Divide & Conquer
A subdivision leaves owners with a perfect, private property in beachside Sydney.
By subdividing a massive block and developing the ‘front house’, this Sydney family were able to build exactly what they needed at the back.
Ahome that can accommodate a family of six is often impressive, but this three-bedroom house makes it look surprisingly easy. Just minutes from Cronulla Beach in NSW, what the owners refer to as ‘the villa’ is the second property on a generous subdivision.
Builder Ben Mathews and his interior designer wife Simone,theprincipalsatBamConstructions, bought the 850m2 block at auction in September 2014 – on the same day they sold their previous home. They began hatching plans immediately.
The new property had a large house at the front of the block and a separate three-car garage/ games room at the back. “We lived there for six months so we could get a feel for the orientation of the house and games room area, their strengths and weaknesses,” says Simone.
After the plans were approved, the couple, who had already overhauled a number of properties, worked to a tight schedule of eight months. In that time, Ben’s team demolished the garage, renovated the front home – which quickly sold – and built a second one for their brood at the rear.
Privacy for the two houses was paramount and Ben and Simone ensured this with a separate driveway/entrance and substantial front wall. To link the properties aesthetically, some aspects are the same: both have Scyon Linea cladding, sandstone walls, Himalayan limestone outdoor
pavers and coastal landscaping. Designed to capture the northern light, the living spaces of the villa are oriented around a large, grassy courtyard so the boys, aged five to 12, can spill outside whenever they like. Timber-lined raked ceilings make this area seem much larger than it is, while a creative use of space throughout gives everyone room to breathe. Velux skylights bring in light where it’s needed, while enough storage for all the family’s possessions ensures a sense of calm at the busiest times.
Simone has styled the interior with a relaxed coastal look that’s perfect for the area, then added her own boho twists. Pieces from her favourite stores – Bisque Interiors, Loft Furniture, Stone Pony and Ahoy Trader – look great with unique Etsy pieces, vintage finds and holiday souvenirs. “I am that person who finds strange things on the side of roads overseas and fits them into their luggage,” she explains, laughing.
Outside, the courtyard and rear garden are appropriately easy-care. “We are good at designing and building, but high-maintenance gardens are not for us,” says Simone. “The interest lies in the plant choices and layering. SiteDesign + Studios created exactly what we asked for.”