We were thrilled when we found out our Channel Street project was to be featured in August's Inside Out Magazine.
This gorgeous Hamptons style home was designed just after our research trip to the actual Hamptons (New York holidays are always for 'research' right?) so we were excited to throw all of our new found inspiration into such a beautiful project, the timing couldn't have been better.
Adding to the success of the project was the collaboration with some fabulous local companies (Builder - Headline Builders, Interiors - Kate Walker Design, Landscape - Nathan Burkett Design, Styling - Coastal Styling) each using their own area of expertise to contribute to the finished product - and we couldn't be happier. You can access the article here or read on for the article
Coastal luxe meets Hamptons style in this Mornington Peninsula home
East Coast elegance goes casual on the Mornington Peninsula in this Hamptons-inspired home.
Style of home A four-bedroom Hamptons-inspired weatherboard house on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
Timeline This project was 18 months from design to completion, including the six-month construction phase.
Home It's not too much of a stretch to refer to the Mornington Peninsula as Melbourne's equivalent of New York's famous Hamptons. So the owners of this weatherboard home, designed by local experts Little Brick Studio with interior design by Kate Walker, had a clear idea of their inspiration as they created – or should that be recreated? – their tailor-made family home.
With the sea and sand little more than a stroll away, this new yet established-looking home on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula offers a welcome leave pass from the frenetic pace of everyday life. Its coastal vibe is a constant reminder of the lifestyle on offer.
For owners Jade and Chris, who built the house for their young family through their construction company, Headline Builders, the home was always intended to be as relaxed as it is stylish. Dappled with sunlight and anchored by vast expanses of white, it's Hamptons in spirit but with a contemporary Australian-coastal treatment.
"We've always loved white weatherboard houses, and our brief was bright spaces with cathedral ceilings and the extensive use of natural stone – with a colour scheme that would stand the test of time," says Jade.
The home's airy layout and design came courtesy of local company The Little Brick Studio, while Kate Walker Design (KWD), based in Mount Martha, took charge of the interiors, imbuing the residence with a light and natural palette. Texture plays a crucial role, with occasional bursts of playful colour coming to the fore.
"We were very excited about this project, because the aesthetic of the home really allowed us to explore some of our favourite materials," explains KWD founder and director Kate Walker. "It came naturally to us, and we were able to dive deep into the design style with ease."
As the owner-builders, Jade and Chris relished the opportunity to start with a clean slate in an area renowned for its village atmosphere, waterfront eateries and glorious beaches. Most of all, the parents to Xavier, 4, Goldie, 2, and now Paris, 8 months, wanted to build a carefree family home that reflected their love of all things light and organically beautiful.
"We love this part of the Mornington Peninsula – it's right near our favourite beach, where we've spent many summers, and there are great shops and cafes nearby," says Jade.
When the family are at home, there are plenty of design features to enhance their lives. Near the entrance, a sweeping staircase makes a strong sculptural statement as it twists around a ground-floor table and centrepiece, while stacked sliding glazed doors at the rear open to the covered deck and bring the outdoors in.
At the heart of the home, the 'rock-star' marble kitchen with built-in workspace and charging nook merges classic Hamptons elements with family-friendly function.
In addition, there's a mudroom off the garage, which enters straight into the laundry. "It was designed with this active family in mind," says Kate, who is thrilled with the result.
Interior designer Kate was convinced that the style of the home should be 'gutsier' than that of a traditional Hamptons house. "With the large spaces and bayside location, a coastal vibe felt like the right choice," she says. "A coastal luxe aesthetic, which features a more casual contemporary look using very high-end finishes, was perfect."
Projecting a peaceful yet exuberant vibe, layers of white have been introduced to luminous effect in every zone. "The colour was integral to the design, which was all about openness and space," says Kate. "Texture was also important. While we used white in the kitchen, we added texture as another element with the Farmers door panels. And sheer white linen curtains flow in the breeze when the doors are wide open."
For those who envisage white as the colour star of their home, Kate has some advice. "White changes in every single space," she says. "There are blue, pink, yellow and grey whites, so choosing the right shade [to go with the light level and decor of the room] is essential. Here, different tones of white were selected for each room, depending on how the paint worked with the natural light."
And, perhaps best of all, Jade and Chris ventured a little out of their comfort zone by including a feature colour – a deep sea-like navy – throughout. They are excited with the result. "Some risks were taken by using navy blue in the bathroom," says Kate, but it works so well across the board, everyone is happy.
This bespoke design was brought to life by Headline Builders in six months, with the interiors fitted out by KWD in 16 weeks. "It was one of the fastest-moving projects we've been involved in," says Kate. "With the time frame and sheer size of the job, we had to be on point in terms of specifying materials that would be available to meet the installation dates."
Light-filled rooms and a great spatial flow and an easy connection to the garden are standout aspects of the living space. These extend to the parents' retreat with its own dressing room, and a luxurious ensuite sporting Tundra limestone.
"We wanted the hard finishes to suit both the aesthetic and the scale of the house," says Kate. "We grounded the design by taking the joinery to full height in the kitchen, with the sweeping staircase that links the Hamptons-style exterior with the coastal-luxe interior, and other strong design elements."
Julie Miskin of Coastal Styling filled the rooms with an array of timeless pieces, but plenty of concealed storage keeps clutter at bay. Meanwhile, landscape designer Nathan Burkett has surrounded the home with lush greenery, and an alfresco area with outdoor kitchen near the pool makes for easy entertaining.
Though Jade and Chris recently sold the house to another family, the new owners have all the benefits of a home that lives and breathes its location. Just as everyone intended.