Mornington Peninsula Houzz: A Farmhouse Goes Moody & Minimalist
See how a dated farmhouse facing the wrong way was transformed into a spectacular home with views at its heart
“Our client, a semi-retired couple who bought this property on a whim, were seeking a coastal weekender – a safe place for their grown family to escape, gather and relax,” says Ton Vu, architect and co-director at Atlas Architects. “When the pandemic hit, they found themselves unexpectedly spending more time at their new retreat, and decided they needed a home to match the stunning coastal landscape.”
The existing 1980s brown-brick farmhouse was set in a picturesque spot amid rolling hills, but it was orientated in such a way that it turned its back on the best of the views, which were to the west.
“As they have many children and grandchildren, they desired a home that was unapologetically for living – where living areas are prioritised above all else. A space that welcomes family in and encourages connection, reunion and shared experiences,” says Neighbour.
“As they have many children and grandchildren, they desired a home that was unapologetically for living – where living areas are prioritised above all else. A space that welcomes family in and encourages connection, reunion and shared experiences,” says Neighbour.
The floor plan.
“They wanted to renovate the existing home and build a large family-room extension with a new living, kitchen and dining area. The home needed to connect with the panoramic landscape, bringing it inside as the focal point of every space,” says Neighbour.
“They also requested a new entry, one that not only welcomed the family home, but created a sense of flow through the house, drawing you through to the view of the landscape.”
Inspired to renovate your own home? Find an architect near you on Houzz
“They wanted to renovate the existing home and build a large family-room extension with a new living, kitchen and dining area. The home needed to connect with the panoramic landscape, bringing it inside as the focal point of every space,” says Neighbour.
“They also requested a new entry, one that not only welcomed the family home, but created a sense of flow through the house, drawing you through to the view of the landscape.”
Inspired to renovate your own home? Find an architect near you on Houzz
A section of the home.
“The existing house and the new areas needed to be seamlessly integrated, inside and out. Existing service areas had to be maintained, but the building needed to be reskinned to create a new exterior appearance that melded flawlessly with the new living areas,” says Neighbour.
“While opening up the house was key, it was still a family home where spaces for private family moments were essential. Parts of the building were to be completely shielded from sight, while the extension was to be orientated to the valley and the unique contours of the site.”
“The existing house and the new areas needed to be seamlessly integrated, inside and out. Existing service areas had to be maintained, but the building needed to be reskinned to create a new exterior appearance that melded flawlessly with the new living areas,” says Neighbour.
“While opening up the house was key, it was still a family home where spaces for private family moments were essential. Parts of the building were to be completely shielded from sight, while the extension was to be orientated to the valley and the unique contours of the site.”
The architects’ scope of work included adding a new living/dining/kitchen/pantry wing; refurbishing the home’s two bathrooms, three bedrooms and laundry; and adding a new bedroom, rumpus, roof and colour scheme for the external facades.
“We collaborated with the client to select the colour and finishes scheme and chose the artworks and furniture for the house,” says Vu.
“We collaborated with the client to select the colour and finishes scheme and chose the artworks and furniture for the house,” says Vu.
Dining table: Mark Tuckey.
“Given its stunning location and sizeable block, we wanted the new addition to be inserted and rotated so it faced the panoramic view and directly framed the horizon. This design would also create pockets of open spaces.
“Our solution was to create a steel-faced pergola structure that enveloped the existing building so it still reads as one solid line,” says Vu.
“Given its stunning location and sizeable block, we wanted the new addition to be inserted and rotated so it faced the panoramic view and directly framed the horizon. This design would also create pockets of open spaces.
“Our solution was to create a steel-faced pergola structure that enveloped the existing building so it still reads as one solid line,” says Vu.
“While effectively encaging the house, it allowed us to extend the roofline and create privacy where it shelters the open space at the entrance, creating a northern courtyard. Over time, the plants at its base will grow, creeping up to the roofline and enhancing the home’s privacy with flora so it feels contained but never confined,” says Vu.
“The outdoor spaces have been zoned to work with the sun orientation, prevailing winds and views. The western facade now opens up to the panoramic view of the rolling hills, dam and tree-lined horizon. The roof frames the landscape, making it the masterpiece that draws your attention and encourages you through the space,” says Neighbour.
Sofas: B&B Italia.
The owners have a large collection of books and wanted their open fireplace to be seamlessly integrated into a bookcase. The resulting floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, lined with colourful tomes, take on an art-like role in the living space.
Zimbabwe Black Flamed granite benchtops: Corsi & Nicolai; bar stools: Cosh Living.
The architects moved the small kitchen, originally located near the entrance, to the heart of the new living/dining extension. An expansive island and bar in the space cater perfectly to large family gatherings.
The architects moved the small kitchen, originally located near the entrance, to the heart of the new living/dining extension. An expansive island and bar in the space cater perfectly to large family gatherings.
