Ease without excess
A passion for food, art and the Western Australian coast inspired the transformation of this 1960s house into a retreat that values history and the clever use of space.
Passions for food and art collide to create interiors perfectly tailored to this owner’s lifestyle.
Dune House celebrates the subtle art of motif, texture and tone, creating a place that is sumptuously nostalgic. The design draws on multiple references, including the local coastal landscape, mid-century architectural roots and Italian owners with a passion for culinary delights and gatherings with family and friends. Perth interior design firm Ohlo Studio collaborated with Simon Pendal Architect to complete the alterations and additions to the Fremantle house.
The kitchen plays a key role both functionally and spatially, acting as a physical divider between the open-plan spaces of the dining and living room and the more casual domain of the family room. For this reason, the kitchen is designed to be experienced from both sides, with its rattan back and timber front reflecting these opposing personalities. The opening framed between kitchen splashback and high-level cabinetry improves the visual connection between rooms while drawing natural light into the kitchen to balance the sun-drenched spaces on the opposite, street side of the house.
Sapele timber veneer is used as the primary finish to cabinetry and the tonal consequence for the kitchen is an overwhelming feeling of richness and warmth. White ceramic benchtops act as a palate cleanser to these more dominant rust-coloured timber tones while offsetting the sandy shades of the travertine floor. Pill-shaped pull handles bring a level of visual softness and echo motifs found elsewhere. The L-shaped plan of the kitchen keys in beautifully to the adjacent window seat, which offers a comfortable place for friends and family to share in the ceremony of meal preparation.
The combination of white ceramic benchtops and timber cabinetry extends into the ensuite. Natural light drawn down from the ceiling illuminates these finishes while highlighting the textural nuances of walls finished in limewash render. In the children’s bathroom, colour is dialled up a notch and, in addition to the white and timber tones, a deep, dusty blue is applied to textured walls. The tumbled mosaic tiles of the Roman bathtub recall the delights of Italian holidays past.
In designing for a “life of ease without excess,” Ohlo Studio has exercised great restraint while giving adequate weight to the details that matter most. Nuanced and subtle finishes, minimal tonal variation and expert light control bring layers of delight to ceremonial rooms. These modest moves uphold the traditions of making, baking and soaking, and ensure that they become sensuous and memorable experiences at Dune House.