Houzz Tour: A Modern Rejig Solves the Challenge of a Tricky Site
A contemporary L-shaped house pushed to the back of its block makes room for modern family living both indoors and out
It may be situated on a wide, leafy street in the blue-chip Melbourne suburb of Kew, but neither this house nor its block were ideal when the family bought the property in 2012. For a start, the 725-square-metre site was on the south side of the street and had a significant slope from front to back. But the house itself also left a lot to be desired – it was a brown-brick home built in the 1970s, with a floor plan ill-suited to a modern family.
Fast-forward five years and the owners are now enjoying their spacious new family abode. Demolishing the existing house, pushing the new home to the rear laneway and turning it to the side meant the backyard could enjoy a north-west orientation – and the interior is now awash with natural light. “The conventional position of houses (front yard, house, back yard) so often leads to the front yard serving little functional purpose other than aesthetics,” says Amber Hope Design director Amber Biesse. “Building the house along the [rear] laneway has allowed vehicle access directly off the lane, eliminating the need for garaging at the front of the property and thereby enabling more land be allocated to private open space.”
Fast-forward five years and the owners are now enjoying their spacious new family abode. Demolishing the existing house, pushing the new home to the rear laneway and turning it to the side meant the backyard could enjoy a north-west orientation – and the interior is now awash with natural light. “The conventional position of houses (front yard, house, back yard) so often leads to the front yard serving little functional purpose other than aesthetics,” says Amber Hope Design director Amber Biesse. “Building the house along the [rear] laneway has allowed vehicle access directly off the lane, eliminating the need for garaging at the front of the property and thereby enabling more land be allocated to private open space.”
The layout provides a range of flexible gathering spaces for play, relaxation and entertaining.
“A well-considered floor plan based around the needs of this family of five was intertwined with a desire to achieve abundant natural light, garden aspect and easy connection to the outdoors,” Biesse says.
“A well-considered floor plan based around the needs of this family of five was intertwined with a desire to achieve abundant natural light, garden aspect and easy connection to the outdoors,” Biesse says.
“This orientation also provides a lovely long garden vista down the entire length of the block, including borrowed views of the 100-year-old plane trees lining the street,” Biesse says. “This aspect was a huge part of the project’s success because it creates a wonderful sense of space and the feeling of a much larger site.”
The new home’s north-west orientation means the grassed front yard essentially acts as the back yard. The plan from the outset was to use the available land to its greatest potential and the exterior detailing was critical to the design. “Its volume and impact is a constant presence, enriching both the indoor and outdoor spaces,” says Biesse.
Seen here, the original house had a north-east orientation with a double carport and crossover at the front of the property.
With the relocation of the garage to the rear, a high brick wall was erected to provide privacy and security to the front yard, and enabled the outdoor areas of the home to the front and side to be connected.
The street-facing facade is made up of a series of black and white boxes framing windows and creating deep recesses for internal and external use. White render and black Ecoply timber cladding form the boxes and faces. The aim was to create dynamic visual interest through shape, colour and texture. “The facade is engaging on a visual and functional level – framing views both internal and external, concealing motorised blinds, and providing a place to sit on the lower levels,” Biesse says.
The street-facing facade is made up of a series of black and white boxes framing windows and creating deep recesses for internal and external use. White render and black Ecoply timber cladding form the boxes and faces. The aim was to create dynamic visual interest through shape, colour and texture. “The facade is engaging on a visual and functional level – framing views both internal and external, concealing motorised blinds, and providing a place to sit on the lower levels,” Biesse says.
The black pivot front door opens to a long hallway leading to the open-plan living/dining/kitchen and outdoor areas.
An extensive use of glass facing the large terrace, pool and lawn area visually connects all rooms to the garden.
Calacatta statuario marble and Quantum Quartz ‘Ultra White’ benchtops are a timeless combination in the kitchen. A bank of mirrored upper cabinets reflect the natural light streaming into the area by day, and the ambient light from the crystal chandelier over the dining table by night. Two-pack painted polyurethane cabinetry was colour-matched to the benchtops and vanity tops in the kitchen, butler’s pantry, ensuites and laundry.
A slot window at the end of the dining table lets in the morning light filtered through the Japanese maple – the only tree that remained from the original site.
Open or closed, tall stacking glass doors create a seamless flow between inside and out.
The Japanese maple is the central element in a lightwell bordered by the living, dining and pantry zones.
Upstairs, the home has been designed to provide the teenagers of the house with their own wing separate from the master suite,
“With three older teenagers, the house required a combination of formal and informal spaces, large family zones and smaller rooms for dedicated tasks such as studying or watching a movie, as well as generously sized bedrooms with ample storage,” Biesse says.
The theatre room/playroom is tucked away from the main living areas, but has direct access to the outdoor terrace. “Large sliding windows mean the theatre can be opened up to the terrace so you can watch a movie while still outside,” Biesse says. “It was designed so kids could sit on the ledge of the ‘box’ and climb in and out.”
The theatre room/playroom is tucked away from the main living areas, but has direct access to the outdoor terrace. “Large sliding windows mean the theatre can be opened up to the terrace so you can watch a movie while still outside,” Biesse says. “It was designed so kids could sit on the ledge of the ‘box’ and climb in and out.”
Biesse intended that the interplay of wide American-oak floorboards, marble, mirrors, white walls and organic concrete finishes would deliver an interior that was elegant, yet relaxed and easy to live in. “This neutral palette allows the owners to perfectly reflect their style and personality through artworks, furniture and personal collections, creating a beautiful dynamic in which to live,” she says.
Wall painted in ‘Antique White USA’: Dulux; living room joinery in Navlam Arcadian Oak: New Age Veneers
Wall painted in ‘Antique White USA’: Dulux; living room joinery in Navlam Arcadian Oak: New Age Veneers
A generous hallway and double-height void in the centre of the house are purposeful design elements that enhance flow and synergy between upstairs and downstairs, and indoors and out.
“The six-metre window in the stairwell is such a beautiful transition space,” Biesse says about one of her favourite features in the house.
The stairwell window at dusk emphasises its vast proportions.
Each upstairs bedroom has a floor-to-ceiling sliding door with a Juliet balcony, so the rooms can be completely opened up to the outside.
Sheer curtains: Clearview Sun Control; external black venetian blinds: Evaya
Sheer curtains: Clearview Sun Control; external black venetian blinds: Evaya
The parents’ dressing room adjoins the master ensuite.
Their ensuite has a long skylight that runs the length of the double shower. A neutral palette makes the space both elegant and contemporary.
Back outside, a motorised roof system by LouvreTec has been integrated into the facade. It stretches over the dining terrace to a sleek stone bench with integrated barbecue and open fire. “It creates a beautiful outdoor room that draws the family out on a regular basis, both day and night,” Biesse says.
Stainless-steel integrated barbecue: Electrolux
Stainless-steel integrated barbecue: Electrolux
Frameless glass pool fencing allows the outdoor area to flow, and maintains the pool’s clean lines.
The 10 x 3-metre pool is tiled in black and is gas and solar heated.
Amber Hope Design’s philosophy is that the design of a building, interior and garden should all be considered as one from the outset to maximise aspect, light and functionality.
Who lives here? A couple and their three children
Location: Kew, Victoria
Size: Ground floor (including garage): 300 square metres; first floor: 260 square metres: 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
Designer: Amber Hope Design
Designer Amber Biesse says the design challenge for this project was to dispel the idea that south-facing blocks are dark and plagued with shaded open spaces. “The decision to push the building to the block’s eastern and southern boundaries, while relocating the garaging to the rear, eliminated all south-facing yard and south-facing windows,” she says.