulation, adjustable shading, natural light and cross-ventilation, this beautiful home will maintain a comfortable temperature with minimal energy consumption year in, year out.

In another part of the house, a seldom used study was given a new lease of life with graphic wallpaper and a gold frame around a favourite print. Smart dark green painted cabinetry with polished desktop contrast nicely with textured wool carpet on the floor. Now given the No Chintz treatment, this is now a well used and enjoyed work space.