The design retains the characteristics of a farmhouse – stone, timber, an open fire – yet is executed in a cutting edge and contemporary way.
“The colour palette is dark, muted and calm – greys, charcoals and bluestone. It limits light reflection, creating less strain on the eyes and elevating the expansive windows, views and natural light to centre stage,” says Vu.
“The colour palette is dark, muted and calm – greys, charcoals and bluestone. It limits light reflection, creating less strain on the eyes and elevating the expansive windows, views and natural light to centre stage,” says Vu.
“The colour scheme strikes a clever balance with the full-length and full-height windows and doors, achieving a cosy, grounded feeling. It creates seclusion where desired, such as the more private living spaces in the northern and southern wings; and feels expansive in other moments, as when the foyer opens up into the home’s dramatic cathedral ceilings,” he says.
The bluestone crazy paving flooring creates a rawness and roughness that feels like a natural extension of the rural surrounds.
“The materials flow from the large terraces into the home. The bold, textured stone surface creates unity between inside and out, old and new, fostering an understanding that although modern and considered, this is not a precious building but a cosy, well-used home. The sensation of raw material is also felt in the leathered texture of the stone benchtops and fireplace.”
“The materials flow from the large terraces into the home. The bold, textured stone surface creates unity between inside and out, old and new, fostering an understanding that although modern and considered, this is not a precious building but a cosy, well-used home. The sensation of raw material is also felt in the leathered texture of the stone benchtops and fireplace.”
The lining-board ceiling in the new addition makes a subtle reference to the coastal cladding seen in many homes in the area, while accentuating the ceiling’s sculptural form.
“The metal roof and light yet strong steel pergola give the house presence, but in a minimalist, understated way,” says Vu.
The architects played with compression and expansion throughout the floor plan, as seen here in a sitting nook off the hallway. The sloping ceiling lends the space an intimate atmosphere before it arcs up in the more communal areas.
“Both from the outside and inside, the existing building fabric blends flawlessly with the new. It’s hard to know where the original building ends and the new extension begins,” says Vu.
“It’s an inventive yet organic meeting of building, site and lifestyle. The colour theme, bluestone floor, roof and the expression of the building’s skeleton work in concert to unify old and new, which was our design intention,” he says.
The main ensuite, which has a second door that opens to the outdoor area, doubles as a mud room. A rich, moody palette and a new open layout with a freestanding bath at its heart define the reimagined space.
The bathroom.
Building new, contemporary areas and structures that seamlessly integrated with an old farmhouse was no mean feat. “It forced us to consider not just how a building sits in its landscape, but how it can evolve over time, with new dimensions and additions, and how the different elements can all work in concert to create a calm, considered, unified space rather than a building that feels iterated, divided or over-engineered,” says Neighbour.
“The existing roofline was bitsy and messy. We had to figure out a way to modify and evolve it without disturbing the building’s form,” he says.
“The pergola’s skeleton structure suggests an overall simple gable, while the folding origami roofline represents the undulating hills and valleys of the site. The roof – now contemporary metal standing seam rather than tiled – appears to float above the home, projecting towards the landscape.”
“The pergola’s skeleton structure suggests an overall simple gable, while the folding origami roofline represents the undulating hills and valleys of the site. The roof – now contemporary metal standing seam rather than tiled – appears to float above the home, projecting towards the landscape.”
The vegetable garden on the south side of the dwelling provides a lovely spot for the owners to relax after gardening in the late afternoon.
As for the wedding that largely inspired this ambitious redesign, it took place in the surrounding hills, with a reception afterwards at the house. The tiered lawns hosted cocktails and the front paddock, which once housed horses, became a temporary guest car park.
And, unsurprisingly given this unique and picturesque location, a fabulous time was had by all.
And, unsurprisingly given this unique and picturesque location, a fabulous time was had by all.
Your turn
What is your favourite feature in this cleverly modernised farmhouse? 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 redesign of a regional home? Check out this Before & After: The Radical Rethinking of a Classic Country Home
What is your favourite feature in this cleverly modernised farmhouse? 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 redesign of a regional home? Check out this Before & After: The Radical Rethinking of a Classic Country Home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A semi-retired couple
Location: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Four bedrooms, two bathrooms
House size before works: 235 square metres
House size after works: 323 square metres
Architecture and interior design: Atlas Architects
Structural Engineer: Vayco
Joinery: The Great Australian Shelf
But Vu’s client did not only task the architects with designing a house for relaxation. “Spurred on by their son’s impending wedding, our client wanted a one-of-a-kind family home that could also serve as a stunning wedding venue, designed and delivered in a constricted timeframe and budget,” he says.
Having worked with the couple on several previous projects over the years, Vu and co-director, Aaron Neighbour, were perfectly placed to make it happen.