The White Move
A last-minute decision proved the right one for the owners of this Perth home.
Trusting your instincts can sometimes lead to such brilliant outcomes that you almost can’t believe you were about to take a different fork in the road. That’s how the owners of this oceanfront home in Perth feel. A few years ago, they began renovating part of the house they had lived in for about 30 years. “It was a Tuesday night and the builders had already pulled down the front section of the house,” recalls the homeowner. “My wife said, ‘I just don’t think it’s going to look good having half the house new and half old’. We pondered that and concluded she was right, so we called the builder the next morning and asked him to stop work. We’d changed our minds and decided to knock the whole thing down and rebuild.”
Driving this midweek epiphany was the owners’ desire to stay in their home in coming years. “We’re both in our mid 70s and while we’re fit and young at heart now, we’re realistic about what’s ahead. Rather than downsizing, we decided to design a home where every aspect of it is accessible, futureproof and tailored perfectly to our needs.”
With a new plan on the drawing board, Kings Rd Constructions signed on to deliver the new build in close conjunction with interior decorator Emma Mackie of M Interiors. “This was a dream project,” she says. “The builders were exceptional and the owners had a fantastic
“THE SPACES FLOW TOGETHER AND LEAD THE EYE OUT TO THAT AMAZING VIEW.” EMMA MAC K IE , INTERIOR DESIGNER
vision of the way they wanted their new home to work and to relate to its coastal location.” For the homeowners, functionality had to sit comfortably with beautiful materials and finishes. This approach is reflected in their kitchen, where Shaker-style cabinetry and striking pendant lights are teamed with hardy stone-composite benchtops. There’s also an office nook and a door that discreetly opens to a lift to the upper level.
“The first floor is entirely given over to the main bedroom suite,” says Emma. “It has its own sitting area and balcony, a kitchenette and an accessible ensuite with a smart toilet and large-format tiles to make cleaning easy. Basically, they have everything they could possibly need in the one area.” The best thing about this floor, though, is the view. “It’s just extraordinary,” says the owner. “Because of the way the home is built, it feels a bit like being on the bow of a ship. There’s a road right next to us but we’re high enough to not notice it; all we can see is ocean.”
Back downstairs, there are two living areas – one with a TV and a more formal space without one. “The formal living room is designed for conversation. It has a fireplace with a stone surround and chairs upholstered in a beautiful Diane Bergeron fabric,” says Emma. “We opted to go with variations in pattern rather than colour and I think it works well.”
Like the living areas, the dining zone is defined by a generous jute rug and ceiling beams that frame and support the striking box pendant light that hangs over the table. Dark-chocolate engineered-timber floors flow right through the house, extending from the living areas down a breezy hallway that leads to the home gym, guestrooms and a bathroom predominantly used by the grandchildren.
To make the most of its breathtaking location, the home has a variety of outdoor areas where the owners – who are keen entertainers – can host their family and friends. There’s a covered terrace furnished with a comfortable rattan sofa and armchairs, plus a dining table positioned by the pool. “The patterned tiles along its edge give the pool a point of difference,” says Emma. “It gets used for laps every day, rain, hail or shine.”
Blue and green might feature in and around the pool, but these colours deliberately don’t appear in the house. “You could say the house is Hamptons inspired, but we didn’t
“I hope I can live the rest of my life in this home,” says the owner. “We’ve worked so hard for decades, I feel it’s our reward to be able to now have a house that’s perfect for us.” Both the build team and Emma went above and beyond on this project, he says. “Emma really worked closely with us and delivered everything we wanted, plus she has outstanding organisational skills. Without her we couldn’t have built this home in just a year.”
“I CAN’ T TELL YOU HOW MUCH JOY I GET OUT OF WAKING UP IN THIS HOUSE EVERYDAY .” HOME OWNER
feel we had to stick strictly to a Hamptons-style colour palette. I enjoyed breaking away from the blue and greens and instead using white and oatmeal, caramel and taupe.”
Since they embarked on this rebuild, the owners have watched friends of theirs take a similar approach to updating their homes. “Downsizing isn’t always the answer for empty-nesters,” says the owner. “Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of rethinking what you have to create something that works better for what your needs may be in the future. No one can really say what the future holds – there is no crystal ball – but I do know that every day we wake up and feel absolutely euphoric about living here.”
M Interiors, Cottesloe, WA; m-interiors.com.au. Kings Rd Construction, Forrestdale WA; kingsrd.com.au.
“SOMETIMES, RE THINKING WHAT YOU HAVE CAN CREATE SOMETHING THAT WORKS BETTER .” OWNER